How to Remove Beet Stains From Clothes

How to Get Beet Stains Out of Clothes

Like other tannin-based stains, quick treatment offers the best chance for success in removing beet stains. Here's how:

1. Remove Chunks of Beet

   If a beet lands in your lap, remove any pieces with a dull knife or the edge of a spoon. Do not rub the stain, or you can spread it and push the dye deeper into fabric fibers.

2. Blot the Stain

   • Blot the wet stain with a clean white paper towel or even a slice of white bread to absorb as much liquid as possible.
   • As quickly as you can, flood the beet-stained area with cold water.
     

3. Rinse Clean

   Flush under a stream of cold running water from the wrong side of the fabric to force out the dye.
   

4. Pretreat the Stain

   Pretreat the beet stain using lemon juice, vinegar, or dish soap:

   • Apply a mild bleaching agent like lemon juice or vinegar directly to the stain, then let it rest for a few minutes.
   • Use 1 tablespoon of dish soap mixed with 1 cup of cold water to gently dab the stain.
   • After using either pretreatment method, rinse the item again before proceeding.

   Tip

   Always test stain treatments and detergents on an inconspicuous area of the clothing first to test for colorfastness.

5. Apply Enzyme-Based Stain Remover

   Next, treat the stained area with a stain remover. If you don't have a stain remover, work a bit of heavy-duty detergent that contains enough stain-removing enzymes to be effective (Tide and Persil are considered heavy-duty) into the stained area. 

6. Rinse in Cold Water

   Allow the cleaning solution to work on the fabric for at least fifteen minutes, then rinse it in cold water. This will remove any oily components or other ingredients in the beet dish from the fabric as well.
   

7. Soak in Bleach Solution

   • If traces of the red color remain (and it probably will), mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and cool water. Common brands include OxiClean, Nellie's All Natural Oxygen Brightener, or OXO Brite.
   • Follow the package directions to determine the correct ratio of oxygen bleach per gallon of water.
   • Mix enough so that the entire garment or tablecloth can be completely submerged.
   • Allow the fabric to soak for at least eight hours.

8. Wash as Usual

   • Check the beet stain. If it is gone, wash as usual and air dry the garment in a place away from direct sunlight.
   • If it remains, mix a fresh solution and repeat. It may take several soaks in oxygen bleach to completely remove the stain.

When to Call a Professional

With dry-clean only clothes, lift away any beet solids using a dull knife or spoon. The sooner you take it to the dry cleaner, the better. Always point out and identify the stain to the professional cleaner to help them remove it properly. It's best to leave these stubborn stains to the professionals, as a home dry-cleaning kit may not be powerful enough to remove it. Without proper pre-treatment and care, the heat from your own dryer may make the stain permanent.

Additional Tips for Handling Beet Stains on Clothes

If the stain persists after treating it with stain removers and oxygen bleach, take the garment to a professional cleaner or dry cleaner. Do not place the garment in a machine dryer or allow it to dry in sunlight, as heat can set the stain further. A professional cleaner can most likely remove the stain as long as the clothing has not been dried with heat.