How to Remove Cherry Stains From Clothes

Cherry stains can be pale pink, bright red or dark purple.

Cherries are sweet and delicious, but when juice from a fresh cherry or a piece of cherry pie lands on your sweater or blouse, the sweet fruit may lose its appeal. Unfortunately, cherry juice dyes the fabric, making the stains a challenge to remove. The best way to remove a cherry stain is to treat it as soon as possible, before the stain has time to set into the fabric. Older stains can often be removed, but will require more time and persistence.

Things You'll Need

• Dull table knife
• Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent
• Plastic basin
• All-fabric bleach
• Oxygenated bleach product (optional)

Instructions

1. Use a dull table knife to scrape away any remaining cherry solids. Turn the garment inside out, then run cold water through the stained area.

2. Apply a few drops of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent to the stain on the inside of the garment. Rub the detergent into the stain, then rinse the fabric with cold water. The detergent will loosen the stain.

3. Fill a plastic basin with cold water. Add enough all-fabric bleach to create a dilute solution, according to the directions on the product container. Place the stained garment in the solution and allow the garment to soak for 15 to 30 minutes.

4. Rinse the garment with cold water. If the cherry stain is gone, wash and dry the garment according to the directions on the garment's care tag.

5. Apply a paste made of an oxygenated bleach product and cold water if the cherry stain persists. Work the paste gently into the garment. Allow the paste to penetrate the fabric for five to 10 minutes, then rinse with cold water. If the stain still remains, repeating the steps may help. However, the cherry stain may be impossible to remove.

Tips & Warnings

• If your garment is white, regular chlorine bleach can be used in place of all-fabric bleach. Read the fabric care label to determine if chlorine bleach is safe for your garment, as chlorine bleach may change its color or weaken the fibers.

• If all else fails, try pouring hydrogen peroxide through the stained area. Refer to the hydrogen-peroxide label for specific recommendations.

• Do not place your garment in the dryer until you're absolutely sure the cherry stain is gone. The heat from the dryer will set the stain, and removal may be impossible.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal
• Stain-Removal-101.com: Remove Cherry Stains, Black Cherry Stain and Cherry Juice Stains
• University of Missouri Extension: Stain Removal From Washable Fabrics