How to Remove Berry Stains From Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery

These are the cleaners and natural alternatives you need for berry stains

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 5 - 10 mins
  • Total Time: 1 - 8 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0

The key to getting berry stains out of clothes or carpets is persistence, enzyme-based laundry detergent, and oxygen or chlorine bleach for tougher stains. The tannins or natural dyes in blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blackberries, and cranberries do not have to leave you with permanent stains. You can remove the stain if you act fast. However, the older the stain, the more difficult it is to remove.

The tannins in berries are so strong that they have been used to color yarn and fabric since ancient times. Berry stains can set in if you wait too long to treat the stain or if you put it in a high-heat cycle of a clothes dryer.

Follow these steps to remove berry stains with cleaning detergents at home, and check out these additional tips for using natural alternatives.

How to Remove Berry Stains

The Spruce / Madelyn Goodnight

Stain Type Tannin-based dye
Detergent Type Heavy-duty laundry detergent
Water Temperature Cold to warm
Cycle Type Normal

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Clothing

  • 1 Soft bristled brush
  • 1 Dull-edged knife
  • 1 Soaking basin
  • Washing machine

Carpet and Upholstery

  • 1 Dull-edged knife
  • 3 White cloths
  • Sponge
  • Eye-dropper (optional)

Materials

Clothing

  • Heavy-duty laundry detergent
  • Stain remover
  • Cold water
  • Chlorine bleach (optional)
  • Oxygen-based bleach (optional)

Carpet and Upholstery

  • Dishwashing soap
  • Warm water
  • Oxygen-based bleach (optional)
  • Hydrogen peroxide (optional)
  • Paper towels

Instructions

How to Remove Berry Stains From Clothing

materials for removing berry stains
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  1. Lift the Solids

    • Lift away any berry solids from the fabric's surface with a dull knife or the edge of a credit card. Do not rub because that will press the stain deeper into the fibers.
    • If you can't wash the garment immediately, dip a paper towel or white cloth in plain water and blot the stain.
    using a knife to lift stain solids
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  2. Flush With Cold Water

    Hold the stain under a faucet of running cold water. Flush from the opposite or back side of the fabric to force out the stain.

    flushing the stained garment with cold water
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  3. Pretreat the Stain

    • If the berry stain has dried, use a stain remover to pretreat the stain. Work the stain remover into the stain with a soft-bristled brush (or old toothbrush). If you don't have a stain remover, dab heavy-duty liquid detergent on the stain to pretreat it.
    • Allow it to remain on the stain for at least 15 minutes before washing.
    pretreating a berry stain
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    Tip

    Never use natural bar soap or soap flakes for cleaning berry stains since they make tannin stains more difficult to remove.

  4. Wash With Heavy-Duty Detergent

    Wash the garment using a heavy-duty detergent (Tide and Persil are considered heavy-duty and contain enough enzymes to break apart the stain). Use the hottest water recommended on the item's care label.

    putting a garment in the washer
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  5. Check the Stain Before Drying

    After washing, always check clothes to ensure no stains remain before putting them in the dryer. Putting a berry-stained item in the clothes dryer can make the stain permanent. If a stain remains, use a bleach soaking method.

    making sure the stain has lifted
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  6. Soak Tough Stains

    Some berry stains may need to be treated with bleach to remove lingering color. Use chlorine bleach on natural white fiber (cotton and linen) garments and table linens. For white synthetic fabrics or colored clothes, use oxygen-based bleach instead.

