Home » Pizza Tips & Info » How To Remove Pizza Tomato Sauce Stains From Clothes

How To Remove Pizza Tomato Sauce Stains From Clothes

Enjoy eating your share of tomato sauce-laden pizzas and pasta but just can’t escape your natural sloppiness? You are not alone. Every time we think we have successfully devoured our Margherita pizza, a stain or two manages to find us somehow. If you are a regular victim of these stains, keep reading to discover how to quickly and easily remove pizza tomato sauce stains.

Why are pizza sauce stains hard to remove?

Pizza stains are typically a result of the sauce falling onto your clothes. Tomatoes contain tannins, a component that stains fabrics easily. In addition, pizza sauces usually contain oil which further sets the stain into place. This is why pizza sauce stains can be difficult to remove and can require hard work.

How to remove pizza sauce stains?

Several tried and tested methods work well in removing pizza sauce stains. We will list some of them, and you can decide which option may work best for you.

But before we move on to the methods, here are a few steps you will need to do regardless of whichever option you choose.

Remove the clothing item. If you keep wearing it, there are chances you might spread it all over.
Draw out any excess sauce with a spoon or a butter knife. Like the step above, it will prevent any further spreading of the stain.
Run the piece of cloth stained under cold water from the inside out. This will force the stain out. Do not run water from the outside. This will end up fixing the stain even firmer into the fabric.

Once you are done with these steps, you can select any of the following methods to remove the stain from your cloth.

Detergent and water

After taking the steps mentioned above, put some detergent on the stain. For food stains, dish soaps work well too. Gently rub it into the affected area in circles and keep rubbing until all the stain has been removed. Then rewash it with water to remove the detergent and any food particle remnants.

Detergent, vinegar and water

If the simple combination of detergent and water is not doing, try adding vinegar into the mix. The acid in the vinegar will cut through the stubborn stains, and your clothing will be clean again. However, be careful while using vinegar. It is advised to wear gloves, or better yet, use an old toothbrush. Once done, wash all of it off with cold water.

Baking soda, salt and vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar is an age-old pair against stubborn stains. In this method, just sprinkle equal parts salt and baking soda onto the affected area. Then add an equal amount of vinegar. Let the concoction sit for a while, working its magic. Then scrub the stain away gently, finally rinsing off with water.

Bleaching agents

If the cloth you have stained is white and you are sure the fabric is colourfast, you can use bleaching agents to remove the stain. For example, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent bleaching agent and can work very well in eliminating pizza sauce stains. Vinegar is another great example.

Baby shampoo and ice

This duo may be a safe bet if you don’t have a mild detergent lying around and have a pizza stain emergency. Put some baby shampoo onto the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes and then ice the stain with a cube. After gentle scrubbing, wash it off with some water.

Once you have cleaned and washed away the stain, inspect thoroughly for any sneaky residual. Look for any place it may have spread to. This is very important because if you dry your clothes with stains, they may become permanent.

Are pizza stains permanent?

If a stain dries, it can often end up being permanent. This is because the tannins set in too firmly to be pulled out. Therefore, it is best to act swiftly to save yourself the potential of permanent stains.

However, it is not entirely a hopeless cause. You still have a chance to remove the stain even if it has dried. First, rub the affected area with detergent and then soak it in warm water for half an hour. If the stain still does not go away, try using a stain remover spray, stick, or gel. These stain removers will come with the instructions, so follow them carefully for the best chance to restore your clothes.

A few pointers for when you are doing the stain removal process

You must act in time. The longer the stain sits, the higher the risk it will be permanent, and you may ruin your favourite shirt.
Use cold water to wash. Hot water may set the stain deeper into the clothes.
In case the sauce has oil, just use normal room temperature water. Cold water will not mix well with oil, making it difficult to remove the stain.
Don’t scrub too hard in trying to remove the stain. You might damage the fabric.
If you don’t have a fabric detergent, dish soap will work on food stains.

Wrapping it up

You may inevitably spill sauce on your favourite clothes every now and then. Having gone through the above guide, you can remove these stubborn stains with suitable methods. Remember to act swiftly and not let the stain make a permanent home on your beloved clothes.