About Mustard Stains
Besides blood, nail polish or paint, one of the toughest substances to remove is the mustard stain. Because of mustard's components, which include a yellow dye, a drop of the stuff could stain an outfit forever. Several methods may work to remove the stain, or you can always salvage the garment by making it into an art project.
Identification
There's usually no mistaking mustard due to its highly notable color. The yellow comes from turmeric, which is both a spice and a dye. Turmeric on its own is a deep yellow and some turmeric is also found in the mustard seed. Since it is a dye, getting rid of a mustard stain is particularly tough. It likes to dye the fabric the minute it lands on it. The longer it absorbs into the fabric, the tougher it will be to remove.
Time Frame
The easiest way to get mustard off a fabric is to treat it immediately. Run to the bathroom as soon as the yellow condiment hits the shirt, pants or scarf and treat the fabric with a pre-treating stain remover. Then wash the garment according to the label. Lucky folks catch the stain before it has time to fully set in.
Misconceptions
A strange way to remove a mustard stain that has already set in is to douse it with a fresh dollop of the same mustard. The new mustard may trick the turmeric on the existing stain into thinking it's not set in yet, and thus easier to remove. Let the fresh dollop sit atop the old mustard for about 5 minutes, then blot and see what happens.
Ammonia, which works well to remove many stains, does not work on mustard stains. The ammonia actually acts to adhere the dye to the fabric even further.
Prevention/Solution
A couple of homemade methods can be used to treat mustard stains that have already set in. One part rubbing alcohol mixed with three parts liquid dish soap will often come to the rescue. Let the solution stand for 10 minutes, rinse and wash as usual. Another mixture to try is 1/2 tsp. of dish soap and several drops of white vinegar mixed with 1/2 cup of water. Soak on the stain, rinse and wash.
Considerations
If mustard revival dish soap mixtures aren't working, the best type of store-bought stain remover for mustard is an enzymatic cleaner. This cleaner, specially formulated to be safe for fabrics, are created for protein-based stains. Look for a label that offers such a solution.
If nothing works for getting out the mustard, the garment can always be dyed, bleached or painted to overcome the mustard blotch or incorporate it into a bigger design.
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