It’s true that the most effective way to remove stains from carpets, clothes, or anywhere is to treat them as soon as they occur, or immediately you spot them.
But what if you don’t have a commercial stain remover solution with you in the house? What can you use as a natural alternative?
Well, it is easy to make natural stain removers that works at home using items that you already have in your house.
Well, in case you accidentally spill something on your carpet or clothes, and don’t have a stain remover with you, here are five homemade stain removers that you can use;
1. Baking Soda
Baking soda is known to be a great stain remover, of course, in addition to having plenty of other uses in the kitchen. This inexpensive nature’s gift to laundry makes detergent more effective and even softens fabrics. The good thing about using it is that it is safe for any surface, including kids’ sleepwear.
To break down stains on laundry or carpets with baking soda, make a pre-treating paste by combining six tablespoons of baking soda with 1/3 cup of warm water.
Make sure to test it on a small part of your clothing or carpet to ensure it doesn’t cause color bleeding or fading. If it is safe, rub it onto the stained area and allow it to dry. After that, toss in the wash. This is great for removing sweat stains.
2. Distilled White Vinegar
This is another miracle worker when it comes to grease stains, grass stains, and coffee stains. Not only is it safer to use than chlorine-based bleaches, but it is also gentle on fabric.
It is important to mention that in this case, use white vinegar and not apple cider vinegar as the former is gentler on fabric and thus will not discolor them.
To make a homemade stain remover using white vinegar, you should add equal parts of white distilled vinegar and water. Allow the solution to settle in the stained area for about 10 minutes. If the stain doesn’t clear out, soak the garment overnight, then rinse and wash in the morning.
White vinegar is also great for controlling odors coming out of your washing machine.
3. Lime Juice or Lemon
Lemon can also be a natural stain remover for different stains. There are several ways you can use lemon juice to remove stains;
- Lemon + Water. Stains caused by fruits can be tricky to remove, but luckily lemon can remove fresh juice stains. Mix 1/3 cup of lime or lemon juice with 2/3 cup of water and gently rub the mixture on the stain. Once the stain fades, wash your clothing until it clears
- Lemon + salt. If your white shirt or dress gets stained, squeeze lemon juice directly on the stained area and sprinkle salt on it. Let it settle for a few minutes, then rinse with water. Repeat the process until the stain fades or disappears. After that, wash your dress or shirt and hang it to dry
- Lemon + Detergent. In case you get rust stains on your clothes, pour your home detergent along with one cup of lemon juice. This combination will not only remove the stain but will also brighten your clothes
- Lemon. If your leather shoes are fading or losing their shine, squeeze some lemon juice on a piece of clothing and gently rub it on your shoes. This will give them a shiny look
In case the stains become too tough for lemon juice, just call home cleaning experts.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective solution for removing plant-based stains, mildew stains, vegetable stains, dye-transfer stains, fruit stains, etc.
However, despite its effectiveness, keep in mind that it is a mild form of bleach, and thus it is important to test it on an inconspicuous spot on colored clothes to prevent uneven fades. Alternatively, you can pour some on a cotton swab and rub it on the fabric. If the swab comes out colored, don’t proceed.
To remove stains, spray a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the stained area and allow it to soak for about 10 minutes. After that, wash the garment in the washer.
Hydrogen peroxide also works great in removing sweat stains as well as red wine stains.
5. Table Salt
Majorly used for cooking and adding taste to food, salt can also be used in stain remover. You can use it to remove red wine stains, blood stains, and sweat stains. In addition, you can use salt to absorb grease from fabric, which means it can help with greasy stains as well.
To use salt as a stain remover, add four tablespoons of salt to a quart of hot water and pour the solution on the stained area. Use a sponge to rub on the stained area. Do this until the stain disappears or fades, then wash your fabric.
If you have fresh red wine spills, sprinkle a good amount of table salt on the stained area and let it absorb the liquid, then brush it away with a dry sponge before washing the item.
Please note that if you don’t wash out salt from your fabric, it can leave white stains.
General Stain Remover Tips
Now that we have discussed five stain removers that work, here are more general tips to help with stain remover;
Act fast. Stains are easier to remove when they have not settled in a fabric. Therefore, if you notice a stain, try to deal with it as soon as you can rather than throwing the fabric in the basket to work on it later
strong>Apply any of the above homemade stain removers on the underside of the fabric. Although, in most cases, we tend to put our stain remover directly on the stain, it is normally effective when applied to the back of your garment. This way, the stain is pushed out of the fabric rather than into the fibers. When doing this, place the stained side down on a rag or paper towel to help with the absorption
Always test your stain remover on a small, inconspicuous area of your garment to see if it causes it to fade or bleed color
If the stain persists and you like your fabric, request a free estimate
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