The Best Household Cleaning Hack for Getting Rid of Tough Stains
This is a great reference that will demonstrate one of the best household cleaning hacks you’ll find to remove a tough stain from clothes.
As a mom and grandmother, I have seen all kinds of stains and mishaps. There is a real value in protecting garments from stains, not just for the cuteness of an outfit, but for longevity. How will you be able to reuse and hand down if they are stained? Can you take advantage of a great price at the thrift store and save that piece? Yes, you can!
This post will demonstrate that you don’t need expensive cleaners or harmful chemicals. You can use real ingredients found in your kitchen.
This post is all about the best household cleaning hack to remove tough stains from clothes.
On a recent thrifting adventure with my granddaughter, she found the cutest jersey knit blouse. Unfortunately, by the time we stood under the bright lights at the cash register, we discovered multiple stains down the front of the blouse (camouflaged by buttons and ruffles). First, negotiate the sale. The cashier knew that I was running the numbers in my head as I asked my granddaughter how much it was and was it worth saving? The cashier ended up giving it to us for free!
Okay, so let’s get down to the nitty gritty. How do you remove a stubborn stain from your clothes? Since we didn’t know what we were dealing with, I chose the route of assuming it was some kind of grease or food stain.
Here’s what you’ll need (I’ve added links to our favorites):
- Distilled white vinegar
- Dishwashing liquid
- Baking soda
- Water
- Spray bottle
- An old toothbrush (clean)
- Plastic bag, cardboard, or old clean cloth/towel
- Large plastic bowl or tub
Steps:
- Place the garment over a piece of cardboard, plastic, or cloth (that you don’t care if the stain transfer to). In our case, this was a button down blouse so I placed plastic inside the garment so as to separate the front of the blouse from the back.
- Dab the stain with liquid dishwashing liquid using a clean damp toothbrush (be careful not to use too much water). My go to for dishwashing liquid is Dawn Dish Soap. I know there are other brands that compete with a lower price point, but I find that it is the most economical when I consider I use less soap to wash the dishes than the cheaper versions and I have so many uses for it in and around the home.
- Let the liquid sit on the stain for a few minutes. Then, take a spray bottle that contains 10 ounces water and 8 ounces vinegar. Keep this handy for many other household cleaning hacks. Spray over the detergent/stain and let that sit for a few minutes again (about 30 minutes will do).
- Take a small teaspoon and sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the vinegar/liquid. Now let this sit until mostly dried. I let it sit for 4 hours.
- Transfer the garment to a large plastic bowl/tub or clean sink and soak the garment in cold water. Using your hands or a soft scrub brush, scrub out the product and continue to change out the cold water until the water runs clear. Wash the garment as usual.
That’s the recipe I use to remove a tough stain from clothes. This treatment can be used around your house for other household cleaning hacks such as, kitchen appliances, bathroom shower doors, mirrors, the list goes on.