How Do I Battle a Stubborn Spaghetti Stain!!

Updated on June 20, 2009
B.S. asks from Tampa, FL
32 answers

Hi moms. My stain treating arsenal is well stocked and I've tried everything to get a sauce stain off a shirt. I tried soaking in oxy clean and hot water overnight, a long soak with resolve, shout, and plain ole laundering. Nothing seems to completely rid the stain. I cannot bleach the shirt. And yes...I use tide. I'm typically successful with my stain removal attempts, but this stain is as stubborn as they come. Any advice?

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your wonderful advice. Now I have some new tricks up my sleeve!

Featured Answers

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R.W.

answers from Tampa on

Use the Oxy Clean in the spray bottle and spray it on the stain. I buy it at Walmart. Then rub in some Dawn dish soap. That should do it. I do this for grease, oil, etc. that my husband gets on his shirts and it works great.

More Answers

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T.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I just saw the post and thought I'd add my recipe for success. A baby book gave this recipe almost 30 years ago and it has always worked no matter how old the stain. 1 cup laundry soap, 1 cup dishwasher soap and 1 cup colorsafe bleach--fill washer with water, add clothes then soak for 24 hours, it takes out even the oldest stain. I'd always wait until I had a few stained clothes, then add some that had become dingy looking and do a whole load.

8 moms found this helpful
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C.P.

answers from Chicago on

I would give a producte called "Awesome" a try. You can buy it from any dollar store. I use it on pretty much everything. Even set in blood stains. My sister swore the blood stain would not come out (as the spot had dried for a good 8 hours before I even got home). The next day, I did laundry and decided to give the spot a squirt and by the time I pulled it out of the dryer, there was no stain what so ever. I also use the product on greese stains that have already come out of the dryer and every single time I've used it for the greese stains, they have coem out great. I just spray, leave it to the side and then add it to the load right before I close the lid. Can't beat the price either.

7 moms found this helpful
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C.C.

answers from Springfield on

Hi - hope you all can stand one more suggestion that I just heard about myself. My sister-in-law, whose daughter always looks PERFECT, swears by Efferdent. Yup, and she said that she buys it in the super sized packages at Costco or Sam's Club. She said just a few tablets in a tub of water and let the clothes soak overnight. I can't wait to try it on some of the really difficult stains! It does make sense, if you think about it, this is a product that will take stains off of TEETH, so why shouldn't it work for clothes?

6 moms found this helpful
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D.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

B., wow, I just read all your responses!! But, nobody told you about "Goop". It is a product made in the USA since 1949 originally designed for mechanics to take grease off their hands. Well, back in the "50's when the husband wiped his hands on his coveralls and the wife washed them.... where he wiped is what came clean!! The company now makes Mom's Magical Goop Ultimate Stain Remover, and it works! It is also non-toxic and biodegradable. Not in too many stores, but easy to order online www.momsgoop.com
I have two girls 3 & 5 and use it on a daily basis on their clothes or on the girls from face paint, tattoo's marker.... you name it.

6 moms found this helpful
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A.

answers from Lakeland on

Dawn dish soap will get anything out. Put it on the stain and throw it in your laundry basket for a few days, then was like normal. I've never found anything it wouldn't take out. :)

5 moms found this helpful
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D.C.

answers from Tampa on

I was given advice for Greased Lightening and it works great on all kinds of stains. Just got out hot cheese sauce from a white shirt my daughter was wearing. It is found in the cleaning section, but states on the bottle that it is okay to use on clothes. Have had great results.

5 moms found this helpful
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K.E.

answers from New York on

I use Shout Advanced for the stubborn set in stains. Haven't found a stain it doesn't take out yet.

3 moms found this helpful
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B.C.

answers from Modesto on

Hi B.,

For stains and odors (like animal smells, etc. in the carpet) I use a product called Nature's Fresh - it's a totally natural enzyme spray (even digestible). It works wonders in the kitchen with hard-to-remove grease as well. You can get it through www.mynsp.com/morethanherbs - If I wish to add a scent, I just add an essential oil (lemon is a nice, fresh uplifting scent), also available through the same website.

