How to Remove a BBQ Stain

So you were enjoying some red-hot barbecue, and now you have a BBQ stain on your shirt. Don’t worry! You can remove that stain in 5 easy steps:

1. Put down your plate and find some cold water, whether it's from the garden hose or the sink. If you allow the BBQ stain to set and dry, you may end up wearing that nice shirt to paint the shutters or mow the lawn.

   Cold water is the key to preventing barbecue stains from setting. Warm water, at first, will only make it worse.

2. Turn the shirt inside out before you apply the cold water. You want to push the barbecue stain outward instead of pushing the stain further into the fabric.


3. Next, treat the stain with detergent. You can use powder, but liquid is better. Be gentle and don't rub too hard or you could damage the fabric. If the shirt is white, you can use a little bleach. If that doesn’t do the trick, attack the sauce with a stain remover spray or gel.


4. For a really stubborn barbecue stain, apply baking soda and white vinegar, which creates a bubbly foam that pushes the stain from the fabric.

   You can also try applying a paste of lemon juice and salt. Be careful using these treatments, however, as they may cause colors to fade.

5. Allow your stained garment to sit for about 10 minutes, then toss it in with a wash load.

If you still see a stain after the load is finished, try one more time to treat the garment. After that, your efforts will likely be fruitless.

However, this doesn't mean you can't wear the shirt on cookout days as a badge of honor.