Yogurt is a surprisingly tough stain to remove, and a lot of us attempt to get rid of it the wrong way, unintentionally making the stain worse or setting it permanently.  It’s important to remember that a yogurt stain is protein-based, and protein stains require a very specific course of action in order to be fully removed from clothing without leaving behind so much as a mark.  If you’ve had the misfortune of getting a glob of yogurt on your favorite garment, you’ve come to the right place, because we’re here to help.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Yogurt Stains

Any protein-based stain requires a very specific treatment method that may go against your instincts, since these types of stains are quite different from other common ones like coffee, oil and grass.  Luckily, yogurt stains can be completely dealt with as long as you stick to the steps below.

1. As is the case with any stain, you want to remove the garment and address the stain as soon as you notice it. If the yogurt has already dried, you’ll want to use a blunt knife to scrape off the dried part.  If the yogurt is still wet, take a cloth or paper towel and dab away the excess yogurt on the surface.
2. Now, apply some Grab Green Liquid Dish Soap directly to the stain, gently working it in to the fibers of the clothing.
3. Soak the stained garment in cold water for about 30 minutes. Cold water is critical as warm or hot water will set the proteins into the material, usually permanently.  Cold water will help break up the yogurt and open up the fibers so that the stain lifts away more easily.
4. Rinse the garment under cold water to remove the dish soap. If the stain remains, you can make a paste out of baking soda and some water, and then spread it onto the stain.  Repeat these steps repeatedly until the stain is gone.
5. Now, it’s time to launder the garment. Wash it as you normally would, based on its care instructions, and also use an enzyme-based laundry detergent like Grab Green’s 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Pods or 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Powder.  Essentially, an enzyme-based detergent can further lift any proteins out of the material to get rid of any trace of yogurt. 
6. From there, you can dry the clothing item as you normally would, assuming that the stain is now completely gone.

Yogurt Stains Don’t Mean Your Clothing is Ruined

Yogurt stains are pesky, because of the proteins in yogurt which can bind to the fibers in your clothing.  But, luckily, following these steps above, and making sure to avoid hot or warm water during the pre-treatment stage, almost guarantees that the stain is gone.  While you want to deal with the stain as soon as possible after it happens, this method can work on dried yogurt stains as well, even if some discoloration has taken place.  And, as you can see, the process relies on products that you already have lying around your home.