You might not cry over spilled milk, but fruit juice is a different story. Fruit juice stains need to be handled quickly to prevent permanent stains. Why do fruit juices stain and how can you remove fruit juice stains from different fabrics.
Fruit Juice Stains: Thank the Tannins
Tannins are found in a number of your favorite drinks including coffee, tea, wine and some fruit juices. Tannin is a naturally-occurring dye that also adds flavor to foods. It can be found in the skin of grapes, and in other fruits including blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates, raspberries and strawberries. juices with a blend of these fruits will tend to stain more than a juice that is mostly apple juice or white grape.
How to Remove Fruit Juice Stains
Remove Fresh Fruit Juice Stains on Clothing with Detergent
According to Family and Consumer Sciences at Ohio State University, tannin stains that are fresh can be removed with detergent. They recommend avoiding soap products as soap will turn a washable tannin stain into a permanent or more difficult to remove stain.
Remove Fresh Fruit Juice Stains on Clothing with Vinegar
For shirts and pants remove the clothing items as quickly as possible. Soak the juice-stained garment in cold water, in a clean sink. After half an hour, use a clean cloth to dab white vinegar on the spot. Let the vinegar work into the stain. Rinse the garment and then wash it with laundry detergent.
Natural Cleaning Solutions for Fruit Juice Stains
Which cleaning solution you use to clean a fruit juice stain is pure preference. Sometimes it’s easier to start with the more natural household cleaning solutions, and then trying more harsh chemicals after.
You can use any of these cleaning solutions to try to remove fruit juice stains. Please read the fabric care label on clothes or fabric on furniture first. For natural solutions, mix two cups of cold water with a quarter cup of baking soda or make up a cleaning solution of three parts water and one part white vinegar.
You will also need blotting cloths and a spray bottle with cold water.
How to Clean Fruit Juice Stains on Fabric
Cleaning fruit juice stains from fabric, including furniture or carpeting involves blotting, rinsing, and trying different cleaning solutions, and rinsing or dotting with cold water in between each one. The method is: blot, rinse, clean, rinse, and try again.
When the juice stain is fresh and wet, blot up as much of the juice as you can with a clean, dry cloth. Use a fresh and dry portion of the cloth for each dab, to absorb the juice. Blot as much of the fruit juice as you can from the fabric.
Use one of the more natural cleaning solutions with the vinegar or baking soda. Sometimes alternating between the two can help lift the stain.
Deep-Set, Fresh Juice Stains
Blot out more of the stain with a non-bleaching detergent. Rinse the garment or sponge clean furniture fabric again.
If the stain persists, apply a laundry stain remover to the stained fabric. Test the fabric first, if you are worried about ruining the color of the fabric. Rinse the area thoroughly, blotting until the stain and stain remover are gone.
As a final option, use rubbing alcohol on the area to try to remove the fruit juice stain.
Two Ways to Clean Old and Dry Fruit Juice Stains
If a stain caused by fruit juice was not noticed immediately, the stain may be set in and dry. Here are a couple of ways to approach these stubborn fruit juice stains.
1. For fabrics that can tolerate bleach, the Family and Consumer Sciences at Ohio State University advises that bleach may be needed to remove an old fruit juice stain.
2. Rub glycerin extract on the old juice stain as a pre-treatment to washing it.
Note: When the stain is set into a clothing item that is labeled as dry clean only, it’s best not to make the situation worse by attempting to remove it yourself.
Sources
http://www.mrscleanusa.com/tips/grape-juice-stain.html
Quick ‘n Easy Stain Removal, Family and Consumer Sciences, http://ohioline.osu.edu/outside/stainrem.html
Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology,
You Can Remove Tannin Stains,” American Dry Cleaner http://www.americandrycleaner.com/article.cfm?articleID=17692
