How To Remove Tomato Juice And Sauce Stains: Tips And Guidelines

Prevention is the ultimate key to protecting your clothing from tomato stains, but fortunately you aren't entirely out of options. Again, how you proceed depends on the material type. Regardless, you should be able to remove tomato sauce stains providing you act fast enough and have a few household staples on-hand.

Cotton and Linen

Follow these steps to remove tomato juice and tomato sauce stains from cotton and linen:

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• Stretch the stained fabric over a bowl and fasten in place with a rubber band.
• Pour boiling water through the fabric from a height of 2 or 3 feet. Avoid splatters. This procedure must be done immediately.

If the stain persists:

• Soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water and 1/2 teaspoon liquid laundry detergent for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water.
• Sponge area with rubbing alcohol and launder as soon as possible.

Leather and Suede

Follow these steps to remove tomato stains from leather and suede:

• Wipe up any excess juice, then mix a solution of mild soap in lukewarm water.
• Swish to create a great volume of suds.
• Apply only the foam with a sponge.
• Wipe with a clean dry cloth.
• On leather only, follow with a leather cleaner or saddle soap to condition the leather.

Non-Washable Fabrics

Follow these steps to remove tomato juice and tomato sauce stains from non-washable fabrics such as acetate, carpet (synthetic or wool), fiberglass, rayon, rope, triacetate and wool:

• Sponge (the method of using a dampened pad to apply light strokes, moving outward from the center of the stain) the stain with cool water, then sponge the area with lemon juice or rub a slice of lemon over the stain (use with caution on wool) [source: Treehugger].
• Flush (the method of applying stain remover to loosen staining material and residue from stain removers) with water and blot as much liquid as possible.
• Let dry.

If stain persists:

• Apply a wet spotter and cover with an absorbent pad moistened with wet spotter.
• Let stand as long as any stain is being removed.
• Change the pad as it picks up the stain.
• Keep the stain and pad moist with wet spotter.
• When no more stain is visible, flush thoroughly with water and allow to air dry.

Washable Fabrics

Follow these steps to remove tomato juice and tomato sauce stains from washable fabrics such as acrylic fabric, modacrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester and spandex:

• Sponge stain with cool water immediately.
• Then rub with a lemon slice or sponge lemon juice on the stain.
• Flush with water, blotting as much liquid as possible.
• Allow to dry.

If any trace of stain persists:

• Pre-soak (the method of soaking a stained article in warm water before laundering it) in a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1/2 teaspoon dish soap, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water and launder as soon as possible.

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