Homemade OxiClean Stain Remover

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DIY stain remover
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In my house, even when we used to use commercial cleaning products, stains are a fact of life. I’ll likely never be able to give away hand-me-downs. By the time clothes have made it through my kids, they either have holes or stains that can’t be fixed.

Of all the stain removers out there, OxiClean is one of the most natural options I’ve found. I started making my own because it was even less expensive than the store brand.

Thanks to Pinterest, I found a recipe for homemade OxiClean stain remover. And from my scientific testing (aka my kid’s stains for two weeks) it seems to be as effective as the store-bought stuff. It’s also really easy and inexpensive to make!

Why Choose Natural Laundry Stain Remover?

Between grease stains, food stains, and grass stains, kids can really do a number on clothing. Many years ago I would have thought natural laundry products wouldn’t remove stains and opted for conventional detergents in my laundry room. Plus there are the convincing ads for instant stain remover and stain remover pens that promise ease of use.

I quickly learned those chemicals aren’t an option I want in my home and I don’t need bleach for white clothes. Then there are the phosphates that cause toxin-releasing algae blooms. While most countries and states ban the use of phosphates in laundry products, not all do.

Our clothes lay right next to our skin all day long, so that can add up to a lot of chemical exposure over time. My older kids do their own laundry now, so I don’t want them handling toxic stain remover either. Thankfully there are plenty of healthy (and effective!) options.

OxiClean Stain Remover Powder

I discovered Oxiclean at my local grocery store when my kids were little. Their ingredients are simple enough and the Free version is cleaner than the regular version. It’s essentially a mix of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide. Once mixed together these ingredients react to form sodium percarbonate.

If you mix them together yourself you’ll notice a lot of bubbles and foam. This is why I mix and use this as needed for fresh stains. Once the mixture settles down it’s still releasing gas which can cause your spray bottle to expand or explode!

Want to Buy it?

Since I first started using this recipe I discovered a new brand of laundry products, Truly Free. They meet all my strict standards and are a great prepackaged option if you don’t want to make your own. You can check out their Oxyboost stain remover here and use code wellnessmama for a discount.

The Best Stain Remover for Different Types of Stains

Not all stain removers work best for all clothes. I’ve found that this DIY Oxiclean though works well for most things. Here’s a quick guide for how to best remove certain stains.

  • Blood stains – rinse with cold water and then use hydrogen peroxide or DIY Oxiclean.
  • Food stains – For tomato stains use vinegar, for coffee use boiling hot water. For everything else use either hydrogen peroxide or DIY Oxiclean.
  • Oil stains – Grease stains from oil-based products are some of the worst to get out in the wash! Dish soap and warm water work well here though.
  • Red wine – For red wine stains, I use this DIY natural stain remover. Plus it even works on upholstery!

It’s best to treat stains as soon as you see them since old stains are harder to get out. It’s also important to not put your stained t-shirt in the dryer until the discoloration is removed. For set-in stains, I like to soak clothes in warm water and DIY Oxiclean (or Oxyboost) for several hours. Then wash as usual.

How to Use DIY Stain Remover Spray

In the past, I used baking soda as a spot remover and odor remover, but I’ve found washing soda does an even better job on linens and clothes. For tough stains, I’ll pretreat the fabric with a paste of the below recipe before laundering. You can mix the ingredients together and dab it on the stained area.

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty or need to apply the stain remover to a larger area, then use a spray bottle. After it’s soaked add it to the washing machine. This stain remover shouldn’t be stored in the bottle for longer than a few hours. If there’s extra once I’m done treating everything I like to throw it in the washing machine with the clothes.

Please note that this is best made fresh and not stored. I keep the ingredients in my laundry area and mix small batches to use as needed.

