Simple steps to remove food coloring from clothes and fabrics

Food coloring drops, gel, and powder are popular ways to color frosting and cupcakes, dye Easter eggs, or make colorful crafts. But I’m a messy baker so every time I make a cake I end up with food coloring on everything I wear. So, here are my basic methods for removing food coloring from clothes and other fabrics without damage.

And if you’ve already tried something before, go ahead and give these steps a spin. I’ve had great luck getting food coloring out of clothes with these methods, even if the stain has been there for a while.

Is food coloring permanent?

No. Because food coloring is oil-based, it is easier to remove from synthetic fabrics such as rayon and polyester. But you can usually get it out of cotton or other natural fiber clothing with a little elbow grease and common household ingredients. Note, however, that it is best to take silk or wool garments to a dry cleaner, as the scrubbing involved in treating stains can damage the fibers of these fabrics. And, as with any stain, the sooner you treat it the better.

Before You Begin

• Always test stain treatments on an inconspicuous area to make sure the fabric is colorfast.
• Use cool water to prevent the paint from setting.
• Check to make sure the stain is gone before drying the item, as heat can make it harder to get out.

Steps to get food dye out of clothes

In the washing machine

1. Blot with a paper towel to remove excess food coloring.
2. Then dab some liquid dish soap on both sides of the fabric. Wait 10-15 minutes to let the detergents loosen the stain.
3. Wash the item immediately using the hottest setting recommended on the care label and regular laundry detergent. For white fabrics, add chlorine bleach to the wash cycle. For dark or light colored clothing, use oxygen bleach.
4. Once the cycle is complete, inspect the item to make sure the stain is gone before putting it in the dryer.

Spot treatment

If you don’t want to wash the whole load or you are far from the washing machine, you can treat the spot by hand.

1. Grab a table knife and scrape away as much of the spot as possible. Then wipe it on both sides with a white paper towel or cloth to transfer the food coloring from the clothes to the cloth.
2. Rinse by dabbing the area with a cool, damp cloth or hold the fabric under cool water, stain side down. (This helps wash the food coloring out of the fabric.)
3. When you have removed as much paint as possible, soak the stained area in a shallow bowl filled with 1 cup of cold water, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and one teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Use a coffee mug to weigh down the fabric so it stays in the soapy water.
4. Wait 15 minutes and then rinse again under a cold tap with the stained side down.
5. Inspect the garment after it has air dried and repeat if necessary.

Removal of older food coloring stains

Sometimes, you can still remove old food coloring stains from fabrics, even if they have been through the washer and dryer. Here’s how I do it:

1. Make a cleaning solution by combining 1 quart of warm water, one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, and one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent in a bowl or bucket.
2. Immerse the stained area in this solution, weighing it if necessary.
3. Let the fabric soak overnight, then gently rub the back to loosen the dye.
4. Rinse thoroughly under cool running water with the stained side down to wash the color out of the fabric.
5. Wash immediately and inspect to make sure the stain is gone before putting it in the dryer.

Other things to try

Now, I’ve had great luck using the methods above, but depending on the fabric you’re working with or how long the food coloring stain has been around, you may need to try these other methods. As with all stain removers, absolutely field test in an inconspicuous place to check color fastness.

Rubbing alcohol: Use a clean white cloth and rub (isopropyl) alcohol on natural fibers such as cotton, linen, denim, etc. Dab the area lightly to lift the stain and transfer it to your cloth. Be sure to change to a clean section of your fabric often so you don’t spread the mess. Once the stain is gone, rinse the area with fresh water and dry with a clean towel. Never use rubbing alcohol on acetate, triacetate or modacrylic which can dissolve isopropyl.

Oxygen Bleach: Dissolve one tablespoon of oxygenated bleach (Oxiclean is one brand) in 2 cups of cool water. Apply to the area with a clean sponge or cloth, wait 5 minutes and then wipe with a new cloth to lift the stain. Change to a clean section of your fabric often so you don’t transfer the dye back to the carpet.

Baking soda and vinegar: A simple, all-natural way to remove food coloring from fabric—including carpet and upholstery—involves sprinkling the stain with baking soda and then spraying it with vinegar. The foam produced by this combination can break the bonds of the stain with the fabric fibers. Wait for the foaming to stop, then wipe the area with a clean, damp cloth. Turn the cloth frequently to pick up the mess and not spread it out.

After removing the food coloring, wipe the area with a fresh cloth lightly moistened with water to neutralize the stain removers, then dry it.