Remove Berry Stains From Clothing With a Boiling Water Flush

A handful of berries is a great snack, but one dropped berry or thoughtless wipe of your juice-covered hands can leave your clothing stained. If you act quickly, a little boiling water can keep the red stain from setting in your favorite garments, even whites.

A good stain remover will take out a stubborn stain once it sets, but it’s better to address the stain as soon as it happens, and Jo First at The Kitchn recommends a boiling water flush. Fill a teakettle with water and get it boiling on the stovetop. Blot the stain with a clean cloth to try and absorb some of the juice, but don’t rub or press too hard. Now turn the garment inside out, pull it taut over a large bowl, and pour the boiling water on the stain. Doing it inside out makes the stain go out of the fabric, not deeper into it. If you can’t hold the garment taut by yourself, use a rubber band around the edge of the bowl. Once the stain is out, hang the garment to dry in the sunlight. After a few hours, it should be good as new.