Gravy is groovy. A good meal is almost incomplete without tasty gravy beside it. And your love for it can easily be spotted from all the gravy stains on your clothes.
Spilling gravy on your favorite shirt, tie or blouse is almost inevitable. Of course, you didn’t do it on purpose. It’s just something you can’t avoid.
But it doesn’t mean the brown stain has to stay there forever. So what to do, you ask?
Well, there’s a middle ground for everything. You can eat delicious, mouthwatering gravy and also remove gravy stains from clothes.
The eating part you can do very well by yourself, and as far as cleaning part is concerned, here are 3 easy methods to remove gravy stains from clothes. Go ahead, treat your taste buds and develop a never-ending love for gravies like never before.
Contents
Method 1: Oxygen-Based Detergent
Oxygen-based detergents contain different ingredients that perform functions like conditioning the water, regulating the pH of the water and providing surfactants and oxidizers that help break down oily stains with ease.
You can use oxygen-based detergents for different fabrics such as clothing as well as tablecloths. Unlike harsh chemicals like ammonia and even bleach, this one is quite gentle on fabric as well as your skin.
# For Clothing
Things you’ll need:
- Oxygen-based detergent (powerful stain remover) – 2 tablespoons
- Water – ½ cup
- Paper towels
Step 1. Soak up the excess gravy using paper towels
- Use paper towels to soak up as much of the excess gravy as you can from the surface of the fabric.
Step 2. Dissolve the oxygen-based detergent in water
- Put 2 tablespoons of oxygen-based detergent in a bowl. Make sure that the bowl is big enough to completely soak the stained area of the fabric.
- Pour ½ cup of water into the bowl.
- Stir well to dissolve the detergent completely.
Step 3. Soak the stained area in the detergent solution
- Immerse the stained area in the oxygen-based detergent solution.
- Rub the stain gently to work some of the solution into it.
- Let it soak for 25 to 30 minutes.
Step 4. Rinse and wash the item
- Rinse the fabric with running water and launder it as usual.
# For Tablecloths, Napkins and Other Items
Things you’ll need:
- Oxygen-based detergent (powerful stain remover) – 2 tablespoons
- Water – ½ cup
- Paper towels
Step 1. Soak up the excess gravy with paper towels
- Soak up as much of the excess gravy as you can, using paper towels.
- Gently blot at the stain without spreading it further.
Step 2. Add water to the oxygen-based detergent
- Put 2 tablespoons of oxygen-based detergent in a bowl.
- Add ½ cup of water to it.
- Mix the ingredients together until the detergent dissolves.
Step 3. Soak the stained area in the solution
- Put the gravy-stained area into the detergent solution, and gently scrub at the stain.
- Let it soak for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Rinse the item and wash it with laundry soap thereafter.
Method 2: Bleach
Bleach can effectively remove gravy stains from clothes or other fabrics. It works best on white fabrics. It changes the stains chemically, breaking them down and eliminating them.
Before proceeding, always read the fabric care label on the clothing or other item to ensure that it is bleach-safe. If unsure, always do a patch test in an inconspicuous area before using bleach to remove the stains.
Step 1. Soak up the excess gravy using paper towels
- Blot the stain with paper towels to soak up any excess gravy on the surface of the fabric. Make sure you do not spread the stain any further.
Step 2. Mix the water and bleach powder in a bowl
- Put 1 tablespoon of bleach powder in a bowl. The bowl should be big enough to easily soak the stained area of the fabric.
- Pour in ½ cup of water.
- Stir well to dissolve the bleach completely in the water.
Step 3. Soak the stained area in the bleach solution
- Immerse the stained area in the bleach solution.
- Let it soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4. Rinse and wash as usual
- Rinse the fabric with running water, and put the item in the wash as usual.
Method 3: Hydrogen Peroxide and Liquid Detergent
Hydrogen peroxide combined with liquid detergent fights stains wonderfully well. Hydrogen peroxide – with its extra oxygen molecule compared to water – lifts the stains out, while the liquid detergent further removes any trace of the stain. It cleans your fabric and easily gets rid of the gravy stain.
Things you’ll need:
- Hydrogen peroxide (mild bleach and stain remover) – 2 parts
- Liquid detergent (cleaning agent) – 1 part
Step 1. Blot the stained area with paper towels
- Blot up the excess gravy from the fabric with paper towels.
Step 2. Mix the liquid detergent and hydrogen peroxide together
- Put 1 part of liquid detergent in a bowl.
- Pour 2 parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide into it.
- Stir it well to dissolve the detergent into the hydrogen peroxide.
- Optionally, you can also dilute the solution further with some water. This can be done if the fabric of the stained clothing is too delicate to tolerate undiluted hydrogen peroxide.
Step 3. Soak the stained area in the solution
- Immerse the gravy-stained area in the solution.
- Give it a little rub, and let it soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4. Rinse and wash as usual
- Remove the fabric from the solution and check the stained area. Repeat the soaking if the stain is stubborn, until you get the desired result.
- Rinse it with running water, and wash the item with laundry soap as you usually do.
Tips
- Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin while using hydrogen peroxide or bleach. They contain chemicals that can burn and harm your skin.
- Dab and blot the paper towels on the fabric to remove the excess gravy. Rubbing the stain with the paper towels will only cause it to spread further.
- Remove gravy stains from clothes as soon as you possibly can. Don’t sit around and wait for the weekend to come. Dry, old gravy stains are very hard to get out. Act quickly and save your clothing from a permanent stain.
- Always do a patch test in an inconspicuous area of the fabric before using the hydrogen peroxide or bleach methods, as they may cause color in your fabric to bleed.