When you’re hungry, thirsty, and overheated on a sweltering summer afternoon, there’s nothing more satisfying than a juicy slice of watermelon. While it makes a refreshing midday snack, there’s no debating it can get messy. With just one bite, you’ve got sticky juice dripping down your hands—and that means you run the risk of stains (surprisingly stubborn ones, at that).
“Watermelon stains are mostly caused by the fruit’s natural sugars, juice, and pink/red pigments,” says Krista Radau, owner of Oklahoma-based Extreme Clean Solutions. “On lighter fabrics especially, those pigments can leave behind discoloration if the spill isn’t cleaned quickly.”
Luckily, if you act fast and follow the right steps, you can remove watermelon juice stains before they set. But if you’re working with on old stain, don’t fret—Radau has a simple remedy for that, too. So, before you toss that soiled shirt into the washing machine, try these expert-backed stain-removal tips. You’ll know how to lift the sticky stains from your T-shirts, tablecloths, towels, and virtually any other fabric without breaking a sweat.
How to Remove Fresh Watermelon Juice Stains
“The best thing to do is act quickly,” Radau notes. So, immediately after the sticky pink juice spills on your clothes, carpets, or cushions, follow the below steps. By taking action fast, you can treat the stain before the sugars and pigments have time to set into the fabric fibers:
Step 1: Blot the Stain
First things first: Whether you’ve stained your denim shorts, linen napkins, or living room rug, lightly dab the splotch to soak up the juices. “Blot the spill gently with a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb as much juice as possible without rubbing it deeper into the fabric,” Radau explains. Wiping the mark can also spread the stain wider.
Step 2: Rinse With Cold Water
If you’re working with a garment or piece of fabric, turn the item inside out before flushing the stain with cold water from the faucet. For upholstery, blot the soiled spot with a damp cloth. No matter the object, this step will help dispel the juice instead of pushing the sticky substance further into the fabric fibers. “Avoid hot water at first because the heat can set stains,” Radau adds.
Step 3: Pretreat the Soiled Spot
Next, Radau recommends applying a small amount of liquid, mild dish soap or laundry detergent to the stain. Let the soapy, grime-fighting substance sit for five to 10 minutes, so it can penetrate the fibers and cut through the stickiness.
Step 4: Launder the Item
If the stained item is machine-washable, run it through a warm cycle (in the warmest water according to the tag) with regular laundry detergent. If you’re dealing with a bulkier object, such as a rug, dab the affected area with cold water to remove the soapy residue.
Step 5: Dry It Accordingly
Before tossing the machine-washed item into the dryer, double-check that the watermelon juice stain is completely gone. If any remnants still remain, high heat from the dryer can permanently set the stain. If the stain is still visible, repeat the previous steps. As for chairs, couches, and other upholstery, simply blot the area dry with a clean cloth.
How to Remove Hard-Set Watermelon Juice Stains
Old watermelon juice stains are a lot more stubborn than fresh ones, since the natural sugars and pigments have bonded to the fabric over time. But with some perseverance, a little patience, and a trusted treatment method, you can zap the hard-set stain. Here’s how:
Step 1: Soak the Fabric
After filling the basin of your sink or bathtub with cold water, let the stained garment soak for at least 30 minutes. Drenching the fabric for a prolonged period of time will help the dried residue loosen, so the watermelon juice stain will be easier to extract.
Step 2: Tackle the Stain
Once the fabric has thoroughly soaked, Radau suggests rubbing an enzyme-based stain remover or liquid laundry detergent into the fabric, letting it permeate the fibers for 15 to 20 minutes. For many sturdy, washable fabrics, soaking the item in an oxygen bleach solution can often help lift older stains without damaging the garment. If the stain is still noticeable, try dabbing the mark with equal parts water and white vinegar before rinsing it with cold water after it sits for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Wash It In Warm Water
When the watermelon juice stain is properly treated, it’s time to launder the item. Following the object’s care label instructions, throw the object in the washing machine with some detergent, using the warmest water safe for the fabric.
Step 4: Air-Dry the Item
Before running the fabric through your dryer, let the item fully air-dry, so you can accurately examine the stain. “It’s important to avoid putting the item in the dryer until the stain is fully gone because heat can permanently set any remaining residue,” Radau says. If any traces of watermelon juice remain, repeat the entire process above. When the stain is finally gone, then you can place it in your dryer.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
