How to get rid of tomato stains

Tomato stains are one of the most common in the kitchen, and also one of the hardest to get rid of if we don’t deal with them in time. Whether it is a splash when preparing sauce for pasta, spilling some on our shirt or an accident with ketchup on our jacket, these stains can ruin any garment. The good news is that, by using the right methods, we can get rid of tomato stains completely. We are going to tell you how you can do it, step by step.

How to quickly get rid of tomato stains from clothes

Speed is the key to get rid of tomato stains. The sooner we act, the easier it will be to get rid of them. Here are a few essential steps:

1. Remove any excess tomato: Use a spoon or blunt knife to gently lift the tomato sauce or solid off the surface. Avoid rubbing, because that will only embed the stain deeper into the fibres.
2. Rinse with cold water: Place the garment under the cold tap, letting the liquid cross the stain from behind. This will help to push the pigment out from the fabric, without setting it.
3. Pre-treatment: Apply a little liquid detergent to the stain and gently rub it using your fingers. Allow it to work for a few minutes before washing it.
4. Wash the garment: Wash it on the usual cycle in the washing machine, preferably with cold or lukewarm water. Avoid using hot water in the first wash, since heat can set the stain.

How to get rid of stains from white clothes?

Special care will be required if you have stained white clothes to make sure that a yellowish stain is not permanently left behind. Some effective tips to remove tomato stains from white clothes are provided as follows:

• Cold water and neutral soap: the same method should be used as for coloured clothing. First rinse the stain with cold water and apply some soap or liquid detergent before washing.
• Bleach or safe whiteners: for more stubborn stains on white cotton or linen, you can use a mild whitener or bleach diluted in water following the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid using too much of the product as this could damage the garment.
• Baking powder or vinegar: another natural alternative is to sprinkle some baking powder on the damp stain and allow it to work for a few minutes before washing. You can also pour a little diluted white vinegar on to neutralise the tomato pigment.

Dry tomato sauce: infallible tips to remove the stain

Removing dry tomato sauce stains is more difficult, but it is not impossible. Some useful tips are:

• Submerge the garment in cold water for at least 30 minutes before any further treatment. This will help to soften the dry sauce.
• Apply some concentrated detergent directly to the stain and rub it gently. Leave it to work for 10 to 15 minutes.
• If the fabric will withstand it, gently rub a damp bar of soap over the stain to help lift out the pigment.
• After carrying out those steps, wash the garment in the washing machine as usual, following the washing instructions on the label, but avoid hot water in the first wash.

In the case of very dry stains, you may need to repeat the process several times before the stain completely disappears.

Old tomato stains: effective methods to get rid of them

Stains that have been on the clothes for a long time require stronger, specific treatment. If you have ever wondered how to get rid of old tomato stains from your favourite clothes, take note:

• One of the tips that has gone viral on social media consists of applying white hand soap or detergent directly to the stain and rubbing. Then cover the area with baking powder, add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the baking powder and allow the mixture to work for 10 minutes. Finally, wash the garment. Tip: although this method works, test it on a small corner to avoid nasty surprises before trying it.
• Another option is to soak the garment in a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. Submerge the stained part in the mixture and leave it to work for 15-20 minutes. Then rub gently and wash afterwards.
• Detergents containing specific enzymes for proteins and starch are also effective for getting rid of old tomato stains, since they attach to the organic remains that are stuck in the fibres.

When rubbing, the most important thing is to rub gently and carefully. A soft bristle scrubbing brush can be used to ensure the product penetrates better, but always taking care not to damage the fabric.

The results are not always immediate, but with perseverance and a combination of these methods, the garment will eventually look new again. Honestly!

The most effective products to get rid of tomato stains

A widely used option to effectively get rid of stains is to resort to the following products, since they are easy to use. Some of them are specific stain removers, such as KH-7 Stain Remover Spray and KH-7 Oxy Effect Stain Remover. In these two cases, the stain remover is only sprayed on the stained part. The spray system allows us to only apply the necessary amount. We leave it for 5 minutes and then wash the garment as usual. Another product you can use is Consum’s own Stain Remover Spray. It works practically the same, the only difference being that we only leave it on for 1 minute before washing as usual.

Another option is the stain remover powder with active oxygen, such as Vanish Oxy Action Stain Remover. These products help to get rid of stubborn stains, even in cold water and on short washing cycles. They can be directly applied to the stain or added to the washing machine to boost the effects of the detergent. In the case of white clothes, it would be preferable to use other versions such as Consum's own White Clothes Stain Remover.

There are also stain removers in gel format, such as Oxy Colour Stain Remover which can be applied directly to the tomato stain after moistening it, and can also be added to water and detergent to soak garments, or to the washing machine with the detergent.

As you can see, getting rid of tomato stains is not impossible if you act quickly and use the right products. How about trying some of these tips?