How to Remove Beetroot Stains

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References Approved

Removing beetroot stains is no easy task, but the good news is that there are several household remedies! As soon as the spill occurs, be sure to treat it immediately with cold water to keep the stain from setting. Then, depending on the type of item you are working with, you can remove the remainder of the stain using various supplies from around the house!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Taking Immediate Action

1
Lift off any residual beetroot fiber or liquid. It’s important to act as quickly as possible with beetroot stains, so try to remove any excess pieces or drops of beetroot from the fabric right away. Lift the pieces off directly with your fingers and blot excess liquid with a dry paper towel or disposable cloth.^{[1]
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- Try not to spread the stain more as you remove pieces and droplets.
2
Run the stain under cold water if possible. Immerse the stain in cold water so that it doesn’t set into the fabric. If possible, start with the edges of the stain and gently massage the fabric under the water as you work your way into the center. Keep running cold water over the stain until the water runs clear.^{[2]
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- Never use warm or hot water on a new beetroot stain because it might cause it to set into the fabric.
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3
Dab the stain with an old wet towel if you can’t submerge it. If you can’t immerse the stain under cold running water, take an old kitchen towel or cloth, soak it in cold water, and then dab at the stain. Try to absorb as much of the red-purple color as you can.^{[3]
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- Rinse the towel with more cold water in between dabbing, so as not to re-apply the beetroot to the stained fabric.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Eliminating Stains from Washable Fabric

1
Pretreat the fabric with laundry stain remover. Once you’ve immediately attended to the beetroot stain with cold water, pretreat the stain with a laundry stain spray or apply a small amount of undiluted detergent to the area. Allow this to sit for several minutes.^{[4]
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2
Rinse out the pretreatment with cold water. After allowing the laundry stain treatment to set, rinse the stain using cold water. Gently massage the stain with your fingers to encourage it to lift off as the pre-treatment washes away.
- If the stain is gone after the pretreatment, wash the garment in accordance with its care instructions.
3
Soak stubborn stains in chlorine-based bleach, detergent, or Borax. Check the care label of your garment to see if the garment can tolerate chlorine bleach or if a color-safe chlorine detergent is required. Soak your garment in a chlorine-based bleach or detergent for at least 15 minutes using cold water.^{[5]
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Research source} As an alternative, mix 1 tablespoon (26 g) of Borax into 2 cups (470 mL) of warm water and soak the colored fabric in the solution for 2 hours.^{[6]
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- Only use bleach on white items. Otherwise, you might bleach the stain and the colored fabric!
- You could also sprinkle Borax directly on the backside of the white fabric, then pour hot water over the fabric. Use the warmest temperature the care tag recommends.^{[7]
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- Oxygen-based bleach or detergent is not as effective on beetroot stains, but it can be used instead of chlorine-based bleach and detergent.
- Soak your garment overnight in oxygen-based bleach or detergent for best results.
4
Launder your garment. After you’ve let it soak, put your garment in the washing machine with a chlorine-based bleach or detergent and wash according to the care instructions.^{[8]
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5
Check your garment after washing. If the stain is gone, it’s safe to put the garment in the dryer. If the stain isn’t gone, put it through another wash cycle with chlorine-based bleach or detergent.^{[9]
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- Be sure the stain is gone before putting the fabric in the dryer. Drying a stained garment will cause the stain to set permanently.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Lifting Stains from Non-Washable Items

1
Dry-clean your garments if necessary. Once you’ve pre-treated the beetroot stain with cold water, it’s best to take any dry-clean only garments straight to the dry cleaners and let the professionals remove the stain.^{[10]
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2
Try wet white bread to soak up the stain. If you don’t want to dry-clean your garment or if the beetroot stain is on cloth furniture, carpet, or another bulky item, soak a thick piece of white bread in water at room temperature until it’s saturated but not soggy. Set the soaked bread over the stain.^{[11]
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- Allow the bread to absorb the stain. This can take 5 to 10 minutes. When you remove the bread, be careful not to squeeze it so that the absorbed color doesn’t leak back onto the fabric.^{[12]
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- The bread may not remove the stain completely, but it may help remove more of it than the cold water dabs did.
3
Apply a dish-soap solution on hard surfaces. To remove any excess staining, mix 2 cups (470 mL) of cool water with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of liquid dishwashing soap. Using a white cloth, apply the solution to the stain and blot. You can repeat this several times.^{[13]
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4
Rinse the item with cold water after removing the stain. Once the stain is gone, take a new dry cloth and blot away any remaining dishwashing solution with cold water.^{[14]
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- You can also blot with a dry cloth afterwards to speed up the drying process.
5
Dab stubborn stains with ammonia. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of ammonia with ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of water. Dab the solution onto the stain with a white cloth and repeat if necessary.^{[15]
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- Ammonia is not typically recommended for cleaning garments and upholstery because it can be very tough on fabric, but it does help remove beetroot stains.
- Before applying the ammonia, dab some of the solution on a hidden area of the fabric to make sure it doesn’t cause harm to it.
- Never use ammonia and bleach together because the combination can produce toxic fumes.^{[16]
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6
Use lemon juice and salt on a cutting board. If you’re trying to eliminate beetroot stains from a cutting board, liberally sprinkle coarse salt over the stain and rub it in using a lemon cut in half. Rinse the board with soap and water, and then pat it dry with a towel.^{[17]
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7
Use bleach on linoleum. For white linoleum floors or counters, mix 1 part bleach with 4 parts water and apply the solution with a white cloth. If the beetroot stain is particularly stubborn, try leaving the cloth (soaked in the bleach solution) on top of the stain for an hour.^{[18]
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- If you're worried about harming the color or pattern of your linoleum, use a color safe bleach.
8
Scrub your hands with salt. If you’re trying to get beetroot stains off your hands, scrub them with coarse salt and a little water. Wash the salt off your hands using dish soap.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you prepare fresh beets?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Fresh beets can be easily shredded with a cheese grater and added to salads or slaws to be consumed raw. You can also bake them like a baked potato by cooking them for about an hour in the oven.
Question

Does beetroot stain your urine?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Yes! After consuming beetroot, you should expect to have a red/purple tint to your urine and your stool.
Question

Does beet juice stain?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Beet juice tends to leave everything a red/purple color. However, luckily, if attended to right away, it typically rinses out relatively easy. Coarse salt will remove the beet stain off your hands. For clothing, a prewash stain remover, bleach, or Borax usually does the trick!