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How to Remove Mango, Berry & Other Common Fruit Stains

Fruit such as mango and blueberries might be delicious, but they can leave stubborn stains! Find out how to remove common fruit stains from your clothes here.

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Written by Eunice Samson

how to remove mango berry and other common fruit stains

Fresh fruits are a delicious and healthy way to start your day, but their sticky juice and pulp can cause a nasty stain that’s difficult to get rid of. Follow these useful steps for removing fruit stains.

To remove fruit stains, always use a warm rather than hot wash cycle, and do not tumble dry. Heat can actually set any remaining stain onto the fabric, leaving a permanent yellow mark on clothing.

How To Remove Berry Stains

Berry juice in particular acts like a permanent dye (in years gone by, berries were often used to color clothing), so you’ll need to act fast to remove berry stains.

  1. Try not to let the berry stain dry onto the garment – scrape off any fruit pulp and flush the stain with cold water from both sides.

  2. If you have a spot cleaning treatment pen, use it directly on the fruit stain, working from the outside towards the centre to avoid spreading the stain.

  3. Alternatively, use your usual liquid laundry detergent directly on the stain, or make a paste using detergent powder and a little warm water. Gently work this into the stain until it is no longer visible. Remember, before you remove fruit stains, always test an inconspicuous area of fabric, such as an inside hem, to ensure the material is color-fast.

  4. Once the stain has been removed, wash the garment in the machine as usual, using a stain-removing laundry detergent such as Breeze with ActivBleach. Always adhere to the care instructions to ensure the best results, and leave ‘dry clean only’ garments to the professionals.

remove berry stains

How To Remove Mango Stains

Delicious mangoes are a thirst-quenching treat, but their sweet juice can spell disaster for your clothes. Removing sugary fruit stains can be particularly difficult, as the sugars will caramelize and set.

  1. Act quickly to get rid of mango stains – scrape off any fruit pulp from the fabric, and mop up any excess juice with paper towels.

  2. Flush the mango stain with cold water (if you can’t remove the garment straight away, sponge the fabric with cold water from both sides if possible).

  3. Before you use the washing machine, soak the garment in cold water for up to one hour, using a laundry-safe bleach. Always follow product instructions to ensure the best results, particularly for non-color fast materials.

  4. Launder the garment as usual with a stain-removing laundry detergent, such as Breeze with ActivBleach, to remove stubborn fruit stains.

  • When removing fruit stains, work fast and blot away as much of the stain as possible.

  • Flush the stain with cold water to remove residue.

  • Use a stain-removing laundry detergent in the washing machine, such as Breeze with ActivBleach.

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Frequently asked questions on mango, berry, and fruit stains

How do you clean a mango (and avoid staining yourself in the process)?

To clean a mango without causing staining to yourself or your clothing, you should clean it before cutting into it. First, hold the mango under running water, before gently rubbing the surface of the mango with your fingertips to remove dirt and residue, continuing to hold it under running water as you do so.

How do you get rid of pomegranate stains on clothes?

The steps for how to get rid of pomegranate stains on clothes are simple once you get started. First, make up a stain remover by mixing 1 teaspoon of washing liquid into 1 cup of cold water. Dip a soft cloth into your mixture and use the cloth to dab the surface of the stain. Continue to blot at the stain until you have worked your soapy water mixture into it. Next, you want to ‘rinse’ the damp, soapy stain with white vinegar. You can do this by using a clean cloth dipped in white vinegar and blotting the area. Alternate blotting at the stain with soapy water followed by vinegar until the stain has been fully removed. Now you can wash and dry your clothes as normal.

How do you remove mangosteen stains from clothes?

The steps for how to remove a mangosteen stain are the same as those for how to remove a mango stain. If you don’t want to use a natural alternative, ensure you check the stain remover you choose is safe for the surface or fabric the stain is on. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using commercial products.

Originally published