Person washing a garment in their washer’s  built-in sink

HOW TO HELP REMOVE BLUEBERRY STAINS

Battling blueberry stains on your clothes can be daunting, but luckily there are a few methods you can try to help remove stains from your clothing. Read on to learn how you can tackle tough blueberry stains.

ARE BLUEBERRY STAINS PERMANENT?

Blueberry stains can be difficult to remove from clothes, especially if you allow them to set into the fabric. Fresh stains are easier to treat than old ones, so be sure to address blueberry stains as soon as possible. Always refer to an item’s care tag before beginning any stain removal.  

WHAT REMOVES BLUEBERRY STAINS?

White vinegar, lemon juice, enzyme detergent, oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach for white cottons are a few products that can help remove blueberry stains. Many stains also typically respond well when washed with cold water; however, you should always refer to an item’s care label.

Keep reading to learn how to use these items to help treat blueberry stains.

  • White vinegar: Saturate your item with white vinegar to pretreat it, allowing it to sit for five minutes before rinsing with cold water from the back to the front of the fabric. Make sure to thoroughly rinse vinegar out of your fabrics before placing them in the washer.

  • Lemon juice: Pretreat the stain by saturating it with lemon juice and letting it sit for five minutes before rinsing with cold water from the back to the front of the item.

  • Oxygen bleach: When washing your item, add some oxygen bleach to the load and wash in the warmest water directed by the care label. Check your user manual to be sure bleach is safe to use with your machine.

  • Chlorine bleach: If you’re treating white cotton fabrics, wash in the warmest water recommended by the care label before adding chlorine bleach to the load. Consult your owner’s manual to be sure bleach is safe to use with your machine.

  • Enzyme-based laundry detergent: After pretreating, apply an enzyme detergent to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.

When preparing to treat items that have blueberry stains, keep in mind that oxygen bleach is an alternative to traditional chlorine bleach and is generally safe on colors. It’s colorless, fragrance-free and comes in either a liquid or powder form. And always check your care labels first.

USE WHITE VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE TO JUMPSTART TREATMENT OF A STUBBORN BLUEBERRY STAIN

Pre-treat the blueberry stain with white vinegar or lemon juice by saturating the stain and letting it sit for 5 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly with cold water from the back of the fabric to the front. After rinsing, continue to follow the provided steps as designated by fabric type.

Always check your clothing’s care tag instructions before pretreating, as some fabrics may have specific requirements like dry cleaning.

Learn more stain removal tips so you can act fast when they arise.

Blue garments in a washing machine drum

HOW TO HELP GET BLUEBERRY STAINS OUT OF COTTON AND SYNTHETIC FABRIC

Using cold water to help flush out the stain from the fabric, applying an enzyme detergent to your item or using oxygen bleach for white cottons are some ways you may be able to help get rid of blueberry stains. 

Keep reading for a step-by-step guide for possibly removing blueberry stains from cotton or polyester items, such as shirts, jackets, ties, bedding and more.  

  1. Use a butter knife or spoon to gently lift away any remaining blueberry on the surface of the fabric. Be careful to not press the stain into the fabric.
  2. Turn the clothing item inside out and rinse from the back of the fabric to the front, using cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible.
  3. Apply an enzyme detergent to the stain and allow it to set for a few minutes.
  4. Wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. If it’s safe to use in your machine, add some oxygen bleach or chlorine bleach for white cottons to help combat dark blueberry stains.
  5. Line dry your clothing items when they are done washing. Avoid drying any stained items in a dryer as heat can set stains that aren’t completely removed. If a stain still remains, repeat the above steps.
Clothes being agitated in a washer

HOW TO HELP REMOVE BLUEBERRY STAINS FROM WOOL, KNITS AND OTHER DELICATES

When trying to remove blueberry stains from delicate fabrics, gently lifting remaining blueberries from the surface, using a mild detergent and line drying can help. Be sure to check your clothing’s care tag before treating delicate fabrics like wool, as they may require dry cleaning.

Keep reading to find a step-by-step guide to help remove blueberry stains from wool, knits and more.

  1. Use a butter knife or spoon to gently lift away any remaining blueberry on the surface of the fabric.
  2. Mix a mild detergent in cool water then add the stained garment.
  3. Gently squeeze the soapy water through the garment to help release the stain.
  4. Wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. An oxygen bleach can be used to further help with removal if safe for your delicate fabric and your machine.
  5. Line dry. Avoid placing any stained items in a dryer, as heat can set stains that aren’t completely removed.

SHOP MAYTAG® WASHERS

Maytag brand takes stain fighting seriously with cycles and options built with the power you need. Maytag® washers can help tackle loads of laundry with features on select models like Extra Power, which boosts stain fighting on any wash cycle with an intense pre-wash and extra agitation so you can walk away while stains wash away.

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