Remove tough stains with this easy homemade stain remover using just 3 ingredients from your cabinets. Costs 89% LESS than store-bought stain remover and it works great! Also, try my eco-friendly homemade laundry detergent to save even more money!
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 Thieves laundry soap. But one of the first DIY recipes I ever tried was homemade stain remover.
This stain remover works on practically every stain imaginable (even tough ones) like grass, grease stains, food, even blood stains! Plus, it contains only 3 ingredients that I 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. Which 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 apply the stain remover and let it rest 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 used to use homemade laundry detergent, but I switched to Thieves Laundry Soap by Young Living. You can read why I made the switch 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 health benefits (read more here)! 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 cause any issues to leave for over an hour.
Why Use DIY 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 products often rate really bad! For example, Shout stain remover rates at an 8! (Ten being the worst for toxins.)
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 (like these six ingredients to make TEN beauty products!)
- I can customize to make it fit my needs
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 towards a cleaner home!
DIY Homemade Stain Remover
You only need three simple ingredients to make DIY Stain Remover.
- Baking Soda. Baking soda can be found cheap at any grocery store. Or you can buy it in bulk on Amazon.
- Thieves Dish Soap. I buy my dish soap from Young Living. There are a lot of essential oil companies out there, but after testing several brands, I committed to Young Living oils and their natural products. You can read more about their oils and my decision HERE. If you don’t have Thieves Dish Soap, use the Think Dirty App to see how your soap ranks. You want to aim for a 3 or better! (Tip: Dawn dish soap is NOT your best option!)
- Hydrogen Peroxide. This ingredient can also be found cheap at a grocery store or Walmart. This is what I buy from Amazon.
Once you have all your ingredients, simply combine all ingredients in 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!
Store in a dark container or place. Peroxide can lose its effectiveness when stored in the light. Using a dark container or storing in a dark cabinet will prevent the peroxide to go bad.
How to Use Homemade Stain Remover
- Apply a small amount directly to the stain.
- Rub gently with your finger, a piece of fabric or an old toothbrush.
- Allow the stain remover to sit for at least 15 minutes, or up to an hour. Wash normally.
Tips for Using Homemade 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 then adding the soap/peroxide mixture on top. Let it foam, then rub with a toothbrush.
- Use caution on dark colored clothing. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are natural whitening agents. If you’re using on 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 with 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 homemade bleach alternative. If you have some extra stubborn stains, try using this recipe and also wash with homemade bleach alternative.
Cost Breakdown
- baking soda – $.01
- dish soap – $0.11
- hydrogen peroxide – $.05
The total cost of homemade laundry stain remover is 17¢. Compare to the cost of Shout at $1.55 for the same amount. Making it yourself saves 89%!
Are You Looking For A Cleaner Laundry Soap?
Making your own 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 Cleaning Supplies
There are even more ways to save by making your own supplies. Here are a few other DIY laundry supplies you can make, as well as tutorials for great smelling laundry!
Fight Inflation Workshop
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.
Keywords: stain remover, homemade stain remover, stain remover for clothes, DIY stain remover, natural stain remover
Tiffany Cruz
hello! If I add lemon to the mixture of the stain remover, will it have any reactions, especially to the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide?
Tiffany Cruz
oh, Tiffany, we also have the same name!!
Tiffany
Hi Tiffany!! The lemon will react with the baking soda and make it fizz. Are you thinking of adding lemon b/c of its whitening properties? If so, it’s best to add it separately to the stain and work in with a toothbrush. 🙂 Good luck!
Sherryl C
This is actually the remedy for skunk as well. It works wonderful! My only piece of advice….Don’t mix in the baking soda. It carbonates and explodes if the baking soda is fresh. What I have found that works very well is sprinkle DRY baking soda on the stain, then SPRAY the Dawn/peroxide mixture on top. It will foam. Rub with toothbrush. Gets EVERYTHING out! And for pets (or people) who get skunked….sprinkle dry baking soda on the the skunked parts, then spray the dawn/peroxide mixture on top and rub in. Then wash it out. SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the skunk odor.
Tiffany
Thanks for the tip Sherryl!
Karen
I first heard about hydrogen peroxide and dish soap a year ago from the Marilyn Dennis show. It works better than any stain remover I’ve ever bought. I rave about it. The baking sissy however might be nice cause I could see it like a mild abrasive maybe?
http://www.marilyn.ca/mobile/Segment?segid=121518
Heather Eisner
Baking soda is awesome at breaking down grease….
Uba
Do you need to add water while stirring. If yes what quantity?
