If you’ve ever cooked with soy sauce or eaten a meal with soy sauce what will strike you is the strong odor and salty taste. What might also strike you, if you aren’t careful, are splatter drops of soy sauce on your clothes. A single drop of soy sauce can be a very problematic thing to remove.

Of course, the best way to stainless clothes is to prevent the soy from splattering on you in the first place. Don’t wear whites and always wear something protective, like an apron. Even cover carpet areas that could become stained. If serving soy sauce to a group, have them spoon the sauce onto their plate rather than pour from anything potentially spill able. Also keep in mind that there are light and dark soy sauces. Cook with the light version as it contains lighter colors and is healthier for you too.

If the damage is done then this list modern and traditional methods should provide you with what you need to know to rid yourself of pesky soy sauce stains.

Act Fast. If you’re cooking and notice a stain on your outfit wash it as quickly as possible. Soy sauce contains a staining substance and this substance takes time to be fully absorbed into fabric. By running the affected area under lukewarm water this will be fixed.

Try Detergents. Mix some detergent with water and rub the ensuing foam on the area with the stain. Remember that not all detergents will be appropriate for your particular fabric. Some might be too strong. Read the labels and judge for yourself. Even better would be to administer the cleansing agent with a spray. Then put the garment in the washer. You’ll want to go through a wash cycle quickly because some of the very modern cleansing agents can themselves leave stains.

Dishwashing Liquid. One traditional method is to combine a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in about a cup of water and pour it on the stained area. Then blot until dry. Next combine one tablespoon of ammonia with a cup of water and again pour it on the stained area and blot until dry. Finally, wipe the area with a clean water saturated sponge. Repeat these steps until the stain is no longer visible.

Ice. Another tradition technique involves ice. Simply rub an ice cube over the stained area. Then, run the fabric under cold water while rubbing the stained area with your hands. Hopefully, the stain will wear off.

Peroxide. For carpets that are made of stronger fabrics use a spray bottle with peroxide. Spray the stain, let it sit, and then blot up the stain with a paper towel. If the carpet is very wet, try a shop-vac on a high setting until you draw out the liquid. Just be sure to blot and vacuum without pushing the stain deeper into the carpeting.

Of course, if all else fails and you’re feeling totally hopeless, take the garment to the dry cleaner and plead for help.