Ask Dr. Pete: How to Remove Balsamic Vinegar Stains

What’s the best way to get rid of balsamic vinegar stains?

Balsamic vinegar is made from grape juice. Through a fermentation process with alcohol and oxygen, acetic acid is produced with natural flavorants and pigments as byproducts in water.

Acetic acid as a stain is water soluble and relatively easy to remove with regular detergents and water. But the natural flavorants and pigments are colored organic ingredients with very complex structures. They may react with oxygen in the air and with the fabric materials upon aging or at elevated temperatures.

In dealing with an accident with balsamic vinegar stains, one should quickly remove the bulk liquid from the fabric surface with a paper or cloth towel, then use cold water and detergents available (hand soap, dish soap, or laundry detergents) to hand wash and rinse off the stain as soon and as much as possible.

For aged and/or dried balsamic vinegar stains, use our Bio Laundry Detergent or a stain remover with enzymes to pre-treat the stain, and then use the same detergent for the machine wash. Set the washing machine for a cold water wash and rinse cycle. Adding an oxygen bleach alternative may also help remove the colored organic flavorants and pigments.