Yummy summer berries are delicious snacks (and are used in some of our favorite desserts), but their stains are no joke! That beautiful, rich purple of a blackberry isn’t always your desired accessory for a clean white tee, is it? Lucky for you, we’ve got just the tricks for how to get berry stains out of clothes and return your garments to their original glory!
What Causes Berry Stains?
Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, gooseberries–we love them all! Berry picking is a fun activity at a farm or when foraging–but what causes those dreaded berry stains? Berries are filled with a dark juice that commonly leave smudges on your hands and face. While it’s easy enough to wash your hands after eating, those red, blue, and purple smudges can turn to stubborn stains on your clothing. Berries also have a high natural sugar content, which can leave yellow stains behind.
Blueberry stains are dark and can settle into clothing when left untreated, which is why it’s important to act quickly when it comes to how to remove berry stains.
How to Get Berry Stains Out Of Clothes
What you’ll need: Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent, Oxi Booster Pods
Step 1: Blot stain
To start berry stain removal, gently blot the stain with a wet washcloth to lift as much of the berry juice from your garment as possible.
Step 2: Run Under Cold Water
Rinse the back of the stain with cold water until you’ve flushed out as much of the stain as you can. Be sure to run the cold water through the back of the stain to help push the berry juice out of the fibers. This will get out as much of the stain as possible before moving on to treat it.
Step 3: Pretreat The Stain
Fill a clean sink or basin with warm water, and add a detergent that contains enzymes. We recommend our Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent. Our Stain & Odor Detergent contains enzymes designed to digest the sugars and protein of the stain. Add the garment and soak for 5-10 minutes. You should see the stain begin to fade almost immediately. You can also add one pump of Ultra Concentrated Detergent directly to the stain and let sit before rinsing, if the stain is particularly stubborn!
Step 4: Wash & Dry
Once the stain is lifted, wash the item in the warmest water recommended by the care label. We suggest using a Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent Pod to double up on the enzyme’s stain-fighting action. Consider adding an Oxi Booster Pod for extra stain removal power and brightening as well, particularly when you need to get berry stain out of white or light colored clothing. When the wash is done and the stain is gone, dry the item as usual according to the care label. Be sure the stain is fully lifted before putting the garment in the dryer, as the heat from a dryer can cause any remaining stains to set further and be more difficult to remove in the future. Once the stain is fully gone, you can dry the item worry-free!
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions about how to get berry stains out of clothes? We’re here to help.
Do berry stains come out?
Berries don't necessarily stain permanently, but they can if not treated in time. Beginning the berry stain removal as soon as possible will help remove the stains quickly and efficiently. It is also important to remember not to put the garment in the dryer until the stain is completely removed, as the heat can cause stains to set permanently.
How do you get purple berry stains out of clothes?
Removing berry stains is easy with an enzyme based cleaner! Berries, including purple berries, are sugar based, so an enzyme-based cleaning product is the way to go. Enzyme-based products like Dropps Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent are designed to break down the sugars, starches, and proteins that make up most stains. The enzymes should eat away at the sugar in the stain and allow it to be lifted and washed away!
What will take blueberry stains out of clothes?
Blueberry stains can be removed from clothes in just four steps using an enzyme-based cleaner.
Check out our complete guide to removing blueberry stains from clothes for detailed instructions!
How do you get old raspberry stains out of clothes?
It may be more difficult to remove older stains, but it’s not impossible! If you are dealing with old, set in raspberry stains, you may need a bit more patience and cleaning power. Soak the stain for 15-30 minutes in cool water with a tablespoon of white vinegar and a pump of Stain & Odor Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent. The enzyme-based laundry detergent will break down the sugars in the stain, while white vinegar naturally neutralizes red and purple stains. This stain fighting duo should have your clothes back to normal in no time!
How do you get red berries out of clothes?
An enzyme-based cleaner is the best tool to remove berry stains from clothes, no matter the color! But what if you’re out of detergent? If you’re digging through your bathroom cabinet for a solution, hydrogen peroxide can be a very useful tool! Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the stain. Allow it to sit, then blot away. The stain should lift away! Be sure to test the hydrogen peroxide in an inconspicuous place before using it as a stain remover, to be sure that it doesn’t stain or react with the fabric or dye of the garment.