Removing stubborn stains
Can't get a stubborn stain off a beloved garment? Here's some stain removal secrets from fellow Homemakers readers. Check out this creative variety of stain removal recipes to get out everything from blood to tar.
Stain removal tricks
"Blood stains on clothes: Pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood."
Francine Fogel, Toronto, Ont.
"Pre-treat stains as soon as possible even if I can't do the laundry immediately."
Michaela Pedersen Macnab, Edmonton, Alta.
"For chewing gum I put the garment in the freezer for an hour. Take it out and the gum peels right off."
Carolyn DesJardins, Edmonton, Alta.
"One of the things I use to remove stubborn stains is the clothesline and sunshine. A couple of hours of sun can remove a winter long stain."
Kelly Kuzminski, Brantford, Ont.
"For wax on clothing I put an ice cube in a Ziploc bag and rub it until it's well frozen and then chip it off -- easy removal! VOILA!"
Lori Belanger, Winnipeg, Alta.
Secret stain fighters
"I use vinegar to get perspiration stains out of shirts."
Heather Arnould, Winnipeg, Man.
"Working in a science lab, I've discovered that alcohol can remove ink stains!"
Donna Yee, Toronto, Ont.
"My secret is to squirt a little bit of Sunlight Detergent for Dishes on to the stain and rub lightly. Let stand for a few minutes and toss in the wash. This can only be done with Sunlight as it does not leave a coloured soap stain in its place. Blood, grass you name it ... It works every time and is much better than costly stain removers!"
Bozana Evashkow, Hamilton, Ont.
"For red Wine, pour on white wine, agitate and let set. Than launder as usual."
Jo-Anne Bohus, O'Leary, P.E.I.
"For whites I presoak in diluted Javex bleach; for colours I presoak in diluted Javex Bleach for unbleachables. I also use Tide to Go pen immediately before stain has time to set in."
Brenda Karlovcec, London, Ont.
"Most important is to treat the stain right away -- before it has time to set. Soak in cold water and scrub with undiluted detergent -- then wash."
Marie Stott, Aurora, Ont.
"WD-40 will remove tar from clothes."
Scott Robertson, Cookstown, Ont.
"Hairspray, works great on almost everything."
Shaunda Lang, Calgary, Alta.
"I like to use a liquid detergent right on the stain and let it absorb over night, then I wash the garment after it has soaked overnight."
Sonya Raimundo, Edmonton, Alta.
Stain removal recipes
"I make my own stain remover using 1 part water, 1 part vinegar and one part dishwashing liquid -- it works just as well as commercial brands."
Stephanie Moore, Ottawa, Ont.
"I make a paste of Tide and warm water and rub into the stain and then I launder in usual fashion."
Brenda Kennedy, Morriston, Ont.
"Soak all stains in a mixture of baking soda and water and gently scrub the stain just prior to washing."
Ken Scriver, New Germany, N.S.
"I use some liquid laundry detergent and a toothbrush and gently rub the detergent into the stain. Then I wash as normal. If the stain doesn't come out the first time I repeat the process before drying the item."
Lisa Baker-Atfield, Toronto, Ont.
Share some of your own stain removal tips and tricks on our forum.
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