Homemade Stain Remover {VIDEO}
I have tried many methods of removing stains from clothing over the years. This homemade stain remover aka “miracle cleaner” really does the job, it is inexpensive and easy to make.
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My Favorite Homemade Stain Remover
Tackling stains just got a whole lot easier! With just 3 simple household ingredients you probably already have, you can make your own DIY stain remover that will remove just about any stain! I’m not kidding!!
The other day when I was mixing up a fresh bottle of my favorite homemade stain remover, I realized I have never shared it here on the blog.
Probably in part because it’s been all over Pinterest for years and I assumed everyone already knows about it. Yet I’m surprised every time I tell someone about this homemade stain remover and they had never heard about it. Which made me think, I would be doing an injustice to my readers who have NOT heard about it if I didn’t share this life-changing formula we call….. The Miracle Cleaner.
Back in 2008 Glamour magazine shared an article
The Only Stain Remover You’ll Ever Need
The story tells a tale of a favorite dress and a glass of red wine. After thinking the dress was completely ruined, a friend let her in on a little stain removal secret that she has sworn by ever since…………….
The Recipe for Homemade Miracle Cleaner Stain Remover
(printable version at the end of this post)
For Laundry Stains:
1 part blue Dawn dishwashing liquid
2 parts 3% hydrogen peroxide
Mix and pour or spray directly on the stain, launder as usual and watch it disappear like MAGIC.
What does 1 part to 2 parts mean?
You can mix however much of this homemade stainer remover you need. Whether you want to mix just enough to treat one small stain or a bottle full, you will measure out twice as much hydrogen peroxide than the dishwashing liquid.
So, if you use 1 teaspoon of Dawn, you will need 2 teaspoons of peroxide. Or 1/2 cup of Dawn and 1 cup of peroxide.
Have odor to remove too?
Add a little baking soda for extra deodorizing and scrubbing power. Good for armpit stains, pet stains, vomit and grease stains.
What Can You Use This DIY Spot Remover On?
I keep a bottle of this Homemade Stain Remover in my laundry room to spray on stains, and it has yet to fail me.
Besides usual food and other mysterious stains that appear on my family’s clothes, I have used the DIY Stain Remover to successfully removed set in grease on a favorite t-shirt, yellow armpit stains, chocolate, blood, and tire grease when a white hat was driven over after being lost in the street.
If I’m worried about a really tough stain, like the hat or yellow armpit stains, I will use an old toothbrush to scrub the stain remover into the fabric (you can also sprinkle with a little baking soda to make a paste for a little extra deodorizing and scrubbing power) and let it sit about an hour before washing.
If it’s a large stain, as was the case with the dress, you can mix the formula and add it to a bucket of hot water and soak the entire garment for a few hours.
If the stain does not come out completely the first time, try it a second time, but it has worked the first time on everything I have tried.
As with any stain removers, always do a spot test, but if it’s a garment that’s already a loss because of the stain, what do you have to lose?
Does this Homemade Stain Remover Work on Carpet?
I have used the DIY Stain Remover on carpet with great success as well, and I know others have used it on upholstery, mattresses, grout, and many other items around the home!
For treating stains where it’s harder to rinse, like carpet, upholstery, or a mattress you will want fewer suds so it’s best to use a higher ratio of peroxide (3 or 4 parts peroxide to 1 part Dawn).
Won’t Hydrogen Peroxide Bleach My Clothes?
Household Hydrogen Peroxide is 3% can be a very effective cleaning agents without a bleaching effect. While higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide at 6% or more are strong enough to cause bleaching.
The brown bottles at the drugstore are generally 3% Hydrogen Peroxide.
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I would love to hear if you have tried this DIY stain remover, and what results you had!
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HOMEMADE Stain Remover
I have tried many methods of removing stains from clothing over the years. This homemade miracle cleaner stain remover really does the job, and it is inexpensive and easy to make.
Materials
- blue Dawn dishwashing liquid
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- baking soda (optional)
Tools
For Multiple Uses
- Colored/Dark spray bottle
- funnel
For one time use or larger items:
- bowl
- old toothbrush or brush
Instructions
- Mix 1-part Dawn dishwashing liquid and 2-parts hydrogen peroxide in a *dark spray bottle or bowl. (Use a funnel if pouring into a bottle)
- Spray or pour Miracle Cleaner directly on the stain, launder as usual and watch it disappear like MAGIC.
- FOR REALLY TOUGH STAINS: use an old toothbrush to scrub the stain remover into the fabric (you can also sprinkle with a little baking soda to make a paste for a little extra deodorizing and scrubbing power) and let it sit about an hour before washing.
- FOR A LARGE STAIN: you can mix the formula and add it to a bucket of hot water and soak the entire garment for a few hours.
FOR LAUNDRY STAINS
If the stain does not come out completely the first time, try it a second time.
As with any stain removers, always do a spot test, but if it’s a garment that’s already a loss because of the stain, what do you have to lose?
FOR CARPET, MATTRESS AND UPHOLSTERY STAINS
- For treating stains where it’s harder to rinse, like carpet, upholstery or a mattress you will want fewer suds so it’s best to use a higher ratio of peroxide (3 or 4 parts peroxide to 1 part Dawn).
Notes
WHAT DOES 1 PART TO 2 PARTS MEAN?
You can mix however much of this homemade stainer remover you need. Whether you want to mix just enough to treat one small stain or a bottle full, you will measure out twice as much hydrogen peroxide than the dishwashing liquid.
For Example: if you use 1 teaspoon of Dawn, you will need 2 teaspoons of peroxide. Or 1/2 cup of Dawn and 1 cup of peroxide.
*WHY STORE IN A DARK BOTTLE
If you want to keep a spray bottle of this homemade stain remover in your laundry room, it should be kept in a colored or dark bottle. If Hydrogen peroxide is stored in a clear bottle then light will pass through and decompose Hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Colored bottles do not allow the light to enter the bottle.
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Can you use green dish soap
I’ve used this formula consistently for several years with no problem until yesterday. It took the color out of an expensive Lacoste sweatshirt. I’m so mad. Just an FYI…..
it’s always best to spot test first.
I was stumped, I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner! It works great!
Will soaking the clothing in the solution and water hurt or damage desires and decals. I’m trying to get a stain that came from nowhere out a new sweater and am worried about damage.
you should do a spot test before trying any treatment.Also, if the sweater is unwearable with the stain, I always figure what do I have to lose if I try it and it doesn’t work.
Absolutely love it, worked on everything 💯💯💯
Didn’t work at all.
I am having a real issue with my husbands clothes. He works outside alot and everything from his jeans to his socks have red clay( we live in MS) on them. I’ve tried everything I know clothes are expensive and at times he forgets to change into work clothes wearing his good ones. Will this work on it?
Does it have to be Dawn specifically? Or can it be any dishwashing soap?
Can you let this sit on cloths for a few days like store bought or do you need to launder same day?
Same question as above👆🏻Will this work with the green Palmolive brand? I’m not able to get Dawn currently (no income issues) and still have that in my cabinet—
I have not personally used anything else, but it shouldn’t hurt to try it.