    • Chlorine bleach: Mix 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach per 1 gallon of water. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing well.
    • Oxygen bleach: Following the specific product's directions, mix warm water and oxygen-based bleach. Completely submerge the stained items and allow them to soak for at least four hours or overnight. Then wash as usual.
    bleach and water soak
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

How to Remove Berry Stains From Carpet and Upholstery

Use the same cleaning products and instructions to remove berry stains from carpet and upholstery. Take extra care not to over-saturate the cushions with the cleaning or rinsing solutions, which can cause moisture or mold problems in the future.

materias for removing berry stains
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  1. Remove Any Berry Solids and Liquids

    • Use a dull knife or the edge of a spoon to lift any solids from the carpet. Do not rub since it will push the stain deeper into the fibers.
    • Next, use a white paper towel or old white cloth to blot up as much of the liquid as possible.
    • Work from the outside edge of the stain toward the center to keep the stain from spreading and getting larger.
    lifting berry stain solids off of a rug
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 
  2. Mix a Cleaning Solution and Blot the Stain

    • Mix a solution of 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid with 2 cups of lukewarm water.
    • Dip a white cloth, sponge, or paper towel into the solution and blot the berry stain.
    • Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the stain comes out of the carpet.
    blotting the berry stain
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  3. Rinse by Blotting With Water

    When no more stain is transferred, dip a clean white cloth in plain water and "rinse" by blotting the stain again. Ensure you remove the detergent from the carpet because it can attract soil.

    bleach solution and a clean cloth
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  4. Treat Persistent Stains

    • If the stain remains, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach in cool water following package directions. 
    • Dip a clean sponge into the solution or use an eye dropper to apply it to the stain.
    • Work the solution into the carpet from the outside edge of the stain toward the center. Do not overwet the area. 
    • Allow the solution to remain on the stain for at least 30 minutes before blotting away with a dry towel or cloth.

    Tip

    Instead of oxygen-based bleach, you can also remove the berry stain using hydrogen peroxide. Place a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide using an eye dropper onto the stained area. Let it work for one hour, and then blot away. No need to rinse: Hydrogen peroxide converts to water once exposed to light. Repeat if necessary.

    rinsing berry stain with soapy water
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
  5. Air Dry and Vacuum

    • Once the stains are gone, use a dry, clean white cloth to absorb moisture.
    • Allow the carpet to air dry thoroughly and vacuum to restore the pile.
    vacuuming the rug
    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska 

Additional Tips for Handling Berry Stains

  • Try natural alternatives to commercial cleaning products: If you'd rather use natural bleaching agents instead of commercial bleach products, substitute 1 gallon of water and 1 cup of white distilled vinegar for the bleaching soak for white clothing items. For colored fabrics, use equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide. Always test an inconspicuous spot first to be sure there is no unwanted change to the carpet or upholstery color.
  • Flush with boiling water: If you don't have any products on hand, try using boiling water. Slowly flush the stain from the opposite side to reverse the stain from penetrating deeper into the fibers.
  • Handling dry-clean-only clothes: If the item is labeled as dry-clean-only, remove any solids and blot the area with a white paper towel or cloth to remove as much of the stain as possible. Then, as soon as possible, head to your dry cleaner and point out and identify the stain to a professional cleaner.
  • Using a home drying cleaning kit: If you decide to use a home dry cleaning kit, treat the berry stain first with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.
  • When to call a pro: If you get berry stains on vintage or silk upholstery, do not attempt to clean it yourself. Call a professional.
FAQ
  • Will berry stains come out or are they permanent?

    Berry stains can come out if you handle them immediately, and don't put a stained item in the clothes dryer. The sugars and natural colors in the berries can cause yellowing and permanent stains if left untreated.

  • What is the best stain remover for berries?

    The most effective cleaner to eliminate berry and fruit stains is an enzyme-based formula with pectinase that breaks down the pectin or plant structures into tiny particles.

  • How do you get rid of dried berry stains?

    Glycerine is a sugar alcohol that can be used as a natural solvent to treat dried berry stains. Soak the stain in glycerine for 30 minutes, then rinse out.

  • How do you get rid of blueberry stains?

    Blueberries make some of the worst berry stains but fight nature with nature to get the stains out. Use vinegar or lemon to defeat this purplish nightmare. Soak the stain for 30 minutes in vinegar or lemon, rinse it in warm water, and air dry.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Degano I, Mattonai M, Sabatini F, Colombini MP. A mass spectrometric study on tannin degradation within dyed woolen yarns. Molecules. 2019;24(12):2318.