How to Remove Soft Drink Stains

How to Remove Soft Drink Stains From Washable Clothes

It's best to treat a soft drink stain on clothing as soon as possible. A variety of methods may be effective, such as flushing the stain with water, applying rubbing alcohol, and applying bleach.

1. Lift Moisture With a Paper Towel

   • Blot away as much moisture as possible with a white paper towel.
   • Flush the underside of the stained garment under running, cold water.

2. Apply Rubbing Alcohol

   • Sponge a brightly colored stain with plain rubbing alcohol or household ammonia.
   • Rinse well.
   • When the dye looks like it's been removed, wash the garment as advised by its care label.
     

3. Apply Stain Remover

   • Treat a lingering stain with a solvent-based stain remover.
   • If you don't have a stain remover, use a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent like Tide or Persil to treat the stain. These chemical detergents contain helpful enzymes to break down the stain.
   • Allow the stain remover to sit on the fabric for at least 15 minutes, and wash as you usually would.
     

   Tip

   Never use a bar of natural soap or soap flakes on a soft drink stain because they can make tannin-based spots more difficult to remove.

4. Apply a Bleach Solution

   • If the colored soft drink stain remains on the fabric, mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach and room-temperature water according to the instructions on the product packaging.
   • Submerge the garment and soak for at least four hours or overnight.
   • Launder as usual.
     

How To Remove Soft Drink Stains From Carpet and Upholstery

Spilling a soft drink on your carpet or upholstered furniture can be frustrating, but there are several methods you can attempt to remove these stains.

1. Lift Moisture from Fabric

   • Use a white paper towel to absorb as much of the soft drink as possible, pressing the towel into the stain with a spatula.
   • Replace the paper towel as it gets saturated with the liquid, especially if it contains dye.
   • Finish by applying a clean white cloth soaked with cool water to flush the area.

2. Mix an Oxygen Bleach Solution

   If the stain remains, you can mix a solution of oxygen bleach and cool water following the package instructions.
   

3. Work the Solution Into Fabric

   • Use a soft brush to work the oxygen bleach solution into the carpet.
   • Allow it to sit for at least one hour before blotting away and soaking it with cool water.
   • Do not over-wet the fabric because excess moisture can cause mildew.
   • Allow the carpet or fabric to air dry and examine for any stain residue.
   • Repeat these removal steps until the stain is gone.

4. Air Dry

   • Carpet: Allow the carpet to air dry. Vacuum to lift the carpet fibers.
   • Cushion cover: Hang a cushion cover to air dry away from direct heat.
   • Upholstery: Air dry away from sunlight and direct heat.
     

Additional Tips for Handing Soft Drink Stains

• Repeat the steps: If the stain persists, especially with brown and bright-colored drinks, repeat the cleaning steps. If the stain refuses to come out after many tries, take the item to the dry cleaner for assistance or advice. A clothing item does not have to be "dry clean only" to use the services of a dry cleaner or professional cleaning service.
• Never rub: Before treating the stain, resist the urge to rub the stain. It will only push the matter deeper into the fabric fibers, making removing it more difficult.
• Read the care label: Always adhere to the recommendations on your garment's care label before washing. Different fabrics can call for other washing protocols.
• Natural treatment for brown stains: Treatment for soft drink stains can vary based on the color of the liquid. For brown stains, try oxygen-based bleach, or if you prefer natural alternatives, apply lemon juice to the stain (if the material is white) and let it sit for several minutes. If the brown stain is on a colored fabric, try vinegar instead since it won't bleach a fabric like lemon will.
  
• Handling dry-clean-only garments: If the stained garment is labeled as "dry clean only," blot away as much of the stain as possible with a white paper towel before visiting your dry cleaner. Point out and identify the stain to help your professional cleaner choose the proper treatment. If your stained upholstery is silk or vintage, contact a professional upholstery cleaner to ensure you don't damage the delicate fabric in the stain-removal process.