How To Remove Chili Stains From Cotton

Chili can leave a tough stain on whatever it touches, and the longer you wait to clean it the harder it becomes to remove it. The stain has two elements to it: the deep acidic tomato and the grease from the meat. The method you use to remove a chili stain depends on whether you are cleaning a washable fabric or carpet or upholstery. Regardless, you likely have most of what you need to take care of the stain at home.

Step 1

Apply a laundry stain pre-treatment directly to the chili stain and saturate it. Wait at least one minute so the pre-treatment soaks in and penetrates the stain.

Step 2

Rub liquid laundry detergent directly on the stain. Launder the garment immediately.

Step 3

Remove the garment from the washing machine and check to see if the stain is gone. Wash the garment again with oxygen bleach if the stain is still present. Or, allow the stain to air-dry and dab a dry-cleaning solvent on the stain. Let the solvent dry, rinse it well, and launder the garment again.

Step 1

Blot the stain with a paper towel. Keep blotting until no excess stain can be transferred to the paper towel.

Step 2

Apply rubbing alcohol to a paper towel. Blot the stain until you cannot transfer color from the stain.

Step 3

Apply a detergent and water solution to the stain if the alcohol isn't removing it. Use 1/4 cup detergent and 1 qt. of warm water. Blot the mixture into the stain with a paper towel. Keep doing this until you can no longer get color transfer.

Step 4

Blot up the soapy water and rinse the carpet if the stain is still present. Use a spray bottle of water to re-moisten the stain and keep blotting until the soap is gone. Mist the stain lightly with water and let the stain air-dry.

Step 5

Apply a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to the stain, let it sit for 60 minutes, and blot up the excess.