Mustard. It’s tasty, but not when it lands on your clothes.   So if a hotdog falls onto your lap at the family’s reunion, act quickly. This condiment is made with mustard seed and turmeric.  Turmeric, in addition to being a spice, is also used as a dye, which left unattended, will leave a bright and permanent stain on your shorts!

If the stain is fresh and you’re at home, immediately blot the area and apply a stain remover per-treating solution.  Let the garment sit following instructions and rinse off.  Hand wash with warm water and liquid laundry detergent.  Machine wash as usual, air dry (do not put in dryer because heat can set a color).  If the stain persists, soak it in laundry detergent overnight before laundering.

If the stain has set in, remove as much of the dried stain as possible. This will prevent the mustard from spreading when you wet the stain. Next soak the garment in a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar for at least an hour. Then rinse the garment and launder as usual.

An important warning: Never use an ammonia-based cleaner on a mustard stain, as this will do the opposite, make the mustard stain permanent!

As with any type of stain, the sooner you act, the easier it will be to get remove. However, take time to read garment washing instructions so that you don’t make the stain worse or ruin the fabric.  And if ever in question, take it to a dry cleaner.