How to remove stains from clothes (without using harsh chemicals!)

If your house is anything like mine, laundry stains are a fact of daily life.

For many of us, laundry is one of the last things we want to do around the house. This is generally considered a job that we would be happy to hire someone to help with if we could. Especially for young children, stains can make doing laundry more difficult.

Even some of my pickiest friends use traditional stain remover sticks and sprays to remove stains. Yes, even my friends who make their own deodorant, toothpaste, and laundry soap still use traditional stain removal methods.

Since many natural stain removal methods don’t seem to work on tough stains, who can blame them?

Why use natural stain removal methods?

When you switch to natural cleaning, you can’t just spray everything with Shout and wash with Tide and call it a day…so what do you do?

Traditional laundry stain treatments are among the most toxic cleaning products. They contain harsh detergents, solvents, parabens, and tons of artificial colors and fragrances.

There’s also chlorine bleach, which is often used on white clothes and is a major health concern. A 2010 study reported that more than 250,000 children under the age of 5 were injured by household cleaners. Bleach is a major source and can be fatal if ingested (most reported cases involve children ingesting bleach, usually from a spray bottle).

Premade natural stain removers

Already know you want a natural stain remover, but don’t want to DIY? Branch Basics has a non-toxic, natural stain remover that works great. You can use their cleaning concentrate and oxygen boost to pre-treat stained areas.

Another great option is Truly Free. I have been using their natural laundry detergent for years. Truly Free has Oxyboost Stain Remover, Enzyme Stain Remover and Laundry Stain Remover Stick.

If you just want something quick and versatile, both brands offer good non-toxic options. If you want to create your own stain remover, keep reading!

I borrowed some wisdom from my grandmother’s days and enlisted the help of my professional stain creation experts (aka my kids). I’ve put together a helpful list of effective stain treatments for a variety of stains. You can keep this list handy for reference when doing laundry. I’ve also included a printable version (at the bottom of this post) in case it helps you too.

How to remove stains from clothes

Removing stains naturally requires more expertise and work than traditional products. When used correctly, these methods can remove some of the toughest stains (and you don’t have to carry around a poison control number!).

Tip: Always work on stains from the back rather than the front to avoid rubbing the stain more.

Natural Stain Remover Supplies

First, you’ll need the following staples on hand:

Optional, but nice:

How to Treat Different Types of Stains

Here are some of the most common stains and how to treat them naturally. Always check the product care label before proceeding.

• Paint stains: Soak in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes, then rinse.
• tea or coffee stains: Immediately pour boiling water over the stain until the stain disappears. If the stain is old, scrub it with a paste of borax and water and wash immediately.
• grass stains: Scrub with liquid dish soap or treat with equal parts hydrogen peroxide (3%) and water.
• Mud stains: Let the dirt dry and brush off as much as possible, then scrub with borax/water paste and wash immediately in the washing machine
• tomato dye: For ketchup and other tomato products, treat stains directly with white vinegar and wash immediately.
• Nail polish: Blot your nail polish immediately with a clean cloth or paper towel before it dries. Wipe the stain with a cloth moistened with dish soap and warm water, then rinse with cold water. If stains remain, make a paste with equal parts cornstarch and white vinegar. Apply to the area and let sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing off with a toothbrush. Rinse and wash in cold water.
• Ball pen ink stains or marker pens: Soak in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes or spray with hairspray and rinse.
• red wine stains: I use a mixture of soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. You can get my recipe for red wine stain remover here (there’s also an option for upholstery).
• Wax stains: Don’t try to remove hot wax from the fabric as this will only push it deeper into the fibers. Once the wax has cooled, place ice cubes over the area to harden the wax. Use a dull knife or spoon to scrape off as much as possible. Apply some enzyme stain remover to the area (Branch Basics or Truly Free are both good options). Use a clean cloth or soft toothbrush to work in the cleaner. Rinse with warm water after 15 minutes and wash.
• Dull white, sweat or deodorant stains: Soak the stain directly in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water for 30 minutes. Then add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the wash water. For very stubborn yellow stains, make a paste of 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and rub into the stain. Leave on for 5 minutes before washing.
• Other food stains: Treat with a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water and soak.
• Oil stains and grease stains: For oily stains, sprinkle dry baking soda on the area to remove loose oil or grease, then brush away.Then, soak in undiluted white vinegar for 15 minutes, rinse and scrub with liquid dish soap, then wash
• Vomit, urine, feces, eggs, gelatin, glue or other protein stains: Do not wash with warm water! ! ! ! This will set in the scent. Soak in cold water, then wash in your washing machine with a mixture of 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 cup baking soda.
• Bloodstains: As with other protein stains, hot water will only set the stain. To remove blood stains, rinse/soak in cold water, then apply hydrogen peroxide to the area and place it in the washing up liquid.

If you want an easy way to remember all of these treatments, here’s a handy printable guide!

How to deal with real stubborn stains

When I encounter stains where the above methods don’t work, I use stronger products that still contain natural ingredients. My favorite is Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds, which received an “A” rating from the Environmental Working Group and is an amazing all-purpose natural cleaner. Be sure to use Sal Suds instead of castile soap as it works differently.

It can be used directly on very stubborn stains in a pinch, although I prefer to make a natural stain spray:

Other natural laundry tips

Remove stains anytime, anywhere:

My homemade baby wipes fit in a small silicone bag and make a great pre-treatment spot remover on the go.

laundry booster:

Add 1 tablespoon Sal Suds to a load of laundry as a natural stain-repellent enhancer. I would also add homebrew OxiClean to very dirty loads.

Here is a printable version of the above infographic: click to download.

What are your best natural stain treatment tips? Please share below! My kids can test it out…

Here is a printable version of the above infographic: click to download.