How to Remove Liquid Medicine Stains

How to Remove Liquid Medicine Stains From Washable Clothes

As with most stains, liquid medicine stains will be easier to remove from clothing if they are treated immediately. But you can use this same technique whether the stain is fresh or several hours old.

1. Flush the Stained Area

   Flush out as much of the medicine as possible by holding the stained item with the back of the fabric under a cold water faucet running at full force.

   Flushing from the wrong side of the fabric will push the stain out from the fibers.

2. Mix Solution

   Mix one tablespoon of distilled white vinegar with 2/3 cup of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol.

3. Treat the Stain

   Blot the stain on both the front and back sides of the fabric using a clean white cloth and the vinegar/alcohol solution. Keep turning the white cloth to a clean area to blot away as much of the stain as possible. When no more color transfers to the white cloth, move to the next step.

4. Rinse the Stained Area

   Rinse the stain thoroughly with cold water. If the stain is gone, wash the clothes or bed linens as recommended on the care label. If any stain remains, proceed to the following step before laundering.

5. Mix a Soaking Solution

   • Fill a sink or large plastic tub with cool water and add oxygen-based bleach (brand names are: OxiClean, Nellie's All Natural Oxygen Brightener, or OXO Brite) following package directions. 
   • Submerge the garment completely and allow it to soak for at least six hours or overnight.
     

6. Check the Stained Area

   Before washing, check the stained area. If it is gone, rinse well, and launder as usual. Check the clothing care label to determine what water temperature to use when laundering the garment, and then wash in the hottest water advised. Ensure there is no hint of a mark or darkened ring on the garment. If any traces of the stain remain, repeat the process with a fresh oxygen bleach/water solution and allow the clothing to air-dry. When the stain is gone, it's safe to wash and dry normally.

   Warning

   Always check a stained item before tossing it into a dryer. The high heat of the dryer can set the stain and make it almost impossible to remove.

How to Remove Liquid Medicine Stains on Carpet and Upholstery

The same cleaning techniques recommended for carpets can be used to remove liquid medicine stains from upholstery. Take special care not to saturate the fabric to prevent excessive moisture in cushions. If the upholstery is vintage or silk, consult an upholstery cleaning professional.

Before cleaning any furniture, always follow the manufacturer's care label on cleaning upholstery. This tag can be found under the sofa cushions or fabric skirt with letter codes that indicate how to clean the furniture.

1. Blot the Stain

   Blot the stain with a plain white paper towel as soon as possible. Work from the outside edges of the stain toward the center to prevent making the stain larger.

2. Mix a Cleaning Solution

   In a small non-metal bowl or measuring cup, mix a solution of two cups of cool water, one tablespoon distilled white vinegar, and one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap.

3. Apply the Cleaning Solution to the Stain

   • Dip a clean white cloth, sponge, or soft-bristled brush into the solution and work into the stained area. 
   • Blot the stain with a white paper towel moving to a clean area as the dye is transferred from the carpet to the paper towel. If the stain is older, you may need to repeat and leave the solution on the stain for 10 or 15 minutes before blotting. If color remains, dip a cloth in rubbing alcohol and apply to the stained area.
   • Blot away with a clean white paper towel and repeat until no more dye is transferred to the paper towel.
   • Move to the next step, once the stain is completely removed.
     

4. Rinse the Stained Area

   Rinse the stained area with plain cool water and a clean white cloth to remove any soapy residue. Blot dry with white paper towels or another clean white cloth.

   Warning

   Rinse well as leaving any soapy residue in the carpet will actually attract more soil.

5. Air-Dry and Vacuum

   Allow the carpet to air dry away from direct heat or sunlight, then vacuum to lift up carpet fibers.

Additional Tips for Handling a Liquid Medicine Stain

If the liquid medicine stain is persistent, try this method, but only on carpet that is white or very light-colored, as this process can remove the color from darker colored ones.

• Dip a cotton swab in a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide.
• Blot the stained area and let the hydrogen peroxide sit for two or three minutes.
• Blot away with a clean, dry white paper towel and then sponge with a clean white cloth dipped in fresh, plain water.
• Allow to air dry and then vacuum.

When to Call a Professional

If the garment is labeled as dry clean only, blot away as much of the liquid medicine as possible with a cloth dipped in plain, cool water. As soon as possible, head to the dry cleaner and point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner. The same applies to a stain that damages silk or vintage upholstery; you need to contact a professional cleaner, or else you are likely to do more damage if you try to remove the stain yourself.

If you have a carpet that is made out of wool or is a thick shag rug, you should consider contacting a professional to handle the job. They can also handle the larger and tough-to-get-out stains easier. Additionally, if you try to remove a stain and still can't get it out, it's best to let the professionals handle it. Make sure to choose a reputable professional carpet cleaner to clean your carpet. Good professional cleaners have the proper equipment to extract the moisture from the carpet, leaving it almost dry.