First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape or blot off the excess; don't rub.
- Rinse with cold water from the back of the stain.
- Don't use bar soap on fruit stains; it sets them.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.
Smoothies and protein shakes leave a stain that is really two stains in one: fruit and juice leave tannin marks, while dairy and protein leave a fat-and-protein film. Fruit spills that dry out can oxidize to yellow or brown, so the sooner you treat it, the better. Heat can set the tannin part, so hold off on hot water until the stain is gone.
If the bottle still smells of protein shake, the film inside is the usual cause, so wash it out before you reuse it. Pretreat a smoothie stain on clothes with an enzyme laundry pretreater or a prewash stain remover, then wash as usual. Check the shirt in good light before it goes in the dryer, since any leftover mark will stay put.
5 items
What you'll need
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- Liquid laundry detergentFor the pretreat and the soak when you don't have an enzyme product. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme productFor the soak that treats protein and fruit residue; a detergent with enzymes on the label also works. (opens Amazon)
- Bleach safe for the fabricOnly if fruit color is still there after washing. (opens Amazon)
- Clean spoon or clothTo scrape off the excess and blot without rubbing.
- Chlorine bleach (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
How to get smoothies out of clothes
Step 1 of 6
Scrape off the excess and rinse cold
Scrape or blot off whatever you can with a spoon or clean cloth, and don't rub it in. Then run cold water through the back of the stain so it pushes the color out instead of deeper into the fibers. Keep rinsing from the back until the water runs clear.
Tip. Lay the item on a folded towel so the water has somewhere to go.
Careful. Hot water can set dairy and protein stains, so start with cold.
Step 2 of 630 minutes
Soak in an enzyme product
Pretreat the stain with an enzyme product, or soak the item in it for at least 30 minutes. An older stain needs several hours, so give it the full time before you move on. Work the product into the stain with your fingers so it reaches the fibers underneath.
Tip. A laundry detergent that lists enzymes on the label works for this step too.
Step 3 of 6
Pretreat with liquid detergent
If you don't have an enzyme product, work liquid detergent into the stain and let it sit for 5 minutes. For a whole garment or stains in several spots, soak it for an hour in water with liquid detergent mixed in.
Tip. Work the detergent in from the back side of the stain.
Step 4 of 6
Launder in the warmest safe water
Wash the item in the warmest water the fabric can take, using regular detergent. Once the pretreat is done, warmer water helps lift the rest of the color.
Tip. If the care label is missing or unclear, use cold water and skip the bleach in the next step.
Step 5 of 6
Use fabric-safe bleach if color remains
If fruit color is still there after washing, wash again with a bleach that is safe for the fabric. On white cotton or linen, chlorine bleach is an option; use it alone, and rinse it out fully before the item goes anywhere else.
Careful. No chlorine bleach on wool, silk or spandex.
Step 6 of 6
Check the item before drying
Look at the spot in good light, on both sides, before anything goes near the dryer. If any stain or yellow-brown tint remains, go back and repeat the soak and wash before drying.
Tip. Compare the spot to the rest of the fabric, since a faint tint is easy to miss.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for smoothies
Use a prewash stain remover spray or stick for both the pretreat and the soak, following the label directions. Keep a fabric-safe bleach on hand only for stains that keep their color after washing.
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on this fabric, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A stain that's lifting gets lighter with each rinse and soak, and the water runs clearer. If it looks the same after a full wash, it needs the set-in steps rather than a harsher first treatment.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your fabric
Whites and white shirts
White cotton and linen can take chlorine bleach, so they're the one fabric where the bleach step is an option. Pretreat and wash as usual, and only reach for the bleach if fruit color is still there.
A white shirt that has yellowed after drying needs the set-in steps, not a stronger first wash. Rinse out all bleach completely before the item goes in the dryer.
Colors and denim
Colored fabric and denim can take the cold rinse, the enzyme soak and a regular wash, but the bleach step is only safe if the dye is known to be colorfast. Test a hidden seam with a drop of bleach before you use it, and skip it if the color changes.
Turn the item inside out before washing so the face of the fabric gets less friction. Use the warmest water the care label allows for the wash, but only after the cold pretreat is finished.
