Putting Home Spun Stain Removers to the Test

Stains happen. Unfortunately, there’s no telling when or where they will happen, so it’s good to know whether those home spun stain removers can get out those pesky stains before they set in. There are plenty of stain removal products on the market, but there is no guarantee that you’ll find one in your cupboard when you knock over your glass of red wine on a Friday evening, or get grease on your favorite jeans while tuning up your bike.

The following five home stain removers have been proven time and again to get the stains out.

Aspirin

After a hard work out, most people head for the aspirin to combat their aches and pains. What you may not have known is that aspirin is not only a pain reliever, it’s a sweat stain remover. That’s right, one aspirin tablet can remove the sweat stains left on your clothes after your work out. Simply crush one aspirin tablet and dissolve in 1/2 a cup of hot water (or two tablets in 1 cup of hot water). Let the aspirin dissolve in the water. Put the stained area of the fabric in the solution and leave for two to three hours. Rinse and launder the garment as usual.

Club Soda

We’ve all heard that club soda will get out red wine, but is it true? In fact, it is. Club soda is an excellent stain remover for red wine, and plenty of other spills. It can be used on pretty much any fabric that can be treated with water. Club soda can even be used to dab on spills on dry clean-only fabrics to help stop a stain from setting. There are several reasons why club soda should be your go to stain remover. First, it dilutes the staining liquid, such as red wine. Second, the carbonation brings the stain particles to the surface of the fabric. Third, the salt found in club soda helps stop the stain from setting in the fabric, which makes it easier to get rid of no matter how you have to clean the area, or piece of clothing.

WD-40

I bet you didn’t see this one coming, but yes, WD-40 is great for removing many different types of stains, as well as stopping things from squeaking around the house. Grease, oil, makeup, crayon, and lip gloss and balm stains can all be removed with a spray of WD-40. Spray the area of the stain with a light coating of WD-40 and leave for about 10 minutes. Work undiluted dishwashing soap into the stain and then launder, or clean, the fabric as you usually would. As well as getting rid of new stains, WD-40 can help clean stains that have set in.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Like WD-40, hydrogen peroxide can be used on all types of stains from tea and coffee to protein-based stains like blood and milk. If you are planning on using hydrogen peroxide on a stain, use only three percent hydrogen peroxide and test on hidden area. Blot the hydrogen peroxide on the stain and let it bubble for a few seconds before blotting off. Repeat until the stain has been removed, or as much as possible, and then launder immediately.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a natural bleach, so it’s great for any spots on white clothing or fabrics. Dabbing lemon juice on spots on white clothes and then laying them in the sun is a great way to get rid of annoying stains. It can even be used to remove rust stains from clothes. Lemon juice can be used on colored clothing, but you should test the clothing as it can cause discoloration. Also, adding cream of tartar will help reduce the bleaching effect of lemon juice if using it on colored clothes.

Time is of the essence when trying to get any stain out, so you don’t want to waste it trying things that just don’t work. It’s important to note, that some removers are for a specific type of stain only. Also, not all stain removers work on all fabrics, so be careful treating stains on any delicate fabrics.