How to Remove Scorch Marks from Clothing

Scorch marks on your favorite shirt or pair of pants can be frustrating. But don’t toss your clothes just yet! With some handy household products and a little elbow grease, you can often remove pesky scorch marks and restore your clothes.

What Causes Scorch Marks?

Scorch marks occur when high heat briefly burns the fabric, causing discoloration. Common causes include:

• Ironing on too hot of a setting
• Letting a hot pan or iron touch clothing
• Getting too close to an open flame while cooking

The good news is that since scorch marks only affect the surface of the fabric, they can frequently be removed.

Supplies You’ll Need

Before getting started, gather the following helpful supplies:

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Dish soap
• An old toothbrush
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Lemon juice
• Salt
• Cream of tartar

You likely have most if not all of these already at home. Make sure to have them on hand before inspecting your scorched clothing.

Inspect the Scorch Mark

Start by taking a close look at the scorch mark and surrounding fabric. Note the size, shape, and severity of discoloration. This will help determine the best removal method.

Slight discoloration may come out fairly easily while severe charring may be harder or impossible to remove. But don’t toss the garment until you try a few tactics.

Try Vinegar First

For most scorch marks, white vinegar is the first product to attempt:

1. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
2. Lightly spray the affected area, completely soaking the fabric.
3. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes. This gives the acidic vinegar time to break down the burn residue.
4. Blot the area with a clean towel or rag. Avoid rubbing, which can further grind in discoloration.
5. Rinse the area with cool water and check if the mark lightened or lifted.
6. Repeat as needed, allowing the fabric to fully dry between applications.

The acetic acid in vinegar can dissolve residue left by scorch marks. With a little patience, vinegar alone lifts many new or mild marks.

Use Baking Soda for Stubborn Marks

If vinegar alone doesn’t remove the scorch stain, try this baking soda technique:

1. Make a thick baking soda paste by mixing 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.
2. Using an old toothbrush, brush the paste directly on the affected area.
3. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that also neutralizes odors and discoloration.
4. Rinse with cool water and check if the mark faded.
5. You can repeat this process as needed until the mark disappears.

Baking soda is mildly alkaline, so it neutralizes remaining acid left from scorched fabric. Together with gentle scrubbing action, it can lift stubborn marks.

Use Other Household Solutions

If vinegar and baking soda don’t fully remove the discoloration, try these additional solutions:

• Dish soap: For oil-based stains. Lightly scrub a small amount of dawn directly on the mark. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
• Hydrogen peroxide: Its bleaching powers can eliminate some discoloration. Lightly spray it on and let it bubble for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. Avoid using it repeatedly, as peroxide can weaken fabric over time.
• Lemon juice: Its acidity works much like vinegar. Soak the fabric and let sit 20-30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. The longer lemon juice sits, the greater bleaching power it has.
• Salt: For heavy stains, make a salt and lemon juice paste. Apply to the fabric and set in direct sunlight 1-2 hours, allowing the sun to naturally bleach it. Then rinse clean.
• Cream of tartar: To lightly abrade and deodorize the area. Mix it with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Apply and let sit 30+ minutes before rinsing.

Test solutions on a small, hidden area first since acids and abrasives can damage delicate fabrics. But when used carefully, these household staples lift all sorts of set-in stains.

Prevent Future Scorch Marks

Once you remove unsightly scorch marks, take steps to avoid more in the future:

• Iron clothing inside-out to protect outer fabric from direct heat. Turn items like shirts and dresses inside-out before ironing designs.
• Ensure your iron’s heat setting matches the fabric type. Use a lower temp for delicates and linen. Check clothing tags for material specifics.
• Clean the iron’s metal plate regularly with fine-grain sandpaper to remove residue buildup. Burnt gunk on the plate causes it to scorch fabric.
• Never leave a hot iron or pan unattended or resting on clothing. Use iron stands and pot holders.
• Avoid open flames when cooking. Tie back loose hair and clothing.

With some care when doing household chores, you can help clothing avoid preventable scorch accidents.