Plop.

That’s the sound of BBQ sauce landing on your brand new blazer as you’re chowing down on some mouthwatering ribs. You need to wear that blazer to a business meeting at the end of the week. What to do?

The first step of removing barbecue sauce is gathering the materials. Your materials consist of:

- Spoon

- Sponge (optional)

- Butter knife (optional)

- Liquid laundry detergent

-Hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar

Step 1:

Remove the excess sauce by using a spoon, or the back of a butter knife, gently scoop up the barbecue sauce from the fabric. The sauce that has soaked into the fabric will not be able to remove, but any that is pooled on the outside can be removed. This will keep the stain from spreading or affecting other parts of the clothing.

Step 2:

After removing the excess sauce, flush with cold water by running cold water through the back of the stain as quickly as possible. This will force the stain back out through the fabric the way it came. Be sure to use cold water. Hot water can set this stain and make it much more difficult, if not impossible, to remove. Keep the running water on it for several minutes, or even longer if it seems to be helping and making a difference in fading or removing the stain.

Step 3:

When the running water is fading the stain, apply the liquid detergent. Rub the liquid detergent into the stained portion of the fabric. By working it in gently with your fingers. Make sure both sides are soaked through. Liquid detergent is excellent at removing the greasy parts of the barbecue sauce that cling to the fibers of the clothing. Let the detergent sit for up to 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing in lukewarm water.

Step 4:

When the detergent has sat for 10 minutes, apply mild bleach known as hydrogen peroxide. If the garment is white apply hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar, using a sponge. If the clothing has a color or a pattern, be sure to test the cleaner in the hidden area of the clothing. Even mild bleaching agents can remove the color of clothing, so skip if concerned the bleach might damage the clothing. Rinse the clothing thoroughly.

Step 5:

After the mild bleach has sat for 10 minutes and the clothing is rinsed, the next step is to wash and air-dry the clothing. Wash the clothing with your favorite laundry detergent and the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. Before drying, check to make sure the stain is fully removed. But just to be safe, line-dry the garment and check again for the stain after the clothing is dry. Do not put the clothing in the dryer unless the stain is completely gone.

Step 6: Additional Information

If the barbecue sauce stain remains after washing, try rubbing liquid laundry detergent or dish soap into the stain and soak in warm water for 30 minutes. Rinse the clothing well, then wash it again as usual. Air-dry it and confirm the stain is gone before putting in the dryer.