Vlekkenzoekmachine
Removing yoghurt stains
Op deze pagina:
Eigenaar at James B.V.
Door het delen van deze blogs en informatie wil Martijn voorop blijven lopen met kennis over binnenmilieu, hygiëne, onderhoud en vlekverwijdering van tapijt, vloerkleed en meubels. Een bedrijf evenals de consument kan bij James terecht met vragen op het gebied van onderhoud en het verwijderen van vlekken uit tapijten, vloeren, vloerkleden of meubels.
Latest posts by Martijn Peters (see all)
Removing yoghurt stains
A spoonful of yoghurt that falls on the sofa or a child’s mouth that spills – a yoghurt stain happens in the blink of an eye. At first glance, it may appear to be an innocent milk stain, but yoghurt contains fats and sugars in addition to milk, which can form a stubborn stain when dried. Especially on carpets, furniture or floors, yoghurt can quickly soak in and cause unpleasant odours if you don’t take action in time.
Acting quickly really makes a difference with yoghurt stains. The quicker you react, the less chance there is that the stain will penetrate deep into the material or leave an unpleasant odour. Fortunately, yoghurt can be easily removed with the right approach, which usually prevents permanent damage. Read below to find out which approach gives the best results for each surface.
Voor deze vlekken geldt hetzelfde advies: Yoghurt
Characteristics (anatomy) of a yoghurt stain
A yoghurt stain consists of proteins, fats, sugars and lactic acid bacteria. This combination causes the stain to become sticky over time and may develop a sour odour. On textiles, fats and sugars are quickly absorbed into the fibres, while on hard floors a thin, dull layer may remain. If the stain dries, it will be more difficult to remove and you run the risk of permanent discolouration or odour. Incorrect cleaning products can fix the proteins in the surface, making the stain more difficult to remove.
Removing yoghurt stains from carpets or rugs
Yoghurt is readily absorbed into carpet fibres, especially if the stain is not noticed immediately. The combination of proteins, fat and sugar creates a sticky spot that can start to smell when it dries. Thicker or deep-pile carpets often retain invisible residue, which can cause problems later on.
If you do not treat the stain promptly, the components will spread deeper into the fibres and the carpet may become discoloured or develop a musty odour. Even if the spot appears dry, lactic acid may still remain, which will start to smell again when it becomes damp.
Only treat the stained area and work gently, without making the carpet too wet.
Use a suitable cleaner such as James Stain Remover for dried yoghurt stains and make sure you dry the carpet thoroughly afterwards so that no moisture or residue remains that could attract odours or dirt again.
Treat with James Stainwonder
This stain can be treated with James Stainwonder. All you need is a bottle of James Stainwonder!
- Test for colour and material resistance in an inconspicuous area: apply, let it dry completely and evaluate.
- Allow the surface to dry completely.
- Apply James Stainwonder to the dry stain by turning the bottle upside down, placing the opening of the bottle on the stain and treating the entire stain.
- The product works for 12 hours, so the effect does not have to be visible immediately.*
- Is the stain not completely gone after treatment, but it has improved? You may repeat the treatment.
* With wool: in the vast majority of cases, James Stainwonder does not cause any discolouration. You have already established this by testing the product in an inconspicuous area as described above. In that case, you do not need to carry out the following step. If a (slight) discolouration did occur, you should neutralise James Stainwonder as soon as the stain has disappeared. In this case, immediately place a damp cotton cloth on the spot where the stain was and let it dry.
Immediate treatment with water
This stain can be treated immediately with water. For this you need a white, cotton cloth and water. Follow the steps below:
- First remove, as far as possible, any loose substances using a spoon.
- Immediately hold a white cotton cloth under the cold tap, wring it out and place it flat on the stain.
- Leave the cotton cloth in place to dry completely, no peeking. Should the cloth become saturated, replace it with a fresh one as described above. Then leave the cloth until it is completely dry.
Note: Do not perform the above instructions if water causes aspect loss or discoloration on the material to be treated.
Removing yoghurt stains from hard floors
On hard floors such as PVC, laminate, vinyl, LVT or natural stone, yoghurt often leaves a thin, sticky layer. The sugars and fats can cause these stains to attract dirt and create a dull or sticky spot. Natural stone is particularly sensitive to acid attack, which can cause permanent discolouration or loss of shine.
If you leave a yoghurt stain, the proteins and lactic acids can affect the top layer of the floor. This can make a noticeable difference in shine or texture, especially on laminate or varnished surfaces.
First, remove all the yoghurt with a cloth or piece of kitchen paper. Then clean only the area where the stain was, without using too much water. Dry the surface thoroughly to prevent any residue from remaining that could become visible or sticky later on. For dried stains, you can use James Remover.
Treatment with James Remover
This stain can be treated with James Remover.
Always test in an inconspicuous area for color and material resistance: apply, allow to soak for 5 minutes, rinse the tested area with water, allow to dry and evaluate.
- Spray directly onto the purpose area
- Leave to soak for about 1 to 5 minutes
- Then, use a white cotton cloth to remove the grease
- If necessary, gently treat stubborn stains with a soft brush or plastic spatula.