DIY stain remover
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4.34 from 3 votes

DIY Stain Remover (Like Oxiclean)

This fast and easy homemade cleaner works like Oxiclean with even simpler ingredients. Works as a spray or a paste for tough stains.
Prep Time3 minutes
Total Time3 minutes
Yield: 2 ounces
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

Instructions

  • Combine the very warm or hot water and the washing soda and mix until dissolved. Mix in a spray bottle for a liquid version, or in a bowl if using it as a paste.
  • Add the hydrogen peroxide.
  • Use as a pre-treat spray on stains. You can also add the entire mixture to some water in a small basin and let the stained clothing soak for 30 minutes before washing.

Notes

  • This is a liquid recipe and reminds me somewhat of Shout laundry stain remover spray.
  • You can also mix and use it like a paste for more stubborn stains.

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some frequently asked questions if you run into problems with your DIY stain remover.

Help, my bottle expanded/exploded!

Don’t mix up a full bottle and do use it as needed or within a few hours after mixing. The hydrogen peroxide releases a gas once mixed with the washing soda that continues to expand. It also starts to lose effectiveness if stored.

My ingredients clogged the bottle

Try using it as a paste instead. The washing soda may not have dissolved all the way first, so try using hotter water.

The washing soda didn’t dissolve/ there are clumps in the bottle

Dissolve the washing soda in hot water before adding the hydrogen peroxide

It didn’t do anything

The hydrogen peroxide may be too old or the clothing may need to be treated again.

What’s the weirdest stain you’ve ever had to get out? Ever made your own laundry supplies before? Share below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

113 responses to “Homemade OxiClean Stain Remover”

  1. C Laumann Avatar
    C Laumann

    Came to this site looking for oxi(oxy) clean info.
    But a comment on well water. I’ll second / third the plus for well water. I had city water for the first 25+ years of my life, have had a well for the last 15+ years and I much, much prefer well water. I now actually get slightly upset stomach if I drink certain city water now (one relatives’ home and restaurants in a nearby city) – I suspect b/c my gut is no longer used to the mess that accompanies certain municipal water supplies.

    Well water should be checked for radium, etc, but a simple filter and salt can take out most impurities. A r/0 unit under the sink can make water “extra” filtered.

    While city supplies do put chlorine, flouride, etc. in the h20, I was shocked to discover years ago that municipal water supplies are basically filtered toilet water — cleaned up, of course, bleached, but still – yuck! I’d far rather water from a fresh underground acquifer (sp?) Don’t want unnecessary drugs, horomones or chemicals in my body.

    For those who are interested, read the following article available on medicinenet dot com: Dohney, K. (2008) Drugs in our Drinking Water: Experts put potential risks in perspective after a report that drugs are in the water supply. The gist of it is that the experts find observable traces of all kinds of stuff in public water supplies, including oral contraceptives, and can’t really say for sure if they are “safe” quantities.

  2. RIL Avatar

    What is the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide in the recipe?

  3. Marivic Gonzales Avatar
    Marivic Gonzales

    Hi. I got this stubborn stain from a colored stick on note which I accidentally left on the pocket of my long sleeves polo. What do you suggest I do to remove stain. By the way my polo is colored (light blue)

  4. Seth Avatar

    Love the post. Great job. One thing irking me right now is when did oxyclean change to oxiclean with an I?

  5. Veronica Avatar
    Veronica

    Look at all the folks that failed to pay attention in science class.

  6. Ana Teresa marrero Avatar
    Ana Teresa marrero

    What is washing soda, how to make it or where to buy?

    1. malissa Avatar

      Most people say wal-mart, but the one here does not offer it. I can order it from their website at their price or go to the laundry section of the local grocery and pay three dollars more a box for it. Where ever you shop, check with the laundry products…or look online for how to bake your baking soda to make your own washing soda.

