How to Remove Chicken Stains From Clothes and Carpet

Removing Raw Chicken Stains on Clothing

1. Flush Fabric Before Washing

   If the poultry is raw and it is dropped onto a washable fabric, quickly remove the solids. As soon as possible, flush the stained area by holding the fabric with the wrong side under a running cold water faucet to force out the stain. Never use hot water because that can cook the proteins in the raw meat's juices into the fabric fibers and make the stain more difficult to remove. After flushing, launder as recommended on the garment's care label.

Removing Poultry Stains From Clothing or Table Linens

Cooked poultry usually produces an oily stain from the rendered fat. Even poultry with the skin removed can produce an oily stain, especially if oil was used during the cooking process.

1. Sprinkle Stain With Powder

   Lift away the chicken pieces and sprinkle the stained area with baking soda or cornstarch. Let the powder sit for 10 minutes or so to absorb oil, and then shake away excess powder into the trash or sink. Blot the spot with a clean white cloth or paper towel to further absorb oils.

2. Apply Laundry Stain Remover

   Treat the stained area with a solvent-based laundry stain remover like Shout or Zout. If you don't have a stain remover on hand, substitute a bit of heavy-duty laundry detergent. Use your fingers or a soft brush, such as an old toothbrush, to work the stain remover thoroughly into the stain. Let the garment sit for 15 minutes.

3. Wash in Hot Water

   Launder the garment or table linen in the hottest water recommended as safe on the care label. When the washing machine is finished, examine the fabric. If the stain is gone, dry as usual. If traces of the stain remain, however, repeat step 2 and wash again.

   Warning

   Never put a stained garment into a clothes dryer before you've removed the stain, as this can cause the mark to set permanently into the fabric.

Removing Poultry Stains From Carpet or Upholstery

You can use the same process and cleanser to treat both carpet and upholstery. However, take care not to overly wet upholstered cushions, as this can cause odor or mildew to develop in the cushion filling.

1. Remove Solids

   Lift away solid chicken pieces with your fingers or a napkin. Blot with a clean white cloth or paper towel to absorb excess oils.

2. Apply Cleaning Solution

   In a mixing bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap in 2 cups of water. Use a clean sponge or white cloth to dab the solution into the stained area.

   Tip

   Blot up and down. Don't scrub from side to side, which can spread the stain further into the carpet or upholstery fibers.

3. Blot Up the Stain

   Blot the cleansed area with another clean white cloth or paper towel. You should see the stain breaking up and transferring to your cloth. Rotate the cloth as required so that you don't push the poultry oils back into the cleaned area.

4. Rinse Away Soap

   Rinse the cleaned area by blotting it with a clean white cloth or paper towel dampened with plain, cool water. Continue to blot until all traces of soap are removed. Let the carpet or upholstery air dry, and then vacuum carpet to lift the fibers back into place.

When to Call a Professional

Dry-clean-only clothes will need cleaning by a dry cleaner. Point out and identify the stain to your professional cleaner. Similarly, call a professional upholstery cleaner if the stain is on silk or vintage upholstery.

If the poultry stain persists on regular-wash clothes, despite your best efforts using the above guidelines, it's time for professional assistance. Cleaning experts use heavy-duty solvents that might be able to get the stain out. Take the stained garment or table linen to a professional dry cleaner, or call professional carpet or upholstery cleaners. Be sure to let the cleaner know the nature of the stain, as well as all of the steps you've already taken in an attempt to remove it.

Additional Tips for Handling Poultry Stains

If the stain persists, repeat all the cleaning steps at least twice. If, after those attempts, the stain doesn't come out, get the help of a professional cleaner.

After the stain is successfully removed, continue washing the item as you usually would per the garment care tag or instructions.