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Without using bleach, how can I remove tomato or ketchup stains form a light voloured top (pale green)?

Thanks.

Wash it in cold water with handsoap, don't use hot water at all as it fixes the spots to the fabric. If that fails you can hang it out during a sunny day and that could do the trick.

Or use Oxi

Thanks, Chandra, but it's already been washed twice, at 40 degrees. I'll put it in the sun tomorrow, see if this does it. It was only a £4 top from Sainsbury's but I like it. What's Oxi?

I'm afraid 40 degrees is already hot and may have fixed the stain (is more like coldest water from the tap rather than cold option in washing machine).

There is a stain remover product that comes in a pink tub/spray bottle is called Oxi Vanish, Vanish or something of the sort (normally found in laundry washing aisle in supermarkets). It works a treat if you apply it 6-8 hrs before washing but, as you have already washed at 40 I'm not quite sure if it will do the trick.

dylon stain remover, the liquid with a blue is the best I've found for getting out tomato based stains. Apply to the dry stain & leave overnight, rinse that area with washing up liquid & cold water. If still there, try again. Smells very strong so I always prewash in the machine to get rid of the chemicals.

Also drying in the sun might help - I did this a couple of years ago on hols in Majorca & the sun did a great job.

The spray Vanish is good as chandra says, although I've only ever left the stuff on for about 2 mins before washing!

I do leave it for 2 mins but have found that for more difficult to remove stains the instructions on the tin have to be followed.

I've never used the tin Chandra, just the spray bottle, is the powder stuff really good too?

Is the same as the bottle but more flexible (the bottle is just ready mixed and can't be added to the washing powder in the drawer, and although you can dilute it more you can not get a higher concentration)

I found some dried in blackcurrant stains on DS's pale shorts. I poured distilled white vinegar on them and left them. When I came back, no stains! Might be worth a go, even though you have washed it.
All hail the vinegar thread!

Lemon juice worked on dd1's top,despite it having been washed a dozen times,bleached,oxi'ed to no avail.

DS is plagued with nose bleeds at the moment. Wonder if the vinegar will work on blood stains on his best white shirt. I never thought of that.

I use washing up liquid and a nail brush on some of DS's mucky clothes, that gets loads of stains out.

Themoon66... as soon as your DS has a nose bleed pur fresh milk onto the stain (as soon as you find it). It will disappear before your very eyes!

that was supposed to be pour, not pur.....

It seems the sun has done the trick. Thanks for the suggestions, though, I like the idea of using vinegar and milk for some stains.

Quick q about the vinegar: I know it's supposed to bring out the colours in carpets, for example, wouldn't it do the same with stains, make them brighter rather than erase them?