  7. Eileen Kelley Avatar
    Eileen Kelley

    Hi. I just see this blog. very nice and people are joining in is very nice to see. I did read about oxyclean and making own formula and seems to be still some dilemna so until it is finalized I will continue to us Shout which works well for me. I am confused about ‘washing-soda’ and ‘baking-soda’… I usually add baking soda to my wash except for black items. I think baking soda affects the color black and I like my black clothes to stay the same shade of black and I found baking soda did affect the color black. Nice website – Best wishes. I read your ‘my comment policy’ and if I make a mistake of all your rules – I hope you will notify me before “banning” because there was alot to read and some was a bit confusing to me. Please let me know if my words here are confusing because I know sometimes my writing may not be clear. Thanks… wonderful idea for a website. I am always searching for tips for housekeeping and organizing………………………………… e

  8. Logan Surgeson Avatar
    Logan Surgeson

    Regarding making ones own “OxyClean Stain Remover” as per the recipe.
    When the resultant mix is placed in a spray container, it continues to bubble and pressurise the container.
    How does one stop this so that the homemade Stain Remover can be used over a number of days?

  9. Robin Avatar

    Would distilled water be better than tap water for this or does it matter?

  10. Cheryl Avatar
    Cheryl

    How is this called oxiclean spray and pictures oxiclean in photo but its not in ingredients???

  11. lisa Avatar

    Katie-In list of ingredients, you state washing soda but then in written instructions you wrote “baking soda”. You should swap out that error so folks can have clean clothes and not ones ready for baking….

  12. Katia Avatar

    Has anyone found that the washing soda doesn’t seem to dissolve? It just forms a lump in the bottom of the container I mix it in.

    Also, for things like ring-around-the-collar (IOW, discoloration from skin oils and such), I find it needs to be applied directly to be effective– putting it in the wash load or just putting the item to soak doesn’t seem to work (which is a problem when it is a large area, because you can go through a lot of this stuff in a hurry). So, making a paste of the washing soda/peroxide and applying directly to the stained portion is necessary. (I haven’t tried it yet on other stains because I don’t get those too often, but having oily and possibly-acidic skin means whites are doomed, and things like OxyClean are my best friend.)

    1. Dusty Grout Avatar
      Dusty Grout

      I made some to clean bathroom tile grout. The first batch of made 1-1/2 cups but the soda did not dissolve completely. Then after I used about 1 cup, it clogged the spray bottle nozzle. Also, I was using a 2.5 inch diameter brush on a drill motor to scrub and got clumps of what looked like wet washing soda. Since my wife has 2 half-empty bottles of hydrogen peroxide in each of three bathrooms and the kitchen, I figured it could be pretty old and might have lost some of its potency.
      The next batch I used 1/4 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/4 cup water since the hydrogen peroxide is diluted in water. It dissolved 90% better with only a thimble full of undiluted soda and did not leave the wet soda residue when brushing.

  13. anette gebhard Avatar
    anette gebhard

    I made mine yesterday and while it is a great cleaner…..it removed filth in grout that I couldn’t get out scrubbing on my hands and knees….well the bottle EXPLODED all over the top of my washing machine and once I wiped it off the machine, it hasn’t looked that beautiful in years…..and it caused dirt to come out of the washing machine itself. I WILL make it again, but will never store it in a bottle, I’ll just use it all at once…..and make it each time I need oxyclean

  14. randal scott Avatar
    randal scott

    Baking soda and the vinegar is the most helpful trick to remove the stains from the carpets.

  15. Mandy Avatar

    I LOVE your site! I made this yesterday and my bottle expanded and then it cracked. What did I do wrong? Thanks!

    1. Diana Avatar

      You didn’t do anything wrong. It is a reaction that happens when you mix the soda with the peroxide. Some people just make the stain remover as they need it in small amounts. That is too much of a pain for me so I found another recipe that I think works as well as this one, just remember to pre treat for about 30 minutes. 1 part original Dawn dishwashing soap and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. I keep mine in a dark cabinet and have duct taped over the entire bottle as I have heard peroxide does not like light.

  16. Roxe Avatar

    What strength peroxide do you need, when i typed in amazon (co.uk) it comes up with loads of different types, food grade, medicinal use, beauty products etc … Ps. I Love Your Site!

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      Something around 3% is good, higher than 10% is a definite no-no. Medical or cosmetic is fine. I just get mine at the drugstore.

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