How to Remove Hot Sauce Stains From Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery

How to Remove Hot Sauce Stains From Clothing

You can work to remove hot sauce stains from clothing using a few simple, at-home steps. Always review your item's care label before washing.

1. Lift Away or Blot the Stain

   Use the edge of a dull knife, spoon, or credit card edge to lift any solids from the sauce off the fabric's surface. Do not rub the hot sauce because it will push the stain deeper into the material. Blot the stain with a white cloth or napkin if the sauce is purely liquid.

2. Spot Treat With a Stain Removal Pen

   Treat the stain with a stain removal pen if you have one handy.

3. Flush With Water

   Flush the stain from the fabric with cold water as soon as possible. It's best to hold the material inside-out with the stain directly under a running faucet and let the force of the water push the hot sauce from the fabric's fibers.

4. Blot With Vinegar and Rinse

   Dip a sponge or clean white cloth in distilled white vinegar. Working from the outside edge of the stain toward the center, sponge the stain and then rinse well. Repeat until no more color from the hot sauce is transferred from the fabric to the sponge or cloth.

5. Treat With Stain Remover and Wash

   Treat with a stain remover or a bit of heavy-duty liquid detergent such as Tide or Persil, highly rated brands with high enzyme content. Let sit and then launder as recommended by the item's care label. If the stain persists, do not place the garment in the dryer. Instead, continue to another soaking step.

6. Submerge in Oxygen Bleach

   Mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach like OxiClean, Nellie's All Natural Oxygen Brightener or OXO Brite with tepid water and apply to any remaining stain. Submerge the entire garment and allow it to soak for at least four hours or overnight. Launder as you usually would. 

How to Remove Hot Sauce Stains From Carpet and Upholstery

You can use the same cleaning solutions and care steps to remove hot sauce stains from carpet and upholstery as you would for clothing. Be careful, however, not to over-wet upholstery because it can create mildew and mold within the cushions.

1. Remove Solids and Blot Away Wetness

   Scoop up any solids from the sauce using a dull knife or spoon. Blot the stain from liquid hot sauce stains with a white cloth or paper towel, but never rub. Work from the outside edge of the stain to prevent the mark from becoming more significant. 

2. Make a Cleaning Solution

   Mix a solution of 2 teaspoons of hand dishwashing liquid, 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar, and 2 cups cool water.

3. Treat Stain With Cleaning Solution

   Dip a sponge, white cloth, or soft-bristled brush in the solution. Start at the outside edge of the stain and work the cleaning solution inward into the stained area. Blot with a clean white cloth or paper towel to transfer the stain out of the carpet. Keep moving to a clean, dry area of the cloth until no more stain is transferred.

4. Rinse and Blot Away Cleaning Solution

   Dip a clean white cloth into tepid water to rinse the area. It is essential to rinse any cleaning solution, as any residue will attract soil to the site. Blot until no more soapy residue remains.

5. Air-Dry and Vacuum

   Air-dry the carpet and then vacuum to lift its fibers.

When to Call a Professional

If your stained garment is labeled as dry clean only, remove any solids and blot with a clean white cloth before heading to the dry cleaner as soon as possible. Point out and identify the stain to help your professional cleaner choose the proper treatment. If you are using a home dry cleaning kit, be sure to treat the stain with the provided stain remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag. If your stained upholstery fabric is vintage or silk, consult a professional before attempting to remove the stain.

Additional Tips for Handling Hot Sauce Stains

If you're using bleach to resolve a stain on any non-pure white cotton fabric, make sure it's oxygen-based. Oxygen-based bleach is safe for all washable, white, and colored fabrics except for silk, wool, and anything trimmed with leather. In addition to vinegar, cornstarch acts as a great natural cleaning agent. You can sprinkle cornstarch on a hot sauce stain, let it sit for around 10 minutes, and then rinse. You should be able to remove a hot sauce stain at home, but if it persists, visit a professional cleaner for more specialized advice.