Chipper asked, “Soy sauce stain on my right leg… Ladies?!?!”
Table of Contents:
Soy sauce is a condiment that can leave a light brown stain. Soy sauce stains can be stubborn to remove, especially from light-colored clothing. It is always best to try to remove the stain while it is fresh. Stains that have set are always harder to get out. There are a few cleaning solutions that can be successful. Choose a solution and follow the steps below. Always test a cleaning solution on a hidden area first to avoid damaging the garment.
You Will Need:
- Vegetable glycerin
- Water
- Clean white cloth
- Cleaning solution (choose one):
- White vinegar
- Clear dishwashing liquid
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Ammonia
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- For an old stain, rub glycerin (in liquid form, found at your local drugstore) into the material, let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with cold water.¹
- Hold the garment inside-out with your hands on either side of the stain under a strong flowing stream of cold water. Run the water through the material from the back side of the stain.²
- Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar to 1 cup water.¹
- Blot at the stain with the vinegar solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
- Rinse well.
- Mix ¼ teaspoon clear dishwashing liquid to 1 cup water.¹
- Blot at the stain with the dish soap solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
- Mix equal amounts of isopropyl alcohol and water.¹
- Blot at the stain with the alcohol solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
- Mix 1 tablespoon ammonia to ½ cup water.³ Do not use ammonia on wool; it will damage the fibers.
- Blot at the stain with the ammonia solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
- Soy sauce stains can be stubborn; if the stain remains after using one cleaning solution, rinse well and try another.
- When stain is removed, rinse well.
- Launder according to manufacturer’s label.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Do not heat dry the garment until the stain is removed. Heat drying will set the stain.⁴
- If the fabric is a specialty fabric, e.g.: silk, wool, or satin, you may want to consider professional cleaning.⁴
- These same steps can also be applied to some kinds of carpet and cloth upholstery. Always test a cleaning solution on a hidden area first to check for any adverse effects.
- Wear gloves and ventilate the area when using ammonia. See Wikipedia for more safety information.
- Wear gloves and ventilate the area when using isopropyl alcohol. Do not use isopropyl alcohol around heat or an open flame. See Wikipedia for more safety information.
Sources
- Natural Stain Remover Secrets by Deborah L. Martin
- Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
- Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
- The Cleaning Encyclopedia by Don Aslett
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