Iodine Stain Removal Guide

You may need iodine stain removal tips and techniques when you accidentally spill this liquid on your clothes, the chair or the carpet when applying it to a cut.

Below this article tells you how to remove stains caused by iodine from fabric, upholstery and carpeting.

CAUTION: Never try to remove an iodine stain with chlorine bleach.

Bleach will set the stain and make it even more difficult to remove.

Further, iodine is often used as a stain itself, meaning that by nature it will be very difficult to remove.

Therefore, the sooner you can treat the spot or splatter from it and begin the removal process, the better.

Removing Stain Caused By Iodine From Fabric

Step 1: Flush the fabric with cold water, being careful not to spread the stain further.

Step 2: Make a solution of four cups of cool water, one tablespoon ammonia, and a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent which does not contain chlorine bleach.

CAUTION - Never mix ammonia and chlorine bleach together, as it can create dangerous and poisonous fumes.

Step 3: Soak the fabric in this solution for approximately half an hour.

Step 4: Wash as usual.

Hint: Make sure the stain is gone after washing, but before you place in the dryer or you may set it. If this technique does not work, proceed to the next step below.

UPDATE: I tested a stain remover, Stain Rx, which works to remove iodine stains, among others. However, as a control for my testing I actually just washed the stain in Tide free and gentle detergent, and the stain came right out, without any other stain remover added. It was pretty amazing. You can see the picture to the right of the place the stain was, once it had been removed by the detergent alone.

Step 5: If the stain is not removed you can create a stronger stain removal solution -- one cup of cool water and 1 tablespoon of sodium thiosulfate.

Step 6: Using this solution, sponge the spot with a clean white cloth.

Step 7: Next, rinse well with cool water, making sure all of the cleaning solution is removed from the fabric.

Step 8: Wash as usual.

Iodine Stain Removal From Upholstery

Step 1: Mix a solution of two cups cool water and one tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Step 2: Using this solution, sponge the spot with a clean white cloth.

Step 3: Next, blot until the liquid is absorbed.

You may want to let the solution set on the iodine stain, being careful to keep it from drying out, for approximately half an hour.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 until the spot is removed from the upholstery.

Step 5: 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.

If this gentler technique does not remove the stains from your upholstery continue on with the next step, which is a harsher technique.

Make sure, before using this harsher technique on your upholstery, that you test the solution in an inconspicuous location to make sure this does not ruin it.

Step 6: Mix a solution of one cup cool water and one tablespoon of sodium thiosulfate.

Step 7: You want to use this cleaning solution on your upholstery very sparingly, so apply it with an eye dropper onto the spot.

Step 8: Next, put a few drops of ammonia on the stain.

Step 9: Blot at the solution until the liquid is absorbed.

Step 10: 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.

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

Removing Stains From Iodine From Carpet

There are several alternatives for iodine stain removal from carpeting.

The first alternative is to apply a dry cleaning solvent to the carpet with a clean white cloth, then blot at the solution until the liquid is absorbed.

The second alternative is to use the solution of sodium thiosulfate as described in how to remove iodine from upholstery above.

Recommended Iodine Stain Removers

Perhaps you don't want to make your own stain remover, but instead want to use something designed to remove the stains caused by iodine.

Here are articles and reviews on this site which discuss various products that are designed to remove these stains:

Stain Rx {Taylor's Review}

You can also share your own stain remover reviews here for other removers that work on iodine, or any other stain.

Do You Have Any Tips To Share For Removing These Stains?

I'm always looking for more tips and ideas for how to remove stains. You can share your stain removal tip here, for removing stains caused by iodine or anything else.

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.

Fifth photo by extended.epiphany

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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.