There’s nothing quite like a large, steaming bowl of chili on a cold winter’s night with beans, tomato sauce, and spicy chili seasoning. However, like wine stains and blood stains, it’s challenging to remove chili from the fabric after accidental spills. Learn how to get chili out of clothes using the proper stain remover for the job.
There are many reasons for chili stains, whether you splatter sauce on the front of your shirt while making a big batch of chili or drip hot chili pepper sauce from a taco. Whatever the cause, it’s vital to quickly ensure the chili or tomato sauce stain doesn’t set into the fabric, leaving a permanent red mark.
While chili leaves a tough stain on your clothing, it’s not impossible to remove. The key is to use a paper towel to blot as much of the stain as possible to remove excess hot sauce before applying a stain treatment or cleaner.
Ways to Remove Chili Stains From Clothes
Stain removal methods vary depending on the different stains, and what works for some doesn’t always work for others. We put together a list of the best stain removers for greasy food stains from clothes, like hot sauce, chili, and barbecue meats.
How to Remove Chili Stains From Fabric
Does chili come out of clothes? Yes, it does. White vinegar is a good choice to clean food stains on your clothing since it lifts the sauce and oil stain from the material. Discover how to remove chili stains from fabric with a vinegar soak.
Hold the fabric beneath cold running water to flush away as much of the sauce as possible. Pour half a cup of cold water and half a cup of vinegar into a plastic bin and soak the item in the solution for ten minutes. Remove the garment, blot at the stained area with a paper towel, and repeat the steps until the stain is no longer present.
Getting Chili Out of Clothes With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has mild bleaching abilities. It is perfect for getting chili out of clothes without using chlorine bleach. Find out how to use peroxide as a chili stain remover by combining it with water.
Combine two cups of water with a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a bottle sprayer and shake the container well. Lay the clothing on a clean surface, with the chili grease stain facing up, and spray the liquid directly onto the stained area.
Use a clean white cloth to blot at the spot to lift the sauce from the fabric. Inspect the clothes for remaining stains and repeat if necessary.
How to Get Chili Out of Clothes With Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is an alternative to hydrogen peroxide if the stain is on colored fabric. It contains citric acid, which breaks up stains and is ideal for chili oil stain removal. Use this acidic liquid for removing chili from clothing.
Lay the clothing flat and squeeze lemon juice directly onto the stain. Sprinkle salt over the same area and rub it into the fabric with a dry cloth. Hold the garment beneath running water to rinse away the salt.
Apply more lemon juice and a squirt of dish soap, rub the stain with your fingers, and rinse the fabric to flush away all the residue.
Pretreat Clothes to Remove a Chili Stain
It’s essential to pretreat clothes before cleaning them in the washer to ensure the machine effectively removes the laundry stain. Tomato sauce can ruin clothing, so it’s essential to treat the stain before washing. Discover how to remove chili stains from fabric by pretreating the material with a stain fighter or DIY treatment.
Follow the instructions for your stain remover, or use an enzyme laundry detergent. Lay the clothing item on a clean towel, and place a washcloth between the fabric to protect the clean areas from the chili stain.
Pour just enough laundry detergent over the stain to cover it. Massage the soap into the clothing with your fingertips or a sponge and let it sit for several minutes before transferring it to the washing machine.
Removing Chili Stains From Fabric
Your washing machine is the best tool for getting chili out of clothes after pretreating the fabric. Learn how to remove the remaining stain and cleaner residue from your clothes by cleaning them in the washer.
Check the care tag on your garment to ensure it’s safe for machine washing. Add your favorite laundry detergent and the stained item to the washer, and use the cold or warm water setting to clean the clothes. Avoid using hot water, which may set chili stains permanently in the fabric.
When the wash cycle completes, check your clothing to ensure the stain is completely gone and dry it in the clothes dryer with fabric softener or hang it up to air dry. Do not dry the item if chili grease is still on the fabric. Instead, use a stain remover or rewash the item.
Everyone has their secret recipe for chili, whether mild or extra hot and spicy. Unfortunately, the combination of tomato juice, cooking oil, hot sauce, chili spices, and other ingredients is enough to create a stubborn stain on your clothing. Luckily, lemon juice, liquid detergent, or vinegar works wonders for removing chili and oil stains.
Now that you know how to get chili out of clothes with simple cleaning solutions, why not share our chili stain removal tips with your family and friend circle on Pinterest and Facebook?