How to Remove Popsicle Stains from Carpet/Clothes [SOLVED]

Popsicles are fun treats to help you cool off on hot summer days. Unfortunately, having some popsicle drippings on your clothes is far from being fun. If you are asking the age-old question “how do I get popsicle stains out of clothes,” consider yourself lucky to be reading this article.

What are the main ingredients in popsicles

Popsicles are made up of 90% water. Other ingredients include sugar, stabilizers, gum, and corn syrup. These ingredients are the reason for that “mouth feel” texture of popsicles that makes them pleasant to eat.

The stabilizers and sugars make the pop soften in the air for it to be edible instead of dripping or melting like ice cubes. There are high concentrations of flavoring and is often traditional fruit color and flavor. 

Do popsicle stain clothes

Popsicles are known to stain clothes mainly because of their artificial colors and flavors.

Are popsicle stains permanent

While popsicle stains are quite common among kids and adults alike, they tend to be tricky to remove if you don’t treat them immediately. Popsicle stains won’t be permanent as long as you remove them right away or preferably as soon as they occur.

Will popsicle stain damage clothes

Popsicle stains are actually easy and simple to remove if you handle them quickly and with the use of the correct cleaning elements. These stains won’t damage clothes if you tackle them correctly.

Will popsicle stain come out of clothes

Popsicle stains will come out of clothes if you deal with those accidental drips the moment you make the mess. 

What can remove popsicle stain from clothes

If you happen to be out and about and there is no way you can treat the popsicle stain immediately, you can run and wash it off under cold water as much as you can.  Once you get home, use lemon juice to pre-treat the stain. Squeeze several slices to a bowl containing water then sponge this over the stain.Lemon’s acidity will help break down the coloring. 

You can also mix 3 parts hydrogen peroxide with 1 part cold water. Use this solution to treat the popsicle stain with a soft-bristled brush. Allow the solution to sit for 30 minutes and wash as usual.

How do you get popsicle stains out of clothing

Proper popsicle removal is a must, especially because these stains tend to be quite bright and might be hard to remove due to their dye content.

Below are a few tips to help you get stains out of clothes:

  1. Rinse off the stain right away in cold water first.
  2. Presoak the garment for at least 30 minutes with cold water and one or two tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent.
  3. If needed, you can also try dabbing household ammonia on the stained spot.
  4. Wash using detergent and oxygen-based bleach. Avoid using chlorine bleach. Since you applied ammonia, combining it with bleach will produce toxic fumes.
  5. See to it that you have completely removed the stain after washing before you dry the garment or else, the stain will set because of the dryer’s heat.

How to remove grape popsicle stains

The grape juice found in popsicles easily stain not only clothes but also carpets and other kinds of stone floors. There are also grape popsicles containing food dye that worsen the stain and make it more difficult to remove.

You need to work fast to get rid of the stains since letting them sit longer on the area will only make them settle more and removing them will also be harder. Always use non-toxic cleaning solutions to ensure that you don’t contaminate the air quality of your home.

  1. Mix several drops of liquid dish soap with one cup of warm water. Opt for gentle soap with no bleach content.
  2. Bloat this soapy solution over the stain until it is removed. Work starting from the outside part of the stain to the middle.
  3. Use white vinegar to soak a clean cloth if the stain remains.
  4. Dab the grape popsicle stain with the white vinegar-soaked cloth until it is gone.
  5. You can put whitening toothpaste on any lingering traces of the stain. Use an old toothbrush to scrub it on the stain and continue working until the blemish is gone.
  6. Use clear water to rinse the area and let it dry completely.

Popsicle stains FAQs

Hopefully, the following will answer some of your questions about popsicle stains:

How to get popsicle stain out of wood

To remove popsicle stains from wood, your first option is to use ammonia.

  1. Place a rag or paper towels over the stains. Push or step downward to soak any remaining liquid.
  2. Use ammonia to dampen a cloth and rub it gently on the stain to let ammonia remove it. You can continue cleaning until you remove the stain.
  3. Moisten a soft cloth under running cool water and wipe away any ammonia residue. 
  4. Use wood soap or your preferred method of wood cleaning to clean the area.

You can also use borax for cleaning popsicle stains from wood.

  1. Place a rag or paper towels over the stains. Push or step downward to soak any remaining liquid.
  2. Mix equal parts cold water and borax to make a paste.
  3. Get a soft-bristled brush and dip this in the paste. Rub this on the popsicle stain and let the paste dry completely over it.
  4. Soak a soft cloth in running cool water and remove any paste residue. Continue the process until you remove the stain.
  5. Use wood soap or your preferred method of wood cleaning to clean the area.

How to get popsicle stain out of carpet

Popsicle stains are among the most difficult stains to remove, especially from carpets. The good news is that there are some steps you can follow to get those popsicle stains out of your carpet.

  1. If the stain is still wet, you can use an extractor or an absorbent cloth to get rid of most of the stain as much as possible.
  2. Use a special spot remover made for colored dyes.
  3. Let the remove sit for 3 to 5 minutes then extract or blot it away.

The heat transfer method can also be used. After you apply the remover, you can put a clean white towel on the spot and put a steam iron right on top of the towel to help draw out the dye. You can also use a vapor steamer for lifting out the stain from the carpet fibers.

If it still fails to work, you can try the following steps:

  1. Neutralize the popsicle stain using an acid-based cleaner.
  2. Make sure that you apply a mild alkaline product after using an acid-based cleaner to get back to normal pH.
  3. Rinse the whole area properly using cold water.

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