How to Clean Antifreeze out of Clothes

Written By
Sal Marco
Sal Marco
Published: Sep 8, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Bucket
  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • White rag
  • Oxygenated bleach or laundry pretreatment

Depending on the type of antifreeze splashed on clothing, stain colors typically include green, blue or red. Act quickly to treat and remove antifreeze stains to preserve your clothing.

  1. Stretch the clothing across a bucket with the stain facing down.

  2. Pour the hottest water safe for the fabric onto the stain to push the stain out of the fibers.

  3. Apply liquid laundry detergent directly onto the antifreeze stain. Wet a clean, white rag and work the laundry detergent into the stain.

  4. Pour the hottest water safe for the fabric onto the stain to rinse the laundry detergent.

  5. Dilute oxygenated bleach with water as directed on the manufacturer's directions if the antifreeze stain remains on the fabric. You can also spray on a laundry pretreatment product that contains oxygenated bleach. Let the oxygenated bleach remain on the antifreeze stain for five to 10 minutes.

  6. Fill a washing machine with the hottest water safe for the fabric. Add laundry detergent and oxygenated bleach to the washing machine.

  7. Place the clothing in the washing machine and let the washer run through a cycle.

  8. Remove the clothing from the washing machine and examine it for stains. If no stain remains, dry the clothing according to the clothing manufacturer's directions. If the antifreeze stain remains, repeat the process until the stain disappears.

Sal Marco

Sal Marco began writing professionally in 2009. He has written many online home improvement articles based on his more than 20 years of experience in the home improvement and building industries. He has worked as both part of a team and as…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.