The struggle for keeping laundry clean on a daily basis can sometimes be very complicated by stubborn stains such as blood, ink, or red wine stains. And when we approach summer with anticipation, drooling over all the beautiful red fruits that this season brings, disasters are never far away. There is indeed no equal pleasure to the sweetness of redcurrant or raspberry jam, a strawberry tart, a cherry clafoutis, or a handful of blueberries to nibble on. However, the mood changes when it comes time to remove a piece of fabric stained with red fruit stains! So, discover how to clean all this with some grandmother’s tips so that red stains no longer ruin your fruity tastings.
And most importantly, never put clothes in the washing machine without pre-treating them. You may end up… fixing them forever on your favorite t-shirt! So, wait a little before going through the washing machine step.
1) Act quickly: THE solution against red fruit stains
The sooner you act, the easier it will be to recover a fabric soaked in red in good condition. This will reduce the risk of a halo. Of course, there are classics like Marseille soap, dish soap, or baking soda. However, some solutions are even more powerful. For example, lemon is highly prized, as it is very effective against this type of stain (except for wool!). Simply rub the stain with a little lemon juice and rinse with cold water. Then let it dry in the sun for an hour before putting it in the machine. You can also dab the marks with white vinegar (great on suede) or rub them with white toothpaste.
2) Milk, a good option, especially for white fabrics
You can act here as you would against ink stains by soaking the stained garment in a basin of milk. Let it sit overnight before putting your garment in the wash. Immersing white cotton in warm milk will help remove stains without bleach!
3) What about colored fabrics?
You can use a cloth soaked in 70% alcohol or 20-volume hydrogen peroxide after making sure there is no risk of discoloration. Afterwards, wash the garment in the machine as usual.
4) How to remove red fruit stains from synthetic fabrics
Dabbing with lemon juice or vinegar will generally remove stains on synthetic fabric before washing. You can also consider using soapy water or a cloth soaked in alcohol diluted in water.
5) And for red fruit stains on wool or silk?
For wool, wash in cold water with dish soap or a soap of your choice (beef bile soap, black soap, or Marseille soap). If that’s not enough, use a few drops of ammonia diluted in warm water. For silk, use absorbent paper to remove excess juice from your blouse. Then mix water and household alcohol in equal parts and dab it on the stained area before washing. And for a stubborn stain, use a cloth soaked in 90% alcohol directly.
6) And finally, how to remove stains from leather?
Looking for the right stain remover for a stained sofa, sneakers, or jacket? Once you have removed the excess juice with paper towels, dab the red fruit stain with an equal mixture of water and household alcohol. You can also use makeup remover milk to which you can add two drops of household alcohol. Then gently rub this mixture on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Finally, wipe with a clean cloth.
