10 Methods to Get Soy Sauce Stains Out of Clothes

Soy sauce may be the perfect dip for a sushi roll or an unmissable ingredient in the Lo Mein, but it can spell disaster for your clothing if you’re not careful. This dark, tangy sauce is notorious for leaving stubborn stains on the fabric. So if you were just about to start scrubbing that treasured dress or shirt, don’t!

We’ve bought you ten reliable ways to help you get those pesky soy sauce stains out of your favorite shirt, dress, or pants.

4 Steps To Clean Soy Sauce Stain Before Anything Else?

Before we start rescuing your beloved items, let’s discuss some pre-treating tips and a few important rules to remember.

1. Always start by reading the label on your clothing to see what kind of fabric it is and what washing instructions are indicated.
2. Next, blot away any excess soy sauce from the stained area with a damp cloth or blotting paper. This will help to prevent it from spreading or seeping further into the fabric.
3. Do not rub the stain, as this will only push it deeper into the fabric; instead, gently dab the cloth or paper onto the spot.
4. Rinse the stained area with cold water before you start any of the following treatments.

10 Foolproof Methods to Get Soy Sauce Stains Out of Clothes

Now that you are armed with the basics let’s get to the 10 practical solutions that will help you get rid of those dreaded soy sauce stains.

1- Laundry Detergent

Soy sauce produces a tannin-based stain, so a regular laundry detergent might not cut it. But it’s worth trying before moving on to more complicated treatments.

You’ll need;

• Liquid or powder detergent
• Luke warm water

What to do:

1. Apply some liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain.
2. Wet the spot with a few drops of water and rub it with your fingers.
3. The concentrated detergent will help to break down the stain.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water and check if the stain has gone
5. If any traces of soy sauce remain, repeat steps 1-4 again until they have been removed completely.
6. Once finished, thoroughly wash the item because the leftover detergent can cause discoloration and fading of colors in certain fabrics.

2- Stain Remover Treatment

If your fabric is particularly delicate, a pre-treatment with stain remover treatment is an ideal way to eliminate soy sauce stains. Although stain removers are tougher than detergent, the amount you use will be lesser, and you can better control the results.

You’ll need:

• Stain remover
• Cloth or sponge

What to do:

1. Wet the stained area with a few drops of water.
2. Apply the stain remover onto a clean cloth or sponge and dab it onto the stained area.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes until the stain starts to be removed.
4. Rinse with cold water and repeat if necessary.

Note: Each stain remover comes with its own instructions, so make sure you read the label carefully before use.

3- Chlorine Based Bleach

Chlorine bleach is the holy grail product to remove stains from white fabrics. The bleach’s chemical action helps break down and lift the stain from the fabric fibers in minutes.

You’ll need:

• Chlorine bleach
• Luke warm water

What to do:

1. Mix the three teaspoons of chlorine bleach with half a glass of lukewarm water. (Never apply chlorine bleach directly onto the fabric)
2. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and rub it onto the stained area.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it with cold water.
4. Follow up with a normal washing cycle to remove the bleach completely.

Note: Always test a small area of the fabric first before applying this method. Bleach is a strong chemical that can cause discoloration or damage certain fabrics.

We don’t recommend repeating this process even if the stain remains after the wash. It’s better to move to some other method if necessary.

4- Oxygen-Based Bleach

If you don’t trust using chlorine bleach, oxygen-based bleach is the ideal alternative. Oxygen-based bleach works just as well as chlorine bleach but without risking any damage to your fabric.

It can also be safely used on colored fabrics, but ensure you test a small area of the fabric before applying.

You’ll need:

• Oxygen-based bleach
• Luke warm water

What to do:

1. Mix half a cup of the oxygen-based bleach with one gallon of lukewarm water. (You’ll need to dip the fabric in the solution for at least an hour, hence the bigger batch.)
2. Put your stained item in the solution and let it soak for at least an hour.
3. Lightly rub the area to help the solution do its job.
4. After an hour, rinse with cold water.
5. Follow up with a normal washing cycle to remove the bleach completely.

We don’t recommend repeating this process even if the stain remains after the wash. It’s better to move to some method if necessary.

5- Ammonia

The industrial scale cleaning plants use ammonia solution to remove stubborn stains. But it’s a powerful chemical and should only be applied on tough synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, and spandex.

You’ll need:

• Ammonia powder
• Alcohol
• Gasoline

What to do:

1. Mix one teaspoon of ammonia powder, half a cup of alcohol, and three teaspoons of gasoline in a bowl.
2. Apply the solution onto the stained area with the help of a clean cloth or sponge.
3. Leave it on until it gets dry.
4. Wash the fabric in the washing machine with detergent.

Note: Ammonia and bleach react with each other and create dangerous fumes. Therefore, it’s imperative to ensure that your clothes don’t have any traces of bleach before using this method.

Also, ensure you use it in a well-ventilated room and wear gloves to protect against accidental skin contact.

