How to Remove Alcohol Stains

Gently sponge alcohol stains away from your favorite piece of clothing.

Whether you are sipping after-hours cocktails with coworkers or pouring the shots at a bachelorette party, the accidental elbow bump can cause drink spillage of a most unattractive kind. And because alcoholic drinks tend to stain, this can be a cleaning conundrum. Fortunately, everything you need to return your wardrobe to its former glory and remove that stain can be found in most household laundry rooms. With these items you can relax about the occasional spill, and keep your clothes looking like new.

Things You'll Need

• Sink
• Mild detergent
• Water
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Run cool water directly over the stain, rubbing with your fingers to remove the loosest stain on the surface of the fabric.

2. Fill the sink halfway with cool water.

3. Wet the sponge with cool water.

4. Squeeze several drops of mild detergent onto the wet sponge, and rub it into the sponge to create a soapy froth.

5. Rub the sponge into the stain on your garment.

6. Allow the garment to soak in the cool water for 20 minutes.

7. Rinse the garment in cool water and inspect the stain.

8. Repeat the process as necessary for stubborn stains.

9. Drain the sink when you have determined that the garment's stain has been satisfactorily removed.

10. Allow the garment to air-dry before laundering as usual.

11. Launder as usual once the garment is dry and shows no sign of the stain persisting.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use hot water or a heated dryer as the heat will activate the sugar in the alcohol, creating an ugly brown stain.

• Do not attempt this method on any garment which is deemed "dry-clean only."

References

• "Cleaning Plain & Simple"; Donna Smallin; 2006
• "Consumer Reports How to Clean and Care for Practically Anything"; The Editors of Consumer Reports; 2002