How to Remove Stubborn Stains with Natural Ingredients

You don’t have to douse your home or clothing with chemicals to remove difficult stains.

Here are some tips on how to remove them with natural ingredients:

1. For liquid stains on your carpet, sprinkle them with ordinary table salt (use plenty). After half an hour or so, vacuum up the now-stained salt and sprinkle on more salt. Using a mixture of 2 parts water to 1 part white vinegar, scrub the second application of salt into what’s left of the stain. When it’s dry, vacuum again.

2. Instead of salt, sprinkle baking soda n the stained carpet. Then pour on white vinegar and wait for the fizzing to stop. Using a cloth, rub the area to absorb the liquid. Allow the area to dry, then vacuum.

3. Hydrogen peroxide is an inexpensive stain treatment for your carpet, bedding, or clothing. It is especially good for blood stains. Simply pour it on, rub it in lightly, and wait for the fizzing to stop. Allow it to soak for about 20 minutes. Then rinse or wash as usual.

4. Mix table salt with sweet almond oil or olive oil to make a thick liquid. Rub this into wood that has been stained or discolored.

5. Stains on dishes, cups, pots, pans, and so forth can be removed with a paste made from baking soda and water. Make sure the paste is thick. Smear it onto whatever stain you want to remove. Allow it to sit a few minutes, then rub the paste with a cloth in a circular motion. Rinse with warm water.

6. Ballpoint pen ink stains on clothing can be removed if you soak the stain in milk. Rubbing alcohol rubbed into the ink stain can help, too.

7. Sprinkle white flour on grease stains on clothing. Let it sit for awhile, then wash as usual.

8. Club soda is a tried-and-true stain remover. It also fizzes, which helps “bubble up” the stain. It works on clothing or carpet. Use it like hydrogen peroxide.

9. Hard water stains can be removed using vinegar and lemon juice. In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of water, and a tablespoon or two of lemon juice. Spray this over the stained area and wait for about 5 minutes. Then wipe off the stain. You may need to repeat the process, or increase the ratio of vinegar to water.

10. For tea and coffee stains on clothes, apply rubbing alcohol to the stain. Make sure it penetrates the fabric. Then rub the area with laundry detergent and wash in hot water (or as warm as the fabric will tolerate).