Remove a Mustard Stain

Mustard spills can be annoying, since the mixture of turmeric and oil produces a bright, tough to remove stain. There are many remedies you can attempt at home, but depending on the specific mustard recipe you may need to try several of them. Removing stains from washable clothing has a higher success rate than upholstery or carpets, since it can be thoroughly cleaned in a machine or washing tub.

Steps

Washing Mustard Stains off Clothing

  1. Blot fresh stains. Immediately press a clean, dry towel over the stain, flipping it over or moving to a new area when the current section has absorbed some of the stain. Use an absorbent towel such as terry cloth, or simply a paper towel.
  2. Scrape off dried mustard. Use a butter knife or other utensil to remove the excess mustard. Only scrape dried stains, not wet, to prevent the mustard from spreading. Shake the clothing afterward to remove flecks of dry mustard, which could cause additional stains when washed.
  3. Rinse with cold running water. Flush cold running water over the stain to remove as much as possible. Try to rinse from the back of the fabric, on the opposite side from the stain. This helps excess mustard fall away from the clothing instead of pushing through the fabric.[1]
  4. Apply detergent or stain remover over the stain. Use a commercial stain remover if you have one, as long as it does not contain ammonia. Liquid laundry detergent is a fine alternative, as is simply rubbing the stain with bar soap. Use caution while rubbing to avoid spreading the stain further.
    • Ammonia reacts with turmeric, the ingredient in mustard that makes it yellow, and may make the color set further.[2] Check the ingredients of commercial cleaning products first to help you avoid using ammonia-based products.
    • If you are not sure whether your clothing item can be washed, rub the detergent in an inconspicuous corner first, then rinse out. If the color or texture of the fabric is affected, you may wish to use a different method.
  5. Add bleach to your washing machine or tub. If the clothing is white, use chlorine bleach, which should be quite effective in removing the stain.[3] If the clothing is any other color, use color-safe bleach to avoid fading your clothing or covering it with white spots; this is a less powerful stain remover but may still succeed.
    • Bleach is typically added to a separate washing machine dispenser than your laundry detergent, which should also be added as usual. If your top-loaded machine has no dispenser, or if you are washing the clothes by hand, pour directly into machine or tub. Use 1 part bleach to 30 parts water, or about 1/2 cup (120 mL) for a typical laundry load.[4]
  6. Wash white cotton in hot water, and delicate clothing in warm or cold. The hotter the water, the more effective it will be at removing stains. However, hot water may damage delicate fabrics, or cause light-colored clothing to fade and stain other items in the wash machine. Check the clothing tag to find the maximum temperature the clothing can be washed at. When in doubt, wash delicate items in cold water.
    • Wash as soon as you can after applying the detergent or stain remover. Letting the stain remover sit on the stain for too long may make the stain harder to remove.[5]
  7. Examine the stain before continuing. Do not place your item in a dryer or on a drying rack until you are sure the stain is gone. Drying the clothing may make the stain set further. If the stain is still present, continue on to the section on persistent stains before the clothing dries. If the stain is no longer visible, you may dry your clothing as normal.

Removing Stains from Furniture and Carpets

  1. Scrape off excess mustard. Use a spoon or other utensil to pick up excess mustard from the upholstery or carpet. Take care to lift fresh mustard directly up and away from the stained surface, rather than spreading it further. You may wish to use a butter knife to scrape off dried mustard stains.
  2. Mix a mild detergent in water. Take one cup (240 mL) of lukewarm water and stir in one teaspoon (5 mL) of mild detergent. Avoid using harsh cleaning products such as bleach, bicarbonate of soda, or washing soda.[6]
  3. Let the mixture sit on the stain for 5 to 10 minutes. Use a sponge or towel to apply the detergent mixture over the mustard stain. Leave it in place for 5 to 10 minutes while the material absorbs the cleaning product.
  4. Blot the stain. Use a paper towel or dry, absorbent towel to press against the stain and wet area. If the stain does not come off, rub slightly, taking care not to spread it further. Mustard stains are among the hardest food stains to remove, so results may be limited.
  5. Repeat or move on to other methods. If some but not all of the yellow stain came off onto your towel, you may succeed by repeating this method one or more times. Remember to let each application of detergent and water sit for at least 5 minutes before blotting.
    • If the first attempt with detergent produced no noticeable results, move on to the section on persistent stains.

Removing Persistent Stains

  1. Test these methods in a corner of the stained object first. These methods are more powerful than the basic methods described above, but they may harm the fabric or carpet as well as remove the stain. If you are concerned with possible effects these substances may have on the color or texture of your material, apply them to an unobtrusive corner of the object first. Wait 10 minutes, then blot with a towel and see if the material has been affected.
  2. Apply a mixture of rubbing alcohol and dish soap. Mix three parts liquid dish soap together with one part rubbing alcohol and let sit on the material for 10 minutes before rinsing in hot water or blotting with a wet towel.[2] Run clothing through the laundry under normal settings. Alcohol is a powerful solvent, meaning that the oils in the mustard stain may dissolve in this alcohol-based cleaning solution.
    • Liquid glycerin or "glycerol" has similar properties to this mixture and can be used in its place.
    • Note: If using this method on an article of clothing, place the clothing over a towel or other absorbent material first. The alcohol mixture will likely soak right through the clothing.
  3. Cover the stain with the same type of mustard and repeat the cleaning method. While this is not always successful, sometimes you can make a dry stain easier to remove by making it wet again with the original source of the stain. After applying the mustard, wait 5 minutes, blot thoroughly with a towel, and treat as described in the clothing or furniture sections.
    • Only use the same type and brand of mustard as the one that caused the stain: the oils and turmeric that caused the stain was made to dissolve in that particular mix of ingredients.[2]
    • Note: Take care to apply mustard only over the original stain, and not to rub it onto a larger area when blotting it out. Do not test the "fresh mustard" method on an unstained portion of the material.
  4. Try a mix of white vinegar and water. Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water and apply with a spray bottle or sponge.[6] Let sit 10 minutes, then blot with a wet towel. Run clothing through the laundry. Vinegar is a less powerful stain remover than alcohol or detergent, but because it has different chemical properties, it will sometimes work on stains that the previous substances fail to remove.
  5. Bleach the stain with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide may cause fading or discoloration, but it is sometimes used to treat carpet stains. Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the stain and let stand one hour. Blot with a dry towel and repeat if necessary. Exposure to light will cause the hydrogen peroxide to deteriorate into water, so no rinsing is necessary.[6]



Tips

  • If nothing you try removes a stain from delicate clothing, try repeating the cleaning method with warm or hot water. It may damage the clothing or change its texture, but if the clothing is already unwearable due to the stain you may wish to risk it.

Warnings

  • Never use bleach on fabrics that are not white unless the bleach is color safe!

Things You'll Need

  • A butter knife or spoon
  • Stain remover or soap
  • Laundry detergent
  • Paper towel or absorbent towel

Plus any or all of the following for persistent stains:

  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Liquid glycerin
  • Dish soap
  • Mustard
  • White vinegar
  • Water
  • 3% hydrogen peroxide

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://jezebel.com/when-condiments-attack-mustard-mayo-ketchup-stain-r-635779248
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/mustard-stain.html
  3. ↑ http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01249.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.clorox.com/cleaning-and-laundry-tips/laundry/laundry-advice/how-to-use-bleach/
  5. ↑ http://www.stain-removal-101.com/pretreater.html
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.bubblesandsuds.ca/spot-removal/mustard-stains
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