How to Remove Ice Cream Stains From Clothing and Upholstery

How to Remove Ice Cream From Clothes

1. Treat the Spill

   Put the stained fabric into cold water for 5 to 10 minutes or longer if the stain is dried. Avoid hot water, which will set a protein stain.

2. Rub Laundry Detergent Into the Stain

   If you can still see any remains of the stain, rub liquid laundry detergent into the stained area and soak it in room temperature water for 30 minutes. Rub the stain gently every few minutes.

   Tip

   If you don't have liquid laundry detergent, try dish soap instead.

3. Rinse and Add Stain Remover

   After rinsing the clothing, add a stain remover to the stained area. Allow it to sit for seven to 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with cold water.

4. Repeat Steps Until Stain Is Gone

   Repeat the soaking and stain remover steps until no ice cream is left in the clothing. Be sure you don't see any remaining stain because once the fabric is dried, it will be nearly impossible to remove. Proceed with washing the clothing according to the fabric directions.

How to Remove Dried Ice Cream Stains

1. Scrape Off Stain Remnants

   Try to remove as much of the dried ice cream as possible using a spoon or a dull knife.

2. Apply Laundry Detergent and Soak

   Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stained area and allow the stain to soak in cold water for at least 30 minutes.

3. Rub the Stain

   Gently rub the stained area between your fingers every three to five minutes to allow the liquid detergent to penetrate the stain fully.

4. Follow the Steps Above for Ice Cream Stain Removal

   Complete the steps for "How to Remove Ice Cream From Clothing."

How to Remove Ice Cream Stains From Upholstery

1. Blot the Stain

   Blot excess ice cream from the fabric, but be careful not to spread it and make the stain larger.

2. Make and Apply a Soap Solution

   Mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with 2 cups of cool water. Sponge the spot with this solution on a clean white cloth, then blot until the liquid is absorbed. Only wet the upholstery as little as necessary to remove the stain.

3. Repeat the Steps Until Stain Is Gone

   Repeat this process until the stain is lifted.

4. Sponge Away the Soap

   Once the stain is completely gone, use plain cold water on a new white cloth and sponge the area to remove the remainder of the cleaning solution. Blot dry.

Additional Tips to Remove Ice Cream Stains

Getting to a stain fast will determine how easy it is to remove the stain. To keep a stain from setting, add cold water to the stain. Hot water starts to cook the protein causing it to absorb into clothing fibers and make it almost impossible to remove. To prevent the stain from setting, you can also saturate the stain with club soda.

Dried ice cream stains on clothing have a few extra steps. Follow the "Dried Ice Cream" steps first, then continue with the ice cream removal instructions.

If the stain persists, put it through another wash cycle without putting it through the clothes dryer. Air dry the item to see if it still has the stain since it can be difficult to tell if the stain is still there when looking at wet fabric. If the stained area still has a slightly yellowish or brownish area, repeat the stain removal steps until the stain is entirely gone. Putting the clothing in a dryer may set the stain forever, so you'll need to be sure it is entirely gone before drying.