Treat Stains With Household Items You Already Have

Dealing with pesky stains doesn’t always require expensive stain removers—some of the best solutions are right in your kitchen! Here’s how you can tackle stains and odors, extending the life of your clothing, using household items like vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and salt.

1. Vinegar and Baking Soda for Odors and Stains

If your clothes smell musty or have sweat stains, vinegar and baking soda are a powerful duo. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, while baking soda lifts stains.

• For odors: Add one cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle to eliminate smells.
• For stains: Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of vinegar to form a paste. Apply to the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash as usual. This is perfect for underarm stains and odors that appear with everyday wear or older vintage items.

2. Dish Soap for Oil and Grease Stains

Oil-based stains can be tricky, but dish soap, designed to cut through grease, works wonders on clothing. It’s ideal for spills like salad dressing or cooking oil.

• How to use it: Blot the excess oil, then apply dish soap directly to the stain. Gently rub, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and rinse with warm water before washing.

3. Lemon Juice for Brightening and Stain Removal

Lemon juice is not only a natural bleaching agent but also excellent for tackling stains caused by things like coffee or sweat.

• For brightening: Soak stained white clothes in a mixture of lemon juice and water, then lay them out in the sun. The combination of lemon and sunlight acts as a natural whitener.
• For stains: Apply lemon juice directly to the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse and wash.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide for Tough Stains

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleaching agent, making it ideal for tough stains like blood or red wine on light-colored fabrics.

• How to use it: Dab hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary before washing.

5. Salt for Sweat and Wine Stains

Salt is surprisingly effective for absorbing moisture and lifting stains, especially from sweat and red wine.

• For sweat stains: Make a solution of 4 tablespoons of salt and 1 quart of hot water. Sponge the sweat stains with the solution, then rinse.
• For wine stains: If you spill wine, immediately cover the area with salt to absorb the liquid. Let it sit, then brush off the salt before rinsing and washing.

Using these common household items, you can easily treat a variety of clothing stains without spending extra money on fancy products. Keep them on hand, and you’ll always be ready for a stain emergency! We use these methods on all our of vintage pieces that need a bit of extra care.