It is not unusual to get tomato sauce on your clothes while cooking or eating. It can often happen that your blouse or pants are “decorated” with dark orange spots. This dirt can sometimes be unpleasant, especially when it dries. However, there is a way that most grandmothers know, and as we know, the old methods are extremely effective. How did grandmas get rid of tomato sauce stains? A certain product came to the rescue.

The acids present in tomatoes and their red color make stains, especially on light-colored clothing, very difficult to remove. However, tomato sauce is an addition that has been used in cooking for centuries. No wonder that grandmothers found an effective way to get rid of it and all you need is sour milk.

How to remove sauce stains with sour milk?

Tomato sauce contains acids such as acetic and malic acids, which are responsible for stain resistance because they penetrate deep into the fibers of the fabric. Sour milk contains lactic acid, which breaks down the acid in the sauce. The fats contained in milk effectively break down lycopene, the pigment responsible for the red color of tomatoes. Additionally, unlike some stain removers, sour milk is very gentle on fabrics. Grandmothers used it without fear to remove dirt from linen or cotton.

The important thing is that this ingredient is equally effective on fresh and old stains. However, in the latter case, it may be necessary to use sour milk several times. If we dyed very delicate fabrics, e.g. silk, we should be very careful when using this method. Sour milk should not run onto the fabric, but before use it is worth applying a small amount to an inconspicuous place and seeing how the material reacts. Sour milk will not work on artificial materials where a poor quality dye has been usedbecause it can also remove color.

How to use sour milk on tomato sauce stains?

How to get rid of stains step by step? First of all we have to prepare sour milk, if we don’t have it at hand, we can also use buttermilk or kefir, to which we add lemon juice. A sponge or cotton cloth will also be useful.

When we have the necessary things ready:

  • Soak the stain in the milk for about 15 minutes. For older stains, this time can be extended to half an hour. If they are very dried and deeply penetrated into the fabric structure, it can take up to an hour.
  • After soaking, gently rub the stain with a cloth or sponge. This will help us get rid of the remaining impurities.
  • Then rinse off the residue with cold water. This will remove the milk and any remaining stains.
  • The last step is to wash the clothes as usual.

How else can you remove tomato sauce stains?

Did grandmothers have other ways to get rid of this type of stain? Of course! It is true that sour milk was the most popular, but when it was not available, many grandmothers turned to other products.

In the past and today, this type of dirt can be removed, among other things, by: lemon juice, baking soda, alcohol vinegar, salt paste and water, as well as hydrogen peroxide.

Baking soda combined with any dishwashing detergent is a great solution for old greasy stains. This trick was shared on TikTok by Megan, who runs the account @mrsmeganward.

  • Just mix baking soda and dishwashing liquid in a 1:1 ratio, create a paste, rub it into the stain with a clean cloth and leave it on overnight.
  • Just wash it in the morning.
@mrsmeganward Blown away 🤯😲 I thought old set in grease stains were a lost cause, but apparently not! I honestly didn’t expect this to work, so I’m amazed! #laundryroom #cleaningtips #stainremoval #momtips #lifehack #bakingsodadoesthat ♬ original sound – Megan Ward

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