Homemade Stain Remover

Remove tough stains with this easy homemade stain remover. Uses just 3 ingredients from your cabinets, costs WAY less than store-bought stain remover, and it works great!

How do you get a strawberry jam stain in the middle of your back? Kids. Oh look, you have grass stains on your knees. Kids again. And let’s not talk about how many times I’ve dripped coffee on my shirt…

Stains are a fact of life. My clothes, the kids’ clothes, hubby’s clothes. Mystery stains frequently show up on anything and everything.

I’ve slowly changed my laundry room supplies to natural products like Laundry Salts, Homemade Bleach Alternative, and DIY Linen Spray.

But one of the first DIY recipes I ever tried was homemade stain remover.

HOMEMADE STAIN REMOVER

This homemade stain remover works on practically every stain imaginable (even tough ones) like grass, grease stains, food, red wine stains, and even blood stains! Plus, it contains only 3 ingredients that I regularly keep on hand.

I am ALL ABOUT some cheap easy cleaning.

MY “OLD” LAUNDRY ROUTINE (THAT DIDN’T WORK)

I don’t know about you guys, but catching a stain BEFORE the clothes are washed is practically unheard of. It’s not until they’ve been washed, dried, and hung up on a hanger that I see the ugly stain. Gah!

Throwing the dirty shirt back into the hamper doesn’t work either. I inevitably forget and bury the clothes. This means the same clothes will get washed repeatedly before the stain is ever dealt with.

Seeing as this “system” is a bust, I came up with a new one.

MY “NEW” LAUNDRY ROUTINE (THAT WORKS EVERY TIME)

1. Separate stained clothes. When I notice a stain, I still hang up the clothes. But instead of putting them away in my closet, I hang them on my bedroom door. Then, when it’s time to wash a load of laundry, I take the stained clothes with me too.
2. Treat the stains. While a regular load is washing, I go to work on removing the stains. I pretreat the clothes with stain remover and let it soak in until it’s time to switch loads and start another. It’s just enough “sitting” time for the stain remover to do its job.
3. Wash the treated clothes in hot water. I use my homemade laundry detergent – you can find the recipe here.
4. Dry. Depending on the clothing, I either line dry or dry them in my dryer. I’m a huge advocate for line drying, though, because of its many benefits! It is gentler on your clothes and saves on electricity. Win-win!

Note: I’m known to forget about treated clothes and let them sit overnight. I haven’t had any problems with it or caused any issues to leave for over an hour.

WHY USE NATURAL STAIN REMOVER

Shortly after I started my real food journey, I started paying attention to the products I use in my home. MANY of the typical household cleaning and beauty products we used were full of chemicals I couldn’t pronounce. How was I to know which were the worst?

The more I researched, the more I wanted to toss everything at once and start over. But the frugal side of me knew that wasn’t a possibility. So, I started with the most chemical-filled products.

Using the Think Dirty App, I found which products in my home were the worst offenders. Laundry detergents and products often rate bad! For example, Shout stain remover rates at an 8! (Ten being the worst for toxins.) Natural stain removal it is!

Bottle by bottle, I switched over my products to natural options. I love using DIY recipes because:

• It’s usually quite a bit cheaper
• I can buy my ingredients from trusted sources
• The ingredients can be mixed and matched to make multiple recipes
• I can customize it to make it fit my needs
• And honestly, the ease of use makes them a clear winner!

If you’re overwhelmed by cleaning up your household products, use this FREE 5 Days to DIY Natural Living Challenge. It gives you practical, easy to complete baby steps toward a cleaner home!

HOMEMADE CLOTHES STAIN REMOVERS

You only need three simple ingredients to make a homemade laundry stain remover.

1. Baking Soda. Baking soda can be found cheap at any grocery store. Or you can buy it in bulk on Amazon. Baking soda helps with odors and works as an abrasive for stubborn stains.
2. Dish Soap. I like this one. Use the Think Dirty App to see how your soap ranks. Most soaps with a strong scent will rank poorly. You want to aim for a 3 or better! (Tip: Dawn dish soap is NOT your best option!) The dish soap helps to release grease and oil from your clothes.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide. This ingredient can also be found cheap at a grocery store or Walmart. This is what I buy from Amazon. Hydrogen peroxide helps remove the colors from the stains in fabrics.

TO MAKE STAIN REMOVER FOR CLOTHES

Step 1: Measure all ingredients into a small jar and stir gently to combine well.

Your mixture should be thick, which is why I recommend a glass jar and not a spray bottle. If you prefer a smaller container, one with a flip-top and a spout would be best!

Step 2: Store in a dark container or place. Peroxide can lose its effectiveness when stored in the light. Using a dark container or storing it in a dark cabinet will prevent the peroxide from going bad. 

HOW TO USE HOMEMADE STAIN REMOVER

1. Apply a small amount of stain remover directly to the stain.
2. Rub gently with your finger, a piece of fabric, a scrubbing brush, or an old toothbrush. 
3. Allow the stain remover to sit for at least 15 minutes, or up to an hour. Wash normally, no need to rinse first.

TIPS FOR USING DIY STAIN REMOVER

• Do not shake the stain remover. Some readers have experienced “explosions” when shaking this stain remover. This has not happened to me, but I assume it is because of hydrogen peroxide bubbling up. I suggest stirring and swirling gently to mix. 
• Alternatively, don’t pre-mix the stain remover. One reader suggests putting the baking soda on the stain directly and then adding the soap/peroxide mixture on top. Let it foam, then rub it with a toothbrush.
• Use caution on dark colored garments. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are natural whitening agents. If you’re using dark clothing, you might want to test a small area first. 
• Double the DIY stain remover recipe if you do a lot of laundry. This recipe is easy to double up if you get a lot of stains. I have a neighbor with five boys and I’m SURE they need a double batch!
• Use white vinegar on armpit stains. The build up from your deodorant can easily make a shirt look stained. Cleaning stains using white vinegar will help loosen up the build-up and freshen your underarms. (Or you can switch to a natural deodorant like this one OR detox your armpits to avoid the need for deodorant!)
• Use with chlorine bleach alternative. If you have some extra stubborn stains, try using this recipe and also wash with a Homemade Bleach Alternative.

HOMEMADE STAIN REMOVER FAQS

Are You Looking For A Cleaner Laundry Soap?

Making your laundry detergent is a great option for non-toxic laundry. But I get that DIY isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

There are a few brands of laundry detergent out there that have non-toxic ingredients. One that I like is Truly Free. They have a variety of household cleaners, laundry soap, kitchen cleansers, and related products. All are made in America, free from toxins, and sold in reusable packaging!

You can use the coupon code CRUMBS30 to get 30% off anything in their shop. This is a HUGE discount! No subscription is required. Simply order through this link.

MORE HOMEMADE LAUNDRY RECIPES

There are even more ways to save by making your own laundry supplies. Here are a few other DIY laundry supplies you can make, as well as tutorials for great-smelling laundry!

• Homemade Laundry Detergent
• DIY Epsom Salt Laundry Booster
• Indoor Clothesline
• How to Get Smell Out of Towels
• DIY Linen Spray
• Homemade Bleach Alternative