Whether Easter is upon us and your family is having a blast dying eggs, you’ve cracked open your tie dying kit after a long winter, or you’re engaging in a very serious baking contest, you may want to keep this tutorial handy! Food coloring is notorious for staining hands, clothes, and sometimes countertops. We fully understand if a little stain sends you into a momentary panic! But no fear-- our cleaning expertise is here! Read on to learn how to get food coloring out of clothes.

What causes food coloring stains?

Food coloring is a great tool for adding color to your baking masterpieces. But how does it work? Food coloring contains strongly colored dyes that explode into a rainbow of hues when added to water, making it a great tool for coloring frosting or batter. Unfortunately, the elements that make food coloring so good at staining your food are also great at staining your clothes. Food coloring can be derived from a variety of sources, and can be natural or synthetic. But no matter what kind of food coloring you use, accidents are bound to happen. Don’t fret! Removing food coloring from clothes can be done in just six steps.

How to Get Food Coloring Out of Clothes

What you’ll need: Oxi Booster Pods, Stain & Odor Laundry Pods

Step 1: Remove Excess

First, it’s time to remove any excess food coloring from your clothes. If the stain is still wet, you can use a paper towel or cloth to gently lift off any excess. Just be sure the cloth you are using is dark colored, or you don’t mind it getting stained!

Step 2: Flush Out Stain

Now that the excess is gone, it’s time to start removing food coloring from clothes! Place the stain wrong side up under your faucet and flush it out with cold water. Be sure to run the cold water through the back of the stain to help push it out of the fibers. This will get out as much of the stain as possible before moving on to treat it.

Step 3: Fill Sink or Basin

After flushing with water, fill a clean basin or sink with warm water. Drop in one Oxi Booster Pod, and wait for it to dissolve fully and create a cleaning, stain-fighting solution.

Step 4: Soak & Fight Stain

Now that you have your cleaning solution, it’s time to fight the stain! Submerge the garment in the Oxi Booster Solution and allow it to soak for up to eight hours. How do Oxi Booster Pods help remove mustard from clothes? Oxi Booster Pods are a chlorine-free bleach alternative which naturally fights stubborn stains and odors. It should attack the structure of the stain and lift it out of the fabric–without bleaching the colors you want out of your clothes. After the stain has been lifted, rinse the garment with cool water.

Step 5: Wash

Now that the stain has been removed, wash the item as you normally would according to the care label. We recommend using a Stain & Odor Laundry Detergent Pod for extra stain fighting. If any slight staining remains, you can also add an additional Oxi Booster Pod to the wash.

Step 6: Dry

Let your garment dry! Be sure that the stain is completely removed before putting the item in the dryer, as the dryer’s high heat can cause stains to set permanently. We recommend leaving your garment out to air dry, preferably in the sunshine for extra natural bleaching power. After following all of these steps, your clothes should be as good as new!

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about how to get food coloring out of clothes? We’re here to help.

Will Food Coloring Come Out of Clothes?

Getting food coloring out of clothes is absolutely possible. The key to a successful stain removal is to act quickly. The longer a stain sits, the more it sets in fabric and becomes difficult–or even impossible–to remove. If a food coloring stain is treated quickly and correctly, the stain should disappear without a trace!

Does Vinegar Remove Food Coloring?

If you’re looking for how to get food dye out of clothes using items from your pantry, vinegar can be an effective natural stain remover. Its acidic properties can help to break down the food coloring and lift stains out of the fabric. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water and apply the solution directly to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then blot with a clean cloth or sponge before rinsing with cool water. Vinegar works particularly well on natural food dyes, but synthetic dyes may need a stronger product, like our Oxi Booster Pods.

How Do You Get Red Food Coloring Out Of A Shirt?

A red food coloring spill doesn’t mean the end of your favorite shirt! Be sure to treat it quickly with an oxygen bleach product like Dropps Oxi Booster Pods. The structure of the stain will be broken down, and the food coloring will lift out of your shirt and into the water to be washed away!