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Stain Removal

stain removal

Laundry stain remover –

1 part Dawn Dish Soap (blue)

2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide

You can mix and put into a small dark spray bottle. Hydrogen Peroxide breaks down when exposed to light.

Blood Stains

Option 1- Soak in heavily salted cool water. Once the stain is removed, wash right away.

Option 2- Generously douse with hydrogen peroxide, scrub with old toothbrush, wait 10 minutes, rinse in cool water. If a shadow of stain remains, put a drop of Dawn dish soap on the stain and sprinkle a bit of baking soda over the top. Scrub the soap and baking soda into the stain with your toothbrush, then rinse the area thoroughly with cool water. Once the stain is removed, wash right away.

Option 3- mix equal amounts of ammonia and cold water. Dab on stain. Once the stain is removed, wash right away. Also use this method for urine and sweat stains. Once the stain is removed, wash right away.

Option 4- Pretreat by soaking with Oxi-Clean.

Option 5- Pet Stain Remover – Honest, I used to keep a gallon of Nature’s Miracle with Oxi on hand. Seriously, between cats, dogs, kid bed accidents. Now I’ve seen that you can use it on blood stains. I honestly do not remember using it for that, so I cannot vouch for that.

 Ink

That was a common problem when I worked in clothing stores. We kept a can of hair spray on hand just for this. Spray the stain and gently rub with a toothbrush, or very gently with your fingernail. Do not rub too hard or you will affect the fabric.

Warm milk – same thing. soak the stain and gently rub.

I hear you can use hand sanitizer. I have not tried it myself.

Sweat Stains

Combine 1 part Dawn dish soap and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Stir to combine.

Apply the soap and peroxide mixture to the stain(s), and sprinkle a bit of baking soda over the area.

With an old toothbrush, work the Dawn, peroxide, and baking soda into the fibers of the shirt. (Make sure to clean an area slightly bigger than the actual stain so you don’t accidentally miss any of it.)

After scrubbing, let the clothing sit for at least an hour or so, and then wash as usual.

Ring Around the Collar

Dampen the stained area of the shirt with warm water, then apply your chosen stain remover.

1. Laundry Stain Remover above

2. a bit of dishwaher powder mixed with water to make a paste

3. Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar – Wet a corner of a bar of Fels-Naptha laundry soap and rub it onto the stain.

Use your toothbrush to give the area a good scrub, then let the shirt sit for 20 minutes, or up to an hour.

Soak the shirt in the warmest water for the fabric for half hour to an hour.

Wash as usual.

Grass Stains

You might be able to do a quick spot clean with some hand soap. 

Otherwise, presoak with some Oxi-Clean, scrub stain with a toothbrush if needed, wash as usual.

Baked on stains on pyrex and glass baking dishes

Magic Eraser and Dawn, or Bar Keepers Friend. Scrub well. Let the cleaner sit on the dish for a few minutes before washing.

Baked on grease and stains on cookie sheets –

1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste. Scrub with a green scrubby sponge. Let mixture sit on pan a few minutes before washing off.

Stained white cutting board-

Rub with half a lemon. Place in sun for a few hours. When I was a teen, this was the way many bleached their hair in the summer. 

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