How to Get Ketchup Out of Clothes

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 11, 2024 References

Ketchup is a delicious condiment that can enhance the flavor of many meals. Unfortunately, it can also spill easily. Don’t worry if you get a drop of ketchup on your favorite clothes, though. With some quick, diligent cleaning, you can get the stain out without leaving any trace of your condiment mishap!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Treating a Stain Away from Home

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1
Remove as much of the spilled ketchup as possible. Use a napkin or absorbent paper towel to blot up the ketchup. You can also scrape the ketchup off with a spoon or the back of a butter knife if you have one handy.
- The easiest way to get rid of a ketchup stain is to treat it immediately. As soon as you notice the spill, wipe up all the excess ketchup that you can without spreading it over unstained areas of your clothes. ^{[1]
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- Don't rub the spill because this can push the ketchup farther into the fibers of the clothes.
2
Saturate the stained area with water. As soon as possible, turn the article of clothing inside out and flush it out with cold water. You want the water to run over the stain from back to front so that you don't push the ketchup deeper into the fabric.
- If you aren’t in a place where you can take off the article of clothing, saturate the stained area as much as possible while you’re still wearing the clothes. If you can’t get to a bathroom and running water, dip a napkin into a glass of water and blot it onto the stained area.
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3
Apply an on-the-go stain remover instead of water. If you’re carrying a stain remover pen in your pocket or purse, you can use it in place of water once you’ve wiped the excess ketchup off your clothes. Remove the cap and press the tip of the pen onto the stain to release the stain remover.
- Test the stain remover on a small, hidden part of your clothes first to make sure it won’t discolor your fabric. It doesn’t contain bleach, so it is safe to use on most colorfast, machine washable fabrics and dry-cleanable fabrics.
4
Rub the stain remover into the fabric. Lightly saturate your clothes with the stain remover solution, then rub it gently into the entire stained area with the tip of the pen. Repeat the process of pressing and rubbing the fabric with the pen as needed until the stain lightens or disappears.
- When you’ve finished using the stain remover pen, blot off any excess solution with a clean cloth or napkin.
5
Launder your clothes as you normally would when you get home. Whether you’ve treated your stain with water or stain remover, clean the article of clothing again when you get home and have access to detergent and a washing machine. If the stain is still visible, follow the tips for at-home stain removal.
- Be sure to check the garment's care tag before setting the water temperature and cycle type!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Laundering a Stain at Home

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1
Remove all excess ketchup from the fabric. If the ketchup is fresh, blot it off with a napkin or absorbent paper towel, or use a spoon or the back of a butter knife to wipe it away. If the ketchup is dried on already, chip it off with the spoon or knife. ^{[2]
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- Take care if you’re wiping up fresh ketchup not to spread it onto unstained areas of clothes.
Let the cold water flow through the fabric. Don't use hot water, which can set the stain. You should also avoid rinsing the stain from the front or you'll push the ketchup farther into the fabric. ^{[3]
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Rub liquid detergent into the stain. Work the detergent gently into the fabric in a circular motion. Start at the outside edge of the stain and move inward to minimize the chances of the stain spreading.
- This removes the stain's oil base. ^{[4]
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Use cold water to rinse the detergent out of the stain. Be thorough to ensure all the detergent is removed. ^{[5]
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5
Apply white vinegar if your garment is white or colorfast. Use a sponge to dab a small amount of white vinegar into the stain area. This acts as a bleaching agent. Then rinse well with cold water. ^{[6]
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- If you don't have white vinegar, try using hydrogen peroxide. You can also try lemon juice, but only if your clothing is white. Lemon juice can bleach colored clothing.
- Do a small spot test on an inconspicuous piece of fabric before using a bleaching agent. ^{[7]
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Hold the garment up to the light to make sure you can’t see any trace of pink or red. Repeat the steps of applying detergent to the stain, rinsing it out, and then applying a bleaching agent as many times as needed until you can’t see the stain anymore. ^{[8]
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Apply a pre-wash stain remover. Use a store-bought stain remover, or make your own homemade stain remover in a pinch. Cover the area where the stain was and let the stain remover sit for a minimum of 5 minutes. ^{[9]
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- To make a quick stain remover from ingredients around your house, combine ¹ ⁄ ₂ cup (120 mL) of white vinegar with ¹ ⁄ ₄ cup (59 mL) baking soda and 4 cups (950 mL) of water in an empty spray bottle. Shake well to mix the ingredients together and spray onto your clothes. ^{[10]
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8
Launder the article of clothing normally. Wash your clothes in the washing machine according to their usual care instructions. Use the same amount of laundry detergent that you'd normally use. ^{[11]
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- Instructions for laundering the garment are found on a tag inside the clothes.
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Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain if it remains after the first wash. Then soak the article of clothing in warm water for 30 minutes and rinse the fabric well. If the stain still lingers, treat it again with pre-wash stain remover and wash it again according to the clothing’s care instructions. ^{[12]
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- Only use bleach when washing your clothing in the washing machine if you’ve checked that it’s safe according to the care instructions.
- Never use chlorine bleach on colored fabric. Use all-fabric bleach if your clothing isn’t white.
The dryer can set a stain that hasn't been fully removed. Make sure that all trace of the stain is gone before placing items in the dryer. To be on the safe side, you may want to hang the clothes to air-dry until you're sure the stain is completely gone. ^{[13]
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