Laundry Tips: How to Get Rid of a Nasty Food Stain

No matter how careful you are, it’s only a matter of time before a dreaded food stain spoils one of your favorite shirts. Instead of throwing your hands up in defeat and tossing your top into the trash, a rush to action can vanquish the unsightly stain and save your shirt from oblivion. With the help of your Whirlpool washing machine and the laundry tips provided below, your wardrobe will remain spot free in the future.

Ketchup

Grab a butter knife and carefully scrape off any excess ketchup sitting on your shirt. Remember, you never want to rub the stain with a napkin. Doing so will cause the substance to settle deeper into the fabric. Next, spread a thin layer of clear dish soap over the stain. On top of the soap, pour an equal amount of white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes before rinsing the area with cold water. If the stain is still present repeat the above steps until the spot is barely visible before tossing your shirt into your whirlpool washer.

Soy Sauce

Using a white paper towel, gently blot the stain. This helps soak up any excess soy sauce left on the shirt. Pour a generous amount of white vinegar on the area. To really work the vinegar into the stain, dab the spot with a cotton swab. Next, add a tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent. Allow the vinegar and detergent to sit for a minute or two. Afterwards, rinse the stain with cold water. If needed, repeat the process until you can no longer see the soy sauce on your shirt.

Red Wine

Lay a white paper towel on your table and place the stained part of your shirt on it. Cover the discolored spot with a mixture of baking soda and club soda. The concoction should begin to bubble. Once this happens, rub the stained area of your shirt together and watch the red wine disappear. Finish the process by throwing your shirt into the washing machine.

Chocolate

Carefully blot the chocolate stain with a paper towel. Turn your shirt inside out and pour soda water over the backside of the stain. This helps loosen the chocolate from the shirt’s fibers. Saturate the stain with either liquid laundry detergent or liquid dish soap. Be sure to gently rub the soap into the stained fabric. Soak the shirt in a tub of cold water for 15 minutes. During that time rub the chocolate stain at least every three minutes. After 15 minutes have passed, rinse out the soap. If the stain remains, repeat the last step until you can no longer see any hint of the mark.

Coffee and Tea

Warm up some water in a tea kettle, however, don’t let the water boil; otherwise you could burn yourself while attempting to rid your shirt of the coffee or tea stain. Once the water is ready, hold your shirt over your sink and pour the water directly on the stained area. After the spot is soaked through add a few drops of laundry detergent and gently rub the stain until the soap begins to lather. Finally, rinse the soap from your shirt. If the spot is gone, throw the shirt into your Whirlpool washer, and if there are still signs of your morning coffee or tea, repeat the process until the stain is no longer visible.

If your Whirlpool washing machine or dryer is on the fritz, please contact us today. Once you have scheduled an appointment, we’ll send one of our reliable and experienced appliance repair technicians to your home to diagnose and repair the malfunction.