Fruit stains are perhaps the most common stain. They can happen to anyone, no matter how careful you are when eating fruit. If you’ve ever been faced with a big, ugly orange juice stain on your favorite white shirt, then you know how frustrating it is to try to remove it.
There are more than 700 different types of fruits grown worldwide, each with its own unique chemical composition and staining potential.
While some fruits, such as apples and pears, are relatively non-staining due to their low acidity levels, others have high pH levels and will produce particularly stubborn stains such as grape juice or tomato sauce (both of which contain citric acid).
Read on to learn more about how to remove old fruit stains from clothes.
Does fruit come out of clothes?
Yes, fruit stains come out of clothes. There are a variety of methods that can be used to remove old fruit stains from clothes. One of the most common ways to remove these stains is by using a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
This combination has been shown to work well on all kinds of stains, including those caused by berries and tomatoes.
One popular method for removing berry stains from clothes involves soaking them in vinegar overnight before washing them as normal in hot water with detergent.
This method works well because it helps loosen up any dried-on fruit matter so that it can be washed away easily during your next load of laundry.
How to Remove Old Fruit Stains from Clothes
Lemon juice or vinegar
You can use lemon juice or vinegar to remove old fruit stains from your clothes. Just rub the stain with a cloth soaked in either lemon juice or vinegar, then rinse and wash as usual.
Enzyme-based stain removers
If you have enzyme-based stain removers such as Biz, Oxyclean, or Nellie’s All Natural Stain Remover, try using one of these products to remove old fruit stains from your clothes. Simply spray on the stain and allow it to sit for at least ten minutes before washing as usual.
Oxygenated bleach
If you have oxygenated bleach such as Clorox 2 Stain Remover or OxiClean Stain Fighter plus Bleach, try using one of these products to remove old fruit stains from your clothes. Simply spray on the stain and allow it to sit for at least ten minutes before washing as usual.
Baking soda and vinegar
Vinegar and baking soda are other great solutions for removing old fruit stains from clothes because they contain enzymes that break down proteins in food stains like red wine, coffee, or tea.
Rubbing alcohol is also a good choice for removing old fruit stains from clothes because it contains enzymes that break down proteins in food stains like red wine, coffee, or tea as well as synthetic dyes like yellow sweatshirts (which are often dyed yellow).
Removing Different Types of Fruit Stains
Water-Based Fruit Stains (berries, cherries, grapes, plums)
Step 1: If you spilled water-based fruit juice, such as berries or cherries, on your clothes, use cold water to remove the stain.
Step 2: Use a sponge (not a cloth) and gently dab at the stain with lukewarm water until it’s gone. If you don’t have access to lukewarm water but still have a cloth handy, wring out some cold water from it and then rub it over the stain several times until it disappears. Then use another dry cloth to absorb any moisture left behind by this process.
Step 3: Next, apply a small amount of liquid detergent directly onto the stained area and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing away both detergent residues and any remaining fruit juices with cool running tap water mixed with dishwashing liquid made for hand washing dishes (or just plain old dish soap if that’s all you’ve got).
Step 4: To finish off this method of removing stains from your clothing, blot to dry using paper towels or absorbent paper towels; rewash the garment in a warm or hot cycle using warm tumble drying; block out under pressure if necessary.
Oil-Based Fruit Stains (avocados and pineapples)
Remove oil-based fruit stains with dry-cleaning solvent.
- Fill a sink or basin with warm water, then add 1/4 cup of a dry cleaning solvent to the water.
- Mix well, then soak the stained garment for 3 hours, or until the stain has disappeared.
- Rinse thoroughly in clean water and rewash if needed.
Citrus Fruits (oranges, lemons, and limes)
Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, and limes) can be a particular problem when it comes to stains on clothes. There are a number of solutions that you can use to remove citrus stains from clothing.
Your first step is to determine whether the stain is fresh or old. If it’s old and dry, you may be able to get rid of it with just a simple washing machine load. If it’s new or wet and sticky, try one of these methods:
- If there’s some dryness around the area where the fruit touched your shirt but no real stain yet, try dabbing at it with a dry cleaning solvent such as Spot Shot (a spray-on product). The solvent will soak into the fabric fibers and help lift up any oils that may have been left behind by your snack attack on an orange peel. Once this has been accomplished, wash your shirt normally in cold water, the hot water will set stains permanently.
- Use an enzymatic stain remover if there is still dye from an orange peel left behind after using Spot Shot or if another type of citrus fruit has stained your clothing.”
Tomato Juice (sometimes known as a water-based fruit)
- Tomato juice, also known as a water-based fruit, is another common stain. The best way to remove tomato juice is by using a sponge or cotton ball to dab the stain and then follow up with a pre-soaked cloth or stain remover that is specifically designed to treat tomato stains.
- Once you’ve treated your garment, rinse it in cool water and then iron it on low heat until dry.
How do you get dried berry stains out of clothes?
First, inspect the area and see if it’s an actual piece of fruit or if it’s just juice from something like a can of cranberries.
If it’s just juice and not an actual berry stain, blot the area with paper towels or baby wipes until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Then treat it as an oil-based stain remover.
Then wash the garment with detergent and warm water.
Does fruit come out of clothes?
Yes, fruit stains can be removed from clothes with a few simple steps. It is important to treat the stain as soon as possible after it occurs and to avoid washing your clothes in hot water, which may set the stain. Fruit stains can be removed by using a mixture of dishwashing soap and warm water.
Treat the stain with this mixture before putting the garment into the washing machine. If possible, soak the garment overnight to allow for deeper penetration of the soap into the fabric.
Are cherry stains permanent?
Cherry stains are not permanent, but they can be difficult to remove. The first step is to treat them with dishwashing soap and warm water immediately after they occur so that they do not set in any more than they already have.
Does boiling water take out berry stains?
Boiling water will not help remove berry stains from clothing because boiling temperatures will only set them further into the fabric instead of helping remove them from it.
You should treat berry stains with a mixture of dishwashing soap and warm water immediately after they occur so that they do not set in any more than they already have.
Does OxiClean remove blueberry stains?
Yes, OxiClean can remove blueberry stains. Just make sure to leave the shirt in the wash for a full cycle and run it through a rinse cycle as well.
Will OxiClean remove grape juice stains?
Yes, OxiClean will remove grape juice stains. Just make sure to leave the shirt in the wash for a full cycle and run it through a rinse cycle as well.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the different types of fruit stains, and how to remove them from fabrics. If you have any more questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
