How to Remove Mango Stains From Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery

How to Remove Mango Stains From Clothes

Mango stains are much like any fruit stain. It's important to treat them as soon as possible to remove the tannin which causes the stain on fabrics.

1. Remove the Mango Solids and Liquid

   Remove any excess pulp from the fabric with a dull knife or edge of a spoon. Do not wipe with a cloth because that will simply push the stain deeper into the fabric fibers. If the stain is mango juice, simply blot with a dry white towel or paper towel to absorb as much moisture as possible.

2. Flush the Stained Area

   Flush the stained area with cold water from the backside of the fabric. Hold the stained shirt or tablecloth with the wrong side of the fabric directly under a faucet with the cold water running full force.

3. Wash Freshly Stained Items as Usual

   Wash a freshly stained garment right after rinsing with cold water, as long as it appears that the stain has lifted from the fabric. Use your usual laundry detergent, and set the garment to wash at its recommended water temperature.

4. Treat Older Mango Stains

   Treat older, dried mango stains with a stain remover spray or gel. Work the stain remover into the mango stain with a soft-bristled brush or your fingers, and allow it to remain on the stain for at least 15 minutes before washing. If you don't have a stain remover, use a bit of the heavy-duty liquid detergent for pretreating, such as Tide or Persil. Then, wash the stained item in the hottest water recommended for the fabric.

   Warning

   When treating a mango stain, or any stain from a fruit or vegetable, never use a natural soap bar like Fels-Naptha, Zote, or other natural soap flakes. The reaction between the soap and tannins can make the stains more difficult to remove.

5. Check the Stained Area

   Check the wet, washed garment for any remaining stain before tossing it into a hot clothes dryer. The heat can set the stain permanently. If the fabric still shows a stain, continue to the next step. Otherwise, dry as usual.

6. Treat Set-in Mango Stains

   Remove any stains that remain after washing by mixing a solution of warm water and oxygen-based bleach (some brand names include OxiClean, Nellie's All-Natural Oxygen Brightener, or OXO Brite) following package directions. Completely submerge the stained garment in a sink or bucket full of the oxygen-bleach solution. Leave it to soak for at least four hours or overnight. Then wash as usual.

Removing Mango Stains on Carpet and Upholstery

Use the same cleaning solutions and techniques recommended for cleaning carpet to remove mango stains from upholstery. Take extra care to not saturate the upholstery, however, because excess moisture in cushion fillings can cause mildewing or odor. Always allow the fabric to air-dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

1. Lift Mango Solids and Liquid

   Use a dull knife or the edge of a spoon to lift any solid mango pieces from the carpet or upholstery. Do not rub because that will push the stain deeper into the fibers.

   Next, use a white paper towel or old white cloth to blot up as much of the liquid as possible. Try to work from the outside edge of the stain toward the center to keep the stain from spreading and getting larger.

2. Mix a Cleaning Solution

   Mix a solution of 1 teaspoon laundry detergent with 2 cups of lukewarm water in a mixing bowl or bucket.

3. Remove the Stain

   Dip a white cloth, sponge, or paper towel into the cleaning solution and blot the mango stain. Keep moving to a clean area of the cloth as the stain is transferred out of the carpet.

   Warning

   Blot the stain with an up-and-down motion. Don't scrub or rub, which could cause the stain to spread further into the fabric fibers.

4. Rinse the Carpet or Upholstery

   Continue to blot the stain until no more mango transfers to the cloth. Then, dip a clean white cloth in plain water, and rinse by blotting the stain again.

   Tip

   It is important to thoroughly rinse the detergent solution out of the carpet because it can actually attract soil if left in place.

5. Allow the Area to Air-dry

   Allow the treated area of the carpet or upholstery to air-dry away from direct heat. Once dry, vacuum treated carpets to lift the carpet fibers.

When to Call a Professional

If the garment is labeled as "dry clean only," lift away any mango solids and blot the stained area with a dry white towel until the moisture is removed. Even if the garment looks clean, still take it to the dry cleaner, point it out, and tell them what kind of stain it is.

If you cannot get a mango stain out of your clothing despite your best efforts, take the garment to a dry cleaner and explain the nature of the stain, along with the removal techniques you've already tried.

Contact a professional carpet cleaning company or upholstery cleaning professional if your carpet or upholstery has a persistent mango stain. These cleaning experts have special compounds you might not have access to and more powerful cleaning equipment. Be sure to let the cleaner know the type of stain and the products you've already used to try and remove it.

If the mango stain is on delicate upholstery, such as vintage fabric or silk, remove any solids, blot up moisture, and then contact an upholstery cleaning specialist. Don't attempt to clean these easily damaged fabrics yourself.

Additional Tips for Handling a Mango Stain

If the stain persists on a garment after soaking it overnight in oxygen bleach, pretreating it, and rerunning it in the wash cycle with heavy-duty detergent, then take it to a dry cleaner for their professional expertise.

Once the stain is removed, wash it and dry it as usual per the garment care tag instructions.