Barbecue season is finally here, but if you’re the laundry leader of your household, you might have another word for it: stain season.
From meaty grease stains to sloppy ketchup stains, all types of BBQ stains can be lethal for nice summer clothes.
But don’t let the risk of sauce stains get in the way of summer fun. Keep reading for top tips on how to remove them with common household supplies!
Removing BBQ Stains: How To Lift Grease Stains and Sauce Stains From Clothes
Tips for Tackling Grease Stains
Whether you’re a steak type of family, team hamburgers and hot dogs, or go a little too crazy with butter, grease stains are inevitable.
For meat grease spills, here’s what to do:
Use a paper towel or clean dishcloth to dab away as much excess grease as possible. Don’t rub!
Pour a liberal amount of regular dish soap directly onto the stain.
Let the dish soap sit for at least 10-15 minutes.
Machine wash or hand wash the garment with cold water.
Let the piece air dry and repeat until the stain is gone.
For butter stains, follow the same steps, but switch the water temperature to the warmest the garment will allow.
Pro-Tip: if you happen to have white chalk lying around (the type for blackboards), you can use it instead of dish soap. After letting it sit for a few minutes, wash the garment as usual!
Strategies for Stopping Sauce Stains
With their bright colors, mustard and ketchup stains are an absolute bummer. If they splash onto your favorite garments, follow these steps:
Flush the stain from the back with cold tap water.
Rub a liquid detergent (or DIY alternative) into the stain using a soft brush or old toothbrush. Keep rinsing and scrubbing until it’s gone!
If that doesn’t work, soak the stain in some distilled white vinegar for 10-15 minutes.
After these pre-treating steps, you can machine or hand wash the garment as usual.
Win Against White Clothing Stains
If your sauce spill lands on white clothing, don’t panic. As long as you act quickly, you can still save the garment:
Use a spoon or dull knife to scrape away as much excess grease as possible.
Dab, don’t rub, the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Pour liquid dish soap on the stain, massage it in, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Rinse your garment under the sink to see if the stain lifted.
If the stain persists, repeat the above steps one more time before machine washing as usual.
Take Note: you shouldn’t dry your garment until you know the stain is completely gone. Dryers can set stains, so always check before drying!
Now that you’re a sauce stain removal pro, you can party in peace all summer long. If you need professional dry cleaning support or help with pick-up and drop-off wash-and-fold services, WaveMAX Thornton is here to help!
Find your closest location by searching WaveMAX ‘laundromat near me’ or visiting our website.
