Last Updated on 4 years ago by Susan Mayrich
Before you try any random procedure, there are only five proven ways on how to get blue detergent stains out of clothes. This article will discuss the best methods and products to safely remove the annoying blue stains on clothes because of detergent residue.
You’ll also know the reasons behind blue detergent stains and instructions on preventing the issues from reoccurring. But for additional steps in managing laundry detergent stains in any fabric type, refer to how to remove detergent stains.
5 Proven Ways On How To Get Blue Detergent Stains Out Of Clothes
Because blue detergent is the most popular color, it’s not surprising that it makes up more than 40% of detergent sales. However, it’s also common for this laundry soap to leave blue stains, so you should know what method or product will work best on your garment type.
Method 1. How To Get Blue Detergent Stains Out Of Clothes With Vinegar
Vinegar has always been a popular stain remover, and it’s also something you can use to remove laundry detergent stains or detergent residue. It’s also fantastic if you want to remove any smell left by the detergent on the garment.
Products
- White vinegar
- Water
Steps
- Make a natural blue laundry detergent stain remover by mixing a cup of white vinegar and a quart of water
- Test the solution on a small area of your garment
- If there is no reaction to the fabric type, soak the clothes in the solution for an hour.
- Rinse the items by hand or in the washer to remove the vinegar smell
Method 2. How To Get Blue Detergent Stains Out Of Clothes With Baking Soda
Another common household item you can use to remove blue spots and detergent stains on your clothes is baking soda. You can also do the method below after you wash the clothes in laundry soap.
Products
- Baking soda
- Usual laundry items
Steps
- Put the clothes in the washing machine and start the cycle
- Add half a cup of baking soda and continue the process
- Wash the clothes as usual but add another half a cup of baking soda for the rinse cycle
- You can also rinse the garment in cold water before doing any of the steps above to remove the detergent residue
Method 3. How To Get Blue Detergent Stains Out Of Clothes With Alcohol
Solvents like alcohol are not only useful for removing smells from laundry. You can also use this product to remove the stubborn blue spots and stains from laundry soap residue.
Products
- Alcohol
- Hot water
- Washing machine
Steps
- Rinse the clothes in hot water to break down the laundry detergent residue
- Squeeze the fabric and lay it over a flat surface
- Test a small area of the garment with alcohol
- If there is no reaction, treat the blue spot and other detergent stains with alcohol
- Leave the clothes to soak for 10 minutes
- Rinse the clothing again in hot water
- Repeat the steps until the blue stains are completely removed
Method 4. How To Get Blue Detergent Stains Out Of Clothes With Bleach
Bleach is a strong stain remover, so it’s best to check if your garment type is safe for this product. If your clothing items are made from silk or wool, pick another process, as bleach will damage them.
Products
- Bleach
- Gloves
- Water
Steps
- Check your clothing’s care tag to see if you can bleach it safely; be aware that some fabrics might fade and lose their bright color when bleached
- Use gloves when handling bleach
- Make a solution of a gallon of water and bleach
- Spot treat the blue detergent stains and soak for 15 minutes
- Wash the clothes as usual
Method 5. How To Get Blue Detergent Stains Out Of Clothes With Commercial Stain Remover
Did you know that over 70% of people combine a stain remover and detergent to remove blue stains on clothes? The blue stains might be so stubborn that you’ll need to buy products specifically formulated to remove them.
Products
- Stain remover
Steps
- Read the product’s care tag and follow the instructions recommended for your garments
- The common ways of using stain removers include soaking the clothes in a solution or spot-treating the blue detergent stains
- You can work the product into the garment with a brush
- Wash the clothes as usual
What Are Some Common Causes Of Blue Detergent Stains On Clothes?
Laundry detergent is not mixed well
According to the American Cleaning Institute, the most common cause of blue detergent stains on clothes is if the detergent fails to disperse completely. So if you often use powdered laundry soap, make sure it goes before the clothes and water.
