How to Get Jelly Out of a Shirt

Jams and jellies can cause stubborn stains.

For those who've caught the home preserving bug, summer and autumn are a busy time. Turning the year's harvest into gleaming rows of preserves and jewel-like jellies is deeply satisfying, combining the pleasures of a well-executed skill and a comfortably well-filled pantry. As beautiful as those jellies undoubtedly are when they're lined up on your shelves, they're less appealing when they've been spilled on your shirt. Grape jelly makes a notoriously difficult stain, and so do red fruits such as raspberries, but if you treat them immediately, jelly stains can be removed from most fabrics.

Things You'll Need

• Clean, absorbent cloths
• White vinegar
• Liquid laundry detergent

Instructions

1. Read the laundry instructions on the stained shirt. Silk and other delicate fabrics are often labeled as "dry clean only," and should be turned over to a professional for stain removal. For washable fabrics, go on to the next steps.

2. Dampen the stained area immediately to prevent the pigment from drying and setting into the fibers. Blot up as much of the color as you can using a clean cloth.

3. Prepare a mild solution of one tablespoon white vinegar in a quart of barely warm water. Add a few drops of liquid laundry detergent, no more than half a teaspoon, and stir to make sure it's well dissolved.

4. Soak the stained area thoroughly with the cleaning solution, and allow it to sit for five to 10 minutes. This gives the solution time to loosen the pigment and sugars from the jelly. If the stain is especially large, soak the entire shirt in the cleaning solution.

5. Blot the affected area with a clean cloth, getting up as much of the pigment as possible. Repeat the soaking and blotting process, never letting the stain dry, until there is no visible pigment left on the shirt.

6. Wash the shirt normally, and check it to see if any portion of the stain remains visible. If so, repeat the treatment and washing until it has disappeared completely. Don't dry the shirt until the stain is successfully removed, since this will set the stain and make it more difficult to extract.

Tips & Warnings

• If the stain proves especially stubborn, try blotting it with rubbing alcohol. The pigments in some fruits are more soluble in alcohol than water.

• If the shirt's fabric is bleachable, a wash with bleach can help remove lingering traces of the stain.

• Commercial stain removal products can also be highly effective, especially if the stained area has never been allowed to dry and set.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster: Jelly
• Mrs. Clean: How to Remove Stains From Clothes