Stain Removal Remedies: Tomato Sauce/Paste/Juice
Posted on Thursday, June 24th, 2010
According to my new book, the Good Housekeeping A to Z Stain Removal Guide, you can remove tomato sauce, tomato paste, and tomato juice from fabric with cold water, liquid laundry detergent, and white vinegar. The book suggests the following steps for tomato stain removal from fabrics, upholstery, and carpets:
Fabric
1. Working from the back of the stain, flush with cold water.
2. Pretreat with a liquid laundry detergent, tamp the stain, and let stand for several minutes.
3. Rinse well.
4. Sponge with white vinegar.
5. Rinse well.
6. Repeat Steps 2 to 5 until you have removed as much stain as possible.
7. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover.
8. Launder.
9. If the stain remains, rub with a liquid laundry detergent, and then soak in warm water for up to 30 minutes.
10. Launder with fabric-appropriate bleach, if necessary.
Upholstery
1. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with 2 cups of cool water.
2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears.
5. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.
Carpet
1. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with 2 cups of cool water.
2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent solution.
3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth.
5. If stain remains, mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia* with ½ cup of cool water.
6. Sponge the stain with the ammonia solution.
7. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.
8. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.
* When using ammonia to remove stains, keep in mind that ammonia can damage silk and wool fibers. Do not use sudsy or scented bleach for stain removal. Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia – the fumes are toxic. Since ammonia can cause some dyes to run, always test a hidden part of your fabric, carpet or upholstery before using on your stain.
