How to get food dye out of clothes

Fabric

1. If the stain is fresh, sponge with cool water.

2. If the stain remains, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric or 1/4 cup of oxygen bleach per gallon of cool water and soak for at least 30 minutes.

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3. Rinse, and then launder.

Upholstery

1. Mix one teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia - the resulting fumes are hazardous) with two cups of cool water.

2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/ammonia solution.

3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth.

5. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of cool water.

6. Sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution.

7. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

8. Sponge the stain with rubbing alcohol.

9. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

10. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Carpet

1. Mix one teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of warm water.

2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/ammonia solution.

3. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the cloth.

5. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water.

6. Sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution.

7. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

8. Sponge the stain with rubbing alcohol.

9. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

10. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

For more on stain removal, see Good Housekeeping's Stain Rescue

Fabric

1. If the stain is fresh, sponge with cool water.

2. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover.

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3. Launder.

4. If the stain remains, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric or 1/4 cup of oxygen bleach per gallon of cool water and soak for 30 minutes.

5. Rinse, and then launder.

Upholstery

1. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of cool water.

2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution.

3. Sponge with cool water.

4. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

5. Sponge with rubbing alcohol. Blot to remove the stain.

6. Sponge with cold water.

7. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

8. If the stain remains, mix one teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of ammonia (Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia - the resulting fumes are hazardous) with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution.

9. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Carpet

1. Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water.

2. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears.

3. Sponge with warm water and blot until the liquid is absorbed.

4. Sponge with rubbing alcohol. Blot to remove the stain.

5. Sponge with warm water and blot until the liquid is absorbed.

6. If the stain remains, mix one teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution.

7. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

For more on stain removal, see Good Housekeeping's Stain Rescue