How to Clean Up Mulberries
Tip
Mulberry stains will wear off your fingers and skin within a few days but should be flushed out of clothing with cool water as soon as possible after the stain occurs.
Having a mulberry tree on your property is like a double-edged sword -- there's an abundance of vitamin- and antioxidant-rich berries to eat and a juicy mess to clean up. Mulberries are in season from early to late summer. The oblong berries change from pink to purple as they ripen, naturally falling from the tree when they reach their peak. Even if you collect some of the delicious berries for eating or baking, there's no way to get them all, leaving berries to litter your property and stain cement surfaces.
Lay large plastic tarps on the ground, around the base of the mulberry tree, once the berries are ripe. Place the tarps so they extend away from the tree trunk to cover the entire area beneath the tree and its branches. Allow the mulberries to fall naturally over the next few days.
Remove ripe berries still on the tree by raking over the branches with a yard rake. Allow the mulberries to fall to the tarp.
Wear latex gloves to prevent purple and pink stains on your fingers and hands. Collect the fallen berries in a bucket. Repeat steps 2 and 3 every few days for a week or two, until the ripened mulberries have been removed.
Roll up the plastic tarps and discard them in the trash. Rake the grass with the yard rake to gather up mulberries from the ground. Scoop the raked mulberries into a shovel and throw them away in a trash bag. Remove as many mulberries from the ground as possible to avoid stepping on them and spreading the stains elsewhere.
Wet a concrete or stone sidewalk, driveway or patio with the garden hose. Remove mulberry stains from the surface with a solution made from 1 cup 12 percent hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia mixed in a bowl. Dip a scrub brush in the peroxide solution and scrub the berry stains away. Rinse the surface with the hose to wash away the peroxide and stains.
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Writer Bio
Mary Ylisela is a former teacher with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and mathematics. She has been a writer since 1996, specializing in business, fitness and education. Prior to teaching, Ylisela worked as a certified fitness instructor and a small-business owner.
