Carrots might be good for your eyes, but stains from the juice can create quite the eyesore if they land on your clothes, carpet or furniture. If you love fresh vegetable juice, but hate the splatter, take this advice from cleaning pros to remove orange-colored stains.
How to removing carrot stains from ...
... washable clothing
Dan Miller, founder and CEO of Mulberrys Garment Care, treats carrot stains in washable clothing as he does other plant-based stains, however, he recommends that silk and wool clothing should be professionally cleaned.
- Pre-treat the stain with lemon juice or vinegar to break down the stain. Allow it work for five minutes. (It may also be helpful to tamp the stain with a small brush or toothbrush during that time.)
- Rinse with water to make sure that the acid doesn't damage the garment. In most cases, the pre-treatment will loosen the stain.
- Flush the underside of the stain with a solution of 1 tablespoon laundry detergent and 3 cups of warm water.
- Machine wash as usual.
- If the stain remains, treat it with an enzyme-based stain remover containing pectinase and allow it to work for 15 minutes, then wash as usual.
- If the stain persists, your final option would be to use an oxygenated bleach such as hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach. These products can cause color loss, so be sure to test in an inconspicuous spot first. Apply hydrogen peroxide or a diluted bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach to 1 cup of water) to the stain.
- Do not allow these products to sit on the fabric for more than a minute before flushing with warm water.
- Wash as usual. Do not machine dry unless stain is gone.
- If the stain remains, bring the garment to the dry cleaners.
... furniture
London-based cleaning expert, Lauren Haynes of Star Domestic Cleaners, provides this tip for removing carrot stains from upholstery. Haynes does not recommend to use this tip for silk, antique or vintage upholstery.
- Follow suggestions on the fabric care label.
- Remove the excess carrots and blot with a clean white cloth.
- Mix 2 cups of cool water with 1 tablespoon of liquid dish-washing detergent.
- Lightly apply the solution using a white cloth.
- Blot with a clean cloth until the liquid is absorbed.
- Repeat as needed until the spot is gone.
- Remove the remaining cleaning solution from the upholstery by dabbing the area again with another cloth rinsed in cool water.
- Blot dry.
... carpet
Jack White, vice-president of technical services for Rainbow International, removes carrot stains from carpet like this:
- If there is a large amount of carrots, remove it by scraping lightly with a spoon.
- Using a white cotton towel, blot to remove any residual carrots.
- Mix a solution of 1 teaspoon dish-washing detergent and 1 cup of water. Apply to carpet using a clean white towel.
- Work the solution into the spot with the towel, starting at the outer edge and working inward.
- Rinse by dabbing with water; blot until dry.
- If the stain remains, you can attempt to remove it with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution but first test it in an inconspicuous part of the carpet. Allow it to dry. If there is no color change, then dab the stain with hydrogen peroxide.
- Allow it to work for one minute.
- Rinse by dabbing with water; blot to dry.