Soy sauce is an interesting condiment that can both add color and flavor to food and dishes. But if you accidentally get it on your clothes, it can be very distressing. Not only will it leave a yellowish-brown stain, but it will also emit a soy sauce odor. What’s worse is that usual laundry detergents can’t do much about it. Today, we will teach you a few methods to deal with soy sauce stains on clothes.
1. Why Soy Sauce Stains Are Difficult to Remove
Stains with grease, colorants, and strong penetration are harder to clean. Soy sauce stains have all these traits, making them especially troublesome. As a coloring agent for dishes, soy sauce contains natural plant pigments. When these pigments touch clothing, they soak into the fibers. They bind with the fabric, making the stain stubborn, especially on light clothes.
Soy sauce also contains oils and fats. These don’t dissolve in water and can’t be washed away by the rinse. These oils remain trapped in the fibers. Soy sauce also contains high levels of salt and sugar. The salt in soy sauce helps it stick to fabric fibers. The sugar reacts with water, forming sticky substances that make cleaning harder. Soy sauce is also thick, so it sinks deep into the fibers. Loose-weave fabrics are especially tricky. Soy sauce sinks deeper into them, making it much harder to clean.
2. Ways to Clean Soy Sauce Stains
Soy sauce stains are tough to remove, but there are still effective ways to tackle them.
Cold Water Rinsing
This method is only applicable when a small amount of soy sauce first drips onto clothes. At this point, immediately place the clothes in cold water and gently rub them by hand. Since the soy sauce hasn’t yet fully penetrated the fibers, it can be washed out by the strong water flow. Avoid using hot water. The heat helps soy sauce dissolve quicker. This lets it sink deeper into the fabric, making the stain harder to remove.
Detergent Method
If the soy sauce has been on the fabric for a while and the stain is small and shallow, just apply detergent to the spot. Gently rub it for a few minutes. The principle behind this is that detergent removes oil and emulsifies it. Detergents, rich in surfactants, have hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups. The hydrophobic part bonds with the oil and grease, coating it and pulling it away from the fabric. This helps to remove the oil. Surfactants reduce surface tension. This helps them penetrate fabric fibers and lift stubborn stains more easily.
White Vinegar and Water Mixing Method
The acid in white vinegar can remove most alkaline stains, like grease and dye. It can also break down the pigment molecules in soy sauce. This method works well for moderate soy sauce stains. Mix white vinegar and cold water in a 1:1 ratio. Pour it on the soy sauce stain and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, rinse with cold water.
Baking Soda Method
This method is suitable for stubborn stains or soy sauce stains that have been on the fabric for a long time. Baking soda works by adsorbing grease, pigments, and other harmful substances. Baking soda particles absorb the grease and pigment molecules in soy sauce. This helps lift the stains from the fibers, making cleaning easier. Additionally, baking soda has mild abrasive properties that help physically remove stains. Gently rub or knead the stain with baking soda and leave it for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with water.
Alcohol Method
The alcohol method works well for greasy soy sauce stains. Use a cotton ball or cloth dipped in alcohol to gently wipe the soy sauce stains. Wait a few minutes and then rinse with water. Alcohol dissolves fats and helps remove the oil content in soy sauce.
Soy sauce stains are tough to remove. Soy sauce has colorants, oil, and strong penetration. These make it soak deep into fabric fibers. The salt and sugar in soy sauce make the stain stick even more. To remove the stain, rinse with cold water right away. Apply detergent to break down the oils. Use a vinegar-water mix to dissolve the pigments. Finally, sprinkle baking soda to absorb the grease and color. For greasy stains, alcohol can be used to dissolve oils. Though tricky, these methods can help remove soy sauce stains. They keep clothes clean and odor-free.