- After use, always clean the area with water.
Attention: be careful when working near a glue seams. Allow James Remover to soak in shortly. Do not let the product penetrate into cracks or seams.
Treat using a moist cotton cloth
This stain can be treated immediately with water. Use clean water and preferably a white, cotton cloth.
Removing yoghurt stains from upholstery
Yoghurt quickly causes problems on upholstery fabrics. The combination of moisture, grease and sugars is absorbed into the upholstery and can leave a stubborn stain when it dries. Light-coloured fabrics in particular show discolouration quickly, and if the stain is not dealt with promptly, musty odours can develop.
When yoghurt soaks deeper into the upholstery, the stain becomes increasingly difficult to remove from the fabric. In the long term, this can lead to permanent discolouration, stickiness or even mould growth in high humidity conditions.
Remove the yoghurt immediately and treat only the affected area of the fabric. Use a cleaner that is safe for furniture fabrics, such as James Stain Remover, and work with as little moisture as possible. Ensure that you dry the area thoroughly afterwards to prevent residue and unpleasant odours.
Treat with James Stainwonder
This stain can be treated with James Stainwonder. Always test for colour fastness and material perpetuation in an inconspicuous area: apply, let it dry and evaluate.
- Allow the surface to dry completely.
- Apply James Stainwonder to the dry stain by turning the bottle upside down, placing the opening of the bottle on the stain and treating the entire stain. Spread a little James Stainwonder on a clean, dry cotton cloth towel and use it to cover the stain. This is to prevent circles from appearing after drying.
- The product works for 12 hours, so the effect does not have to be immediate. Do not remove the cotton cloth until it is dry to see the result.*
- Is the stain not completely gone after treatment, but it has improved? You may repeat the treatment.
* With wool: in the vast majority of cases James Stainwonder does not cause any discolouration. You have already established this by testing the product in an inconspicuous area as described above. In that case, you do not need to carry out the following step. If there is a (slight) discolouration, neutralise James Stainwonder with water as soon as the stain has disappeared (to do this, however, lift the cotton cloth in between to be able to assess whether the stain has already disappeared). In this case, immediately place another damp cotton cloth on the spot where the stain was and let it dry.
Immediate treatment with water
This stain can be treated immediately with water. For this you need a white, cotton cloth and water. Follow the steps below:
- First remove, as far as possible, any loose substances using a spoon.
- Immediately hold a white cotton cloth under the cold tap, wring it out and place it flat on the stain.
- Leave the cotton cloth in place to dry completely, no peeking. Should the cloth become saturated, replace it with a fresh one as described above. Then leave the cloth until it is completely dry.
Note: Do not perform the above instructions if water causes aspect loss or discoloration on the material to be treated.
All our James products are professional cleaning products, all carry the European ECO label Cleanright and have been specially developed to remove stubborn stains, including adhesive residues. Order your James products online today or visit a sales outlet near you.
Frequently asked questions and myths
There are all sorts of stories going around about how to remove these yoghurt stains. From granny’s remedies to persistent tips from the internet – but what really works? In this section, we answer frequently asked questions and debunk a few myths. This allows you to get started with confidence.
Why does a yoghurt stain sometimes continue to smell sour, even when the area appears to be clean?
Yoghurt contains lactic acid and live bacterial cultures. When they penetrate textiles, carpets or joints, these micro-organisms can remain there and still give off an acidic odour when exposed to heat or moisture. Even if the visible stain has disappeared, these residues remain active. Thorough removal of proteins and bacteria is necessary to prevent odour problems.
Is yoghurt easy to rinse off with water?
Not entirely. The fats and proteins in yoghurt attach themselves to fibres and leave a film when they dry. Water alone may wash away the residue on the surface, but it often leaves underlying fats and proteins behind. Without a suitable cleaning agent, odours or a greasy film will remain.
Can I remove yoghurt stains with washing-up liquid?
Dishwashing liquid can help to dissolve some of the grease, but often leaves behind a residue that is not easy to rinse off. This leads to sticky spots or soap residue that attracts dirt, especially on carpets or fabric furniture. A pH-neutral product that also tackles proteins is much more suitable.
Why does yoghurt discolour when it dries on fabric surfaces?
When yoghurt dries out, the fats and milk proteins remain behind. These may discolour to yellowish or even brown tones when exposed to light and oxygen, especially on light-coloured fabrics. This often happens gradually and is only noticeable once the rest of the material is clean again. Prompt treatment prevents this visual pollution.
Is yoghurt harmful to my floor or furniture?
Not immediately, but over time, fats in yoghurt can damage the top layer of floors or cause dull spots. On textiles, the combination of grease, protein and bacteria can cause a lasting odour or structural change in the fibres. That is why it is important to remove yoghurt stains quickly and completely.
Deal with any stain using the right approach from James
A yoghurt stain can appear quickly, but it does not have to be a permanent problem. By acting immediately and correctly, you can prevent odours, discolouration or sticky residues. De producten van James bieden een veilige en doeltreffende oplossing voor elke ondergrond. This will leave it fresh and clean – and you can continue without any worries.