How to Remove Ketchup Stains from White Clothes

Ketchup tastes best with a plate of French fries, a burger or some chow Mein. Where it does not look good is your white shirt. Accidents are likely to happen, especially when in a hurry. Knowledge about how to remove ketchup stains from white clothes can come handy when dealing with young children who tend to drop food on their clothes every now and then or when trying to squeeze ketchup out of a bottle for themselves. You can remove the red blotch from the white fabric using just a few household supplies. However, when doing so, remember the following:

·      Always read the label of the garment to check for specific instructions regarding any ingredient mentioned below.

·      Do a spot test on an inconspicuous area of the garment before you clean the entire stain with the specific cleanser. If the cleanser damages the fabric in any way, do not proceed with it. Choose another method.

·      If the garment label states dry-clean only, give the stained clothing to professional cleaners as soon as you can.

·      Remove excess ketchup from white clothes as soon as the accident happens. Use a spoon or a butter knife to do so. This will prevent the ketchup from spreading to a large area of the cloth.

·      Flush the stained area with cold water immediately. Do so from the back of the stain only. Flushing the shirt with cold water from the front can lead to the further setting in of the stain.

Now, proceed in one of the following ways.

Method One

Things that you will require:

·      Liquid detergent

·      Water

·      Hydrogen peroxide

·      Sponge

·      Stain remover stick or gel

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   Firstly, grab your regular bottle of liquid detergent, and apply a generous amount on the stain depending on it’s’ size.

2.   Rub the stain gently in a circular motion. Work from the outside edges of the stain towards the centre. This will prevent the stain from spreading any further.

3.   Leave the liquid detergent in place for 10 to 15 minutes.

4.   Flush the stained area with water.

5.   To get rid of the stain completely, pour some hydrogen peroxide on a sponge, and apply it to the red blotch of ketchup.

6.   Again, rub the stained area gently in a circular motion.

7.   Rinse the garment well with cold water.

8.   Check the white shirt for any remaining hints of ketchup. If the stain is still visible, repeat the above steps till the stain completely disappears.

9.   Apply a stain remover stick or gel to the stain if necessary, and leave it in place for 5 minutes.

10.   Wash the clothes as normal.

11.   Make sure the stain has been completely removed before you dry the clothes. Drying will make the stain permanent if it is not removed completely.

Method Two

Things that you will require:

·      Liquid laundry detergent

·      Water

·      Tub

·      White vinegar

·      Sponge

·      Bleach

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   To start off with removing the ketchup stain from the white clothes, apply a generous amount of liquid laundry detergent to the stained area depending on the size of the stain.

2.   Rub the stain gently in a circular motion, moving from the outer edges of the stain towards the centre.

3.   Put the stained shirt in a tub of cold water, and let it soak in it for 15 to 30 minutes.

4.   After 15 to 30 minutes, rinse the shirt well with cold water.

5.   Next, pour some white vinegar on a sponge, and apply it to the stained area.

6.   Blot the stained area with the sponge.

7.   Flush the stain with cold water.

8.   Now, apply some laundry prewash stain remover to the affected area.

9.   Wash your clothes as normal. In addition to this, add bleach to the water if necessary when laundering.

10.   Before you dry the clothes, make sure that the stain has been completely removed.

11.   If the stain is still visible, repeat the previous steps.