How do I get milk and dairy out of an apron or uniform?
Sources last checked
Steamed milk slopped onto your sleeve while you poured.
The short answer
Milk is a protein stain. Heat cooks it into the cloth, so no hot water first. (Pacific Northwest Extension; Pacific Northwest Extension)
Do this now
- Blot off the extra. Never rub it. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)
The water
- Rinse with cool water. Not hot. (Pacific Northwest Extension; Pacific Northwest Extension)
What to use
- Soak it in an enzyme product for 30 minutes. (American Cleaning Institute; American Cleaning Institute)
Before the dryer
- Wash it with heavy-duty liquid detergent. (University of Georgia Extension)
- Look at the spot before the dryer. Heat sets it. (American Cleaning Institute; New Mexico State University Extension)
Never do this
- Never use hot water on a milk stain first. It cooks the milk into the cloth. (Pacific Northwest Extension)
When to give up
- Keep it out of the dryer if the stain stays. Some stains do not come out. (American Cleaning Institute; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)
Check the care tag first. Test any stain remover on a hidden spot. A stain that sets in the dryer is much harder to move, so look before you dry.
The words of the sources
Each step above, quoted from the page it comes from.
“Heat can permanently set protein: i.e., cooked egg white or milk”
“Be sure to use cool to lukewarm water.”
“Blot or scrape excess liquid or solid matter from the surface”
“Do not rub as this may roughen the fabric, damage the fibers”
“Pretreat or soak stains using a product containing enzymes.”
“Soak for at least 30 minutes or several hours for aged stains.”
“Wash in warm to hot water, using a heavy-duty liquid detergent.”
“Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is removed.”
“Heat sets stains. Do not press a stained fabric or dry it in the dryer.”
“not all stains can be removed”
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change and your local health department has the final say. Check with them before you open or change how you work. CleanCleaver is a food safety app, not a laundry authority: follow your garment's care tag.