Blessings,

B. C., CR, EFT-CC, CNHC
Certified Applied Aromatherapy Instructor
Certified Newborn Massage Instructor
NSP Herb Specialist
Natural Health Coach

3 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Sarasota on

I tried many different products in the past for removing stains with little success. But I found there is nothing like SA8 laundry detergent, All Fabric Bleach and SA8 Prewash Liquid for stain removal. I have used these products since my children were born; for baby spit up stains, to ketchup, spaghetti, grass and ground-in dirt, to quarter-sized ink stains on white dress shirts!! And they work on stains that you didn't notice till after the clothes were dried! They are environmentally friendly and have a 100% money back guarantee if you don't like the product. You will not find these in stores but you can order them via my website fyoung3.qbeautyzone.com. Click on Other, Click on Home, Click on Laundry; or you can search the word stain and they'll pop up. By far these are the best, and the only ones I use for any stain removal.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from New York on

Melaleuca!!! IT answers all our laundry questions. If you would like to open an account email me please, ____@____.com. I work from home and love their products and you will too. D.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Harrisburg on

I have to agree with Beverly about Melaleuca. They have THE BEST products! I've been shopping with them for over a year now. They even have stuff to take out permanent marker! I can set up your account with them if you would like. It's what I do from home. You can visit me at www.MamaStaysHome.com and I can give you all the details personally.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from Detroit on

I haven't seen this suggested (and I don't have anything to sell nor do I work for or have stock in Meijer). Meijer sells a product (not in the usual laundry soap area--look for their cleaning products aisle outside of the grocery area) made by Whink called Wash Away Laundry Stain Remover. I have had much success with it. I even "rehabilitated" a cute, hand-me-down top for my daughter that I thought was a goner. I usually use the Wash Away, then soak in OxyClean (or a suitable off brand) and then wash, sometimes repeating the process on super stubborn stains.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.V.

answers from Orlando on

I think I got through all the responses, but there were none about what I use: Clorox 2, for stains and color brightener. I put it on even colored clothing, just let it set overnight or more, then wash like normal when I don't see it all or if it is almost gone. I have yet to ruin any clothing, even the nice brightly colored ones! :) Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Portland on

B., you don't need any special product, wait for a sunny day, leave it out all day. I'm from California, and it always works on tomato stains! (also on cloth diapers!)

1 mom found this helpful
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V.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hey!
Go to Hancock Fabrics. There is soething called grandma's Homemade Stain Remover. It is usually by the registers! The company swears by it! V

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S.S.

answers from Fort Myers on

Make a Biz and Water paste, scrub the paste into the stain and let set overnight or longer, then wash in biz and it should come clean. This has worked for me. The secret is to do this not long after the stain happens. Goodluck

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B.A.

answers from Tampa on

Try spraying with Dreft Stain Spray, then soak in boiling soappy water. That almost always does the trick for me.

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D.L.

answers from Miami on

At this point the stain is probably permanent. I suggest that you get a little crafty with fabric paint. In the future, when feeding your child spaghetti -- put them in an old shirt or use a dish towel as a bib.

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B.B.

answers from Tampa on

check to see if you know anyone who uses MELALEUCA products. They get out EVERYTHING! and they are green so safe for kiddies!

Bev K

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R.C.

answers from Sarasota on

I married into an Italian family, so here's my m-i-l's advice: the Oxyclean works on the tomato part, but the grease part needs K2R. It's a spray and you just follow the directions, but it can be a little hard to find. Sometimes it's in hardware stores.

Hope it helps!

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

I am in agreement with Debbie S. These products are great and I love that they are safe and natural for my family. With the pre-spot I have taken out red wine stains from a white tshirt and with the sol-u-mel I have gotten stains out of the carpet that I have not been able to get out with other products.

