Relax, scorch stains while ironing happens to the best of us.
You’re ironing your clothes and in a brief moment of distraction, you leave the iron on a spot for too long and it gets burned, leaving ugly scorch stains on the fabric.
But rather than fret about how to remove ironing stains from the clothes, you can either do a lemon scrub or a vinegar rinse on the stain (carefully, of course).
And if these methods don’t work on your clothes, you can try one of the other methods. So, there’s more!
In this article, we will show you various ways on how you can remove scorch stain from your clothes.
However, before we delve into it, please keep it in mind that some iron stains cannot be rectified. But you can never know until you try.
How Can You Remove Ironing Stains From Your Clothes?
You can remove ironing stains from your clothes by following these 4 easy steps:
- Take immediate action.
- Pre-treat the scorch stains.
- Wash the cloth.
- Sun-dry.
Take immediate action
Once you notice a scorch mark on your cloth, take action to rectify it immediately rather than wait till you are done ironing. This will reduce the chances of the scorch mark becoming darker or permanent.
Remove the iron from the spot immediately and unplug it.
Pre-treat the scorch stain
Before you start the stain removal process, do a warm water rinse on the cloth. This will prevent the scorch marks from settling into the fabric.
The warm water will also help the cloth to absorb the laundry detergent that you’ll need to apply later.
An optional step after this is to soak the cloth in an oxygen-based bleach for some minutes. This can further help to lighten the scorch marks and make them easier to remove during the washing process. Please check your garment label for care instructions to know if you can or should avoid bleaching it.
How to make oxygen-based bleach at home
Here is how to make an oxygen-based bleach at home:
- Add 1 cup of baking soda to 2 cups of water.
- Shake vigorously. Some of the baking soda may not dissolve.
- Add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and shake to mix thoroughly.
- Allow the bubbles formed by the components to settle before use.
Wash the cloth
Whether or not you apply bleach, rub some laundry detergent onto the ironing stain spot and place the cloth in the washing machine.
Give it a normal wash with the appropriate setting indicated on the care label of the cloth. You don’t want to worsen the case. So, ensure you use the right setting.
Sun-dry
Once the washing is done, place the cloth on a clothesline to dry.
The rays of the sun can also help to lighten the scorch stains. So, place that part directly where the sun rays can hit it.
Typically, if your iron has scorched clothes several times, the iron’s bottom takes on a brown color that may stan other clothes.
Video: Remove Scorch Marks From Clothes
Check out this tutorial video for an actual demonstration of how you can remove iron marks.
Some Quick Home Remedies on How to Remove Iron Stain
Chances are that you were headed out somewhere and just wanted to iron your cloth quickly to remove the wrinkles on it before the mishap.
Well, if you must absolutely wear that particular dress and there is no time to launder, you can try some quick fixes at home to remove the scorch marks.
What home remedies can be used to remove iron stains?
You can remove iron stains from your clothes at home using the following:
- Lemon or lime rub.
- Hydrogen peroxide.
- Hot water treatment.
- Vinegar rinse.
1. Lemon or Lime Rub
How can you remove ironing stains from clothes using lemon or lime rub?
Get a large-sized lemon or 2 – 3 limes. Use a rolling pin or a piece of wood to hit the fruit. This will help to soften the fruit in order to make the juice extraction easier. Cut them into two equal parts and squeeze into a bowl. Mix the juice with equal parts of water to reduce the acidic concentration. This is important if you are scared that lemon or lime will ruin your colored or delicate fabrics.
On the other hand, you can cut the lemon or lime and rub it on the stained part of your cloth. You can also enhance the stain fading by placing the fabric under direct sunlight for some time.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! — quite literally.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide
How can you remove ironing stains from clothes using hydrogen peroxide?
To remove iron stain from your clothes using hydrogen peroxide, do any of the following:
Method 1:
1. Place some drops of hydrogen peroxide on a clean piece of old cloth, preferably white, and place it over the scorch stained cloth.
2. Place a dry cloth over this hydrogen peroxide-soaked cloth and iron all the 3 layers together. Use a steam iron set to medium heat for this.
3. Repeat this dampening and ironing process until the stains have faded.
Method 2:
1. Use an eyedropper or a cotton swab to apply the hydrogen peroxide on the scorch stained cloth.
2. Apply 1 to 2 drops of ammonia. Leave for some minutes and rinse with water.
Do not let the hydrogen peroxide and ammonia dry on the cloth. Rather, rinse them off with water. Be careful with using hydrogen peroxide, as it can also fade your fabric colors.
Also, never mix ammonia and hydrogen peroxide together in a bowl in a bid to hasten the process. The mixture produces fumes that are dangerous in high quantities.
3. Hot Water Treatment
How can you remove ironing stains on your clothes using the hot water treatment?
To remove ironing stains from your clothes using hot water, put the cloth in hot water and leave for 20 minutes. This can help to loosen the marks so that they are easy to remove from the cloth.
You can try this method if you have up to an hour to spare.
4. Vinegar Rinse
How can you remove ironing stains from your clothes using vinegar rinse?
You can remove ironing stains from your clothes using vinegar by doing any of the following:
Method 1:
Soak a clean towel in white vinegar and dab on the stained cloth. Dampen another clean towel with water and use it to clean the stained spot. Repeat the water and vinegar process until the stains disappear.
Method 2:
Add a cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of detergent to half a bucket of water. Soak the stained cloth for 15 minutes. Wash and rinse thoroughly to remove the vinegar smell.
You can opt for white vinegar as opposed to normal vinegar to avoid the unpleasant vinegar smell.
