How do I get tomato and ketchup out of an apron or uniform?
Sources last checked
A squeeze of ketchup got you on the sleeve.
The short answer
Push the stain out the way it came in: from the back. (American Cleaning Institute; American Cleaning Institute)
Do this now
- Run cold water through the back of the stain. (American Cleaning Institute; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)
- Don't dab ketchup. It can spread the stain. (American Cleaning Institute)
What to use
- Rub in a little liquid laundry detergent. Be gentle. (American Cleaning Institute)
- Bleach only on white cloth, or cloth you tested. (American Cleaning Institute)
Before the dryer
- Look at the spot before the dryer. Dry stains often stay. (American Cleaning Institute; American Cleaning Institute)
Never do this
- Never run water through the front of the stain. (American Cleaning Institute)
When to give up
- Check before drying. A dried tomato stain is often permanent. (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.
“run cold water through the back of the stain as quickly as possible.”
“Don't run it through the front of the tomato stain”
“Work from the inside of the garment or back of the stain”
“Avoid dabbing at it as this can spread the stain.”
“Rub a liquid laundry detergent into the stained portion of the fabric.”
“If the garment is white, or you have tested it for colorfastness”
“Before drying, double-check the stain. Stains that are dried will often be permanent.”
“Do not put it in the dryer until the stain is removed.”
“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.