How to Remove Set-In Food Coloring Stains From Clothing

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JUMP TO SOLUTION

Food coloring stains don’t have to be a headache! Whether it's red, blue, green, or yellow, this easy two-step method will help you get rid of stubborn stains fast.

The two steps:

Part 1: Pre-treat the stain to remove as much food coloring residue as possible.

Part 2: Break down the remaining pigmentation stain using oxygen bleach (color safe bleach)

SKIP TO:

- Part 1 - Pre-Treatment

- Part 2 - Set-In Food Colouring Stains

Part 1: Pre-Treat the Food Coloring Stain

The goal of pre-treatment is to remove as much of the food coloring as possible before using one of the set-in stain-removal methods outlined in the next section.

Rinse or soak with cold water: Rinse the stained garment with cold water, or soak it in cold water. With most modern food coloring, water alone is enough to remove all or a significant portion of the stain.
Apply a cleaning agent: The below cleaning agents are highly effective for food coloring stains
- Liquid laundry detergent (Tide, Persil, Gain)
- Isopropyl alcohol (70% - 99%)
Tamp and agitate: Apply gentle agitation with a soft bristle brush like a Horse Hair Brush. Agitation is best done while the fabric is submerged underwater so as not to spread the stain to other parts of the fabric.
Rinse: Rinse the stained area with cold water.
Repeat if necessary: Repeat as needed until stain-removal progress stalls, and then move on to the set-in stain removal methods outlined in Part 2 to treat any remaining set-in food coloring stains.

Part 2: Remove Set-In Food Coloring Stains

OPTION 1- Using Oxygen Bleach (OxiClean)

Food coloring is made of pigments that can bond to fabric, making them tough to remove once they’ve set in. Set-in food coloring stains can occur when a stain is left untreated or the garment is exposed to heat before the stain is fully removed. But don’t worry, oxygen bleach can break down these pigments and fully remove set-in food coloring stains.

Mix the oxygen bleach:
In a basin or bucket, combine hot water with the maximum recommended amount of powdered oxygen bleach (follow the product instructions for proper mixing).
Soak the stained fabric:
Submerge the stained item in the solution and let it soak for up to 6 hours, or until the stain is gone. Check the fabric periodically to assess the progress.
Repeat if Needed:
If any stain remains, repeat the soaking process with a fresh solution of oxygen bleach until the stain is completely removed. In the demonstration above, two oxygen bleach (OxiClean) soaks were needed to fully remove the 6 food coloring stains.
Rinse or Wash:
Once the stain has disappeared, rinse the garment thoroughly. Then, wash as usual in the washing machine, or run a rinse and spin cycle to remove any remaining oxygen bleach.

Note:

Oxygen bleach is safe for most fabrics, including colored and dark fabrics, and won’t damage the color.
Some food coloring is made from natural pigments, such as curcumin from turmeric. For difficult-to-remove yellow food coloring stains that may be caused by a natural food coloring product, refer to our Turmeric Stain Removal Guide, where we demonstrate additional methods for removing turmeric stains, including UV light and sunlight.

OPTION 2 - Using Hydrogen Peroxide and a Clothing Iron

A second method to remove set-in food coloring stains is with a clothing iron and hydrogen peroxide.

Apply the Hydrogen Peroxide: Lightly spray the food coloring stain with 3% or 6% hydrogen peroxide. While 6% hydrogen peroxide typically produces faster results, both concentrations are effective at removing coffee stains.
Cover the stain with and iron: Using a clothing iron on the lowest heat setting, iron the stained area until the hydrogen peroxide has completely evaporated. The gentle heat from the iron speeds up evaporation, causing the hydrogen peroxide to break down into oxygen and water. This creates an oxidation reaction that breaks down the coffee pigments that have set into the fabric.
Repeat as needed: Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the coffee stain has completely disappeared.
Allow the garment to dry: Once the stain is gone, allow the garment to dry completely. Hydrogen peroxide leaves no residue behind, so once the garment is dry, it is safe to wear or put away.

Note: Always use the lowest heat setting on your iron. The purpose of the iron is simply to aid evaporation. High heat is unnecessary and could possibly damage the fabric.

Final Tips