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)
- 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.
- 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.
- Wash the treated clothes in hot water. I use my homemade laundry detergent – you can find the recipe here.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Apply a small amount of stain remover directly to the stain.
- Rub gently with your finger, a piece of fabric, a scrubbing brush, or an old toothbrush.
- 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
What is the best stain remover for clothes?
This homemade stain remover formula for clothes works really well on a variety of stains – coffee, blood, ketchup, makeup, grass, grease spots, and more!
Can old stains be removed?
Older stains may take multiple applications of stain remover, but they can come out. Treat and wash as listed above, and check to see if the stain came out before drying.
What if I don’t have stain remover on hand?
Use this recipe to quickly make a batch of stain remover! You can also try using just dish soap to cut through greasy spots. More colorful stains will remove better with all 3 ingredients.
Does vinegar remove stains from clothes?
Vinegar helps break down mild discoloration and can help soften clothes by removing detergent residue, but it does not do well at removing greasy stains.
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
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Sign up for my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!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!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Category: DIY Household
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
- Mix ingredients in a small glass jar or plastic bottle with a flip top.
- Swirl gently to combine.
Notes
- 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 recipe for larger families. 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. 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.
I gave this diy stain remover 4 stars only because I had to use 2 1/2 travel size bottles of this stuff in order to complete remove a stain
Stain remover recipe is the best thing since sliced bread. I tried it today to remove washable pencil marks of some fabric crafts I made. It’s the greatest and cheap too. Thanks so much for developing this recipe.
I used Dawn and it really gets sudsy. I just mixed it up in a bottle and was wondering if this causes too many suds in a front loading washing machine. I can’t rate the effectiveness yet. I’ll be washing it soon. I hand rubbed parts on a child’s jacket, perhaps I’ll rinse some out before putting it in the washing machine.
I make one similar to this and just put less laundry soap in when I am doing a load to cut down on the suds.
Could you please state what concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution you use?
Is it 3% ?
Thank you
Hi Bev!
Yes, 3% hydrogen peroxide is recommended for household use. Hope this helps. 🙂
What if I do not have thieves soap?
Amanda,
You can use any dish soap that you have on hand for this stain remover recipe. I have adjusted the post to reflect this. So sorry for any confusion. 🙂
I have been using your formula for about 3 weeks now. My husband works outside & gets very dirty, with ground in dirt & grease. Clothes turn out completely stain free. Thank you for sharing.
You’re most welcome Joyce! So glad it has helped. 🙂
Absolutely love this stain remover. I’ll bet I’m on my 15th bottle already. There hasn’t been any stain able to kick my butt. Thank you for sharing.
Made and tried this diy stain remover today. It worked great and was so easy and cheap to make!! I used it on grease and armpit stains and it’s the only thing that worked and is the only thing I will be using. Thank you for sharing
Paula,
I’m so glad! Thank YOU for sharing with us. 🙂
Do you dilute it with water or no
I usedDawn dish detergent because I had it on hand. I put it in a spray bottle, with a tiny bit of water to keep it from foaming too much. I’ve used it on pet stains on my carpet…even forgot to rinse it a few times….no problems….a plus also is that baking soda removes the smell of pet odor.
I use dawn soap and works great . Use on shower cleaning, all clothes stains , even pet stains on tile floor
Thank you for the knowledge! Can i also use mixture be used to remove rust from a cloth?
Thanks,
Susan
I have not done so, but you can try for sure!
Try saturating the stain with equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. Lay the cloth out in the sun…..the rust will turn black,purple, then disappear!..then you can wash your cloth as usual.,
This has to be the most thourough, well done series of DIY projects I’ve ever read (& will use). To the author of these: My greatest Respect!!! Well done in all areas. I hope you are having a great life!
Hello! What bottle do you use to prevent the hydrogen peroxide from breaking down?
Hi Rachel, you can use this tinted glass: https://amzn.to/3o1qOir or store this one in a dark place: http://amzn.to/1Ly3X8y.
I don’t understand why no one will answer my questions. Are you sure the proportions are correct? I don’t get a solid. I get a liquid layer with some white stuff on top if I follow the proportions above: 1 T. baking soda, 4 T. liquid soap and 8 T. peroxide. What am I missing.
I don’t understand how this is a thick paste. Your recipe says 4 T. of dish soap and 8 T. of hydrogen peroxide to 1 T. of the solid AKA baking soda. I just mixed it up and it seems pretty liquid to me. Does it thicken as it sits? do you have to let it thicken before you use it?
You are right. Just made it and it is very soupy. Not a paste. The ratio is off. Not enough of the baking soda solid to create a paste. Other recipes have the ratio of ingredients as 1 part baking soda, 1 part dish soap, and 2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide. Going to try that ratio next. HTH!
Hi Kim,
The brand of dish soup can vary the texture. You can adjust the ingredients to get a more paste like texture if it seems too soupy. 🙂