Best Natural Stain Removers

Whether you have kids, pets, or are just extraordinarily clumsy like me, laundry stains are part of life. Different spills need different solutions, so here are a few all-natural stain remover recipes you can use on a variety of stains.

We’ve made a lot of messes in this house. Besides the usual spills and cooking splatters, when we are outside we always get dirty. When I was little, I wasn’t allowed to roll in the grass or play in the mud, and I want my kids to enjoy their playtime without worrying about keeping their clothes clean. They have bought into this idea with great gusto.

That said, some stains need to be dealt with or they’ll never wash out. That’s where these tips come in.

These stain remover recipes are broken down by stain type. I’ve picked a few of the most common stains based on how they need to be removed. For instance, wine and grease are totally different stains and need very different DIY stain remover recipes.

By the way: if your laundry smells funky, even after you wash it, check out this natural way to freshen your laundry.

Remember to check the washing instructions for your clothing items before trying these. For special fabrics or dry-clean-only clothing, these methods might not be safe to try.

Best Natural Stain Removers

Coffee, Tea, or Tomato Sauce Stains

The tannins in coffee, tea, and tomato sauce make these stains unique. Follow these steps for a natural stain remover:

1. For tomato sauce, scrape any excess sauce off with the flat end of a butter knife first.
2. Act quickly and flush the stain out with cold water.
3. Apply a paste of baking soda and castile soap. Allow this to sit for 3-5 minutes.
4. Gently rub the fabric together and then soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Then gently rub again to see if the stain is gone.
5. Soak in warm water and gently rub the fabric to loosen up any remaining stain particles.
6. This should do the trick, but you can repeat the process again for deeper stain removal.

Red Wine or Fruit Juice Stains

First, try to get to the stain as quickly as possible. The longer it sits, the more difficult it becomes to remove. Blot the stain with a clean, dry cloth to remove as much liquid as possible.

Then use the following as natural stain removers:

1. Stretch the clothing over a bowl. Then flush the stain out with cold club soda. (This works better than water.)
2. Then pour a generous amount of table salt over the stain and let it sit for 5 minutes.
3. Rinse the salt away with warm or very hot water (depending on what’s safe for the fabric).
4. If some of the stain remains, dab with a 50/50 mixture of warm water and white vinegar. Let it soak for 30 minutes and then launder as usual.

Grease, Sweat, or Grime Stains

Grease, grime, and sweat make for hard-to-remove stains. But they aren’t impossible to remove if you use the right natural stain removers.

1. Make a 50/50 mixture of castile soap and hydrogen peroxide. Then, add enough baking soda to make a thin paste.
2. Apply generously to the stain and work it into the fabric with a soft toothbrush.
3. Let this sit for 30-60 minutes.
4. Launder as usual. Check before drying to see if the stain is fully removed. If not, repeat the process again.

Makeup, Lipstick, Ink, Pen or Marker Stains

Makeup and ink are heavily pigmented and can cause serious stains. Don’t give up hope! Use these steps and natural stain removers to get these tough stains out:

1. Scrape off any excess with the flat end of a butter knife if needed.
2. Soak the end of a sponge in rubbing alcohol. Dab at the remaining stain to remove as much pigment as possible.
3. Rinse the sponge and reapply alcohol as needed to prevent spreading the stain.
4. Sprinkle a 50/50 mixture of table salt and baking soda on the stain. Dab with a wet cloth until the mixture is gone. Repeat if needed.
5. If some staining remains, saturate the stain with castile soap. Leave for 30-60 minutes, then wash in cold water.

There you have it – all my natural stain remover tips! Like this post? Share it with friends or family who need some natural living ideas!