Celebrate this Independence Day free of stains.

It’s that magical time of year when days by the beach and nights around the bonfire always seem to be accompanied with a hearty spread of meats straight from the barbecue.

But when you’re chowing down on that ballpark frank or California burger, mustard can pose a real problem for your threads. Here are a few methods to get rid of those seedy mustard stains.

Mustard and Vinegar

To remove mustard stains, we recommend lightly dabbing the area with a generous amount of white distilled vinegar prior to your regular wash cycle. Remember to allow a bit of time for the vinegar to penetrate the fibers of the garment before tossing it in with the rest of the wash.

For those mustard stains that are a bit larger, you may create a simple paste of baking soda and vinegar and apply it directly to the stain. Vinegar is a natural neutralizer and, when combined with the carbon dioxide from baking soda, breaks down the proteins of the stain, thus removing it after a full wash cycle.

Old Family Secret

Sometimes those new products that assure the cleanest clean and the whitest whites just can’t cut it compared to what our ancestors used. Here’s a tip for removing that mustard stain just like they did back in the old country:

• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1/5 cup of hand soap
• 1 cup of laundry detergent
• 1/8 cup of butter
• Mix all ingredients together and place directly on the stain

After applying the mix to the stain, rinse in cold water and be amazed at the results!

Some Ole Soap and Water

Sometimes, a little soap and water is all you need to get rid of a mustard stain.

To remove the mustard stain:

• Heat up the stain by ladling boiling water onto the dirty portion of the garment
• Cover the area in liquid laundry detergent
• Wet a washcloth with peroxide and scrub the stain right out
• Rinse in cold water

Be Free of Frank Follies

Remember some of these helpful tips the next time you run into a hazardous situation with a hot hog. Cleaning doesn’t have to be “must-hard” and we’re here to help make sure it isn’t! Visit one of our laundromats in New Jersey for more tips and tricks.