Spilling milk, yogurt, ice cream or cheese on your clothes can seem like a disaster. Dairy products contain proteins and fats that can really set into fabric. But don’t worry! With some handy tips and tried-and-true techniques, even stubborn dairy stains can be conquered.
What You’ll Need
- Dish soap – Look for ones with degreasers like Dawn or Palmolive
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Old toothbrush
- Paper towels
- Bucket for soaking
- Hot water
Step-By-Step Stain Removal Process
1. Scrape Off Excess
If the stain is still wet, use a spoon or dull knife to gently lift and scrape off as much of the dairy as possible. Don’t press down on the fabric. If it’s been a while since the spill, you may not need this step.
2. Blot the Stain
Place several layers of paper towel over the stain and press down gently. Soak up the moisture and repeat with fresh paper towels until the stain is no longer transferring to the paper. Do not rub the stain or it may become ground into the fabric.
3. Flush with Warm Water
Run warm water over the back of the stain for a few minutes. The heat and motion will help to loosen and start dissolving the dairy residue.
4. Soak in Dish Soap Solution
Fill your bucket with warm to hot water. Add 1/2 a cup of dish soap and stir it into the water. Submerge the clothing item in the solution and let it soak for at least 30 minutes for fresh stains. For tougher, set-in stains, you may need to soak overnight.
5. Scrub with Baking Soda
After soaking, remove the clothing and mix baking soda with warm water to form a paste. Using an old toothbrush, scrub the paste onto the stain in a circular motion. Don’t rub too hard, you don’t want to damage the fabric. Rinse the paste off with clean water.
6. Rinse and Soak in Vinegar
Run the item under warm water to remove the baking soda, then soak it in a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water for 30 minutes. The acid in the vinegar will help to dissolve any leftover dairy residue or grease.
7. Wash as Usual
After soaking and scrubbing, give the clothing an extra rinse before washing it alone through the warmest washing cycle allowed for the fabric. Air dry in the sunlight if possible – the UV rays help to eliminate any final stain discoloration.
And that’s it! With some targeted soaking, scrubbing, rinsing and washing, even the most stubborn cheese or yogurt stains on clothes can be banished. Just avoid putting dairy-soiled clothes immediately in the dryer, as the heat can set the stains permanently.
Common Questions
What if the stain has already dried when I found it?
No problem! Even old, dried-out dairy stains can be treated using this process. Just soak for longer periods to rehydrate the stain before scrubbing and washing.
Can I skip the vinegar step?
While the vinegar soak isn’t mandatory, it really helps to dissolve milk proteins and fats for the cleanest results. Without it, grease stains may reappear after washing.
What temperature water should I use?
The hottest allowed for that fabric type. Heat helps dissolve dairy proteins. Check clothing tags for specifics.
I hope these tips help you get out those pesky spilled milk stains! Let me know in the comments if you have any other stubborn dairy stain dilemmas.
References
[1] Reynolds, A. (2017). How to Remove Milk Stains from Clothes. Good Housekeeping. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/milk-stains-clothes/
[2] Ryssdal, C. (2021). How to Get Milk Out of Clothes So They Look Brand New Again. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/remove-milk-stains-2146271
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.