Unless you’re a ghost, there’s no such thing as an unspillable sauce. Even if your shirt has built-in protection against splatters and leaks, it won’t be able to withstand the heat of your homemade habanero hot sauce or any other red hot condiment for that matter. Red hot sauces are great for spicing up bland meals. But given their nature, they also have a tendency to stain anything they come into contact with. So if you plan on continuing to wear shirts after finishing this DIY project, here are some tips on how to get hot sauce out of your shirt when things go awry.
How To Get Hot Sauce Out Of A Shirt?
Dry Shaking
The first thing to try whenever you get a hot sauce stain is dry shaking. Dry shaking is when you vigorously rub the stain with a clean rag or paper towel. Dry shaking will help to break up the stain and lift it off of your shirt. Dry shaking is great for fresh stains, so it’s perfect when you get a stain right after it happens. Keep in mind that dry shaking is a quick fix, so you’ll need to follow up with another method to fully remove the stain.
cold water soak
Some hot sauce stains are so stubborn that dry shaking won’t get the stain off your shirt. In that case, you’ll want to try a cold water soak. The cold water soak is a tried and true method for removing stubborn stains. To do this, you’ll want to put your stained shirt in a sink or bucket filled with cold water and a bit of laundry detergent. Let the shirt soak for about an hour before wringing it out and hanging it to dry. A cold water soak is best for hot sauce stains that have been left on your shirt for a long time. The cold water helps to break down the oil and other staining agents from the sauce, making it easier to remove. Be sure to wring out your shirt very well so you don’t make the stain worse by adding water to it!
baking soda paste
Another method you can try is baking soda paste. To make the baking soda paste, add water to a small bowl and stir in a half a tablespoon of baking soda. Use a clean rag to apply the baking soda paste to your stain, rubbing it in and letting it sit for about 30 minutes. Then, use another clean rag to wash off the baking soda paste and stain from your shirt. Baking soda is an excellent stain remover, so it will likely do the trick. However, keep in mind that baking soda can also lighten fabrics over time, so only use it as a last resort.
diluted white vinegar
If the stain is new or fresh, you can try a diluted white vinegar solution. Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar, then use a clean cloth to apply the solution to the stain. Let the vinegar sit on the stain for about half an hour, then rinse it off with water. White vinegar is effective at breaking down oil-based stains, which is what hot sauce is! Be sure to only use a diluted solution on your shirt, or you risk damaging the fibers.
Professional stain remover
For the toughest of the tough stains, you can always try a professional stain remover. There are plenty of stain removal products and sprays on the market that is specially formulated to get hot sauce stains out. These stain removers will likely be stronger and more effective than the above methods, so only use them when all else fails. Professional stain removers come in many different forms (gels, sprays, etc.), so read the instructions on the bottle to see how to best apply it to your shirt. Keep in mind that professional stain removers can be pretty expensive, so only use them on stubborn stains that can’t be removed any other way. And don’t forget to wear an old shirt when testing out these stain removal products!
Why Getting Hot Sauce On Your Shirt?
You’re taking photos with your mouth
As silly as this sounds, you’re probably not paying attention to how much hot sauce gets onto your shirt. If you’re taking a photo for your Instagram or Facebook, you’re probably not thinking about the fact that there’s a lot of sauce on your tongue. Chances are, you’re taking the photo with your mouth and not paying attention to the fact that hot sauce will drip from your tongue onto your shirt. This is especially true if you’re eating wings. If you’re at a restaurant and they bring out the wings, you’re probably going to grab one with your hands and start chowing down. If you’re too focused on taking pictures, you’re probably not thinking about how much sauce will get on your hands and tongue.
You always use too much
You might be someone who always uses too much hot sauce on everything. While it’s tempting to douse your food in as much sauce as possible, you shouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself with a hot sauce-stained shirt on a regular basis. Hot sauce is a condiment that is usually served in small containers. If you always use a lot of it, you’re probably going through small containers pretty quickly. If you’re going through large containers of hot sauce, you may want to think about using a little less. You might end up using less of the hot sauce and saving some money in the process.
You’re too lazy to blow on your food
If you’re too lazy to blow on your food, you may find yourself with a hot sauce-stained shirt. If you’re eating chicken wings, for instance, and you’re not blowing on the sauce before putting the meat in your mouth, you may find yourself with a hot sauce-stained shirt. Hot sauce is usually on the spicier side and if you put the chicken wing in your mouth without blowing on it, you’re probably going to end up with a hot sauce-stained shirt. If you’re eating pizza and are putting hot pepper flakes on top of it, you may find yourself with a hot sauce-stained shirt after taking a bite. If you don’t want to blow on your food, you may want to consider getting a bib or a napkin or two to catch the extra hot sauce.
How To Remove Hot Sauce From Polyester Shirts?
Like cotton, polyester is another very common fabric used for making shirts. It’s a synthetic fabric that’s very lightweight and durable. While the fabric is very resistant to fading and wrinkling, it’s also prone to staining. Fortunately, you can easily remove hot sauce stains from polyester shirts by following these steps:
- Blotting the Stain – The first thing you’ll want to do when removing hot sauce stains from a polyester shirt is to blot the stain with a clean paper towel or a clean cloth. Make sure you don’t scrub or rub the stain while blotting it. Because the fibers of a polyester shirt are very tightly woven together, scrubbing the stain will only make it worse.
- Spraying the Stain – After blotting the stain, you can spray a burst of water directly onto the stain. You can then follow up by blotting any excess water with a clean cloth or a paper towel. –
- Soaking the Stain- If the stain is still visible after blotting and spraying it, you can try soaking the stain in water for a few minutes.
How To Remove Hot Sauce From Nylon Shirts?
Like polyester, nylon is another synthetic fabric commonly used in shirts. Nylon shirts are very durable and lightweight and are also widely used for making jeans, backpacks, and umbrellas. Fortunately, you can remove hot sauce stains from nylon shirts with ease. All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Blotting the Stain – The first thing you’ll want to do when removing hot sauce stains from a nylon shirt is to blot the stain with a clean paper towel or a clean cloth. Make sure you don’t scrub or rub the stain while blotting it. The loose and open weave of nylon makes it very susceptible to staining, so the gentler you are, the better.
- Spraying the Stain – After blotting the stain, you can spray a burst of water directly onto the stain. You can then follow up by blotting any excess water with a clean cloth or a paper towel.
- Soaking the Stain – If the stain is still visible after blotting and spraying it, you can try soaking the stain in water for a few minutes.
Conclusion
When hot sauce stains happen, there’s no time to waste! You need to take action immediately, before the stain sets in and becomes harder to remove. If you’re making the sauce at home, you’ll know that hot sauces are very easy to make. Given their strong flavor, it’s not uncommon for hot sauces to seep out of the bottle and onto your hands, clothes, and other surfaces. But the best part about homemade hot sauces is that they’re free of preservatives and additives.
