How To Get Soy Sauce Out Of Clothes

Chipper asked, "Soy sauce stain on my right leg… Ladies?!?!"

Soy sauce is a condiment that can leave a light brown stain. Soy sauce stains can be stubborn to remove, especially from light-colored clothing. It is always best to try to remove the stain while it is fresh. Stains that have set are always harder to get out. There are a few cleaning solutions that can be successful. Choose a solution and follow the steps below. Always test a cleaning solution on a hidden area first to avoid damaging the garment.

You Will Need:

Vegetable glycerin
Water
Clean white cloth
Cleaning solution (choose one):
- White vinegar
- Clear dishwashing liquid
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Ammonia

Steps to Remove the Stain:

For an old stain, rub glycerin (in liquid form, found at your local drugstore) into the material, let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with cold water.¹
Hold the garment inside-out with your hands on either side of the stain under a strong flowing stream of cold water. Run the water through the material from the back side of the stain.²
Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar to 1 cup water.¹
Blot at the stain with the vinegar solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
Rinse well.
Mix ¼ teaspoon clear dishwashing liquid to 1 cup water.¹
Blot at the stain with the dish soap solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
Mix equal amounts of isopropyl alcohol and water.¹
Blot at the stain with the alcohol solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
Mix 1 tablespoon ammonia to ½ cup water.³ Do not use ammonia on wool; it will damage the fibers.
Blot at the stain with the ammonia solution on a clean white cloth until stain is removed.
Soy sauce stains can be stubborn; if the stain remains after using one cleaning solution, rinse well and try another.
When stain is removed, rinse well.
Launder according to manufacturer's label.

Additional Tips and Advice

Do not heat dry the garment until the stain is removed. Heat drying will set the stain.⁴
If the fabric is a specialty fabric, e.g.: silk, wool, or satin, you may want to consider professional cleaning.⁴
These same steps can also be applied to some kinds of carpet and cloth upholstery. Always test a cleaning solution on a hidden area first to check for any adverse effects.
Wear gloves and ventilate the area when using ammonia. See Wikipedia for more safety information.
Wear gloves and ventilate the area when using isopropyl alcohol. Do not use isopropyl alcohol around heat or an open flame. See Wikipedia for more safety information.

Sources

Natural Stain Remover Secrets by Deborah L. Martin
Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
The Cleaning Encyclopedia by Don Aslett

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