Stain Removers

1 cup hot water
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

Store in spray bottle. Spot treat stains and soak overnight.

2 qts. water
1/2 cup ammonia
2 tbsp. laundry detergent

Store in spray bottle. Spot treat stains and soak overnight. DO NOT use this recipe with bleach!

Ballpoint ink: Press a paper towel against the stain to absorb the wet ink. Using a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol, lightly dab at the mark. Rinse in COLD water then wash according to fabric.

Blood: Soak the stained garment for 15 minutes in a bucket of cold water mixed with a handful of salt. Then soak in an enzyme-based detergent. Launder according to fabric. (If the blood stain is fresh, have the person whose blood it is spit onto the blood and rub a bit, then rinse in cold water. The enzymes from the spit help breakdown the stain.)

Chocolate: Pretreat stain with an enzyme-based detergent, then launder as usual. If stain remains, remainder with bleach if safe fabric (or color safe bleach).

Dirt/Mud: Allow mud to dry. Brush off any hard residue, then launder to remove any remaining marks. Treat persistent mud stains with denatured alcohol.

Fruit Juice: RInse immediately under cold water. Treat any remaining stain by sponging it with denatured alcohol. Launder according to fabric.

Grass: Soak in an enzyme-based detergent. Launder according to fabric. Apply vinegar to the stain with a sponge, and lightly dab to lift. If the stain persists, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda, and brush it into the stain with an old toothbrush. Then, wash as usual.

Grease, oil or fat: With a paper towel, blot away any remaining grease. Sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, then launder according to fabric. Pretreat grease spot with Dish soap (like Dawn), rub into stain and launder as normal. If stain is stubborn, put WD-40 on spot and then retreat with dish soap and launder. Adding the grease will help unset the stain. Soak the stain in undiluted white vinegar. Then wash as usual.

Gum: Soak gum stain in distilled white vinegar until it softens enough to remove. Launder as usual.

Lipstick: Dilute by sponging with denatured alcohol. Repeat with dishwashing liquid. Launder according to fabric.

Liquid Medicine: Sponge stain lightly with denatured alcohol. Launder according to fabric.

Mildew: Brush of mildewed area, then pretreat stain with a heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder in hottest water wafe for fabric. Dry in the sun.

Latex paint: blot excess paint immediately, then sponge with cold water. Launder according to fabric.

Perspiration: Pretreat heavy stains by blotting with ammonia solution (1 tsp. ammonia to 2 cups cold water). Launder using all-fabric bleach. Saturate with vinegar and rub salt into stain, allow to dry in the sun. Launder as normal.

Tomato-based sauces: Place the fresh stain under cold water, rubbing it between your fingers. Saturate the area with a prewash treatment. Launder according to fabric. Saturate with distilled vinegar, allow to soak in. Launder as normal.

Scorching from iron: If it's slight, and has not damaged fibrers, wash immediately with regular detergent in warm water.

Wax: Scrape as much of the wax deposit as you can using a spoon. Place brown paper over the spot and iron with a warm iron until the wax melts into the paper. Treat any residual marks with denatured alcohol.