How to Get a Balsamic Vinegar Stain Out of a White Dress Shirt

Written By
April Dowling
April Dowling
Published: Aug 19, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • White paper towels
  • 1 tbsp. distilled vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp. dish soap
  • Pail
  • Spoon
  • Washing machine
  • 2 oz. chlorine bleach
  1. Blot excess balsamic vinegar off the white dress shirt using white paper towels. Remove as much syrupy gunk as possible.

  2. Rinse the remaining balsamic vinegar stain under cool water. Flush out as much residue as possible.

  3. Pour 1 tbsp. of distilled vinegar and 1/2 tsp. of dish soap into a pail. Fill the pail with 1 qt. of warm water, and then mix the vinegar, dish soap and water with a spoon.

  4. Submerge the stained dress shirt in the solution. Soak the shirt for 15 minutes to dissolve the balsamic vinegar.

  5. Remove the dress shirt from the solution, and rinse the shirt thoroughly under cool water.

  6. Launder the white shirt with 2 oz. of chlorine bleach. Refer to the shirt’s laundry label for water temperature specifications.

  7. Lay the dress shirt flat to air-dry.

The Drip Cap

  • Although balsamic vinegar complements many kinds of food, it can leave dark, syrupy tannin stains on white dress shirts.
  • Remove as much syrupy gunk as possible.
  • of distilled vinegar and 1/2 tsp.
  • Remove the dress shirt from the solution, and rinse the shirt thoroughly under cool water.
April Dowling

April Dowling first started writing in high school and has written many news articles for newspaper and yearbook publications. She is currently pursuing a career as an online writer and affiliate marketer. Dowling writes for several…

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