Tiffany
Nope, no water!
Jim K
Baking soda with peroxide is a powerful cleaner. Besides clothings, it can also cleaning tiles, porcelain and stainless steel.
J WEST
I keep the bottle (previously commercial, if this works I will keep this bottle) in the bedroom closet. If I take off something that’s stained I treat it before it goes in the hamper. If it made it to the washing machine, I have an extra basket for kitchen cloths, it can get tossed in there. That solution may work for your families, the side basket just has to be sorted rather than dumped into washer.
Jennifer
When my kids were little, they were cloth diapers and one my my children couldn’t nurse and had to have formula, and the stains it would leave. I always put water in my diaper pail and added just about a 1/4 cup of cheap dishwasher detergent (in those days it was just powder) I would pour out the water and launder as usual and always had Snow White diapers, my bibs didn’t have stains. I have now tried it on our real dirty yard clothes and works great if you don’t mind the soaking over night!
Heidi P
Hello, would hydrogen peroxide loose it’s effectiveness over time? How about storing the mixture in a clear bottle versus a dark bottle! Thanks in advance and I cant’t wait to try it.
Tiffany
Hi Heidi! The mixture should be stored in a dark bottle – I keep mine in the laundry room which is dark, so I’m not concerned about light. I also recommend mixing in smaller batches (the one above in the recipe is ideal) so not to worry about losing effectiveness!
Anna
Hey fellow stain remover specialistso :-),
Hopefully I’m not the only one here that washes hubby’s dress shirts. Anyways his shirts always get this wonderful dark stain on the cuffs of the arm and as well as the neck. Maybe I should have asked this before I started scrubbing away here lol. Will this work on those stains? Also I’m hand washing the shirts. Usually do so in my bath tub with oxy clean and regular laundry soap! Pls get back sooner rather than later lol
TIA.
-Anna
Tiffany
Hi Anna! I use this on all sorts of stains, so it’s worth a shot!!
Sarah
Hey, can this be used on carpet stains as well?
Tiffany
I haven’t tried it myself Sarah – use at your own risk!
Lori
I have left this stain remover on super tough stains for over a week and haven’t ever had any discoloration. I have also yet to find a stain it cant remove! Good stuff!!
Tiffany
That’s excellent news Lori – thanks for sharing!
Janice
I forgot to mention that altitude and barometric pressure can also affect the foaming that Mary is experiencing.
Thanks, Tiffany, for the thoughtful entries that you make.
Janice
The reaction that Mary is getting is completely normal.
The natural reaction between baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is the release of oxygen. The oxygen gets trapped in the soap and causes the bubbles/foam. You can probably avoid the excessive foaming if you mix the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide first and allow it to rest a while to allow the oxygen to escape before stirring in the soap.
The end result should be a terrific cleaner/stain-remover!
Also, if left on too long it will definitely cause bleaching. The baking soda and peroxide combination bleaches. It’s even used in toothpaste to help whiten teeth. If you were buying a product like this, it would come with a warning to test in an area that is not visible because of the potential to discolor your clothes.
If there is no foaming reaction I would guess that one of the ingredients has lost its efficacy, or that the peroxide is of a low concentration. It comes in different concentrations. What concentration are you using, Tiffany?
Tiffany
Thanks for sharing Janice! From memory, I think my peroxide is 3%. I’ve heard it comes in 6% too, but I’ve honestly never seen that kind before!
Carrie
Vinegar and baking soda cause foaming,even enough to unclog a bathroom drain..I do it all the time,followed with boiling watercarrie Brown
Ale
I love this recipe! I have used it many times! It even took dried blood off a shirt. Thank you so very much!!!
★★★★★
Tiffany
You’re most welcome!
Mary
I tripled the recipe and noticed two things- 1) separation of baking soda and 2) carbonation for lack of better word. It exploded on me when I opened. Is it normal for the baking soda to separate out and I’m a little worried about putting a pimp on these jars for fear of overflowing bottles. Any feedback? Thanks!
Tiffany
Very strange Mary – I haven’t experienced either of these! I’m really not sure what would cause separation or the excess air… maybe try another batch and let it sit out in the open before bottling? Or using a bigger jar so that there’s more room for expansion? So weird!!
Mary
So odd that this is not a norm. I had it with all my bottles!
Angela
I completely have the same exploding bottle!!
I have made maybe 4-6 times in bottles (condiment cheap squeeze bottles)
I had 1st. time made foam explode in laundry pantry all over & every other time I do.
