You're on your way to work and decide to order a breakfast burrito online for pickup. As soon as you take your first bite, it spills on your pants.

Don't panic.

You can stop stains in their tracks when it comes to most machine-washable clothing by acting fast and having the right tools.

We'll start with some general tricks of the trade, then move on to three hard-to-remove stains.

Note: These are just best practices. We can't promise to save your clothes. But we'll do our best to help!

Steps for Removing Three of the Toughest Food Stains

Did you just drop fried chicken on your shirt? Don't just set it aside for laundry day! You've got to act fast.

Thankfully, using the tools below and remembering that time is of the essence, you may be able to save your clothes from three of fabric's biggest nemeses: grease, chocolate, and sauces/condiments.

Supplies for Food Stains

Beyond laundry detergent, there are several supplies you should keep on hand:

Salt
Baking soda
Vinegar
Stain stick (e.g., Tide To Go)
Hydrogen peroxide
Laundry soap bar (e.g., Fels-Naptha)
Oxygen-based cleaner (e.g., OxiClean)
Cardboard, plastic, or another flat surface to put between the stain and the other side of the clothing while you scrub

Pro Tip: Never put clothing in the dryer until you're sure the stain is gone.

Steps for Removing Grease Stains

Grease is one of the hardest stains to eliminate. But don't stop ordering pizza from your favorite local restaurant just because you're worried about your clothes! Here are the steps you should take to give your clothing a fighting chance:

Dab at the stain with a dry cloth. Water can make the oil adhere to clothing even more.
If the grease is still wet, sprinkle baking soda on it and leave it there for a day or so. (If it's already dry, skip this step.) If you see the baking soda change color, scrape it off and sprinkle more on—it's pulling the grease out.
Mix dish soap with baking soda and scrub the stain with a toothbrush. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes. (The laundry bar soap also works pretty well for this!)
Wash the clothing as usual, with the hottest temperature you can safely use. Adding oxygen cleaner may help.
Make sure the stain is gone before you put it in the dryer. If it's not, try scrubbing it with the laundry bar soap or the dish soap/baking soda mixture and rewashing it.

Steps for Removing Chocolate Stains

Chocolate has a mind of its own and somehow gets everywhere, especially if you have children. It's not an easy stain to remove, but these steps can make the process a bit smoother:

Gently scrape off as much of the chocolate as possible.
Run cold water over the clothing from the inside. (If you can't take the clothing off, gently dab at it with water, keeping it moist until you can move on to the next steps.)
Let the whole thing soak in water and detergent or an oxygen cleaner for at least half an hour, longer if possible.
If it's still stained, use a laundry soap bar on it. Be careful not to spread the stain when you do this—keep the soap on the stained area. Rinse and repeat as necessary.
Wash as directed.
Check the stain before drying. If it's still there, keep trying the above steps until it's gone.

Steps for Removing Sauce and Condiments

Pasta sauce from your favorite Italian restaurant doesn't need to ruin your favorite tie. If you act fast, you can stop the stain from setting.

*Save clothing from pasta sauce stains by acting fast!*

Here's how:

Don't let it dry. If you can, immediately remove the article of clothing and run cool water through the back of the stain (so it doesn't get onto the other side of the clothing). If you can't remove the clothing, keep it moist by dabbing it with a damp cloth.
Rub laundry detergent or a laundry soap bar in circular motions over the stain. If the clothing is white or colorfast, you can use hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar in the same way. Let this sit for a while.
Rinse and repeat until you can't see the stain anymore.
Wash normally.
Make sure the stain is totally gone before putting the clothing in the dryer. If it's still there, scrub as you did in step 2, then soak in warm water for at least 30 minutes before washing again.

Conclusion

Whether you're cooking at home or ordering online from a restaurant, spills can happen to anyone. To save your clothing from being ruined by a spill, you must take immediate action.

Before trying to remove stains, read the clothing's label. If it says to only use cold water or avoid bleach, follow those instructions. If something is dry clean only, it means it!

That said, the suggestions we gave for getting three of the most challenging types of stains out of clothing can be used on most other types of stains, too.

Now you can order that barbecue bacon burger or chocolate cake without fear!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Dimmitt, Marketing Communications Coordinator

Melissa began her digital marketing career nearly a decade ago at a restaurant group. She worked with restaurant managers and executive chefs while coordinating seasonal menu releases, executing photoshoots, and creating fresh digital content.