Bananas are a light, filling, and easy snack that people of all ages around the world can enjoy. While they may look harmless, bananas can leave stains on many types of fabric that are difficult to clean, especially if they are dry. With the following steps, banana stains can be easily removed, if you take immediate action.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Cleaning Banana Stains from Cloth
Step 1. Scrape the banana pieces stuck to the cloth
Wipe the piece of banana stuck to the cloth thoroughly so you can focus on the stain, not the piece of banana.
Step 2. Check the fabric label
Always follow the fabric care instructions (if available). The care label is usually located on the back of the neck or on the side of the seam. On this label, you can find information on how to wash, dry, iron, and wash fabrics using the dry cleaning technique (without water). Certain chemicals and cleaning methods can be harmful to some types of fabric. Therefore, make sure to always follow the instructions provided on the fabric label.
If the cloth doesn't have a label on it, test the cleaning product you want to use on a small area of the cloth to see if there is a reaction
Step 3. Rinse the fabric from the inside of the garment using cold water
Running cold water on the inside of the stained fabric can push the bananas out of the fabric.
Using water to clean fabrics such as silk, suede, velvet, and rayon is very dangerous. These fabrics should be cleaned using dry cleaning techniques
Step 4. Apply the stain remover enzyme
Place the cloth in a faucet or basin with warm water that has been mixed with stain-removing enzymes. This cleanser can be in the form of a spray, foam, or liquid. Soak the stained area in the cleaning solution and let it sit for about 30 minutes, or a few hours if the stain has been drying for a long time.
- Dealing with the stained area as soon as possible is one of the most important steps in the stain removal process. The sooner the stain is removed, the greater the chance that the fabric will be stain-free.
- Do not use stain remover enzymes on cotton or wool because the enzymes digest protein.
- For another alternative, you can use Borax. This cleaner can clean completely by soaking the stained area for 30 minutes, then continue washing the cloth with the usual method.
Step 5. Wash the cloth
Wash the fabric on the hottest water setting. You can use chlorine bleach if the fabric is not prone to damage, or use color safe bleach.
- Make sure the stain is completely clean before the cloth is machine dried. The heat from the dryer can cause the stain to stick permanently if the stain isn't completely clean.
- Check garment labels for recommended washing rules.
Part 2 of 2: Cleaning Banana Stains from Upholstery
Step 1. Scrape off the sticking banana pieces
Gently lift the large piece of banana off the cloth so you can focus more on cleaning the stained area.
Step 2. Mix the cleaning product
Add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to 2 cups of cold water. Cold water is useful for protecting the color of the upholstery, while dishwashing liquid is a fairly gentle cleanser, but can clean stubborn stains.
Step 3. Pat the stained area with a cleaning product
Use a clean cloth to dab the stained area with the cleaning mixture until it is absorbed by the cloth.
Make sure you don't rub the stain, and simply pat from the center of the stain to the outer edges. Repeat this step until the stain is gone
Step 4. Pat the stained area dry
Use a new cloth to clean the area. You can slightly dip the rag in cold water to remove any soap residue, but after that, dry the cloth immediately.
If the stain turns slightly brown when the cloth is dry, try mixing vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio and use it to clean the stain. Gently apply a small amount of the vinegar mixture, then let it dry. Repeat this step one more time, then pat the cloth again with cold, clean water
Tips
- Bleach can be used to remove banana stains from white cotton, or try washing the cloth in boiling salted water.
- Another method you can try (good for when your baby is nauseous after eating a banana) is to apply glycerin before washing the cloth. After cleaning the banana slices, wipe the glycerin on the cloth, then rinse.
Warning
- Do a test first on a small area of the cloth to see if the cleaning product used is harmful to the cloth or not.
- Fabrics that are prone to damage should not be scrubbed and may not withstand hot water or other stain removers.
