Several common household items can be turned into natural laundry stain removers.
They allow you to avoid the harsh chemicals of some commerciallaundry stain removers, plus theyre often less expensive.
Here are seven natural stain remover products that will help you banish stains while effectively keeping yourlaundry routine green.
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To use, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to each load along with your detergent.
Use either key in of juice on white fabrics to helpremove yellow underarm stainsorrust stains.
Add 1 cup of lemon juice to the wash when washing your white clothes.
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Use a paste of equal parts lemon juice, baking soda, and water for tough stains on whites.
Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegaris a miracle worker in the laundry room.
It is inexpensive, gentle on fabrics, and safer to use thanchlorine bleachand fabric softeners.
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you could even use vinegar toclean your washerand help control musty washer odors.
Tip
Freshen your washing machine before laundry day.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidizing agent that can be used as a bleach.
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Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen and is a more environmentally safe alternative to chlorine bleach.
Or, pour undiluted hydrogen peroxide on a stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing normally.
Not sure if using hydrogen peroxide is the right choice for your fabrics?
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The Spot Check makes stain removal simple.
Borax
Boraxis a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water.
It has no toxic fumes and is safe for the environment.
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However, borax can irritate skin and should not be ingested.
Almost allDIY laundry detergentrecipes contain borax.
To eliminate a stain, mix 1 tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water to form a paste.
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Spread it on the stain and leave it on for 30 minutes before washing as usual.
These items can even remove stains if you promptly catch the oil or grease drip on fabric.
Later,washor dry clean the garment followingthe instructions on the item’s care label.
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If you have a red wine spill, sprinkle it liberally with table salt.
Use the cheapest salt it’s possible for you to find.
Let it absorb the liquid, and then brush away before you wash the item.
Remember, if you don’t wash it out,salt can leave white stainson your fabric.
Simply dampen a handful of salt very slightly, and scrub the faceplate of the iron.
When the iron is clean, wipe it with a clean damp cloth.
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work differently to remove stains.
Vinegar is more of a general stain remover.
Baking soda or distilled white vinegar can be powerful stain removers when used separately as described above.
The solution you use for soaking depends on thetype of stainyou are trying to remove.
Sanitize Safely and Effectively: Bleach and Alternatives in Child Care Programs.California Environmental Protection Agency.
Borates, Tetra, Sodium Salts (Anhydrous).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
