What ingredients should I use to remove berry stains?

You can use baking soda and lemon juice for light stains, white vinegar and oxygen-based bleach for tougher stains, and salt and lemon juice for particularly stubborn stains.

How does pretreating the stain help?

Pretreating a stain helps break down the molecules of residue left by the berry juice, making them easier to remove when you launder the garment.

Can I use a dryer for a berry-stained garment?

No, you should never put a berry-stained garment in the dryer; the heat may cause the stain to set permanently. Hang the garment outside to dry instead.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Berry > Cotton piqué

Secret Tips to Easily Remove Berry Stains from Cotton Piqué

Berries are delicious and nutritious, but their juice can leave unsightly stains on your favorite cotton piqué garments. Fortunately, removing these stubborn stains is simpler than you think! Here are some handy tips and tricks to help you remove berry stains quickly and easily.

Updated 10 Mar 2023

By Isabelle Trottier

Ingredients and Tools You'll Need

Baking soda
Lemon juice
White vinegar
Oxygen-based bleach
Salt
Old toothbrush
Soft cloth or towel

Step 1: Analyze the Stain

The first step in removing a berry stain is to examine it. This will help you understand severity of stain and plan a course of action to get rid of it.

If the stain is fresh, gently scrape away any excess berry pulp with a spoon. Older stains may require slightly more aggressive methods.

Step 2: Pretreat the Stain

Once you've analyzed the stain, it's time to begin pretreating it. There are several different ingredients that you can use depending on the severity of the stain. For light stains, you can mix equal parts baking soda and lemon juice to form a paste. Rub this mixture into the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing.

For tougher stains, you can mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of oxygen-based bleach with 2 cups of warm water. Soak stained area in this solution for 10 minutes before washing.

For particularly stubborn stains, you can mix 1 part salt and 1 part lemon juice to form a paste. Rub this paste onto the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, rinse the stain with cold water.

Step 3: Wash and Dry the Garment

Once you've pretreated the stain, it's time to wash and dry the garment. Use a gentle detergent and cold water setting on your washing machine. Do not use a dryer; instead, hang the garment outside to dry.

Step 4: Inspect and Repeat if Necessary

After the garment has been washed, inspect the stained area. If stain still isn't gone, repeat steps 2 and 3 until it is completely removed.

Bonus Tip: Scrub with a Toothbrush

For particularly stubborn stains, grab an old toothbrush and scrub the stained area gently until the stain begins to fade. Then, launder the garment as normal.

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