Whether it’s a bit of Bolognese down your front or dirt and grass stains on your kids’ clothes, whatever the reason, stains happen!
The good news is that most common household stains can be removed with ingredients you already have at home.
DIY stain remover
Nicole Gibson is the Laundry Queen at Soka Australia. She says the longer you leave a stain, the harder it will be to remove. But that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible.
Nicole says her DIY combination stain remover spray tackles about 70 to 80 per cent of common stains, and the best part is it’s cheap.
The DIY stain remover spray contains a mixture of dishwashing liquid and vinegar, says Nicole.
“You’ve got dishwashing liquid, and you’ve got vinegar. Dishwashing liquid is perfect for removing oils. The vinegar component is good for deodorising and whitening, and it’s also good to remove oil. Still, I think the combination works well,” she says.
She adds: “There are no harsh chemicals, so it’s not damaging the fabric. You aren’t breathing it in, and you aren’t touching it on your hands if people have sensitive skin.”
Different types of vinegar
Nicole says three different types of vinegar are available (cooking, cleaning and double strength), but they all have different acidity levels. While they will all work the same, Nicole prefers double strength.
Nicole’s DIY stain remover recipe
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup white vinegar (Nicole uses 8% white vinegar available in the condiment aisle).
- 3/4 cup clear dishwashing liquid (Nicole uses clear Palmolive eco).
Method:
- Heat in microwave for 1 minute (once only – no need to reheat before use).
- Stir gently
- Pour into a spray bottle
- Swirl before use
How to use the stain remover
Whether it’s dirt, oil, grease or grass, Nicole will start by spraying the stain with her combination stain remover and let it sit for five minutes.
Next, give the stain another spray and rub the fabric together. Alternatively, you can scrub the stain with a soft-bristled toothbrush to help loosen it.
If the garment can be soaked, place it in a bucket of cold water in the laundry for at least 30 minutes (you can leave it overnight if you prefer). Don’t add any more detergent as it’s already on the stain.
Put a bit of bicarb on it and throw it in the wash.
How to remove stains with the sun
If that doesn’t work, there’s one more step you can try.
Nicole says to try her combination stain remover spray first for tough-to-remove stains, like your tomato Bolognese stains that have been there for a few days. If the stain is still visible, Nicole recommends placing it in the sun.
“Now spray it in vinegar and put it in the sun, and that will finish removing the tannins.”
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