How do you clean barbecue sauce stains from swimwear?

When treating a barbecue sauce stain on swimwear, soak the area in a mixture of cold water and detergent before pre-treating with a spray tailored to removing stains. Machine-wash on the gentle cycle with cold water and air-dry afterwards. If necessary, repeat the process or consult a dry cleaner.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Barbecue sauce > Swimwear

Giving Swimwear the Deep Clean It Needs: Removing Barbecue Sauce Stains

Gathering around the grill and having a few burgers is an enjoyable summer pastime, but barbecue sauce is surprisingly tricky to get out of clothing. Swimwear, in particular, is at risk of being stained by the sweet, sticky condiment. Read on for how to remove these stubborn marks from your swimsuit.

Updated 20 Jun 2023

By Luke Smith

Step 1: Treat the Stain Immediately

When you spot the stain, don't wait around. Try to treat the area as soon as possible. This will help keep it from seeping further into the fabric.

Step 2: Soak the Stain

If item of clothing is light-colored, avoid using any bleach or oxygen-based cleaners, which can cause discoloration. Instead, fill a bowl with cold water and add a capful of detergent. Soak the stained area in the mixture for five to 10 minutes before rinsing it out. Then, gently rub stain with a soft cloth.

Step 3: Pretreat the Stain

After soaking the stain, you can use a pre-treatment spray to help get rid of it. Spray it liberally onto the fabric, let it sit for at least 15 minutes, and then rinse it off. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.

Step 4: Pre-wash the Swimwear

Once you've pre-treated the stain, it's time to machine-wash the clothing. Check the care instructions label first to make sure that the garment can go into the washer. If so, use a mild detergent, set the water temperature to cold, and select a gentle cycle.

Step 5: Finish the Laundry Process

Air-dry clothing, avoiding any direct sunlight or heaters. If the stain isn't completely gone after the first cycle, you can repeat the pre-treatment and washing process or seek advice from your local dry cleaner.

Conclusion

Barbecue sauce stains can be a real problem for light-colored clothing, especially if it's made of delicate fabric like swimwear. Following steps outlined above can help you safely remove unsightly marks and keep your swimsuit looking fresh all summer long.

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