5 Tips to Get Hot Sauce Out of Clothes

Keep your hoodie from looking like a crime scene

We’ve all been there: a backend burrito blowout or a dribble of sauce down your chin and onto your favorite hoodie. Whatever the cause, the result is a splotch of brightly colored hot sauce that makes you look like the prime suspect.

But there’s no need to hide the evidence! We’ve spilled enough Habanero Hot Sauce on ourselves to basically qualify as stain-removal experts. And we’re here to share our hard-earned knowledge for the sake of you and your lit wardrobe.

Get That Stain Out!

Let’s start with some encouraging news. Unless your hot sauce contains added artificial food coloring (and if it does, do yourself a favor and choose a healthier hot sauce), you can potentially remove your stain.

But move fast: The sauce waits for no one, and the longer it remains, the more it will bond with clothing fibers. That risks the stain becoming permanent. Which is not what you want. Which is why you’re reading this article. Onward!

1. Take off Your Soiled Hoodie, T-shirt, etc.

Yes, when it comes to removing a hot sauce stain — and not just teasing it — it’s best to whip it off your bod, so you can get at the stain properly.

First, gently scrape off any tiny blobs of pepper, onion, spice, etc., on the surface of the fabric (you know, some hot sauce is real food…like our sauce! 🙂

Then turn your hoodie inside out. You’re going to want to rinse the stain from the backside and send that hot sauce back out the way it came in.

2. Flush With Cold Water.

Rinse the stain from the backside under cold running water. Give it a real good bath. Don’t wipe, blot, or rub at this point. Just a steady, few-minute blast of sweet, clear water.

3. Blot. A Lot.

Flip that hoodie back to right-side out. Grab a wet white cloth, paper towel, or napkin —dark colors can bleed into your fabric — or even a piece of white bread (yes, bread!) will do.

Blot don’t rub. Rubbing means giving your shirt a permanent taco night tattoo. And possibly breadcrumbs!

4. Pretreat with a Stain Remover

• Everyday hack: Liquid dish detergent
• Heavy-duty: Off-the-shelf stain removers
• Natural option: Baking soda-and-water paste

General rule: Rub your remover into the stain, but not so hard that you damage the fabric or cause the stain to spread. Start on the outside of the stain and work your way in. Let the stain remover sit for at least 5 – 15 minutes before washing. Longer for tough stains and just a couple of minutes for delicate items.

Pro Tips:

• Never use bar soap instead of detergent: Bar soap can permanently set the stain. Instead, reach for liquid hand soap, liquid dish detergent, etc.

• Test before you pour: Avoid unwanted polka dots that might appear if the stain remover reacts badly with the fabric and bleaches out your garment.

• Vinegar is magic: It cuts stains and makes your laundry smell like a salad. Dip your cloth into the vinegar, then work it into the stain. But beware: vinegar can weaken or alter the color of cotton, silk, rayon, and other fabrics, so check your clothing label first and then proceed with caution. 

• Corn starch is a boss: For removing oils, that is. Rub it directly into the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, brush off with a dry white cloth or towel. Repeat if needed.

5. Give it a Wash

We recommend a cold first wash with light colors, regular detergent, and a whisper and a prayer.

Bonus Step:  Repeat if Necessary

So, your hoodie still looks like modern art painted by a baboon? Pretreat again, then wash again, before drying. Do. Not. Dry. First. The heat may set the stain permanently into the fabric.

Eco-Friendly Stain Solutions

Keep it green while keeping it clean:

• Lemon juice + salt for whites
• Plant-based detergents
• Club soda

Wear Your Hot Sauce with Pride

We’d love to tell you this guide will definitely save your favorite white hoodie. But sometimes, that fiery orange badge is there to stay. Embrace it. Tie-dye is always an option (instant festival gear!).

And remember, spilling hot sauce down the front of your shirt means you’re living life to the fullest. Or that you need an adult bib. Or both.

EXTRA Pro Tip: Bookmark this article. Future you, covered in Red Scorpion Fiery Hot Sauce, will be grateful.