Every housewife sometimes faces the challenge of urgently needing to remove a stain on clothing or restore a damaged item to its original appearance. Many people don’t even realize that you can easily make an effective stain remover with your own hands from home remedies that are always available in the kitchen.
We invite you to get acquainted with simple but effective recipes that can replace expensive household chemicals. It is important to remember that stain removers are divided into oxygen, acid, solvent and targeted agents. Which one to choose depends on the origin of the stain and the type of fabric.
Oxygen analogs include: hydrogen peroxide, borax, soda ash and baking soda; acidic substitutes include table vinegar, citric acid; ammonia, olive oil, and acetone will serve as solvents. Laundry soap, glycerin, salt, green tea, olive oil and aspirin are always in demand when cleaning things.
Advice from experienced housewives
There are guidelines to consider before you begin stain removal. As well as rules that will allow you to more effectively deal with any contamination:
- Start treating the stain on the fabric from the wrong side - from the edge to the center.
- Create a “buffer zone” around the stain by sprinkling it with starch or talcum powder. This will protect the fabric from streaks.
- An old stain should first be moistened in cold water and treated with glycerin, then washed in a warm soapy solution (or carbonated mineral water).
- Do not use alcohol-containing solvents or acids to remove stains on colored and synthetic fabrics.
- On fresh stains left by berries and fruits, you should first pour boiling water over them and wash them in warm soapy water. Another option is to use 9% vinegar with lemon juice.
- Hydrogen peroxide will clean ketchup stains on clothing (be sure to wear rubber gloves before applying). Then rub well and rinse the contaminated area with water.
- Alcohol or acetone will remove the ink. Pour onto the stain. Leave for up to half an hour and wash with regular washing powder. If necessary, the procedure should be repeated.
- If a child gets dirty with chocolate, it is better to wash it first in salt water.
- Blood stains are difficult to remove. In this case, try putting a mixture of crushed aspirin tablets and water on the contaminated area soaked in cold water. Leave to dry for a while and wash in warm soapy water. You can use another option: moisten the stain with hydrogen peroxide, leaving it for 5 minutes and wash thoroughly.
- A method that has proven itself among young mothers in the fight against baby stains is to mix one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Pour onto the stain (no need to rub) and leave for up to 30 minutes.
- A remedy prepared from a glass of warm water and the juice of one lemon (tsp. citric acid) will help get rid of a rust stain. To do this, dip a cloth in the solution and apply it to the stain. Iron and wash in water. Then wash in the usual way.
- A stain on a leather product can be washed with a solution prepared from 3 parts alcohol, 1 part water and dried. You can't rub it.
If you were unable to cope with the contamination, then you can try to prepare a stain remover according to the following recipes, which have proven themselves to be the best.
For colored and white things - recipe No. 1
When using chemical stain removers, there is a possibility of discoloration on the fabric fibers. Considering this fact, you can prepare the following composition:
- soda ash (3 tbsp);
- Grind 72% laundry soap (2 tbsp) on a fine grater;
- fresh green tea (0.5 tbsp.) – optional
- 5-7 drops of essential oil (preferably lavender);
- boiling water (1 liter).
Adviсe:
- To soften the fabric, you can add citric acid.
- To preserve the color longer, sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of salt.
- If you wash white cotton items, add 1 tsp before washing. hydrogen peroxide.
Mix all ingredients, bring to a boil and cool. Pour this solution into the washing machine or soak the laundry in it for several hours. Wash and rinse thoroughly.
Warning: Soda ash is an alkali, so be sure to wear rubber gloves when hand washing.
Bleaching kitchen towels - recipe No. 2
It is difficult to return kitchen towels to their original appearance after several times of use. Accordingly, it is easier to replace them with new ones. But some housewives manage to resort to tricks by preparing their own bleach, which is based on refined sunflower oil.
At first glance, this method is surprising, but once housewives use it, they really confirm its effectiveness.
We will need:
- 5 liters of water;
- 0.5 cups of washing powder;
- 1 tablespoon sunflower oil.
Preparation: Boil water in a large laundry pan, add powder and stir. Then add oil. Dip dry, dirty towels into the soapy solution. It is better to carry out this procedure at night so that they have time to soak. The next day, rinse first in clean hot water and then in warm water.
Fact: using this recipe, you can bleach stains from tea, coffee, or wine.
DIY baby laundry detergent - recipe No. 3
A mixture that includes borax (sodium borate) is a good cleanser because this natural substance has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is not for nothing that borax is added to baby powders, as it has the ability to cope with severe dirt and soften fabrics.
Warning: Sodium borate is alkali, so protect your hands by wearing rubber gloves. You can buy it at hardware stores.
Includes:
- dark laundry soap – 150 g;
- baking soda – 500 g;
- borax – 200 g;
- a few drops of essential oil (tea tree).
Three soaps on a fine grater. Combine a small amount of boiling water, add all the other ingredients, stir and use instead of regular washing powder. You will definitely be pleased with the quality of the wash. But also keep in mind that borax has a bleaching property and is not suitable for washing colored items.
Homemade spray - recipe No. 4
The good thing about using this product is that it can be used on almost any surface.Removes stains from chocolate, ketchup, carrot and beet juice from children's clothes and works great on light-colored textile furniture upholstery.
Ingredients: take equal amounts of 50 ml of glycerin, distilled water, liquid soap, 100 ml of hydrogen peroxide 3% and essential lemon oil (40 k). The latter, for short-term storage, can be replaced with the juice of one lemon.
Preparation: mix the entire composition thoroughly in a dark bottle and begin treating contaminated areas.
Attention: homemade detergent can be stored for no more than two months.
Carpet cleaning - recipe No. 5
The solution can be prepared in a spray bottle or a regular bottle. We pour there:
- a glass of purified water;
- 1 tsp. liquid dish soap;
- one tbsp. l. table vinegar;
- a teaspoon of baking soda.
The mixture must be shaken and sprayed, directing it onto the dirty spot. Take a stiff sponge and clean the carpet. Remove any remaining solution with a dry, clean cloth.
A stain remover prepared at home with your own hands will serve as an effective alternative to household chemicals. If you take into account the advice of experienced housewives in addition to the proposed recipes, then there is every chance of dealing with any pollution cheaply and environmentally.
