Grape Stains

Have you ever had to deal with a grape juice stain?

I hadn't... until today.

I always understood that they were impossible to get clean... at least that is how it sounded when I was little. I don't think we ever had grape juice while wearing nice clothes. Ever. Or any other red juice for that matter. It was just that 'taboo'.

Well... I got my first taste of grape juice on clothes today.

The Background
We went to Superstore to pick up a few things... and they happened to have some juice tests there. My husband thought it would be a great idea to try some... and to let Baby M have some too. She is one. She doesn't drink from cups... at least not successfully. She wasn't in the best mood. She spilled the entire contents of the 'cup' all over her brand new, hadn't even been washed a second time (because I wash all her clothes before she gets a chance to wear them) pants. Corduroy pants. You know... the ones that are super difficult to scrub?

Yeah. And new. I don't buy new clothes often (usually second hand, and then it wouldn't have been such a big deal).

I was NOT happy. And being the wonderful, caring, wife that I am... I didn't react very nicely... oops. My husband felt terrible... and I really wish I would have reacted a little different. After all, they're just pants, right? And it's just juice, right? Pants can be cleaned... right?

Ugh.

The Work
After we got home (it had been maybe 1-2 hours... tops), I stripped my daughter, put her down for a nap, and proceeded to work on the stain. I got some lye soap from a friend, and attempted to scrub the stain out with it (that stuff can work wonders... on oil stains). Nothing. I scrubbed again. Nope. I researched it online.

Apparently boiling water and pouring it on the stain works really well.

Willing to try anything, I grabbed my kettle, filled it up, and started boiling water. The whistle went, and I set to pouring it over the purple stain. It lightened... considerably!

I was impressed!

I put the rest of the water in a bowl and set the stained portion of pant into it. After maybe 30 seconds, it was hardly there at all!

Excellent!

I remembered reading somewhere that lemon juice can help remove other organic stains, so I grabbed the lemon juice from the fridge next to me and poured a bit over the rest of the stain.

Gone!
Like magic!
No more juice!

The Lesson
I LOVE this tip! I am SO glad I found this out online... which is why I'm sharing it with all of you. Apparently this works wonders with all sorts of red/purple juice stains.

Who'd have thought pouring boiling water or another fruit juice over a current juice stain would remove it? Man... who needs expensive stain removers?

Oh, and another tip, one I've known for years... don't put a stained garment in the dryer. It will set the stain into the fibers. Just so you know (although you probably know anyway).