The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

Ask ACI: Food Coloring Stains

Share

Q: My kids love the Cookie Monster, and he inspired them to help me make holiday cookies. But our cookie decorating sessions always end up with food coloring stains on their clothes. How do I remove them?

If you treat the stains as soon as the decorating session is over, they will be easier to remove.

Start by sponging the stain with cold water to remove as much of the food coloring as possible. Then pretreat with a prewash stain-remover and launder. If the stain remains, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach, if safe for the fabric, or ¼ cup of oxygen bleach per gallon of cool water, and soak for at least 30 minutes. Rinse, and then launder.

Don't forget to have your kids wash their hands – both before the decorating begins and again anytime they take a break.