How to Get Iron Burn Stains Out of Fabric

It's easy to become distracted while ironing, as it can be such a mundane chore. Unfortunately when dealing with something as hot as an iron, a certain amount of attention is required to avoid nasty burn marks on your clothing. These burns may seem like the demise of perfectly good clothing, but armed with the right information and a little quick thinking, burned garments can be salvaged.

Things You'll Need

• Clean cloth
• White vinegar
• Lemon juice
• 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Oxygen bleach

Instructions

Several Simple Suggestions

1. Dip a clean cloth in white vinegar and gently wipe the stain with it. Blot the area with a clean dry cloth and repeat as needed until the stain is gone.

2. Squeeze lemon juice all over the burn mark to soak it, and set it outside in the sunshine. Allow the garment to soak in the sun for 2 to 3 hours before laundering.

3. Submerge the garment in very cold water and set it aside to sit for 24 hours. Launder as usual when the stain is gone.

4. Soak a clean white cloth in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and set it directly on top of the burn mark. Iron over the cloth with the iron on a low setting to remove the stain. Replace the cloth and continue to iron until the mark is no longer visible.

5. Apply liquid laundry detergent to the burned area and work it into the fibers gently with a clean cloth. Launder the garment immediately with liquid laundry detergent and add in some oxygen bleach per the bleach manufacturer's instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not attempt to machine-dry the garment until the stain is gone.

References

• Stain Buster: Iron Scorch Marks (Light)
• Tip for Removing Scorch Marks from Linen or Cotton Fabric
• Vinegar: In the Laundry and for Removing Stains