Mashed Potato Stain Removal Guide

Mashed potato stain removal is something you'll need to become familiar with if you have kids, because kids love mashed potatoes, but they seem to get them everywhere.

Of course, some of your adult friends and family may also have the occasional mashed potato accident, necessitating you knowing these tips too.

Below are step by step instructions for how to remove mashed potato stains from clothing, upholstery and fabric.

However, please note that generally it is not the potato itself which causes the stain, but the ingredients within the mashed potatoes, such as the butter and cream, which cause these stains. You can click those links to get specific instructions about removing those ingredients.

Also, if you have a stain while eating mashed potatoes and gravy, check out this article on how to remove gravy stains here.

Finally, the instructions below are for how to remove common potato stains, from white potatoes. If you've got an orange colored stain from sweet potatoes, check out the instructions for this type of stain removal instead.

Mashed Potato Stain Removal From Clothing

Step 1: Scrape off any excess mashed potatoes from the fabric.

Step 2: Run the fabric, inside out, under the cold water to flush out as much of the mashed potatoes as possible.

Step 3: Rub a small amount of hand dishwashing soap into the fabric.

Step 4: Rinse the stained area well, flushing away the dishwashing liquid solution and grease from the mashed potatoes.

Step 5: Pretreat the stain with liquid enzyme laundry detergent, soaking for 30 minutes in cold water, or in the alternative pretreat with an enzyme pretreater. Do not use hot water. (If the stain is older, you may need to soak even longer, perhaps even overnight).

Step 6: Launder in the hottest water allowed for the fabric to thoroughly remove the stain and the butter and cream from the mashed potatoes.

Hint: Make sure the stain is gone after washing, but before you place in the dryer or you may set the stain. Repeat if necessary.

How To Remove Mashed Potato Stains From Upholstery

Step 1: Scrape off any excess mashed potatoes from the upholstery, being careful not to spread the stain or grind it into the upholstery.

Step 2: Place an absorbent, such as cornstarch or baking soda, onto the stain, and let it soak in for approximately 15 minutes. This will help absorb the oily portion of the stain caused by the butter in the mashed potatoes.

Hint: You do not need to do steps 2-3 of this mashed potato stain removal process unless the stain is very greasy once you scrape away as much of the mashed potatoes as possible. If not needed, just skip to step 4 below.

Step 3: Scrape or vacuum up the absorbent, which has absorbed some of the butter and grease from the mashed potatoes.

Hint: Depending on the amount of the butter or grease within the stain you may need to repeat this step a couple of times until no more grease and oil is absorbed by the baking soda or cornstarch.

Step 4: Mix a solution of two cups cool water and one tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Step 5: Using this solution, sponge the stain from the mashed potatoes with a clean white cloth.

Step 6: Next, blot at the stain until the liquid is absorbed.

Step 7: Repeat steps 5-6 until the stain from the mashed potatoes is removed from the upholstery.

Step 8: Now that the stain is removed you should get plain cold water and a new white cloth and sponge the area to remove the cleaning solution, and then blot dry.

Hint: Be sure to get the upholstery only as wet as necessary to remove the stain from the mashed potatoes.

In the alternative you may try to remove the stain with a dry cleaning solvent.

You can get more information on how to clean upholstery here.

Removing Mashed Potato Stains From Carpet

The instructions for mashed potato stain removal from carpet is the same as for upholstery.

However, if you don't have luck with this stain removal method you can also do something additional with the carpet stain, which is to mix a solution of one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups warm water to use as a stain removal solution.

Get Even More Stain And Spot Removal Help Here

Are you a stain magnet like me? If so, check out the A to Z Stain Removal Guide which gives directions for how to remove over 100 types of stains from all kinds of surfaces.

Third photo by arnold inuyaki and fourth by DinnerSeries

Related Pages You May Enjoy

A-Z Guide: Instructions For Removing Over 100 Types Of Stains

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CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains and messes just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some cleaning methods can harm your item, so if what you want to clean or launder is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.