One of my favorite homemade stain removers that I've written about before (more than once!) is a simple mix of Dawn laundry soap and peroxide. I've used it several times with good success.
Dried Stains
More than likely you'll need to soak the stain or use a more aggressive stain remover. On white clothes, try using lemon juice and placing the garment in the sun. Both the lemon juice and the sun will work as bleaching agents. Be sure to rinse the clothing thoroughly before rewashing.
Shout Advanced Stain Remover for Clothes with Scrubber Brush
It's no surprise that two products with built-in applicator brushes — our best overall pick from Carbona and this product from Shout — earned the top two spots in our stain-removing tests with both showing similar results in the Lab.
Some of the top options on the market include OxiClean, Oxo-Brite, and Biokleen. Once you have your bleach ready to go, it is time to find a container that you can soak your soiled clothing in for five to six hours.
Douse the stain with white vinegar, then apply a paste made of equal parts baking soda and vinegar. If this doesn't work, immerse the item overnight in a bucket of water containing a few tablespoons of detergent and vinegar.
Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with enzymes with 1 cup of water. Add 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar and stir. Use a Dobie All Purpose Cleaning Pad to apply the detergent-vinegar mixture to your unidentified stain. Blot with the pad until the stain is gone.
By comparison, OxiClean suggests that you don't leave it on a garment for more than six hours, because it can start to damage the fabric.
Richardson recommends The Laundress' All-Purpose Bleach Alternative, which you can use as a pre-soak or as a laundry boost in a normal load (just follow product instructions). Other options include Nellie's Oxygen Brightener Powder or Branch Basics' Oxygen Boost, which you can find in the brand's laundry starter kit.
Unfortunately you can't treat every stain immediately so sometimes they set. But OxiClean™ Max Force™ and its 5 Powerful Stain Fighters, can help you get out old stains.
Yes! Vanish is capable of removing old stains as well as new stains.
The longer a stain is left untreated, the less likely it is to be removed. When a spill first occurs, it sits on the surface of the fabric, but over time, that spill can start to react with the fabric causing the fabric to actually change colors.
You're Using Too Much Detergent or Softener
Higher-efficiency washing machines need less detergent and/or detergent pods, so if you're finding white or blue cast stains on your clothes right after the wash, you could be putting too much soap into the drum.
Apply a Coat of Wood Stain Remover and Wait
If you're removing stain from a piece of furniture or working on a small area, you can apply the stripper with a natural bristle brush. Pour what you need into a metal or aluminum pan, and brush a thick, even layer of stain stripper onto the surface.
Mix a solution of oxygen bleach and cool water (or use a product with those ingredients) and soak the entire garment for at least one hour. “Four hours are better, overnight is best,” she says. Check the stains and wash as usual.
According to BISM, the ingredients that make up Oxiclean can cause serious injury if breathed in, swallowed, or gets in your eyes.
Hydrogen peroxide works differently than vinegar and is better at removing different types of stains. Hydrogen peroxide doesn't actually remove stains—it just makes them invisible! It breaks up strong chemical bonds in stains including ink, and in doing so it makes the stains colorless—but they're still there!
If you're DIYing a laundry detergent and you want it to be really potent, then washing soda might be the way to go. If you're looking for a gentler detergent, baking soda is a great option. Oxiclean becomes just peroxide and washing soda once it hits liquid.
Step Two: I let the clothes soak in the OxiClean for about 8 hours (6 hours is recommended but I just let mine soak overnight). Note: I literally let these SOAK.
probably at least a cup of the Oxy Clean and Biz, ½ - ¾ cup of Cascade and ⅓ cup of Dawn. if you are using a larger container, use more soap. then, mix it all up.
Unfortunately for everyone, some stains are permanent. They simply become part of the fabric. Continued attempts to remove them will cause dye loss or fabric damage, known as chafing or fraying. Many stains are removed by the dry cleaning machine and require no additional effort from the cleaner.
Heat can set stains permanently. Once you toss the item into the dryer, the stain is set for good.
First flush the area with cold water, then daub it with a paste made from an enzyme detergent (such as All brand laundry detergent) and let sit in a warm place for 30 minutes. Place diluted ammonia in an eye dropper and treat the area. Rinse and finish with a regular wash cycle.
White vinegar is a magical stain remover to have on hand in your laundry room. You can leave your clothes soft and fresh with just three minutes of simple soaking time in distilled white vinegar before adding them to your washing machine. It's safe on fabrics--no artificial chemicals or fabric softeners needed!