The Ultimate Guide to Removing Food Stains

Welcome to the ultimate guide to stain removal, co-created with Pascale Allaert, Linen and Textile Care Expert - Meilleur Ouvrier de France Nettoyeur Apprêteur Teinturerie. In this article, we'll show you practical and effective tips to say goodbye to food stains that can often ruin your favourite clothes and textiles. Did you get a stain on yourself while eating? We have all the solutions you need!

The whole family loves chocolate! Unfortunately, your clothes, much less so. Delicious to eat, it can leave some very intimidating stains on your belongings. But it's still possible to get rid of it! To remove a chocolate stain, follow these simple steps:

1. Carefully remove the excess chocolate with a spatula or the handle of a cutlery knife.
2. Dab the stain with a clean cloth soaked in cold water.
3. Apply a small amount of dishwashing liquid to the stain and gently rub gently with a toothbrush to remove the chocolate.
4. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
5. If the stain persists, try mixing a room temperature solution of water with a teaspoon of lemon juice, then gently dab the stain with this solution.
6. Don't forget to rinse with cold water afterwards.

Tomato sauce stains can be particularly difficult to remove due to their bright colour and acid content. Here's how you can get rid of a tomato sauce stain without damaging your garment:

1. For fresh stains, immediately blot the stain with a clean terry towel soaked in cold water to remove as much of the sauce as possible.
2. Prepare a solution of one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and one cup of cold water.
3. Gently dab the stain with this solution from the edges towards the centre.
4. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
5. If the stain persists, put a drop of dishwashing liquid directly on the stain.
6. Work the stain with a toothbrush and rinse with cold water.
7. Repeat as long as the "foam" produced by the dishwashing liquid is pink.
8. If the stain remains, dab it with a drop of lemon juice
9. Don't forget to rinse with cold water afterwards.
10. Finally, wash the item with a special detergent for colours or wool.

Have you spilled oil on your carpet? Or did vinaigrette get on your pants? Don't panic, we have tips to remove any oil stain:

1. Gently rub the stain with a dry terry towel to remove as much oil as possible.
2. Absorb excess oil by sprinkling talcum powder, Sommières earth, or cornstarch over the stain. Leave on for a few minutes for the powder to absorb the oil, then shake the garment to remove the powder.
3. Mix a solution of one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and a cup of cold water.
4. Dab the stain with this solution starting from the edges towards the centre.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
6. If the oil stain persists, you can use hand sanitiser (not gel). First, test on a hidden area of the textile to make sure it can withstand alcohol and won't discolour. If everything is in order, on dry fabric, try dabbing the stain with a little hydro alcoholic liquid (not gel).

Condiment stains can range from mustard and ketchup to soya sauce stains. Here's how to get rid of them effectively:

1. Gently scrape off excess condiments with a spatula or the handle of a cutlery knife to remove as much residue as possible.
2. Prepare a solution of one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and one cup of cold water.
3. Dab the stain with this solution starting from the edges towards the centre.
4. Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
5. For mustard stains, you can also try applying a little white vinegar to the stain before washing it.

With these simple and effective tricks, you can save your clothes, tablecloths and other textiles from food stains. Remember to act quickly for best results and always test on a small, hidden area of the fabric before applying a solution to the entire stain. Share these handy tips with your loved ones to help them keep their clothes looking their best. Visit our ultimate stain removal guide for solutions to all common types of stains!