How to Remove Yellow Food Stains From White Clothes

Picture yourself in a white top at your best friend’s party. It is progressing perfectly, as you sip your favorite passion juice while nibbling at a piece of yellow butter cake. Then out of nowhere, someone tips your juice, spilling it on your top.

Yikes! What to do now? Your top is completely ruined, or is it?

Below, we share a procedure for removing, other expert tips on stain removal, frequently asked questions, and more.

You can opt for commercial products or homemade solutions to remove yellow food stains. One of the widely available stain removers is vinegar. Pretreat the stain by soaking it in white vinegar solution, dab it repeatedly until it is removed, and then wash normally.

Washing Yellow Foods Stains With Household Items

In this list are versatile substances found around your home that, while having other uses are fantastic in yellow food stain removal.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a common household item that works magic when it comes to removing yellow food stains. Not only for its stains-removing power, but it is also a fantastic alternative to bleach. 

To remove the stain, soak your clothes in one part vinegar to 6 parts warm water and wait for a minimum of one hour before washing normally. 

Remember also that vinegar is a wonderful fabric softener. Add half a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle, and your white clothes will come out whiter and softer as well.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

You might need a combination of stain-removing agents for tough yellow food stains. 

A good example is hydrogen peroxide and baking soda solution. Add one tablespoon each of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda into half a cup of water. 

Stir well, and using a toothbrush, spread the paste on the stain until it sufficiently covers the stain. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes and launder as usual. Do not forget to check if the stain is cleared and if not, repeat the process.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is not only great for cleaning stains; it leaves a fruity fragrance, making your clothes smell fresh and natural.

However, be careful with lemon as it can have bleaching effects. You might want to check the wash instruction for compatibility with bleaches. 

Drop some drops of lemon juice on the yellow food stain and wait for 1 hour. Thereafter, add a ½ cup of lemon juice to the detergent water mix in the washing machine before washing. 

Toothpaste 

Toothpaste doesn’t only whiten teeth, but it can penetrate the clothing fiber and lift the enzyme food stains. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the stain to soften it, and apply a thin layer of toothpaste over it. 

Next, scrub with a toothbrush for a minute or two before washing as usual. In case you noticed, we have used wonky white toothpaste in this procedure. It is recommended to avoid using colored toothpaste as it may leave its own stain. 

Using Aspirin

Most people know Aspirin as a medication. However, other than relieving body pain and fever, it releases stains off your clothes as well. Crush a few aspirin tabs; 4 to 5 are enough. 

In half a cup of hot water, stir the mix to form a paste, and smear it on the stain. Wait for 1 ½ hour as its salicylic acid goes to dismantle the stain.

I also wrote a guide on how to remove gravy stains that may interest you.

Using Store-Bought Items

These are items easily obtainable from nearby home improvement stores.

Stain Remover Detergents

Yellow food stain removers are plenty in the market. All you have to do is to buy your favorite detergent, measure the right dose and toss it into the washing machine drum, and wash as usual. Moreover, some of the detergents have specific enzymes for yellow food stains. For better results, pretreat before washing.

Bleach

Bleach is especially phenomenal in removing yellow food stains on white clothes as it is a bleaching agent. This makes it a powerful stain remover since it clears every speck of dirt and stain, making white garments even whiter. However, be sure to check the manufacturer’s wash instructions since some fabrics wear out with continuous bleaching.

Borax

Other than its cleaning power, the great thing with borax is its deodorizing effects on clothes too. Borax kills odor-causing bacteria or mold caused by, for example, food stains.

If your entire white shirt has turned yellow, I also have a dedicated guide that will help you.

Expert Tips on Cleaning Yellow Food Stains

Following these steps will ease the cleaning of food stains.

Wipe up the Food Stain

Use a blunt item, for example, a clean tablespoon, to scrape off the excess food matter before swabbing off with a clean paper towel.

Relax

Panicking and desperately rubbing out the stain will only make it messier. First, stop panicking as you deal with the stain, and you will have better results.

Know Your Stain

Most food stains are either grease, tannins, or proteins. So knowing the stain type will help in picking the right stain removal agent and its removal procedure.

Test the Stain Remover

Ideally, you should read the garment tag for the manufacturer’s washing instructions. But that aside, testing guarantees you’re using the right stain remover to avoid ruining the whole garment. You can do this by placing a drop or two on an unnoticeable part of the garment and observing the results.

Pretreat With Stain Removers

Pretreating guarantees better results. Soak with stain removing concentrates on the specific stained part before tossing the garment to the washing machine for the general wash.

Fresh Stains Are Easier to Remove

Wash stains the earliest to avoid them setting on the fabric. The older the stain, the harder it is to wash.

Next, I have written an article on how to remove egg stains from clothes that may interest you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Yellow Foods Stains on White Clothes Are Most Pesky?

Grease or oil stains are the peskiest stains on white garments since it keeps spreading and worsening with time. Furthermore, it has the tendency to collect dust and form an even tougher bond with the clothing fabric.

Is Yellow Food Stains Worse on White Clothes?

Naturally, white clothes stain more than colored clothes. Moreover, stains are more conspicuous in white than in colored clothes. This makes the stain worse on the garment as it can be spotted farther than in colored clothes.

How Can I Prevent Yellow Food Stains on Clothes?

To prevent food stains on white clothes, improvise a “bib” from paper towels and napkins by tucking it around the collar. This will prevent fluid foods and drinks from falling into the garment and soiling it.  

Here you can learn how to remove food coloring stains from your clothes and skin.