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E.S.

answers from Tampa on

You may want to try just setting it out in the sun, but wet it first. Otherwise, add lemon juice to the stain and set it out again. The sun is amazing at how it bleaches things naturally. You can also set out all those plastic Tupperware type containers with stains on them and they will also disappear. I use cloth diapers and dry them in the sun, not only to be "green" but because the sun removes all stains! I have a new respect for the sun! Good luck! =)

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A.G.

answers from Punta Gorda on

When my girls spit up a lot I used dishwasher det, liquid on spit up stains. It is designed to eat through food. I never let it soak for a really long time, maybe 30 minutes or so. I also washed it out with warm water. Another tip someone shared with me is if you wash somethig and the stain does not come out do not dry it in the dryer, when it comes out of the washer treat it a second time with spray and wash and put it back in the washer later that night. The dryer can set the stain and make it impossible to get out. Good Luck!

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J.L.

answers from Honolulu on

.....and if all else fails, and the stain is small enough, liquid White Out products can be used to draw a flower (for girls) or a star (for boys) over the stain. You can add a few more flowers/stars to make the design look deliberate if necessary. This works best, but is not limited to a white on white application. I've also sewn a small white star or flower applique over an ink spot or other stain before. -works great !!!

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G.M.

answers from Sarasota on

Hi B.~

I had the same problem after making Chicken Cacciatore for Christmas dinner. Buy 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide at the health food store (regular hydrogen peroxide is too dilute). Use it full strength and don't worry, it won't hurt the fabric. However, it will burn your skin, so wear rubber gloves. Let it stay on a bit. Matter of fact, you can put it in a plastic bag in the frig to let it "soak." Then wash normally. I had red wine stains to remove as well, and it got everything out! Good luck and let me know how you do.

G. M

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D.M.

answers from Lakeland on

B.;

When I have stubborn stains that won't come out of
clothes, I wet the spot and put hair shampoo on
it and rub the item (same as washing by hand).

When my son was an infant; an elderly lady that stayed
across from me told me to use the shampoo on stains
and rub it together (light scrubbing); and to my dismay
it worked perfect. My son was a Projectile Vomiter
and the milk stains would not come out during regular
wash. I still use the hair shampoo on stubborn stains!
It has been 12 years now. Try it!

D.

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T.W.

answers from Tampa on

I have great luck with Mean Green...spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce..etc...As long as you haven't put it in the dryer yet. Otherwise..it's there to stay!!!..And it's a lot less expensive then all those "stain removers" that never seem to work!!!..Just spray on the Mean Green and let it soak for awhile (or longer if you think it needs it)..Good luck!!!

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R.S.

answers from Tampa on

Spray and wash-dual power. I use this and let it soak for an hour or two, but not too long, because I left a shirt overnight, and it took some of the color out. But a few hours is fine.

I haven't tried this yet, but I received an e-mail about WD-40. On it it says it removed tomato stains from clothing. It only says to saturate with WD-40 and re wash and it came out.

Good Luck

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A.D.

answers from Fort Myers on

You need Nature Bright and Fresh Laundry Concentrate from Shaklee. 2 T of each in a bucket of warm water. Soak for several days. It gets everything out without harsh chemicals. We call this formula "Soak the Impossible." You can order on-line through a MamaSource home business distributor. Just search for them in the directory.

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S.E.

answers from Tampa on

My grandmother swears by using lemon juice and then hanging it in the sun to dry. Worth a try. I sure hate stubborn stains like that. Good luck!

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J.A.

answers from Austin on

I put liquid Tide on spaghetti/tomato stains and then let the article sit in the laundry basket for 2 days, then wash the article in the washing machine as normal. Liquid Tide has always worked 100% for me on removing spaghetti/tomato stains - and my kids get it on their clothes all the time! I never dry the clothing article until the stain is out, however. This is very convenient for me since I always have liquid Tide on hand.

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