How to remove tomato sauce and ketchup 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.
Lift off any excess sauce first. If an oily ring stays after washing (pizza grease, takeaway sauce), treat it with Pro Formula.
Step by step
- 1
Spray directly
Apply Luniva to the stain until saturated. No rubbing, no pre-soak.
- 2
Wait 1–3 minutes
Active Enzymes break the stain down at the molecular level. Don't let it dry.
- 3
Wash as normal
Machine-wash as normal. Air dry; never tumble dry until you've confirmed the stain is gone.
Tomato sauce is one of the hardest food stains because it combines an oil base, an acidic pigment (lycopene) and protein from cheese or meat. Luniva is engineered exactly for this – proteases break the protein, lipases dissolve the oil, and surfactants lift the red pigment in 1–3 minutes without bleach.
Why tomato stains set so fast
Lycopene is a fat-soluble red pigment that bonds to cotton fibres on contact, and the olive oil base carries it deeper into the weave. Hot washes and tumble drying lock both in permanently. You need an active enzyme protease + lipase combination – exactly Luniva's specialty.
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.
Tomato sauce & ketchup: questions
Yes. Spray, leave for 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal, following the garment care label. Repeat once for fully set lycopene before drying.
No. Luniva is active enzyme-based and contains no chlorine bleach – colour-safe on dyed cotton, linen and synthetics.
Standard detergent breaks down the protein but leaves the oil + pigment behind. Luniva's lipase + surfactant blend lifts both layers.
40°C is optimal. Hotter water sets protein; cold water doesn't activate active enzymes effectively.
Yes – both are sugar-and-tomato heavy stains that respond well to Luniva's active enzyme + surfactant action.
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.