Remove Mustard Stains Effectively With An Easy To Follow Tip

Got a set-in mustard stain? No problem, here is what to do to remove set-in mustard stains.

How I Discovered A Two-Step Process That Removes Mustard Stains

Famous last words were spoken between mother and child:

“Now remember honey, be careful in your dress, it’s delicate.”

“I will, Mommy,” as she runs off to find her friends at a local church’s trunk or treat.

Typically Halloween costumes around our house are 75% off, or more clearance finds, or yard sale finds, but we had been to Disney this year. I had surprised my daughter with a princess makeover complete with a Cinderella dress that soon had become my daughter’s favorite, and she found any excuse to wear it.  I hated for the magic to end with a huge stain.

Several hours later, we arrived home from the trunk or treat, and my daughter was wearing her coat and looking guilty,

“Mom, I spilled mustard on my dress.”

“How long ago?”

“Over an hour ago.”

I flew into action, getting her to take the dress off and immediately soaking it in cold water.

Then I spent the next two hours reading and trying tips on mustard stain removal; here is what I tried and learned.

Something you should know: I rinsed the dress thoroughly between each step.

How To Remove Mustard Stains

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What Did Not Work

Original Dawn Dish Soap

I first grabbed one of my favorite standbys for all types of stains, Dawn Original Dish Soap and applied it to the stain. It did reduce the stain in color, but it was still very visibly yellow.

Tide

I then placed the dress on a towel on the counter, poured Tide liquid laundry detergent over the stain, and allowed it to soak for 10 minutes. When I rinsed it off, I did not see any visible difference in the stain.

White Vinegar

I found an article online that said soaking the fabric in white vinegar for 10 minutes is supposed to help. I tried it and nothing happened.

My child is now crying since she got this dress at Disney World and loves it. I didn’t do what a super mommy would have done, soothing her and telling her it would all turn out fine. Instead, I kept asking her repeatedly, “Why did you not tell me about this right when it happened?” Don’t worry; I apologized later.

Rubbing Alcohol Mixed With Dawn

I then try yet another online tip of mixing one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol with three tablespoons of Original Dawn and allowing it to sit on the stain for 10 minutes.

The stain fades some, but is still extremely visible.

What Did Work

Hydrogen Peroxide Mixed With Dawn

I search my Pinterest boards for help; I stumble on this pin and follow the instructions. After letting the mixture of 2 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide mixed with one tablespoon of Original Dawn sit on the dress for 10 minutes, I finally see a fairly faded stain.

Soaking Overnight In Super Washing Soda

I take a moment off stain removal duty to hug my daughter and reassure her I still love her.  I tell her I am not angry about the stain, but am disappointed by her deceitfulness of hiding it for an hour instead of coming to me right away. She agrees that hiding it was not worth it and hugs me back.

I then get back to stain removal. I grab the super washing soda box and see that it states: “gets out stubborn mustard stains” on the back.

I followed the directions on the back of the box and soaked the dress overnight, and by morning the stain was but a shadow of its former self. I then let it soak all day. I rinsed it out and let it drip dry. When the dress dried, the stain was gone!

The Best Homemade Solution For Removing Mustard Stains

The best way to get 1-hour old mustard stains out of delicate fabric is to soak the stain in cold water, prepare a mix of hydrogen peroxide and Original Dawn, and let it sit on the stain for 10 minutes.

Does it have to be Dawn? Will another brand of dishwashing detergent work? Maybe, but it has been my experience as a homemaker for over 25 years now that the Original Dawn formula (not other types of Dawn) is the best for removing stains. That said, I don’t use it on my hand-washed dishes as it is known to contain harsh chemicals that are not good for the skin; for dishes I use ECOS brand detergent.

Once you have soaked the stain in the mix, rinse the garment thoroughly and place it in a bath of super washing soda and allow it to soak for up to 24 hours if needed. Take the garment out of the soda bath, rinse out all the suds, and then remove excess moisture from the material. Wash and dry according to the garment’s care label.

Do not place the garment in the drier unless you are one hundred percent sure the stain is out. The heat of the drier tends to make stains permanent.

What Fabrics NOT to try this method on: These two stain removal methods are okay for most cotton and polyester clothing (the dress was polyester blend), but I would not recommend them for wool, silk, or leather. Consult your local dry cleaner for these fabrics and others of a delicate nature.

The Reason Why Mustard Stains So Badly

Mustard is given its bright yellow color by turmeric, which has traditionally been used to dye clothing a yellow color. Essentially, when you drop this beloved condiment on your clothing, you are adding natural yellow pigment to the fibers of your garment. This is why the quicker you deal with a mustard stain, the better the chance you have of completely removing it.

The Best Practices For Dealing With A Fresh Mustard Stain

• Carefully remove the garment
• take a dull knife or spoon and remove any excess mustard from the surface of the material
• Rinse the stain under cold water (hot water will set the stain)
• Apply the hydrogen peroxide and Dawn mix (see above for how much of each)
• Rub or blot the mixture into the fibers of the stained area using either a brush, sponge or clean cloth (if there is not anything else available paper towel will work in a pinch)
• Allow the mixture to sit for ten minutes
• Rinse in cold water
• If the stain is entirely out, place it in the washing machine and wash as directed.
• If stain is still present, soak in a super washing soda and water mixture overnight and then rinse and wash.

More Articles To Help You Remove Tough Stains

• What Took Out Grass Stains That Were A Week Old
• How To Remove Coffee And Tea Stains From Your Favorite Mugs Naturally