How to remove beer and cider stains
Updated · By the Luniva team
Quick answer
Use Luniva Enzyme Powered (the pink one). Spray it directly onto the stain, leave it for 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal following the garment care label.
Treat beer spills even if you can't see a mark. A rinse and a spray before the wash stops the faint brown ring that can appear once the garment dries.
Step by step
- 1
Blot and rinse
Blot up the spill, then rinse the back of the stain with cold water.
- 2
Spray directly
Spray Luniva Enzyme Powered onto the stain until it's covered. Don't rub.
- 3
Wait 1–3 minutes
Leave it to work. Don't let it dry on the fabric.
- 4
Wash as normal
Wash with your usual detergent, following the care label. Check the mark has gone before tumble drying.
A spilled pint at the pub, a barbecue or a wedding can leave a light brown mark and a sour smell if it's left to dry. Beer and cider are drink stains, so they're a job for Luniva Enzyme Powered: rinse, spray, wait 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal.
Why beer stains show up later
Beer is made from malted grain and contains sugars and colour from the malt; cider contains fruit sugars. A spill can look like it's vanished as it dries, then show up as a faint brown ring days later. Dark ales and stouts stain the most.
Fabric guide
Best on washable everyday fabrics
Cotton, linen, denim, polyester and cotton blends: clothes, kidswear, bedding, towels and washable covers.
Test first on delicates
Patch-test an inconspicuous area on silk, wool, viscose, leather-trimmed items or anything labelled dry-clean only.
Don't let it dry
Spray, leave 1–3 minutes, then wash. Don't let the treated area dry out before washing.
Check before drying
Inspect the area after washing and repeat if any shadow remains. Dryer heat can set a leftover mark.
Beer & cider: questions
Yes. Use Enzyme Powered the same way. Dark beers have more colour, so a second treatment may help on white or pale fabrics.
Treating the stain and washing the garment as normal removes the spill that causes the smell. Wash it as soon as you can.
Yes. Spray until wet through, leave 1–3 minutes and wash. Repeat once if a faint ring is left.
Based on controlled laboratory testing. Performance may vary by stain type, fabric, age of the stain and wash conditions. Always follow the garment care label and test an inconspicuous area first.