Stain removal is both an art and a science. It's a science in the literal sense that stain elimination involves chemical reactions, such as using an enzyme to counteract a protein. It's an art in that there is no universal solution to all stains, and there are times when a bit of informed creativity unveils a new way to get an old stain out—for example, using milk, which contains enzymes, to remove blood, which is a protein stain, is weird, but also: it works. 

DIY stain removers that use common household ingredients come in many forms, and many are quite good. You will often see us recommend DIY solutions in our stain removal guides, and there are times when we think they are a better choice than commercial stain eliminators.

But some homemade stain removers work better than others, and, like homemade laundry detergent, which we do not recommend, there are some to skip entirely. This guide covers common DIY stain removers, along with usage recommendations and tips to avoid stain-removal mistakes. 

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Common Household Ingredients that Work to Eliminate Stains

Products you may already have in the kitchen, pantry, or medicine cabinet can be highly effective at removing stains from clothing, household goods like sheets and towels, carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, and mattresses.

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Liquid Dish Soap and Liquid Laundry Detergent

Dish soap is formulated with surfactants designed to cut through food and grease on dishes. Its ability to break down greases and oils makes it especially effective as a stain remover, and most dish soaps are mild enough to be safe on virtually all fabrics. Similarly, liquid laundry detergent, which typically contains enzymes and other stain-fighting agents, can be used to pretreat and remove stains from clothing, as well as from upholstered fabrics, carpets, rugs, and other textiles. 

While dish soap is generally safe to use on all fabrics that can tolerate water-based cleaning, it should never be used in a washing machine as a replacement for laundry detergent.

Lemon Juice, Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Other Weak Acids

Weak acids like white vinegar, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide are highly effective stain removers, particularly for treating low-pH stains like coffee and tea, protein stains like blood, and mineral stains like rust. Hydrogen peroxide, in particular, is a versatile pretreatment that works on almost any kind of stain, including wine, food, grass, and blood. It can also be used alongside detergent to boost dingy whites and sanitize a load of laundry.

However, weak acids can bleach brightly colored or dark fabrics and damage delicate fabrics. To avoid damage, always perform a colorfastness spot test to check that the acid is safe to use, and do not allow acids to dwell overly long on fabrics.

Most importantly, it is crucial to never mix any type of acid, no matter how weak, with chlorine bleach, which creates toxic fumes that can sicken or kill people and animals. Additionally, do not mix acids with other acids or with flammable substances.

Absorbent powders

Cornstarch and talcum powder are highly effective absorbent powders for removing grease and oil stains from fabrics. It is especially useful for treating grease stains on things that cannot be machine-washed, like carpets or upholstered furniture; for eliminating grease stains on delicate or non-launderable fabrics, such as silk; and for removing old and/or deeply set-in grease stains. Absorbent powders can also be used to clean stuffed animals that cannot be washed, and to freshen up dingy rugs and carpets.

Baking Soda

Baking soda, when used for cleaning and stain removal, acts as a mild abrasive and whitener. While it is marketed as an odor-eliminator, it does not kill odor-causing bacteria and is not particularly effective at treating foul or stale odors. The best use of baking soda for stain removal is as a whitening agent to brighten dingy white or light-colored clothes or household goods. Baking soda is often paired with vinegar, but this combination is not effective for stain removal because, after the initial foaming reaction, the mixture turns into salt water.

Salt and Saline

Saline solution, or salt water, does have limited stain-removing properties. Saline, salt, and salt water can be used to remove blood stains, in particular. 

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is highly effective at removing ink and other highly pigmented stains, including condiments and makeup, and at eliminating sticky or tacky residue from spills like candle wax or tree sap.

When working with rubbing alcohol, it is important to remember that it is highly flammable; additionally, it should never be mixed with chlorine bleach or acids, including vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Do not use rubbing alcohol on certain fabrics, including leather, rayon, silk, and wool.

Vodka

Using vodka to eliminate odors is an old trick of costume designers you may have heard of. But vodka can also be used on clothing to remove stains. It acts as a solvent and can be used to take out a wide range of stains, including wine, grass, and vomit. 

Megan Chaffin

When to Use a Store-Bought Stain Remover

While many DIY stain removers are a good, if not the best, option, there is still a place for store-bought products in your laundry arsenal. For one thing, store-bought stain removers are convenient and easy to use. They are also formulated with precision, unlike DIY solutions that may require measuring or mixing and can involve a lot of guesswork.

Protein stains, in particular, are typically best treated with an enzyme-based formula. While enzymes are naturally occurring and you can make your own enzyme cleaner, we do not recommend it when very good commercial stain removers, such as Shout Triple-Acting, Biokleen Bac-Out, or Zout, are available.