If this doesn’t solve the issues of blue detergent stains, another reason why your detergent is undissolved is a clogged dispenser. Make it a habit to check and unclog the dispenser or clean hot water and vinegar.
Too much laundry detergent
You might be using too much laundry detergent on your garment, which causes blue detergent stains. If you use excess detergent on washers, you risk having buildup that eventually leaves spots on clothes.
Check the product package if you need help determining how much detergent to use. Usually, two tablespoons of laundry soap are enough for one load.
Overloaded washing machine
Besides using too much laundry detergent, an overloaded washer can also cause blue detergent stains on clothing items. The washing machine won’t be efficiently overloaded, and the soap residue will fail to drain.
Therefore, some clothes might be cleaned, while others have blue stains. Read your washer manual for the recommended load.
Hard water for laundry
Does your area have hard water? Hard water has minerals that can collect in the washing machine and affect the efficiency of laundry detergent.
Because of this, the detergent can leave blue stains on your clothes. Some recommend adding borax to soften the water and prevent issues from the minerals in the water.
How Can I Prevent Blue Detergent Stains On My Clothes?
It’s easy to remember these tips to prevent residue and blue detergent stains on your clothes after each washing cycle:
- Make sure you’ll always dilute your laundry detergent completely by mixing it with water before adding it to the laundry
- Start with the soap and water mixture, then add the clothes to the washing machine
- Maintain a clean washing machine
- Follow the recommended load and amount of detergent to use for each cycle
The blue stains on your clothes might not be from detergent. It might be the color from other items in the washer, so why not read how to remove color bleeding from colored clothes?
Are Blue Detergent Stains Permanent?
You can get blue detergent stains off various garment types by soaking or spot-treating the garment with the products and methods discussed. The dyes are not permanent, but make sure whatever process you choose is suitable for the type of fabric you have.
Most laundry detergents use a blue dye to help make white clothing items appear whiter. However, if the detergent is not dispersed completely, it can cause blue stains on clothes.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Remove Laundry Stains?
While hydrogen peroxide is not popular for removing blue detergent stains, it’s very handy for removing other stains on clothes. But because not every clothing item is the same, test the hydrogen peroxide on a small area of the garment first to check if it will lighten.
You can remove laundry stains from food or even tough protein-based ones like blood if there’s no reaction. Just remember that you can’t mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar because they can lead to dangerous gases.
Does Vinegar Remove Laundry Detergent Stains?
Vinegar is an effective laundry detergent stain remover. It’s effective because it breaks down the detergent residue, and as a bonus, it also brightens white clothes.
But as with using any product on your garment, test a small area of the clothing first to see if it will have any reaction. You can soak the clothes in water, vinegar, or pre-treat detergent stains.
However, be mindful of methods that recommend using vinegar directly in your washing cycle. Vinegar might damage some washing machines, especially with regular use.
How To Remove Detergent Stains From White Clothes
Concentrated dish soap can be an effective laundry detergent stain remover on white clothes. But while this product seems harmless, it’s more recommended for white cotton shirts than for delicate clothing items like those made from silk.
Things you’ll need
- Dish soap
- Laundry detergent
Steps
- Spot-treat the detergent stains with dish soap and rub them into the garment with your fingers
- Wash the clothes as usual
Similarly, you can read how to remove dye transfer stains from colored clothes.
How To Remove Detergent Stains From Black Clothes
The tricky thing about removing detergent stains from black clothes is most stain removers can create a noticeable faded spot on where you treated the garment. You can start treating the detergent stains with vinegar, but if the area lightens, try targeting it with a paste made from baking soda and water.
This process can also solve the issue if you bleach black clothes to remove detergent stains but left faded spots. Consider re-dyeing your garment if the black shirt can’t be restored to its color.
Conclusion
And that’s it! You just learned five hacks on how to get blue detergent stains out of clothes: vinegar, baking soda, alcohol, bleach, and stain remover.
But before you try any method, always test the product on a small part of the garment. And finally, make sure you’re mixing the detergent and water thoroughly and put the solution in the washer before the clothes to prevent blue detergent stains in the future.