Remove Tomato Stains from Denim Easily with These Simple Steps
Tomato sauce can quickly create a mess that causes unsightly and difficult-to-remove stains on denim. If you're dealing with tomato stains on denim, use the following cleaning methods to make them disappear.
Updated 17 Feb 2023
By Jacobim Mugabe
Using Traditional Cleaning Agents
- Before tackling the tomato stain, blot affected area with a clean towel to remove any excess tomato.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent, 1 teaspoon of white vinegar, and 2 cups of water in a bowl.
- Soak a cloth or sponge in the mixture and gently rub the stained area of the denim in a circular motion.
- Once you've removed as much of stain as possible, rinse the fabric well with cool water.
- Continue removing the tomato stain on the denim by treating the remaining stain with a solution of 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach and 1 quart of hot water.
- Dab this mixture onto affected area of the fabric using a cotton swab.
- Rinse denim thoroughly again with cold water.
- Let the denim air dry or use a low heat setting on the clothes dryer. Do not use a high heat setting, as this can set stain.
Using Alternative Cleaning Agents
- Create a paste of 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water.
- Apply this paste to the tomato stain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes.
- Use a soft brush to scrub the baking soda and paste into the fabric.
- Check to see if the stain has been removed after scrubbing. If not, mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of warm water together.
- Dab this solution onto the remaining stain and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, rinse the denim with cold water.
- If the stain persists, soak the denim in a solution of 1/4 cup of peroxide and 1 quart of warm water.
- After soaking for 15 minutes, rinse the denim with cold water and let it air dry.
Additional Tips
- Always try to treat a tomato stain as soon as possible. The longer the stain sits, the more difficult it will be to remove.
- Be sure to test bleaching and cleaning solutions on a small, hidden area of the denim before applying them to the entire garment.
- If the stain is still visible, repeat the cleaning process until it has been removed.
- Wash the garment immediately after the stain has been treated.