How to Remove Beet Stains from Fabric

Benjamin asked, “How do you get beet juice off dress clothes?”

You Will Need:

• Dull knife or spoon
• White bread
• Water
• Bucket, bowl or sink
• Borax
• Dish soap
• Commercial stain treatment
• Hydrogen peroxide

Steps to Remove the Beet Stain:

1. Scoop up or scrape as much of the spill as you can using the knife or spoon.²
2. Dredge a piece of white bread in cold water. Place it on top of the stain to soak up the spill. Flip the bread over or change it out for a new piece until as much of the spill is soaked up as possible. Use cold water to rinse well.²
3. If your item is white, place it over a sink with the wrong side of the stain up. Spread borax over the back of the fabric where the stain is located and, using the hottest water the label instruction allows, very carefully pour the water over the stain. Hold the water as high as you can, using caution that the water does not splash on you.¹
4. If your item is colored, in a bucket/bowl/sink big enough to cover your item, pour 1 pint of warm water and mix in 1 tablespoon borax. Allow the item to soak for one hour, then wash as recommended.¹
5. If you don’t have borax, place the item in cold water right away for two hours. After that, fabrics other than wool can have dish soap rubbed on the stain. Allow it to stand for 30 minutes, rinse and do over as many times as needed. Rinse and wash as recommended.¹
6. You can also use a commercial stain treatment. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then wash as recommended.²
7. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines, wash as recommended using an enzyme detergent.²
8. For a stubborn stain, mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. Dab onto the stain and place the item in the sun. Don’t let it dry out until the stain is removed. Rinse and wash as recommended.² Keep in mind that peroxide can bleach some colors of fabric.

• If the cleaning solutions are not working with colored items, drape the item over a small container, place the container in the sink and allow cold water to drip on the stain. Try this for three to four hours.²

1. Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
2. Field Guide to Stains by Virginia M. Friedman, Melissa Wagner & Nancy Armstrong