1 part white vinegar
1 part Dawn original dish soap
1 part Baking Soda
I have left 1/4 bottle empty,
I have left lid loosely screwed on with squeeze opening cover off, I do not know what I am doing different.
What is the order of each ingredient &
how is it mixed?
I shake mix.
Foams everywhere.
But, it really is pretty great stain removing.
Please share any tips! 😊
Or other stain removing recipes.
Tatiana
May I suggest trying out dye-free dish soap? There are a lot of eco-friendly, natural and dye free dish soap such as the Seventh Generation brand. There’s just something about clear, natural dish soap that just feels and looks better than seeing unnatural blue dye come out of the bottle, plus in that case you wouldn’t have to wait for the dye to dissipate when using it as a stain remover. Just a tip 🙂 Same goes with dyed dish sponges, something just weirds me out about seeing blue dye oozing out of the sponge when its brand new. That’s why I also like using unbleached dish sponges.
Also, you should totally give Dr. Bronner’s castille soap a try! It has so many uses. The citrus one is also good at getting out laundry stains 🙂
Tiffany
This is a good idea Tatiana, and once to definitely consider the next time I’m out buying dish soap. 🙂 Thanks for the tip on Bronner’s citrus soap!!
Rachel
THANKS for the recipe! I have toddlers– stains are an everyday occurrence, it seems.
How long is the shelf life of the stain remover, once mixed? Does it lose effectiveness over time?
Tiffany
Hi Rachel! I haven’t noticed the effectiveness change at all, so give it a good shake and you should be good to go!
Karen Larimore
I just recently started using a mixture of one part original blue Dawn to two parts hydrogen peroxide (no baking soda). I haven’t tried it on greasy stains yet (and believe me I have those clothes in the back of my closet, too), but it works perfectly on my son’s grass-stained baseball pants! One thing to remember, though, is that hydrogen peroxide loses its effect if not stored in a dark container.
Tiffany
Thanks Karen! I keep my hydrogen peroxide in the dark garage, so I hadn’t thought of that!
Eileen
I’ve used the dawn and hydrogen provide combination too for almost a year and really like it. Hadn’t thought of adding baking soda.
Dixi
Does the peroxide bleach colors? Thanks!
Tiffany
We haven’t had any issues Dixi. You use such a small amount on a concentrated area that we haven’t noticed any color change.
Victoria S.
Do you think castile soap would work in place of the dish soap? I don’t keep dish soap around anymore and use castile for everything, but don’t know if it would have quite the same stain lifting power as normal dish soap.
Tiffany
I’m not sure Victoria since I don’t use castille soap my in my house (yet). If you try, would you update and let us know how it goes?
Adriane Suhayda
I just mixed up a batch made with castille soap yesterday. It did remove the stains but left slightly bleached looking spots on the gray sheets I used it on. I can’t figure out if this is due to the castille soap or because it was a king sized sheet which got twisted up in the washer and possibly didn’t fully rinse out.
Ruthie
I need to treat arm pits because I have 5 teen/early 20’s young men and a 12 yr.old daughter and all the smells that go along with them. (Not complaining, just saying:) Can this recipe be doubled, tripled or even quadrupled? I mean, in the picture, it looks pretty concentrated, but I’m thinking I’d run through it pretty quickly. Or do you use something else for that, and strictly treat your grease, grass, etc. stains with this one?
J B
I have found that straight white vinegar sprayed on armpit stains helps with odor, discoloration, and any deodorant residue. Worth a try! 🙂
Tiffany
Thanks JB!
Ruthie
Thankyou so much, JB! I will definitely try this. One more great use for white vinegar and such a simple fix 🙂 Ruthie
K
Im confused, in one place it says make the recipe and store it in a jar. And then it says tips for using and says not to pre mix it ….but the directions said mix it and pour in a jar and everyone is talking about where to store it…so, which is it? Did i read something wrong?
Kyare - Team Crumbs
They are options based on preferences. You can combine and store all together or mix just the soap & peroxide to pour on top of the baking soda separately.
Laurie
Is this safe for coloured dress men shirts?
Somekh Cheri
Hi, what qty must I mix of Bicarbonate and white vinegar for the removal of old oil stains .
Jade Matrone
What happens if you leave the treatment on overnight?
Sheikh
heya,have you made that stain remover?
Angie Day
Really need a recipe for a large black ink stain on a down comforter. Open to all suggestions. Thanks….
Judith Armstrong
Nail varnish remover has worked for me in the past, i poured some on and allowed it to soak for a while, not to dry in tho, and then popped it in the normal wash. it worked and without fading on numerous items, coloureds and whites, without fading and design or colour and without smudging