Remove Sticky Honey Stains from Clothing

Honey stains are quite contrary less because of the actual colorization of honey but more because of the structure of honey. The natural sugar in honey coupled with the extreme thickness and stickiness of the product make removing a honey stain a labor intensive process best accomplished by catching the honey stain early.

How to Remove a Honey Stain - Attack It As Soon As Possible

The longer honey sits on your clothing or table linens, the harder it will become to remove. The outer parts of the stain will crust over and the honey actually affecting the fibers of your clothing will become stuck to the point of removal causing actual damage to the article of clothing. When you know you have dribbled a little honey on your shirt, immediately take a spoon or the soft edge of another utensil and scoop off the excess. If the honey has begun to harden, then take a dull knife such as a case knife and go to work scraping off the upper portion of the stain.

How to Remove a Honey Stain - A Cold Water Flush

After you have removed the excess honey from your item, place the stained area underneath a running faucet of cold water. If you happen to have a high-pressure spray nozzle on your sink, use this and blast the stain from behind to loosen up the remainder of the honey. I have found that the higher pressure seems to expedite the process versus the less intense water pressure of a faucet.

How to Remove a Honey Stain - Use a Stain Remover

At this point you can use your favorite stain removing product to work on the stain. If you have a really deep set stain, you may want to use detergent here and then follow up with an additional stain remover to help ensure the best results. For a stain that was immediately treated though, a spray or gel stain remover should be adequate. Apply the product, rub it into the affected area, and then let it set according to product specifications. Repeat if necessary.

How to Remove a Honey Stain - Hot Water

If you used detergent prior to applying stain remover in the previous indication, then you want to rinse out the detergent with hot water. This will help loosen up the honey by softening it, and it will be mostly washed out with the detergent though you will still want to follow up with stain remover. If you felt comfortable about not having to apply detergent, then it is time to throw your garment or linen into the washing machine. You will want to wash the honey stained garment on the highest heat setting the garment can withstand.

While the honey stain is a bit of work to remove, if you catch the stain soon and follow the process outlined you should experience a completely successful removal.

Sources:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/stain-buster/stains-honey-may07