If you’re running late and the scorch mark is not too heavy, just dab the white vinegar onto the stain instead of a full rinse and wipe with a clean piece of cloth.
Whichever remedy or method you try, always ensure that it is appropriate for your fabric to avoid damaging the fabric any further. To be sure, do a spot check first, especially if the stain is in an open area.
If none of these methods work to remove iron stain from your cloth, you can convert the cloth to a stay-at-home garment or find some creative way to cover up the areas with the scorch marks.
What are the ways to cover up scorch marks on clothes?
You can cover up scorch marks on cloths by doing the following:
- Use a fabric bonding web to hold a fabric over the scorch marks and use a hot iron to seal the bond.
- Make an embroidery over the scorch marks. You can seek the help of a professional if you are not an expert in this.
- Place a badge over the scorch mark and sew them together. This is most suitable for casual clothes.
Video: How To Clean Iron Bottom
Learn how to clean the bottom of your iron with ease in the video below.
Quick Recap
Scorch stains disfigure clothes but you can work around them, provided the damage was not too much and you act immediately.
Remove the iron and rinse the cloth with warm water to remove the scorch particles and prepare it for further treatment. If recommended for your fabric, you can apply some bleach. Wash the cloth with laundry detergent and sun-dry to fade the scorch marks.
Home remedies like a vinegar dab or rinse, lemon juice rub or hydrogen peroxide and ammonia dab can also provide a quick fix to the problem.
Irrespective of the method you choose, be sure to apply caution duly to prevent further damage to your cloth.
Meanwhile, if you are in the mood for a good cost-effective challenge, then you may want to check out our post on how to make starch for ironing.
How to Remove Ironing Stains from Clothes — Related FAQs
How do you get burn marks out of clothes?
To remove burn marks from a cloth, soak the cloth with a mild detergent as soon as you notice the marks. Leave it overnight and wash the stained parts thoroughly.
If the fabric color is white, place some drops of hydrogen peroxide on the burn marks. Allow it to stay for some minutes before you soak and wash the clothes. Do not use hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes as it can discolor them.
It is worthy to note that burn marks may not be removed from some fabrics. Fabrics like wool can get permanently damaged when burnt therefore, they cannot be restored by washing or using hydrogen peroxide. Also, if the burn marks are old and severe, they may not be removed by the methods mentioned above.
How do you get iron marks out of clothes?
You can get rid of iron marks from clothes by doing any of the following:
1. While the cloth is still warm, wash it with detergent and apply extra pressure on the stained area. Rinse with plenty of water and leave to dry.
2. As soon as you discover the stain, pour lemon juice over the stain and soak the fabric in hot water. Wash after 30 minutes. Add a few drops of vinegar in the water you will use to rinse the fabric. After that, rinse the fabric and hang in the sun to dry.
3. You can remove the iron stains from a white fabric using hydrogen peroxide. Pour 3 drops of hydrogen peroxide on the stain and place an ironing cloth over it. Using a steam iron, iron the spot until the liquid evaporates.
How do you prevent iron scorch marks?
You can prevent iron scorch marks on your clothes by doing the following:
1. Sort your clothes while ironing so that you can set your iron according to their fabric type.
2. Start ironing clothes that require a lower temperature setting first. This way, when you move to the next category of fabrics, the temperature of the iron will not be too hot for them.
3. Iron your clothes inside out. If there are stains on the iron, they will be transferred to the insides of your clothes and cause minimal damage.
4. Always use ironing or pressing cloth when ironing your clothes. They are used to cover the clothes being ironed and it prevents the clothes from being stained, scorched, or burnt in the process.
5. Clean your iron as often as possible. Also, clean it immediately you discover that it has some stains on it.
Why does my iron spit out brown stuff?
Your iron is spitting out brown stuff because of any of the following:
1. You have poured hard water or water that contains some particles into the steam iron. This can cause some minerals to build-up in your steam iron. The accumulation of minerals like iron can cause brown liquids to come out of your iron.
2. Some inner parts of the iron that come in contact with the water in your iron are beginning to get rusty. You can consider removing the water from the steam iron and use it as a dry iron. You can take it to a qualified technician for maintenance and/or repair.
You can wash the reservoir of your steam iron to get rid of the residue. Start by removing the water in the reservoir. Prepare a mixture of one-part vinegar and three-part water. Pour the mixture into the reservoir and spray it out. Then rinse with clean water and pour it all out. Allow the iron to dry before the next use.
How do I get rid of the brown stuff on my iron?
You can get rid of the brown stuff on your iron by doing the following:
1. Turn your iron to its highest temperature setting. Rub an old newspaper over the sole of the iron until the stains are removed.
2. If there are some stains left, allow the iron to cool down. Then clean the iron sole with baking soda mixed with water or a cloth soaked in vinegar. Wipe clean with a wet towel before allowing it to dry.
You can reduce the frequent buildup of brown residue on the sole of your iron by using the correct temperature setting for a fabric. It is a good idea to start ironing a garment with a lower temperature and gradually increase it, than to start with a higher temperature, then reduce it.
How do you get shiny iron marks out of clothes?
To get the shiny iron marks out of your clothes, do any of the following:
1. Soak the fabric in cold water overnight. Rinse and dry under low heat or under the sun.
2. Steam the shiny parts of your cloth for 2-3 minutes. If the shine is still present, repeat, and spread it to dry.
The shiny iron marks found on your clothes occurred because the temperature of the iron was too hot for the fabric type. The shine is a sign of melted or flattened fibers.
The shiny iron marks can be removed if the fibers were flattened and not melted. Cotton fibers are heat-resistant and are usually flattened by high-temperature ironing. Polyesters, on the other hand, usually get melted under high temperatures.