How to Remove Pizza Sauce Stains from Clothes

Did you just spill pizza on your shirt? Well, you need to act fast!.

Pizza sauce is oily, colorful, and clingy, making it one of the toughest stains to deal with, especially on light-colored clothes. And if you’ve already washed and dried it, that stain might feel permanent.

But don’t worry, we’ve got the exact steps to help you get that pizza sauce stain out, even if it’s set in.

This guide will walk you through what to do the moment the stain happens, and what to do if it’s already dried in. With the right steps (and a bit of patience), you can get your clothes back to clean.

First Things First: Act Fast If You Just Got the Stain!

Here’s what to do immediately after you drop pizza sauce on your clothes:

1. Scrape off any excess sauce and cheese. Use a spoon or knife to gently remove it, don’t smear or scrub,
2. Run cold water over the back of the fabric. This pushes the sauce out the same way it came in.
3. Blot the stained area with a clean towel. Don’t scrub, just press gently to lift the stain.
4. If you can, dab a bit of dish soap onto the stain to start breaking down the oils.

That quick response can make a huge difference. If you’re not home, blot with a napkin and treat it fully when you get access to a sink.

Step 1: Remove Excess Sauce

Once you’re ready to treat the stain, make sure all visible bits of sauce and cheese are gone. Gently scrape them off with a spoon or dull knife and don’t rub it into the fabric. Rubbing can drive the stain deeper into the fibers and spread the mess.

Step 2: Pre-Treat with Vinegar and Dish Soap Mixture

First, mix (1:1) warm water and white vinegar, and add a few drops of dish soap.

• Apply the mixture directly onto the stain.
• Let it sit for about 15–30 minutes.
• Then, gently blot with a clean cloth or sponge.
• After that, put it in the washer and see if the stains are gone. If not, continue with step 3.

Step 3: Use a Stain Remover with Amylase (For Stubborn Stains)

Still seeing the stains? Now’s the time to use a stain remover that contains amylase. Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates and proteins, which are common in tomato sauces and cheese.

You can get this enzyme stain remover at Walmart or your local store.

How to remove the tomato sauce stains with Amylase Stain Remover:

• Apply the stain remover generously.
• Let it soak for a few hours.
• Then wash the item in cold or warm water (as recommended by the care label).
• If the stain is still visible, continue with step 4.

Step 4: Last Resort (Oxygen Bleach Soak)

If the stain is still visible, oxygen bleach is your next step. Unlike chlorine bleach, it’s color-safe and gentler on fabrics.

• Mix the oxygen bleach powder with water as directed.
• Soak the garment overnight in the solution.
• Then wash as usual the next day.

Oxygen bleach is great for breaking down set-in tomato stains without damaging colors. This is especially helpful if you’ve already washed and dried the garment once.

Step 5: Last Resort – Hydrogen Peroxide + Air Dry

Still got a shadow of the stain? For white or light-colored fabrics, hydrogen peroxide is the FINAL step.

• Spray or dab 3% hydrogen peroxide onto the stained area.
• Leave it to air dry in natural light; no need to rinse right away.

This can help lift the remaining stain gently without the harshness of bleach. Just be sure to spot-test first on dark or delicate fabrics.

Important: Don’t Use the Dryer Until the Stain Is Completely Gone

We can’t say this enough: Do not toss stained clothes into the dryer. The heat will set the stain into the fabric, making it nearly impossible to remove.

Always air dry the garment after treatment until you’re 100% sure the stain is gone. If it’s still there after drying, go back and repeat the steps.

Recap: Full Pizza Sauce Stain Removal Process

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to do—from the moment the stain happens to the final clean.

If the stain is fresh:

• Scrape off excess sauce and cheese.
• Rinse the fabric from the back under cold water.
• Blot with a clean towel—no rubbing!
• Add dish soap if you have it.

Full stain removal method:

1. Remove any leftover residue.
2. Pre-treat with 1:1 warm water and vinegar + a few drops of dish soap.
3. Apply amylase-based stain remover, soak for a few hours, then wash.
4. If needed, soak in oxygen bleach overnight.
5. Still stained? Try hydrogen peroxide and let it air dry.

Still Stuck? Let Us Help at The Dutchman’s Laundry

At The Dutchman’s Laundry, we make laundry easy, especially when pizza gets involved. Our heavy-duty washers can handle big items and tough stains, and we know exactly how to treat things like pizza sauce on clothes.

If you’re in a rush, try our drop-off service, just mention the pizza stain to our staff, and we’ll make sure it gets the extra attention it needs.

Store Hours:

Sunday to Saturday: 5 AM – 12 AM

Drop-Off Hours:

Sunday to Saturday: 8 AM – 6 PM

FAQs

Q. Do pizza sauce stains come out?

A. Yes, pizza sauce stains can come out—but only if you treat them the right way. Because pizza sauce contains oil, tomato, and sometimes cheese, it’s a combination stain, which makes it a bit more stubborn. Acting quickly is key. Blot the stain, rinse with cold water, and use a mix of dish soap and white vinegar to break down both the grease and the tomato. Even if the stain has dried, you can still remove it with a few extra steps like stain remover, oxygen bleach, or hydrogen peroxide.

Q. How to remove pizza stains from fabric?

A. Here’s how to do it:

1. Scrape off any extra sauce or cheese without rubbing it into the fabric.
2. Turn the fabric inside out and rinse with cold water from the back of the stain.
3. Mix equal parts warm water and white vinegar, add a few drops of dish soap, and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for 15–30 minutes.
4. If the stain remains, use a stain remover with amylase and let the fabric soak before washing.
5. For stubborn stains, try oxygen bleach overnight, and as a last step, hydrogen peroxide on the stain to brighten it up.

Important: Never put the fabric in the dryer until the stain is completely gone. Heat can set the stain permanently.

Q. How to remove tomato sauce stains from clothing?

A. Tomato sauce stains need a step-by-step approach:

1. Blot the stain—don’t rub it.
2. Rinse the back of the stain with cold water to push the sauce out.
3. Apply a mix of vinegar and dish soap, let it sit, then rinse.
4. Follow up with a stain remover (especially one that contains enzymes like amylase) to target the tomato and oil.
5. Wash and air dry to check if the stain is completely gone.

Repeat if needed. Tomato pigments are acidic and clingy, so it may take more than one treatment.

Q. How do you remove dried tomato sauce stains?

A. Dried tomato sauce stains are harder to remove, but not impossible. Here’s what works:

1. Soften the stain by soaking it in cold water for 30 minutes.
2. Apply a mix of warm water, white vinegar, and dish soap and let it sit for up to an hour.
3. Use a strong enzyme-based stain remover with amylase and let it soak for a few hours.
4. If the stain is still visible, soak in oxygen bleach overnight.
5. For white or light fabrics, spray hydrogen peroxide and let it air dry in sunlight.

Repeat any step as needed, and always air dry first so you don’t accidentally set the stain with heat.