DIY Homemade Stain Removers for Laundry

Using homemade stain removers can help you to get your laundry truly clean.

Fresh, clean laundry should feel, smell and look good. However, stains can quickly ruin the appearance of clothing. Luckily, you don't have to spend a great deal of money on harsh chemical cleaners. You can whip up your own stain-removal recipes right at home for a fraction of what you would pay for them in the store.

Instructions

1. Mix a homemade solution depending on the type of stain you are removing. For drinks, fruit and grass stains, mix one cup each of water, white vinegar and liquid dish soap. For non-oily stains, mix one cup each of water, liquid dish soap and ammonia. For oily stains, mix 8 tbsp. of water with 1 tbsp. each of glycerin and liquid dish soap. You can buy glycerin at some drugstores or online through health and beauty vendors.

2. Transfer the solution to the stained clothing. Pour the drink-fruit-and-grass solution or the non-oily stain solution into a spray bottle and spray it onto the fabric. For the oily-stain mixture, simply pour the cleaning mixture onto the stained area.

3. Rub the cleaning solution into the fabric by rubbing the fabric against itself. Let the solution remain on the clothing for about 10 minutes.

4. Flush the non-oily stain remover or the oily-stain removing solutions out of the fabric with cold running water for at least one minute. Some of the stain should come out as you flush it. For the drink-fruit-and-grass solution, simply leave it on the fabric when you wash it.

5. Wash the clothing as you normally would.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove stains as quickly after they occur as possible to increase the likelihood that you will be able to remove them entirely.

• Do not use homemade stain removers on silk, wool or clothing with spandex, acetate or arylic. These materials should be taken to a dry cleaner.

References

• "How the Queen Cleans Everything;" Linda Cobb; 2002