For kimchi stain on white cotton: Before it dries, flush cold water through the back of the fabric. Follow the steps below and most of these come out without a trip to the cleaner.
Kimchi liquid is two stains at once: carotenoid pigment and oil. Water alone leaves the colour, detergent alone leaves the grease. Order matters โ break the oil with dishwashing liquid first, then treat the pigment. The pigment also fades in sunlight, so a faint remaining mark often disappears while the garment dries outside.
Method by fabric
White cotton
What you need
- Dishwashing liquid
- Oxygen bleach
- Lukewarm water
Steps
- 1Flush cold water through the back of the stain to push the liquid out.
- 2Add a drop of dishwashing liquid and press it in gently to lift the oil.
- 3Soak for thirty minutes in lukewarm water with oxygen bleach dissolved in it.
- 4Wash as usual, then check โ repeat before the fabric dries if any colour remains.
- 5Only dry it once the stain is gone; drying in sunlight fades any faint remainder.
Caution
Use oxygen bleach rather than chlorine โ chlorine weakens fibres and can yellow white cotton.
Never do this
- Rinsing with hot water first โ heat sets the pigment
- Rubbing the stain โ it spreads the mark outward
- Tumble drying before it is gone โ heat locks it in permanently