We don’t recommend repeating this process too, if the stains are still there after ammonia treatment. Either leave the fabric or move to another method if necessary.

6- Hydrogen Peroxide

A popular alternative to bleach and ammonia is hydrogen peroxide, the solution you usually use to disinfect wounds. It’s less harsh and can be safely used on both light and dark fabrics. Plus, it’s readily available in every home, so you don’t have to search for it in the market.

You’ll need:

• Hydrogen peroxide

What to do:

1. Depending on the strength of the fabric and dye, you can either apply the solution directly onto the stained area or dilute it with some water first.
2. To play safe, test the solution on a small incoherent part of the fabric before using it.
3. Let it sit for around five minutes before rinsing it with cold water.

You can repeat the process if you have a white fabric that did well in the test. Otherwise, a normal washing cycle should do the trick.

7- Dish Soap

If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to get your soy sauce stains out, dish soap can be a good choice. But you have to ensure that it’s not the specialty-made stain-cutting kind.

You’ll need:

• Dish soap
• Water

What to do:

1. Mix a tablespoon of dish soap in a bowl of warm water.
2. Dip a clean cloth or a sponge in the solution and gently dab the stained area.
3. Alternate between dabbing and rinsing the fabric with cold water until the stain disappears.
4. Wash it, as usual, to completely remove any dish soap traces.

8- Baking Soda

Until a few decades back, baking soda was the go-to solution for any stain. And it still is equally effective because it works great on almost all types of fabrics. It’s very versatile and can be effectively used to get rid of soy sauce stains.

You’ll need:

• Baking soda
• Water

What to do:

1. Make a thick paste of the baking powder and water by mixing equal parts of both.
2. Wet the stain with water and gently dab the paste on the stained area.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes before washing it out entirely with cold water.
4. You can add a few drops of lemon or sprinkle salt over the baking soda before dabbing it on the stains for better results.

9- Borax Powder

Borax is a sodium-based salt like, just like baking soda, but it’s more alkaline in nature. So its stronger and works better on greasy stains like soy sauce and should give you the desired results without any hassles.

You’ll need:

• Borax powder
• Warm Water

What to do:

1. Mix half a cup of borax into a gallon of warm water.

(Make sure you always use warm water when using borax, it’snecessary to activate the salts in it.)

2. Soak the stained part of the fabric in the solution for half an hour before washing it as usual.
3. Borax is also a popular detergent booster and can be safely used in washing machines. So you can also put it into your normal laundry cycle instead of soaking it in.

10- White Vinegar

Our last pick is the popular home remedy, white vinegar. It’s a natural cleaning agent and should work on almost all kinds of fabrics.

Although plain white vinegar can cut some stains, it works best when mixed with some kind of laundry detergent or soap. It enhances the cleaning action and gives better results too.

You’ll need:

• White vinegar
• Detergent (preferably a liquid one)
• Water

What to do:

1. Mix a quarter cup of white vinegar with half a cup of water and two tablespoons of laundry detergent in a bowl.
2. Apply the solution to the stained area with the help of a sponge or a clean cloth.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes before washing the fabric like you usually do.

Make sure there are no traces of vinegar in the fabric when it’s dry, as it can leave a smell or discolor the fabric.

Conclusion

Soy sauce is a delicious but messy condiment and can really stain your clothes. But with the right method, it’s easy to get the stains out of your clothes.

And with the above 10 methods to get soy sauce stains out of clothes, you should be able to tackle this stain easily.

FAQs

Q: Do Soy Sauce Leave Permanent Stains?

A: Usually, soy sauce stains are tough and leave a light brownish or yellowish mark on the fabric. Especially if it’s a light-color fabric or you leave the stain for too long before you treat it. But even those stains should fade with repeated washing and can be completely removed eventually.

Q: How to Get Soy Sauce Stain Out of a White T-shirt?

A: Bleach is the best way to remove soy sauce stains from white clothes. You just need to mix the bleach in warm water and soak the t-shirt for about 30 minutes. After that, you should be able to rinse the stain out with cold water and prevent any damage to the fabric.

Q: How to Wash a Tough Set in Soy Sauce Stain?

A: For a particularly tough set-in stain, you can try using pre-treating the stain with a special stain removal product. Then, you should wash the fabric in your washing machine using a good detergent. If the stain is still there, do a mild bleach soak; it’ll be gone in no time.

Q: What’s the Best Way to Get a Soy Sauce Stain out of a Rug?

A: Rugs are a little less tricky because you can experiment with more harsh treatment unless you have a delicate rug. For example, you can use concentrated laundry detergent paste, a heavy-duty stain remover, and a soft brush to scrub the stain out.

However, if the rug is very delicate, it’s better to take it to a professional cleaner and have them get rid of the stain.

We hope these tips and tricks help you to get the soy sauce stains out of your clothes and other fabrics. Good luck!