How to Remove Easter Egg Dye Stains

Easter egg dying is a fun, creative tradition for many families, but where there is dye, there is also likely to be a mess. Even if you use a plastic tablecloth, spills, and splashes from this messy activity can affect your clothing, countertops, and furniture. Act quickly to prevent permanent stains.

Most egg-dying kits use food coloring or color tablets made of food dye and sodium bicarbonate, plus white vinegar. And, no surprise, dye that's potent enough to penetrate a hard-boiled egg's eggshell can also leave permanent stains on other porous surfaces. That's why we tapped Aaron Christensen, resident cleaning expert and VP of Growth at Homeaglow for best practices.

How to Eliminate Egg Dye Stains on Laminate Countertops, Wooden Tables

1. Soak up the excess. The first thing to do is soak up any excess liquid. "Use a clean paper towel or your most absorbent cloth to soak up as much as soon as possible," advises Christensen. "Blot from the outside inwards to prevent the stain from spreading."
2. Use soap and water. Create a cleaning solution of several drops of mild dish soap liquid to half a cup of water.
3. Dab the solution onto the surface. Dip a clean dry cloth into the soapy water and gently dab and blot the stain.
4. Scrub gently. After applying the soapy cleaning solution, use a soft-bristled brush or sponge to scrub in a circular motion. The sponge or bristles will help to lift away any dye that has bled into the surface of the countertop.
5. Rinse and dry. Using plain water, rinse the area. Then, dry it off with a soft cloth to remove any lingering marks.

How to Clean Egg Dye Stains From Clothing

1. Remove the excess. Act quickly! Use a fresh cloth or paper towel to blot the dye on the fibers. An absorbent material will prevent it from spreading.
2. Rinse with cold water. This helps flush the fibers.
3. Apply a stain remover. Spray an enzyme-based stain remover onto the fabric, or massage a tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent directly into the dye-stained spots. (Always check the care label, first!).
4. Soak the garment. Fill a bowl of water and let the clothing soak for 15-30 minutes. Submerge the entire stain. You can also add a cup of vinegar to boost effectiveness. If you do add white vinegar, let it soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour to give the solution time to help break down the dye and work its way into the fibers.
5. Wash. Launder the clothing as you would normally, with laundry detergent. If the stain is still visible, repeat the process.
6. Air dry. Don't put it in the dryer right away. Let the garment air dry first. High heat will set the stain, if any remains, making it even harder to remove.