Getting salt stains on your clothes can be frustrating. Whether it’s from salty ocean water or spilled table salt, those white marks can be tough to remove. Fortunately, there are several effective methods for removing salt stains from clothing. With a bit of effort and the right techniques, you can get rid of those pesky salt stains for good.
Why Salt Stains Form on Clothes
Before we dive into removal methods, let’s first understand why salt leaves stains in the first place.
Salt is composed of the minerals sodium and chloride. When salt gets on fabric, the sodium interacts with dirt, oil and sweat on the material. This mixture crystallizes and embeds into the fibers, leaving behind the telltale white marks.
The reason salt stains are so stubborn is that the crystal structure clings tightly to the cloth. To get rid of the stain, you need to dissolve the salt deposits and detach them from the fabric.
Fortunately, there are several household substances you can use to achieve this effect. Let’s look at some of the best options for dissolving salt and loosening its grip on clothing.
Effective Methods for Removing Salt Stains
Use a Salt Stain Pretreatment Spray
One of the easiest ways to remove salt stains is with a specialty pretreatment spray designed for this purpose. These sprays contain ingredients like surfactants and solvents that work to dissolve and lift away salt deposits.
To use a pretreatment spray:
- Shake the bottle to mix the formula.
- Generously spray the stain until fully saturated. Avoid spraying the area around the stain.
- Let sit for at least one minute. This dwell time allows the product to penetrate and interact with the salt.
- Launder as usual, either by hand or machine washing. The vigorous agitation will help detach the dissolved salt so it can rinse away.
Some popular salt stain removers to try include Carbona Stain Devils #2, Resolve Laundry Pretreat Stick and OxiClean MaxForce Spray. Use these pretreatments on both white and colorfast fabrics.
Make a DIY Salt Stain Remover
You can also mix up a homemade salt stain remover using common household ingredients like vinegar and dish soap. Here’s one easy recipe to try:
Homemade Salt Stain Remover
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tbsp dish soap
- Warm water
Add the vinegar and dish soap to a spray bottle, then top off with warm water. Shake well to combine. Spray the mixture directly onto salt stains and let sit for a few minutes before washing.
The vinegar helps dissolve the salt deposits while the dish soap acts as a degreasing agent to remove oily dirt. The warm water further aids in dissolving the minerals. This inexpensive solution works great when tackling salt stains on clothes.
Use Laundry Detergent and Hot Water
For light salt stains on white fabrics, a normal wash cycle with detergent and hot water can do the trick. Here are some tips:
- Pre-treat the stain with liquid laundry detergent. Gently rub it in.
- Wash with the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric. The heat will help dissolve and loosen the salt.
- Use a laundry detergent with added enzymes. The enzymes break down stubborn buildup like salt deposits.
- Add borax or washing soda to the wash. These laundry boosters enhance cleaning power.
- Wash immediately. Fresh stains will lift out easier than dried, set-in ones.
With heavier salt stains, you may need to wash multiple times to fully remove the marks. But this method works well for mild stains on sturdy white fabrics.
Try White Vinegar Soaks
For heavy salt stains that require more muscle, try soaking the clothing in a white vinegar solution. The acetic acid in vinegar dissolves salt deposits.
Vinegar Soak for Salt Stains
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 2 gallons warm water
Combine the vinegar and water in a bucket or basin. For smaller items, you can use a sink. Submerge the stained clothing and let soak for at least an hour. Gently agitate the clothing occasionally.
After soaking, launder the items as usual. You can also spot treat with vinegar if the stain is isolated. Sponge full-strength vinegar onto the salt stain and let sit for 15 minutes before washing.
Vinegar is safe for most fabrics, but test first in an inconspicuous area for colorfastness. Don’t use vinegar on silk or delicate fabrics that may be damaged.
Use Glycerin for Stubborn Stains
Glycerin is a humectant that attracts and holds onto water. This trait also allows it to draw moisture away from surfaces – like salt on fabric. Here’s how to use this technique:
- Apply a layer of pure glycerin directly onto the dried salt stain.
- Let it soak in for 10-15 minutes. This gives the glycerin time to detach the salt deposits.
- Rinse the fabric thoroughly with cool water to wash away the glycerin and salt.
- Launder as usual to ensure stain removal.
The moisture-wicking ability of glycerin removes even stubborn salt marks on heavy fabrics like denim or canvas. It works similarly to chemical pretreatments without harsh ingredients.
