Don't panic when a piece of blueberry pie splashes your new white pants or cream colored sofa. To keep the blueberries off your fabrics, try a few of these strategies backed by the editors at Good Housekeeping. Blueberry stains are difficult to remove from fabrics and tend to set almost instantly. When blueberries stain clothing, upholstery or carpet act fast and keep a few basic products on hand.
Fabric and Clothing
Concoct a special cool water and vinegar solution to defend your favorite outfit from blueberry offenders. Skip reaching for commercial fabric spot removers, and use a homemade blueberry stain remover which should quickly lift the stain.
Flush the stain with cool water as soon as possible. Mix 1 tbsp. of white vinegar with #xBD; tsp. liquid laundry detergent and 1 qt. of cool water. Soak the stain in the solution for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Inspect clothing to see if any trace of the stain remains. If the stain isn't gone, dip a sponge in rubbing alcohol, blot and gently rub the stain until it lightens. Rinse the item thoroughly, then launder using chlorine bleach if it's safe for the fabric.
Upholstery
Remove unsightly blueberry stains from your upholstered furniture using a vinegar and alcohol solution. Test the solution on an inconspicuous place before applying it to the stain to ensure that it won't affect the original fabric color.
Combine 1 tbsp. of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol. Soak a clean white cloth with the solution, and blot the stain. Continue to blot until the stain is removed. Blot the area with a clean white towel to absorb the leftover solution. Sponge the area with water to remove additional solution. Blot dry with the towel.
Carpet
Don't move a piece of furniture over a blueberry stain on the carpet; erase it. Good Housekeeping has a few approaches to getting rid of menacing stains. Begin your attack by mixing 1 tbsp. of liquid hand dishwashing liquid with 2 cups of warm water. Pour the solution on a clean white cloth, and blot the stain until it lightens. Dry with a clean white cloth and repeat until the stain is completely gone.
If that doesn't do the trick, mix 1 tbsp. of ammonia with 2 cups of cold water. Pour the solution on a clean white cloth, and rub and blot the stain. Continue to blot until the stain disappears, then dry with a clean white cloth. Good Housekeeping notes that you should never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach because it produces toxic fumes.
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