Silk, wool and delicates
Silk, wool and mohair can't take the enzyme soak, chlorine bleach or hot water, and rubbing damages them. Skip the enzyme and bleach steps entirely, and use only cold water with a gentle blot. Don't wring the item out.
Wool in particular can felt and shrink in a washing machine, so after the first cold rinse, take it to a cleaner. Keep it flat while it dries, away from direct heat.
Dry-clean-only items
Dry-clean-only fabric shouldn't go through a home washing routine, so skip the water-based steps. Blot the stain with a clean dry cloth, then take the item to a dry cleaner and tell them what the stain is.
Don't use oxygen-based products on it either, because they aren't safe on dry-clean-only fabrics. Stains left to dry are harder for anyone to lift, so take it in soon.
Smoothies and fruit drinks
Smoothies are mostly fruit and often juice, and fruit stains are set by natural bar soap and heat. The cold rinse and the enzyme soak still come first, and the rest of the steps stay the same.
A smoothie that has dried for a day or more can oxidize to yellow or brown, so don't wait to start. Once it has dried, use the set-in options further down.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old shake stain needs more than a regular soak, so give it several hours in an enzyme product before you wash. Protein that has sat for a while can keep a sour smell even after the color starts to lift, so the long soak is what deals with the smell.
If the stain dried on the fabric, soak it for 1 or 2 days in an enzyme product, stirring now and then. Wash it again afterward and let it air dry, and check the smell as well as the color before you move on.
A stain that has already been through the dryer has usually set, so the set-in steps are the last option. On white cotton or linen, soak it 5 minutes in 1/4 cup bleach per gallon of cold water, then wash it hot with 1/3 cup bleach. Never use this on wool, silk or spandex, and if a faint mark is still there after all that, accept it rather than repeating harsher treatments.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on smoothies?
Plenty of home remedies float around for stains like this one. An enzyme soak and detergent do the job better than kitchen staples. Each one is a weaker choice than an enzyme soak for a protein and fruit stain.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put it in the dryer yet
Heat sets the stain and can make it impossible to remove, so keep the item out of the dryer and away from an iron until it's clean. Check it in good light first, and only then decide whether it can go in.
Don't rub the stain or use bar soap
Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the weave, and bar soap sets fruit and protein stains. Blot with a cloth and use liquid detergent or an enzyme product instead.
Don't use bleach at full strength
Undiluted bleach can weaken the fabric so it tears or wears out sooner. Dilute it first, and don't over-soak or go past the recommended amount, since misuse can leave yellow stains that won't come out.
Don't mix bleach with other cleaners
Chlorine bleach must never be mixed with ammonia, vinegar or other acids, or with any other cleaner. Rinse thoroughly between products so nothing is left in the fabric when the next one goes in.
When to call a professional
Take silk, wool and dry-clean-only items to a professional cleaner, especially if the stain has already been through the dryer. Tell them it's a fruit and protein stain, and say you've already rinsed it cold.
Questions
How should I clean a protein shake bottle?
Rinse the bottle with cold water right after each use, and don't leave shake sitting in it. Take the lid and any seal apart, and let everything air dry fully open so no moisture stays trapped. If the smell is still there, the bottle needs a thorough wash rather than a fabric method.
Does protein shake stain clothes?
Yes. Shakes made with milk, yogurt or fruit can leave a clear stain, especially on light fabric. Fresh stains are the easiest to remove, so start with a cold rinse as soon as you can.
Will the smell leave clothes after a wash?
The smell comes from the same residue as the stain, so the cold rinse, enzyme soak and regular wash remove both. Check the item before drying, and if it still smells sour, soak it again in an enzyme product before you wash.
What about a shake spill in a car?
The clothing treatment doesn't carry over directly to a car's interior. If the shake soaked into a fabric seat cover or mat, take it out and treat it like a fabric stain, starting with a cold rinse and checking the care label first. For spilled shake on carpeted floors, see our Carpet & Rugs guide.
Will a shake stain come out after it's been through the dryer?
It can still come out, but it's harder, because heat has already set the protein and fruit into the fibers. Use the set-in steps further down, starting with the longest enzyme soak you can give it.
How long should I soak a protein shake stain?
Soak a fresh stain in an enzyme product for at least 30 minutes. Older stains need several hours, and a stain that has dried can take 1 or 2 days, stirred now and then.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.