Remove Salt Buildup with Baking Soda
For clothes covered in salt residue around the hems or seams, baking soda can lift away that stubborn flaky buildup. The abrasive texture of baking soda provides gentle scouring power to loosen salt. Here’s how to use it:
- Dampen the salty areas of the clothing.
- Generously sprinkle on baking soda and gently rub it in with a soft brush or toothbrush.
- Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing clean.
- Wash as usual to remove any remaining buildup.
The moisture and scrubbing action turns the baking soda into a mild cleansing paste that removes salt in creases or along seams. This cheap standby gets ride of crusty salt buildup on swimsuits, activewear and more.
Use Salt Stain Remover Cubes in the Wash
Another handy product that removes set-in salt stains are laundry booster cubes or sticks. These cubes contain compressed cleaning ingredients that activate in water. Here are some tips for using them:
- Add 2-3 cubes directly to the wash drum along with detergent before adding clothes.
- For spot treating, wet the cube and gently rub it over the stain to create a paste, let sit briefly, then launder.
- Use stain remover cubes in place of liquid pretreatments when doing a normal wash cycle. They conveniently target and break down stubborn salt marks.
Look for salt stain remover cubes from brands like Carbona, Whip-It and Oxiclean. Use them for machine washing whites, colors and delicates when dealing with hard water salt deposits.
Tips for Avoiding Salt Stains
Removing dried-on salt stains can take some elbow grease. Whenever possible, it’s better to prevent them or treat them promptly. Here are some useful tips for avoiding salt marks on clothes:
- Rinse swimwear and beach gear thoroughly with fresh water after use to wash away saltwater.
- Immediately pretreat new salt stains with a spray, then launder. Don’t let them set in.
- Turn clothes inside out before washing to avoid abrasion between stained areas.
- Use a rinse cycle after washing salty clothes to remove any residual salts.
- Increase water temperature to dissolve salt faster when laundering.
- Don’t overload the washer, as this can prevent proper agitation needed to remove salt.
- Use a laundry booster like borax to help soften hard water and enhance washing power.
- Avoid over-drying salty clothes, as the heat can bake in stains. Line or flat dry when possible.
With some preventative care, you can keep salt from taking hold on your clothes in the first place. But when stains do inevitably occur, now you have the best stain removal techniques to get rid of them for good.
Commonly Asked Questions about Removing Salt Stains from Clothes
1. Why do salt stains form on clothes?
Salt stains form when sodium chloride crystals from table salt, ocean water or sweat interact with dirt, oil and other particles on the fabric. The salt bonds with these substances and embeds into the cloth fibers, leaving behind the telltale white marks.
2. How do you get rid of salt stains on colored clothes?
Use a pretreatment spray made for salt stains on colorfast fabrics. Check the garment tag and test for colorfastness first. Launder in cool water with a gentle detergent. Avoid using chlorine bleach, vinegar or hot water which could fade or damage dyes.
3. What removes old set-in salt stains?
For heavy salt stains that have set into the fabric, soak in a vinegar and water solution to dissolve the minerals. Glycerin and commercial stain remover sticks can also help detach stubborn salt deposits. Wash with hot water and enzyme detergent after pretreating.
4. How do you remove salt stains from shoes and boots?
Mix a paste of baking soda and water and gently scrub onto salty areas of shoes and boots. Use an old toothbrush to work paste into crevices. Rinse clean and air dry. Stuff with paper towels to absorb moisture and speed drying.
5. Can you remove salt stains with lemon juice?
Yes, lemon juice can help dissolve salt stains thanks to the citric acid. Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the stain and let sit for 10-15 minutes before washing as usual. This works well for mild stains on white cotton or linen. Avoid using lemon juice on silk or wool.
6. What laundry detergent is best for getting out salt stains?
Look for a detergent that contains enzymes, as these help break down stubborn protein-based stains like salt marks. Tide, Persil, and OxiClean detergents with enzyme additives can boost removal of dried-on salt stains.
Conclusion
Salt may leave unsightly marks, but rest assured there are many effective ways to conquer those pesky spots. With the right stain removal methods, supplies and laundry techniques, you can keep your clothes looking their best. Just remember to always pretreat stains, wash immediately in hot water, repeat cycles if needed and take preventative steps to avoid future salt deposits. With this useful guide, you can wave goodbye to those annoying salt stains for good.