Warm weather brings new crops of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and other healthy treats, and we all have our favorites. But nothing says summertime like fresh, plump blueberries. Blueberry pie, blueberry slushies, blueberry popsicles, blueberry muffins, and, of course, plain old blueberries!
No matter what your favorite summertime berries are, you’re familiar with the juicy spills and sticky messes they can cause. Those mishaps are why you need to know how to get blueberry stains out of various fabrics.
If you’re a blueberry fan and have never needed to know how to remove blueberry stains, then you aren’t getting the full blueberry experience! To really get the full flavor and sweetness of fresh blueberries, you almost have to make a mess. While diving into the delicious goodness of fresh blueberries is a delicious summer tradition, the resulting stains can be a challenge.
Once you know how to remove blueberry stains, you can dive in and enjoy your blueberry treats with gusto. Read on to find out why blueberries stain so badly and how to get blueberry stains out of fabric, carpet, and clothes.
How to Get Blueberry Stains Out of Clothes
If you get blueberry juice or a chunk of blueberry pie on your clothes, you’re going to get a stain. Blueberry stains are so formidable because the juicy fruit contains anthocyanin. While anthocyanins may benefit your health as an antioxidant, the compound is also responsible for the deep, dark blue color in blueberries—and those nasty stains.
To make learning how to get blueberry stains out of clothes even more of a challenge, the sugars in blueberries pose extra stain issues. When natural sugars are left for too long on fabric and dry, they can cause clothes to yellow where the stain dries. If blueberry stains aren’t treated immediately, the yellow discoloration may become permanent.
Remember, the sooner you tackle any stain, the greater your chance of success. As soon as you notice a blueberry stain, remove the clothing and check the care label. The last thing you want to do is add to the problem, so check the tag for special cleaning instructions and stain removers to avoid. If you follow the label’s cleaning instructions and brush up on washing delicates, even that silk blouse can survive a blueberry disaster.
Here’s how to get blueberry stains out of fabric using stain removers made with everyday household items. Not only are these methods strong enough to tackle blueberry stains, but they also use safe, natural ingredients that are eco- and family-friendly. Whether you’re removing a blueberry or any other stain, don’t machine dry the clothing until the stain is completely gone. The heat from your dryer can cause stains to set and become permanent.
Baking Soda
A natural, non-toxic cleaner, whitener, and stain remover, baking soda is a household staple that can do so much around your home. Plus, the mild abrasiveness of baking soda gives you some safe scrubbing power. Here’s how to get blueberry stains out using baking soda and water.
-
Blot the blueberry stain with a clean, damp paper towel and remove any solids.
-
Turn the clothing inside out after removing as much of the stain as possible.
-
Rinse the blueberry stain from the inside out using cold water.
-
Mix baking soda and enough water to make a thick paste.
-
Apply the baking soda paste to the stain and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Request An Estimate
-
Use a butter knife to remove the paste without touching the fabric.
-
Blot the stain again to get up any remaining blueberry stain.
-
Rinse the stain from the inside out using cold water until the water runs clear.
-
Hang the clothes in the sun to dry or inside on a drying rack.
If the blueberry stain persists, you can repeat the above stain treatment method. But if you don’t get the results you want after a couple of tries, move on to the next method for how to get out blueberry stains.
Lemon Juice
That unmistakable fresh citrus aroma is found in many polishes and cleaners, but you can get the cleaning power and tropical scent using the original—lemons. The acid in lemons and lemon juice is an all-natural way to remove organic stains like blueberries. As bonuses, you also get whitening and disinfecting properties that are safe for kids and pets.
If you are removing a blueberry stain from colored fabric, don’t put the clothing in direct sunlight when using lemon juice on it. The combined natural whitening of the sun and the lemon juice can lighten or discolor some fabrics. Here’s how to get blueberry stains out safely using the cleaning power of fresh lemons.
-
Remove any solids and blot the stain using a damp paper towel.
-
Turn the garment inside out and rinse the stain from the back with cold water.
-
Cut a lemon in half and rub the blueberry stain gently while saturating it with juice.
-
Let the acid break down the stain for a maximum of 10 minutes to avoid discoloration.
-
Rinse the stained area from the inside out with cold water.
-
Hang the clothing inside away from light to let it air dry.
If you still see staining, you can repeat the process if needed, but keep in mind the power of lemon juice acids.
How to Get Blueberry Stains Out of Carpet
The small size and round shape of blueberries make them perfect for healthy snacking, but those same features make them easy to drop. Whether you’re eating a bowl of fresh blueberries or munching on hot blueberry pie, accidents happen and your carpet can be especially vulnerable.
But when you know how to get blueberry stains out of carpet, there’s no need to panic the next time you have a spill. Here’s how to get blueberry stains out of carpet safely and gently:
Clean up Solids
The first step is to minimize the damage and keep the stain from spreading by removing any solid pieces of the blueberries. If you’ve dropped fresh blueberries, check the surrounding area to see if any blueberries rolled under furniture or onto other parts of the floor.
Blot the Blueberry Stain
Once you’ve removed any solids, use a dry paper towel to blot up the remaining stain. Don’t rub or scrub the stained area, or you could push the blueberry stain deeper into the fibers of your carpet. When the dry paper towel no longer picks up color, switch to a paper towel dampened with cold water and blot up the rest.
Remove the Stain With White Vinegar
Another safe and natural cleaner, distilled white vinegar makes a potent stain remover when mixed with water. Mix one part white vinegar with three parts cold water in a spray bottle. Saturate the stain with your vinegar and water solution and use a dry cloth to blot the stain as it dissolves. Repeat the process if the stain is still visible, then rinse the area with a wet cloth and let the carpet air dry.
Clean the Stain With Dish Detergent
If the white vinegar method doesn’t get the job done, you can try a non-bleach dish detergent solution to break down the rest of the stain. Combine cold water and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Saturate the stained area with the soapy cleaner and gently work it into the fibers with your fingers. Let the solution sit for 15 minutes, then rinse away the soapy residue using a wet cloth and let the carpet dry.
Use Rubbing Alcohol to Remove the Stain
For some carpeting, especially those with tightly woven fibers, you may have to use more firepower to get out that blueberry stain. Because rubbing alcohol can damage the latex adhesive connecting your carpet to the floor, use this solution with caution. First, check an inconspicuous area of the carpet for colorfastness. Dab a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the carpet fibers to get them wet and wait a few minutes to see if the fibers lighten in color.
If your carpet is good to go, pour some rubbing alcohol on a clean, white cloth and dab the stain until no more color comes up. Be careful to not get the carpet fibers too wet with the alcohol solution. Let the rubbing alcohol continue to work on the blueberry stain for five minutes. Dab the area stain again with a dry paper towel, then rinse the area with a wet cloth and let the carpet air dry. If you still see the blueberry stain after using these methods, you may want to call in a professional carpet cleaner.
Whether you tackle tough stains on clothes and carpets yourself or call in The Maids, we’ve got you covered. Find out how you can have a clean home more often without the work with our weekly maid service or one of our other popular house cleaning services. Get your free online estimate today, and let us give you a cleaner, healthier place to live.
