A person wearing a white shirt stained with BBQ Sauce

How to Remove BBQ Sauce Stains

What’s your favorite: Ribs, steak or pulled pork? If you’re not careful, your t-shirt will reveal the answer.

But Tide will be your favorite when it comes to getting rid of stubborn BBQ sauce stains. Try these tips on how to remove barbecue sauce stains and enjoy that slow cooker pulled pork, BBQ ribs, or juicy steak worry-free.

Before You Begin

Besides a garden party essential, BBQ sauce is also among the most stubborn food stains to remove, due in large part to its greasy nature.

The most important thing to remember when dealing with a delicious barbecue sauce stain is to not let it set – otherwise, there’s a pretty big chance that you’ll have to soak your stained item in cold water with some color-safe bleach added in before you could move on with the rest of the stain removal steps.

To make sure you get every last particle of barbecue sauce off your garments, carpet, and upholstery, you will need to:

act fast
have a dull knife or a spoon at hand
use a high-quality laundry detergent.

Below, we’ll tell you how to remove barbecue sauce stains from your washable and non-washable fabrics, your carpet, and your upholstery, in a few easy-to-remember steps.

How to Get BBQ Sauce Stains Out of Washable Clothes

Whether it’s a white shirt or a colored dress you want to get BBQ sauce stain out of, you can follow the same tried-and-true steps: You start by removing excess BBQ sauce from your garments, pre-treat the stain with some liquid laundry detergent, add the detergent and the clothes to your washing machine, press start, and at the end of the cycle, unload your garments.

Now, let’s unpack the complete stain removal process in five simple steps so that you can say goodbye to barbecue sauce stains in just one wash:

Step 1

Remove Excess BBQ Sauce Stains.

Blot the fresh stain with a paper towel. On dried barbecue sauce stains, scrape with a fork, a dull knife, or a spoon. Turn the piece of garment inside out and rinse with cold water.

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How to Remove Set-in BBQ Sauce Stains

The best way to get old barbecue sauce stains out of your clothes is to first remove any excess you find on the garment, then soak the stain in cold water. Next, pour some Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid and evenly spread it on the stain. After letting it sit for 10 minutes, rinse the treated area thoroughly with warm water, and then wash your garment as you normally would.

How to Remove BBQ Stains from Carpet and Upholstery

Picture this: You’re inside your living room. Your favorite team just scored their winning goal. Naturally, you’re jumping with excitement. As a matter of fact, you’re so excited that you didn’t even notice your BBQ ribs falling from the plate on your lap down onto your couch, before bouncing off onto your carpet. Don’t let a little accident like that ruin your day. Instead, follow our step-by-step stain removal guide and soon you’ll be left with nothing else than a spotless carpet and impeccably clean upholstery.

Step 1. Lift away excess. Use a dull knife or a spoon to remove excess BBQ sauce from the fabric. If the stain has already dried, add a dollop of fresh BBQ sauce onto the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, thus speeding up the stain removal.
Step 2. Prepare a solution. Mix 1 tablespoon of Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid in 2 cups of warm water. Using a clean white cloth, blot the stain with the solution, and let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 3. Blot away moisture. Grab a paper towel and soak up any excess moisture on the stained area. If the stain is still visible, dip another clean white cloth into the detergent solution and continue blotting the stain until it is completely gone, taking care not to spread it further.
Step 4. Rinse. Using a clean cloth and a bit of water, absorb and blot away any remaining detergent suds from the treated area.
Step 5. Dry. Allow your carpet or upholstery to air dry, then bust out your vacuum cleaner and collect any stray fibers.

Removing BBQ Stains with Vinegar

One of the most popular DIY methods when it comes to BBQ stain removal concerns the use of white vinegar in the process.

First, mix one part white vinegar with two parts water and apply the solution on the stain with a spray bottle or a clean cloth. Next, let the mixture sit on the stain for 10 minutes, then blot with a damp towel. Finally, place the garment inside your washing machine, and run it through your usual cycle, on the hottest wash temperature indicated on the clothing’s fabric care label.

Although vinegar is a less powerful and reliable stain remover than detergent, its unique chemical properties and cheap price make it a common choice against persistent BBQ stains.

Will Tide to Go Remove BBQ Sauce Stains?

Tide to Go is an instant stain remover developed specifically to help remove fresh food and drink stains on the spot, and as such, is perfectly capable of dealing with a bit of BBQ sauce before it sets in. Thanks to its powerful cleaning solution, this easy-to-handle stain removing pen allow you to handle even the toughest unexpected stains, from coffee and wine to chocolate syrup and more.

Here’s how it works:

Wet a clean cloth with cold water and blot the stain.
Press the tip of the Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover onto the BBQ sauce stain several times to release some of the stain remover solution.
Rub the tip gently across the stain to remove it. If necessary, add more liquid and continue to rub gently.

Important: If the treated area is exposed to direct sunlight, then wipe with a damp cloth or a napkin to remove excess solution.

Effective Stain Removal for a Variety of Stains

The kitchen is a hot spot for acquiring stains and getting messy. Whether you’re dealing with BBQ stains or other saucy stains like mustard, ketchup, gravy or mayonnaise, Tide can help you clean up your chef’s outfit.

To remove BBQ stains, or any other cooking stain, Tide can make your favorites clean and pristine again. Use Tide to help with tough stain removal, and although it can’t make you a pro in the kitchen, Tide can get your clothes looking and smelling their best.

Products to treat BBQ sauce stains