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Ketchup Catsup. Tips to remove Ketchup Catsup stains

Ketchup stains can get on just about anything, your shirts, pants, socks, and the kids are very prone to having stains on their clothing as well from ketchup or catsup.  Use these ideas and tips for cleaning your ketchup stained materials and fabrics. Be sure to check if the item is dry clean only.

Blot up as much of the liquid from the ketchup on the material.

Pre-treat the stain with a stain stick or a clear bleach free detergent, saturating the area and letting this soak for at least an hour.  Rub with your fingers if needed to work out some of the red stain.

Wash in the washer as usual without putting it in the dryer until check the stain. Make sure the ketchup stain is gone before putting the material in the dryer.

If the stain is still there, soak in a bucket of warm water with two cups of vinegar for a few hours, put additional stain treatment on the ketchup stained area and launder again without drying so you can reexamine the stain.

If the stain is still there, soak in a bucket of water and bleach if the material instructions note that you can, or you can use color safe bleach if the fabric states you can.  Soak the item over night or for at least a few hours. 

You can also repeat this process using vinegar to naturalize the ketchup stain. Using a bucket of water and two cups of vinegar, soaking the material for at least three hours.

Launder again, rinse, and do not dry until you check the ketchup stain.  Repeat as needed to lighten the stain.

If you have a persistent stain, lay the item with the stain facing a towel, and use dry cleaning solution over the stained area so the stain will come out on the towel as you put the dry cleaning solution over the stained area.  Rinse and launder as usual.