Hot sauce is a great way to spice up a variety of dishes such as fried chicken, nachos, tacos and much more. Sadly, it can leave a mess if it spills on your clothes, furniture or carpet. The majority of hot sauces contain spices, peppers and vinegar. Unless a large amount of artificial food coloring has been added, a hot sauce stain is easy to remove. Read further to learn ways to remove hot sauce stains from clothes.
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Steps to remove hot sauce stains from clothes
Once hot sauce accidentally spills on your favorite shirt, you must act immediately to remove the stain.
- If there is a solid residue left, use a spoon or a dull knife to lift the hot sauce from the surface of the fabric. Avoid rubbing since it drives the stain deeper into the fabric. For liquid sauces, blot the stain with a paper towel or white cloth. If these are not available, use a slice of plain white bread to soak up the liquid.
- Use a stain removal pen if available.
- If possible, flush the stain with cold water. Simply hold the shirt on the opposite side directly under a running faucet. Allow the force of the water to drive the stain out of the fabric fibers.
- Soak a clean white cloth or sponge in distilled white vinegar. Start at the outside borders of the stain and move toward the middle. Sponge the stain and rinse thoroughly. Repeat the process until the stain is transferred from the fabric to the cloth or sponge.
- Treat the stain with a stain remover or heavy-duty liquid detergent, especially one that contain enzymes. Wash as usual based on the fabric care label.
- If a trace of the stain lingers, prepare a solution of oxygen-based bleach and tepid water. Saturate the entire garment into this solution. Let it soak for at least 4 hours or overnight and wash as usual.
How to get rid of hot sauce stains on furniture and carpet
For both upholstery and carpet, you can use this cleaning method to get rid of hot sauce stains. Just remember to avoid over-wetting the fabric of the upholstery.
- When the sauce spills on carpet or upholstery, scoop up any solid residue using a spoon or dull knife. Simply blot liquid hot sauce stains using paper towels or a white cloth. Start on the outside edge of the stain to prevent it from widening.
- Prepare a solution of 2 teaspoons of dish soap, ¼ cup distilled white vinegar and 2 cups of cool water.
- Soak a white cloth, sponge or soft-bristled brush into this solution. Begin at the exterior border of the stain and work the solution into the stain.
- Blot with a paper towel or clean white cloth to transfer the stain out of the upholstery or carpet. Continue to switch to a clean, dry area of the cloth until no color transfers.
- Saturate a clean white cloth into plain water to rinse out the site. Thoroughly rinse away the cleaning solution since it might attract dirt or debris. Continue to blot until there is no more leftover soapy residue.
- Allow the upholstery or carpet to air dry and vacuum to lift the fibers.
What removes hot sauce stains?
For those who love the tang of hot sauce on almost any dish, chances are you have faced a spill or two. The oil and red color from the chili peppers in the hot sauce can make a minor splatter into a stubborn mark. Luckily, you can try out these products at home to remove a hot sauce stain.
- Lemon and salt. Sprinkle salt on the stain and squeeze lemon juice on it. Spread the garment under the sun to dry. The citric acid in lemon juice together with the salt provides the mixture with its stain-removing properties. Remember though that the combination of lemon and sun exposure can cause the color to fade.
- White vinegar. This household product contains acetic acid that can remove a hot sauce stain. Sponge the vinegar onto the stained area after rinsing it from the opposite side with cold water, rubbing with laundry detergent and rinsing thoroughly. Repeat the process until the stain is removed. Rinse thoroughly with cool water and wash with a heavy-duty detergent.
- Cornstarch. Since hot sauce contains oil, you can use cornstarch for its absorbent properties. Rub it into the stain and let it sit for 20 minutes. Brush away with a clean cloth. Repeat this process several times to achieve the best results.
How do you get Tabasco sauce out of clothes?
Some people use Tabasco sauce on almost everything. If you accidentally splatter it on your clothes, it is important to treat it right away to prevent it from setting and becoming harder to remove.
- Run the fabric under cold running water. This will allow the water to run through the back of the stain to prevent it from spreading further or cause the stain to travel through the garment.
- Pre-treat the stain with liquid laundry detergent. Simply coat the stain and let it sit for several minutes.
- Rinse the site thoroughly
- Use a white cloth to sponge white vinegar onto the stained area and rinse properly. If you are going to place the garment in the dryer, inspect if the stain is completely removed. Do not place it in the dryer if a trace lingers, since it will set it.
- For a stubborn stain, soak it in warm water for up to 30 minutes. Wash the garment again, using either chlorine bleach or color-safe bleach, based on the fabric care label.
What home remedies can you use on hot sauce stains?
Hot sauce contains oils and tannins. Although it adds spice to any dish, it can be unappealing on clothes or other surfaces and a challenging ordeal to remove. By acting promptly and using the right cleaning techniques and products, you can get rid of a hot sauce stain. Let’s take a look at some of the effective home remedies you can use to deal with hot sauce stains.
- Classic stain removal method. Blot the excess hot sauce immediately with paper towels or a clean white cloth. Rub a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent into the stain. Machine-wash the garment using an all-fabric bleach. Before placing in a dryer, carefully check if the stain is completely gone. If a trace lingers, the heat of the dryer can set the stain permanently.
- Lemon and salt. Sprinkle salt on the stain and squeeze lemon juice on it and spread the garment to dry under the sun.
- White vinegar. Before using white vinegar, make sure to initially flush the stain from the back with cold water, rubbing it with laundry detergent and rinsing thoroughly. Sponge the vinegar onto the stain. Repeat the process until the stain is removed. Rinse with cool water and wash with heavy-duty detergent.
- Cornstarch. Rub cornstarch into the stain and let it sit for 20 minutes. Brush it away with a dry white cloth. You might repeat the process several times to completely get rid of the stain.
- Citrus oil. Dab citrus oil on the stain and place a paper towel on it. Use a steam iron on top of it to make the stain vanish.
This answers: how to remove buffalo sauce stain
Final thoughts
Hot sauce stains can become tricky to deal with if not dealt with right away. With the methods described on how to remove hot sauce stains, you can readily get rid of the stain so that your clothes will look as good as new again.