You are here:Home Natural Living Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet [Printable]

Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet [Printable]

22 Comments

small Wellness Mama Stain Treatment Laundry Guide small Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet [Printable]If your house is anything like mine, stains on laundry are a daily fact of life.

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

Borrowing some wisdom from my grandma’s era, I compiled a helpful list of effective stain treatments for various types of stains. I keep this list handy when I’m doing laundry, and I’ve included a printable version in case it will be helpful to you too.

Here’s an overview:

- Always treat stains from the back, rather than the front, to avoid rubbing the stain in more.

-My Homemade Baby Wipes can be kept in a small Ziplock bag and make a great pre-treat spot remover on the go.

-For Ink or Paint Stains: Soak in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes or (ink only) spray with hair spray and wash out.

-Tea or Coffee Stains: Immediately pour boiling water over the stain until it is gone, or if it is already set, scrub with a paste of borax and water and wash immediately.

-Grass stains: Scrub with liquid dish soap or treat with a 50/50 Hydrogen Peroxide and water mix

-Mud stains: Let dry and brush off what you can, then scrub with a borax/water paste and wash immediately

-Tomato Based Stains: Treat with white vinegar directly on the stain and wash immediately.

Dingy Whites or Underarm Deodorant Stains: Soak the stain directly in a mix of 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water for 30 minutes and then add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the wash water.

-Other Food Stains: Treat with a mix of 50/50 Hydrogen Peroxide and water and soak.

-Grease and Oil Stains: Sprinkle the stain with dry baking soda to remove any loose oil or grease and brush off. Then, soak in undiluted white vinegar for 15 minutes, rinse and scrub with liquid dish soap before washing

-Vomit, Urine, Poop, Blood, Egg, Gelatin, Glue or other protein based stains: DO NOT WASH IN WARM WATER!!!!! This will set in the smell. Soak in cool water and then wash with an added mixture of 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 cup baking soda in the washing machine.

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

What’s your best natural stain treating trick? Please share below! My kids could put it to the test….

pf print icon Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet [Printable]Print pf pdf icon Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet [Printable]PDF
Filed Under: Natural Living Tagged With: , , , , ,

Related Posts

Like What You Read?

Sign up for exclusive Wellness Mama updates to get my newsletter, coupon codes, & bonuses emailed FREE! (No spam ever, I promise!)

About Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, & Pinterest.

Disclaimer: Many of the links on my site, especially those from Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs, Tropical Traditions and OraWellness are affiliate links. Should you click on these links and decide to purchase anything, I will receive a small commission and you will have my sincere thanks for supporting Wellness Mama!

DISCLAIMER: The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

  • Sandy Poster (Postermama)

    Rust stains on fabric, squeeze lemon or lime juice on stain and sprinkle with salt, lay garment in the sun, and presto! stain gone, works every time. ( In some cases a repeat treatment may be needed.)

  • beautyandthrift

    I was just talking to a good friend of mine last night about natural stain removers! She had asked what I used, since I use a homemade laundry detergent, and I told her I didn’t use anything (because I don’t!). But I’m weeks away from having my first child and I know stains are going to become a very regular part of my life. So this was 100% timely and you better believe I directed her to your blog! Now we’ll both have a wonderful resource for natural stain removers.

    And what a great gift it would be for a natural mom-to-be to wrap a cute basket containing all the products on the list and including a laminated sheet of the outline! Thank you so much for this!

  • Erin

    Peroxide, vinegar and baking soda. A complete laundry room stain fighting team!

  • Sarah H.

    Shucks, I really want to download and print your pdf, but for some reason when I click on the link it won’t load, it just shows me a blank screen. :(

  • Andrea Welte

    I am having that problem, too.  I am new to the home made cleaning stuff, and so would like very much to have this as a reference.  Thanks!

  • Pingback: Are You Scared of Salt? — Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: Want to try Microfiber? | Wellness Mama

  • Mif

    I use Lighter fuel on grease and oil stain.

  • Calibugs123

    anyone know how to treat mold stains on clothing (dont ask how they got there because i have no idea!) just washing in the laundry did nothing.

  • Pingback: Guide to Laundry {Cheat Sheet} | Best Cheat Sheets

  • http://www.facebook.com/sara.gerard.56 Sara Gerard

    remove lipstick stains from clothes with milk :)

  • Tiffany Wolfe

    Tea tree oil works wonders on mold. I would add a teaspoon of it to your laundry when the washer is full of water and try that. I use it in my laundry that smells musty or when my son (potty training) has an accident.

  • Brandi

    I find that blood stains should be treated immediately with peroxide if at all possible or as soon as possible. even if its just poured on and left to sit without further scrubbing with laundry soap and possibly more peroxide if needed. I feel this tip is more relevant to women for menstrual reasons….gross I know but SO COMPLETELY RELEVANT. lol the quicker blood is treated the better the result of it ALL coming out instead of all but the outside ring or leaving a brown stain behind.

    Also the statement of not ever using Hot water on urine is EXTREMELY important of cat and dog urine! So remember when carpet shampooing!! The heat will bond the proteins in urine to the carpet fibers or fabric & you’ll NEVER get it out completely. Even if you catch it right away and after cleaning can’t smell it yourself rest assured the dog and cat will. just word to the wise.

  • AimezR

    Help!! I spilled some of my morning lemon water (that I put coconut oil in) on my car seat. :( I read above that you soak oil stains in white vinegar then scrub with dishsoap before washing. Obviously I can’t throw the car seat in the washer… should I still follow the same process? Rinsing as well as possible?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Yes, but I’d dilute the vinegar and use a microfiber cloth to clean/dry if you have one…

  • Pingback: Natural Cleaning Mini Challenge [Giveaway!] | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: Wellness Challenge Check In [Giveaway] | Wellness Mama

  • Pingback: 9 Easy Ways to Boost Your Child's Health | Wellness Mama

  • Linda Grooms

    I had a bar of lye soap that I picked up at a state park that was demonstrations on soap making, etc. You rubbed a little on the stain and it worked wonders! Wish I had bought more! Making my own soap is on my to-do list.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mdouenias Martha Douenias

    Hi, I wanted to ask if the hydrogen peroxide you’re referring to is the 3% one you get everywhere, or is it something else? (maybe more concentrated)
    Thanks

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    3% :)

  • Tegan

    Any recommendations on treating wood floors with cat urine stains/odor? I’m concerned the hydrogen peroxide, recommended for laundry, might lighten the wood in the treated area.