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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homemade stain remover in a brown glass spray bottle

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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…………….

Homemade stain remover ingredients

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.

how to make a DIY homemade stain remover

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.

diy-stain-remover-image

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.

how to remove clothing stains with homemade stain remover

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.

diy-stain-remover-stain-gone-image

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).

DIY stain remover in a glass bottle

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.

Like This Homemade Stain Remover? Pin It!

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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 ingredients

HOMEMADE Stain Remover

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

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

    FOR LAUNDRY STAINS

    1. 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)
    2. Spray or pour Miracle Cleaner directly on the stain, launder as usual and watch it disappear like MAGIC.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.

    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

  1. 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.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

diy stain remover in a brown bottle with ingredients behind it