How to get rid of the common food stains

Whether you are an amateur or pro chef, or just enjoy eating good food, you will encounter one or more food stains once in a while. That occasional spill shouldn’t make you throw out your favourite shirt, or prevent you from eating certain types of food with wild abandon. Stains are inconveniencing but there are ways you can save you fabrics from food stains.

How to remove tomato stains

Tomato stains from fresh tomatoes or tomato based sauces are some of the most common ones and for that reason, there are a number of ways that they can be treated. The first steps is always to remove the excess tomato sauce from the fabric as fast as you can. Once tomato stains set, it is that much harder to get them out.

Step 2-You may need to scrape a thick sauce off first. Be careful not to spread the sauce to other parts of the cloth as you do this. Rinse the fabric with cold water to further remove the tomato sauce. You can do this by placing the stained area under a running tap.

Step 3-Soak the stain in a mixture of water, vinegar and a little washing liquid for at least 30 minutes and wash. If the stain is lighter but still visible, repeat the process.

Some people swear by lemon juice to remove tomato stains. The first step is still to remove the any excess sauce and rinse the stain with cold water. After this rub a lemon slice or sponge lemon juice onto the stain before flushing with water. Allow to dry.

How to remove olive oil stains

If you are a fan of the Mediterranean diet, you will no doubt be using olive oil in your cooking. If it lands on your shirt, there is an easy way to get it out. The first step is to dab or blot the area with a paper towel and repeat until the paper towel doesn’t absorb any more oil.

Step 2-Sprinkle baking soda onto the stain and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Brush the baking soda off and go to step 3.

Step 3-Soak the fabric in cold water and laundry detergent for a few minutes before washing. Allow to dry.

How to remove butter or greasy stains

As with olive oil stains, resist the urge to use hot water to remove butter stains. It is not safe for your hands and it may not be safe for the fabric. First remove as much better or oil from the fabric as you can. You can use a paper towel for this. Next, simply wash with soap. Soap works to break up grease particles so work up a good lather and wash the affected area.

If the soap doesn’t do the trick, you can try rubbing the stained area with an alcohol solution. Let it sit for a few minutes before washing it out with soap.