Shrove Tuesday - AKA Pancake Day - is a great excuse to have fun and be creative in the kitchen. Whether eaten at breakfast, lunch or dinner, the excitement of making pancakes can result in stubborn stains.
From sticky syrup to juicy fresh berries, Deyan Dimitrov, cleaning expert and founder of Laundryheap, has five ways to get those pesky Pancake Day-related spills and stains out of your clothes.
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is sweet, smooth and the perfect treat to drizzle all over your pancakes. However, if you accidentally drizzle some on your clothing, you must act fast to avoid being left with a sticky stain.
Begin removing your maple syrup stain by using a spoon or dull knife to lift as much as possible. Next, dip a clean cloth, or paper towel into lukewarm water, and carefully blot the stain. Blot and don’t rub (rubbing will force the maple syrup further into the fibres of your clothing). Continue blotting your garment until you notice the stain lifting and becoming less sticky. Once you are sure that you can’t lift any more of the stain, wash your item on a high temperature, using laundry detergent. Before washing your garment, be sure to check the care label to see what the highest recommended temperature to wash your item at is.
Bacon
If you fancy an extra treat with your maple syrup, bacon is always a good shout. Be wary though, because bacon can often spit as you cook it, leaving a greasy stain on your clothing.
If bacon drops onto your clothes, first remove it using a spoon or blunt knife. Next, pick up a clean cloth, or paper towel, to gently dab the greasy stain. This will help extract any excess oil from your clothes. Sprinkle a little bit of cornstarch or talcum powder over the affected area. This will help soak up some of the oil. Leave the powder on your garment for 10-15 minutes. Shake off the talcum powder or cornstarch, and apply a heavy duty laundry detergent directly on to your stain.
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Using a soft bristle brush such as a toothbrush (your fingers will also work), gently rub the detergent into your stain, making sure to work it into all the fibres of the affected area. Leave the detergent on your stain for at least 10 minutes. Without removing the laundry detergent, check the care label of your garment for the highest temperature you can wash your clothing at. Place your item into the machine and wash as normal.
Jam
Jam is another great topping for those with a sweet tooth. However, it can be another tricky stain to remove.
The first step to removing a jam stain is placing it directly under cool running water. This will flush out your stain and help to remove any jam residue. Next, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with half a teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent and a quarter of a cup of warm water. Take your stained item and place it into the solution and leave it to soak for 15 minutes.
After, remove your stained item from the solution and rinse it with lukewarm water. If your stain is still visible, use a clean sponge to gently blot rubbing alcohol over it. Once you see the stain begin to lift, or fade, rinse your garment thoroughly with lukewarm water. Finally, read your care label to check what the maximum temperature your garment can be washed at and wash your item at the highest temperature possible.
Ice cream
If you are in the mood for a more decadent topping such as ice-cream, there comes a risk of devilish stains. However, don’t panic, as ice-cream related stains are relatively easy to remove.
Begin removing your ice-cream stain by soaking your clothing in cold water for 5-10 minutes. Avoid putting your stained item in hot water as this will only set the stain deeper into your clothing. After soaking, remove your item from the cold water and rub liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain. Make sure that the laundry detergent completely coats your stain and has been well worked in. Then re-soak your item at room temperature for 30 minutes. Every few minutes, gently rub the detergent into your stain.
After 30 minutes, rinse the laundry detergent from your clothing, and add a stain remover. Allow your stain remover to sit for 7-10 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. If your ice cream stain is harder to budge, repeat the whole process until your stain has completely lifted.
Fresh berries
For a more refreshing pancake topper, fresh berries can be a great option. However, in the case of dropping one (or two) onto your clothing, you need to act fast.
To start lifting your berry stain, using a spoon or blunt knife, remove any solid berry residue from your item. Try not to squash the berry whilst lifting as this can cause more juice to be squeezed onto your clothing. After you’ve removed the berry, rinse out the stain with cold water. I recommend doing this by holding your stain under a running tap. You should notice your stain becoming lighter in colour the longer you hold the stain under the tap.
Next, coat the affected area with stain remover and work it into the fabric using a soft bristled brush. After working the stain remover in, leave it to sit for at least 15 minutes. If you don’t own a stain remover, a heavy-duty laundry detergent will also do the job. Once you have waited 15 minutes, check your item's care label to see the maximum temperature you can wash your clothing and launder as normal.
