Watermelons sure are a sweet treat on a hot day, but alas, they can leave a colorful mark on clothes and shoes when we least expect it! That beautiful pink comes from lycopene—a carotenoid that doesn’t just provide a pretty shade but also adores sticking to fabrics.
When that stain decides not to wash away easily, we’re met with a playful challenge ahead. Stick around as we navigate through those stubborn splotches together, ensuring your favorite outfits can remain in the summer rotation, fresh and stain-free!
Removing Watermelon Stains from Clothes
Enzyme-Based Stain Remover & Laundry Detergent
- Gently remove any solid watermelon pieces and lightly blot the stain using a paper towel.
- Flush the stain with cold water from the backside of the fabric.
- Generously apply an enzyme-based stain remover (For example: Zout or OxiClean) or a robust liquid detergent (For example: Tide Laundry Detergent) to the stain and leave it for 10 minutes.
- Wash following the garment’s care label instructions.
- If necessary, soak the garment in a warm water and oxygen bleach solution for at least four hours or overnight, repeating until the stain vanishes.
White Vinegar & Baking Soda Magic
- Remove solid pieces and blot the stain without rubbing it.
- Push out the juice by flushing the stain with cold water from the back of the fabric.
- Combine white vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio, spray it on the stain, and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle baking soda, gently rubbing it on the stain, then rinse well with cold water.
- Wash as usual per the care label guidelines.
Soaking the Garment in Oxygen Bleach
In the battle against persistent watermelon stains, oxygen bleach offers a mighty weapon! Here’s how we engage this stain-fighting ally:
- Prepare a bath of warm water and oxygen bleach, sticking strictly to the guide on the bleach package to nail the perfect bleach-to-water ratio.
- Let your garment take a relaxing dive into the bleach bath, allowing it to soak thoroughly for at least several hours.
- Once the soak session is complete, wash the garment as you typically would, ensuring you’re using a friendly temperature and bleach variant for the fabric.
Commercial Stain Removing Products
When the watermelon stain is throwing a stubborn party on your garment, it’s time to usher in the commercial stain remover squad:
- Zout: Recognized for its mighty stain-busting powers, it’s also gentle on numerous fabrics and tackles a myriad of stains with ease.
- OxiClean: Celebrated for its versatility and particularly potent against tenacious stains like those of watermelons.
- Tide Stain Remover: A specialist in knocking out tough stains, ensuring the safety of most fabrics.
- Woolite Stain Remover: Gently handles stains even on delicate fabrics like silk and wool, proving its efficacy across a range of stain types.
Removing watermelon stains from clothes using commercial products.
- Directly applying a judicious amount of the chosen stain remover onto the affected area.
- Letting it work its magic for a solid 10 minutes.
- Using a clean cloth, delicately blot the stain, lifting off the stain remover.
- Finalize by washing the garment, keeping in mind to use the warmest water and bleach suitable for the fabric.
A Few Pro Tips:
- Encountering a stubborn, aged stain? Giving the garment a pre-treatment soak in a blend of warm water and oxygen bleach for several hours may be the pre-game strategy your stain remover needs.
- If the victim of the watermelon mishap is a delicate fabric like silk or wool, entrusting it to a professional cleaner might be your safest bet to avert any potential material mishaps.
How to Remove Watermelon Stains from Shoes
Addressing watermelon stains on shoes with precision and effectiveness calls for a strategic approach. Let’s explore easy methods that accommodate various materials and stains to restore the sparkle in your shoes.
Boiling Water
Boiling water—while it seems simple, it packs quite a punch against unwelcome watermelon memories on certain fabrics. Here’s how to put it into action:
- Carefully pour boiling distilled water directly onto the stain. Ensure to safeguard your shoes from potential damage due to the hot water.
- If the stain decides to linger, let the shoes enjoy a soak in an enzyme pre-wash solution for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Proceed to wash the shoes with hot water if feasible, or gently wipe them down with a moist cloth.
Dishwashing Liquid and Warm Water
The common dishwashing liquid transforms into a shoe-saving hero with just a dash of warm water. To embark on this stain-fighting journey:
- Start by politely escorting any solid watermelon pieces away and blot the stain softly with a paper towel or napkin, ensuring you’re not rubbing and spreading the stain.
- Conjuring the cleaning potion involves a few drops of dishwashing liquid and warm water, mixed in harmony in a petite bowl or cup.
- Employing a soft-bristled brush or sponge, cautiously scrub the stain, embracing each stroke with the magical soapy solution.
- Rinse thoroughly with cold water, sending the remnants of the stain into oblivion, and then allow your shoes to air dry, basking in their renewed cleanliness.
Suede or Leather Shoe Cleaner
When watermelon stains appear on suede or leather shoes, a specific suede or leather shoe cleaner becomes pivotal to carefully clean without causing damage.
- Start by familiarizing yourself with the cleaner’s instructions, adhering to them meticulously.
- Subtly test the cleaner on a hidden area to ensure it doesn’t compromise the material.
- Gently apply the cleaner onto the stain using a clean cloth, employing soft motions.
- Remove the cleaner using a damp cloth and allow the shoes to air dry, enjoying their refreshed cleanliness.
Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda, noted for its mildly abrasive nature, joins forces with water to combat watermelon stains.
- Create a paste by combining baking soda and water, reaching a manageable consistency.
- Gently apply the paste onto the stain, using a clean cloth as your applicator.
- Allow the paste to interact with the stain for at least 10 minutes, performing its cleaning action.
- Rinse with clean water and, if the stain remains, repeat until it’s eliminated. Allow the shoes to air dry.
Commercial Products
When stains demonstrate a sturdy resistance, occasionally a professional shoe cleaner becomes your most effective option.
Examples of Best Stain Removing Products.
- Folex Carpet Spot Remover: A warrior against various stains, effective on shoes.
- Bissell Professional Spot & Stain Remover: Especially potent against food-based stains like watermelon.
- Vanish Powerfoam Stain Remover: A versatile stain fighter, safe for most fabrics.
- Resolve Stain Remover: Expert in addressing tough stains, safeguarding the material in its mission.
Using these products entails:
- Compliance with the instructions to protect your shoes and effectively remove stains.
- Subtly test the cleaner on a hidden area to ensure compatibility with the material.
Tips & Tricks
- For obstinate, embedded stains, contemplating a pre-soak in a solution of warm water and oxygen bleach might provide a beneficial preliminary step.
- When confronting delicate materials like suede or leather, consulting or engaging a professional cleaner from the get-go might be a wise decision.
- Always commence with a test in an inconspicuous area before confronting the stain head-on, ensuring the safety and colorfastness of the material.