Hand Wash your garment with dish soap to remove the sugars, then lay it flat and apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the watermelon stains. Let it sit for 10 minutes before rubbing vinegar over the hydrogen peroxide. Wash as usual in the washer.
No matter how hard I try to keep myself clean, I always get stains on my clothes when consuming this refreshing fruit.
If you’re dealing with watermelon stains at the very moment, don’t worry! I will teach you how to get watermelon stains from clothes in record time.
Note: If your garment is labeled as “dry clean only”, you should take it to a dry cleaning service as soon as you identify the watermelon stains.
How To Get Watermelon Stains Out From Clothes
Watermelon stains can be a little tricky!
You can think they’re gone when they dry but if left untreated, they can oxidize into pale yellow or brown stains and stay on your garment forever. This is why it’s important to act quickly.
Don’t let yourself forget about these seemingly “innocent” stains, but take instant action. First, gather the following products for stain removal, then apply the provided steps.
- Water
- Small bowl
- Clean white cloth
- Enzym-based stain remover
- Dishwashing liquid or detergent
- Oxygen-based bleach
- Soft-bristled brush
- Paper towels
Step 1: Scrape Off Any Residue
First, remove as much residue as possible from your clothes. The seeds, juice, or small pieces of the watermelon can make a bigger stain on your garment easily.
You can remove this residue with a clean cloth. Or paper towels. Don’t rub the surface. Use gentle motion. Otherwise, you will push the stain even deeper.
Step 2: Hand Wash Your Garment
Rinse your garment with plain water to remove the sugars and wash off the upper part residue. This will also help minimize the watermelon stains.
You don’t have to scrub or use any cleaning product at this point. Gently rinse it with plain water using one of the following two methods.
First, you can blot out the stain with a paper towel after rinsing it. Second, you can rinse it with water by holding the opposite side of your garment under running water.
That way, all the residue can come out from your cloth more easily. Make sure you don’t spread it to other parts of your garment.
Step 3: Apply a Stain Remover
Once you’re done rinsing your garment and removing as much of the stain as possible, it’s time for the real deal.
Apply a generous amount of stain remover (enzyme-based) to the affected area. Then, apply dishwashing liquid or regular detergent to the treated area.
Step 4: Soak Your Garment
The soaking process is one of the most important parts of stain removal. So, make sure to do it properly. Take your garment and let it soak in the dishwashing liquid or detergent and stain remover solution for about 15 minutes.
Step 5: Wash As Usual
Once you’re finished soaking your stained garment, you can either wash it by hand or in the washing machine.
If you opt for machine washing, make sure your garment can be safely washed in this manner. Not all types of garments have the same quality, so check the care label.
Step 6: If The Stains Persist, Use Bleach
If you’re proceeding with this step, it means your garment isn’t completely cleaned yet. In this case, you can mix 1 cup of oxygen-based bleach with hot water.
Make sure you use a generous amount of oxygen-based bleach and really hot water to decrease the possible side effects of the bleach. Lastly, submerge your garment into the solution and let it soak for a while.
Step 7: Soak Your Garment
Let your garment soak in the bleach and water mixture for about 3-4 hours for the best results. I would highly suggest that you complete this whole process at night so you can leave your garment soaking overnight and finally remove those stubborn stains.
Step 8: Wash As Usual
Once you’re finished soaking, you can see the stains slowly disappearing. If that’s the case, your job here is almost done.
The only thing you need to do is wash your garment as usual in the washing machine or by hand if you prefer so, or if the garment’s care label specifies so.
If you opt for handwashing your garment, make sure to remove all the bleach from it by rinsing it a couple of times. You can use room temperature water to rinse your garment and ensure that no residue of the solution will remain in it.
Step 9: Toss Your Garment in the Dryer
The drying process is also important when dealing with tough stains such as watermelon stains which can appear as easy to remove at first sight.
You must dry your garment well after washing. Otherwise, your garment might have a bad odor and create germs that disrupt your personal hygiene.
You can use a dryer to completely dry your garment, but consider that not all types of materials have the same quality and therefore, some can’t handle the electric drying process.
In fact, this type of drying can damage some materials, so make sure to check the care label and determine if it’s okay to toss your garment in the dryer.
If your garment can’t be dried in the dryer, you can use another natural method that will cause no damage to the fabric. And that’s air drying. Leave your garment under the sun for a while. This will provide a fully dry and germ-free garment.
Step 10: Repeat The Process If Necessary
The steps above should be enough to lift the stains from your garment.
If your garment is still stained, then you can repeat the process as many times as necessary until you fully remove the stains and wear your garment with pride again.
If nothing works, take your garment to a professional cleaning service.
How To Remove Old Watermelon Stains?
You can remove old watermelon stains or any fruit stains for that matter with vinegar and lemon juice.
Mix equal amounts of vinegar and lemon juice. Then, add the solution to the stains and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then, rinse the affected area with a white towel dampened with plain water.
If this doesn’t work, scrub the stained area with laundry detergent. Then wash as usual in the washing machine with your favorite detergent or hand wash your garment.
Last Resort: Using a Commercial Stain Remover
If nothing works, you can always use a professional stain remover. make sure to test the product on a sample of the fabric or a hidden part of your garment.
That way, you will ensure it’s safe and won’t cause any damage. If the color or texture is affected, don’t use the product. Otherwise, use as instructed on the package.
Always apply the stain remover to the other side of the stain. That way, the stain will be forced off the garment and not through the fabric. Usually, a single drop of a commercial stain remover is enough to remove any type of stains, including watermelon stains.
Using a clean, lintless cloth, gently dab the stain. Once done, wash by hand as usual.
WARNING: Keep in mind that some commercial stain removers are flammable, while others are toxic, so treat yours with care. Don’t mix different stain removers and always pay close attention to the warnings.
Keep the stain removal products out of the reach of kids. Keep them locked if necessary in a dry, cool place away from food products.
When using a stain remover, make sure the room is well-ventilated so you don’t breathe any of the chemicals in the stain remover. If you spill the stain remover onto your skin or working surface, wash with plain water immediately.
Finally, don’t forget to wash your garment by hand to remove the product. When you’re done using it, make sure the product has completely evaporated from your fabric before adding it to a washing machine.
FAQs On How To Get Watermelon Stains Out
How To Remove Watermelon Stains From Upholstery?
Remove any residue. Then, mix 1 tablespoon of hand soap with 2 cups of cold water. Using a clean white towel, scrub off the stain with the solution. Blot out the affected area with paper towels until all the liquid is absorbed. Rinse with plain water and blot dry.
How To Remove Watermelon Stains From Plastic?
You can easily remove watermelon stains from plastic with different household products such as rubbing alcohol, bleach, hand sanitizer, white vinegar, salt, baking soda paste, denture tablets, Alka Seltzer, cascade plastic booster, lemon, or Dawn power dissolver.
Does Watermelon Juice Stain Clothes?
Watermelon juice can definitely stain clothes, especially white clothes. If left untreated, it will oxidize into different colors and become almost impossible to remove. If you act fast, you can remove watermelon juice from white clothes with 1 cup of bleach and hot water.
