Finding unexpected stains on your clothes can be annoying, especially when you’ve ran out of store-bought stain removers. Don’t despair, because you can still get rid of minor stains without having to rush out to a nearby grocery shop. Here are 10 stain removers that can easily be found in your pantry, fridge, and even your beauty drawer!
1. White Vinegar
To maintain the vibrant color of your garments, pour half a cup of white vinegar into your washing machine during the rinse cycle so your clothes come out brighter. White vinegar can also be used to remove sweat or perfume stains. Just soak it in your garment before putting it in the washing machine.
2. Lemon Juice
Has sweat stains affected the collar of your favorite white shirt? If it has, then use lemon juice to remove the stains. Lemon juice works as a natural, milder bleaching agent that won’t damage the fibers of your garment like actual bleach does. Just squeeze some lemon juice on the stains, leave the garment out in the sun, and wash your clothes as usual.
3. Baby Powder
If you’ve got any curry stains or oil spills, a generous amount of baby powder on your stain (applied immediately) can help soak up the oil stains off your clothes. Once the stain reaches the surface of the fabric, it’s much easier to remove.
4. Salt
Spilled a few droplets of wine on your new top? Use salt to soak up the wine! Apply some finely crushed salt crystals over the stain so it helps soak up the wine. Another trip is to pour white wine over the red wine spill.
5. Club Soda
Whether it’s a steak on a sizzling hot plate, or just having a go at some tasty chicken wings, you’re bound to leave a restaurant with a few food stains. If you’re in a restaurant and find stains on your clothing, order a club soda and pour or dab it over the spill to prevent it from permanently staining your clothes. Club soda causes the stain to rise to the surface of the fabric, making it easy to wash off when you get home.
6. Body Lotion
Has your wall been affected by dirt marks, finger prints, or crayon marks? If they have, you can actually wash them out with a soft cloth and a few dollops of body lotion. Lotion helps remove the stains on your walls without affecting the new paint job you had several months ago.
7. Rubber Eraser
If your brand new leather bag has been affected by several dirt marks or pen ink marks, just grab an eraser and rub the marks off slowly so that it doesn’t fade off the leather.
8. Acetone Nail Polish Remover
Did you spill some nail polish or paint over your clothes? Use acetone or acetone-rich nail polish remover to remove those stains, but make sure your fabric does not have dyes as the acetone will cause it to fade.
9. Clothing Iron
Wax stains don’t happen as often as food stains. But if you find a few drops or even an entire patch of candle wax on your clothing, here’s what you do – place several layers of paper towels over the stain, and place the iron on top of the towels. The wax will melt and transfer onto the towels.
