How to Take Food Stains Out of Uniforms

When you work in the restaurant industry appearances truly matter. That applies to virtually every customer-facing position, but hospitality professionals have the unique responsibility of catering to some of their clients’ most personal needs. Preparing and serving meals is no small task, and every customer who enters your establishment expects, at the very least, a clean environment.

That extends not only to the floors and tables but also to your uniform. Unfortunately, the kitchen is the perfect place for splashes and splatters to cause unsightly stains that take away from your otherwise pristine clothing. And when those stains are dark and noticeable, it can make it difficult for you to focus on your job and handle everything with the same seamless precision that you usually do. What’s the solution? Here are some suggestions to remove those pesky food stains.

Treat It Quickly

Whether you’re a chef, a cook, or a server who wears a waiter uniform, the condition of your outfit goes a long way in promoting a polished image that appeals to diners. But any meal or beverage you serve, unfortunately, has the potential to leave a lingering stain on your clothing.

Whether it’s due to coffee, red wine, tomato sauce, or salad dressing, the key is to act quickly. The faster you treat the stain, the less likely it will be to settle into the fabric and cause a more long-term, stubborn problem that’s difficult or even impossible to remove. If you’re nowhere near the end of your shift and don’t have a spare garment on hand, tackle the stain by dabbing it very gently with a clean cloth. You can use water, but only if the stain isn’t due to something made with butter or oil. Fats repel moisture, and the water can cause the stain to spread even more. Avoid rubbing it at all costs; you don’t want to risk causing the stain to spread and appearing even more noticeable. A larger stain is likely to remain visible unless you can cover up with an apron temporarily.

Wash It Properly

The natural inclination is to throw your stained chef uniform in the washing machine as soon as you get home. But it’s important to pretreat the stain first. Using a stain remover is key to stopping the chemical reaction that is responsible for causing the stain.

There are a variety of stain removers available on the market. Some are designed to treat tannin stains, such as those from wine or coffee spills. An agent that contains surfactants is essential for treating the majority of oil-based stains that develop due to food exposure. Grease can easily soak into the fabric of that crisp white button-front shirt and linger if not treated promptly. Pretreating any stain will help prevent it from being permanent. After you’ve pretreated, you can wash the garment with the detergent of your choice, following the item’s specific care instructions. You can repeat the entire process if your clothing remains stained — just avoid putting it in the dryer until the stain is gone, or it may be far more difficult to remove.

Use a Knife

The nature of working in a food service establishment is that you’ll likely encounter some stubborn stains on your waitstaff and restaurant management uniforms from time to time. While it’s crucial to treat the stains fast and to use the appropriate solutions when you can, it’s also important to remove any bits of material that might remain on the fabric once the stain-causing culprit has dried down a bit. For example, ketchup, maple syrup, spaghetti sauce, corn syrup, and chocolate are all likely to leave a little bit of substance behind if you don’t dab away at the fabric right away. In that case, you can use a blunt knife to very gently scrape away the excess until it feels smoother.

Keep These Handy

The beauty of working in a restaurant is that you’re likely to have quite a few stain-treating tricks of the trade on hand. For example, white wine can help neutralize a red wine stain, while white vinegar can dilute some dark stains, such as those caused by tea and soy sauce. Boiling water can even remove stains due to blueberries and strawberries, especially when treated quickly.

You also need to be mindful of care instructions that relate to formal business clothing of all types. Some may very specifically require dry cleaning, in which case you should leave all stain treating tasks to the professionals, as you don’t want to risk causing damage to the fabric. By following these steps, you can ensure that your restaurant uniforms always look their best!