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high school football layer with grass stains on shoulder of jersey

Absolutely the Best Homemade Stain Remover for Clothes!

/Updated /25 Comments/in , , , /by Mary Hunt
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Grease happens. So does grass, red wine, blood, baby food flung across the kitchen with the precision of a tiny catapult. And every single time, you’re standing over the sink wondering if this is the shirt that finally beats you. It’s not. Not anymore. I’m going to show you the two-ingredient stain remover I’ve relied on for years… the one that makes SHOUT and every other pricey bottle on the store shelf look like it’s not even trying. It costs pennies. It takes thirty seconds to mix. And it works so well the first time you use it, you’ll stand there staring at the fabric like you just watched a magic trick.

high school football layer with grass stains on shoulder of jersey

One thing before we start, because I don’t want you calling me later: this stuff works on fabric, upholstery, and carpet, both in the house and the car. But whatever you spray it on has to get laundered or rinsed once the stain’s gone. You’re spraying full-strength dish soap on things. It needs to come back out. Got it? Good. Let’s get to it.

Homemade Laundry Stain Remover

Ingredients to make a homemade laundry stain remover

You’ll need:

Into your bottle, combine:

  • 1 part Blue Dawn
  • 2 parts fresh hydrogen peroxide

So that’s 1 cup Dawn to 2 cups peroxide, or a quarter cup Dawn to a half cup peroxide. Scale it up or down to whatever bottle you’ve got on hand. This isn’t a recipe that punishes you for eyeballing it.

How to use it

Shake the bottle to mix, then spray it right on the stain.

Wait a few minutes. Don’t be shocked if the stain just dissolves in front of you. That’s the whole point. If it’s stubborn, work it in with a brush or a clean white cloth. (White, so you’re not accidentally dyeing your stain a new color.) You want to actually see it fading or lifting before you move on.

Launder the item like you normally would. If you treated carpet or upholstery instead, rinse and blot with clear water until every trace of that dish soap is gone. Leave it in there and you’ll trade a stain for a sticky patch, which is not the upgrade you were hoping for.

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(Disclosure: This post includes an Amazon Creator Connections product. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the link, at no additional cost to you.)

It’s Not Just for Laundry

I use this on kitchen towels, bath linens, clothes, carpet, rugs, and yes, my white sofa, which I bought fully aware of what I was signing up for. Red wine, grass stains, blood… this handles all of it. It works on colored fabric too, though I’d still test a hidden spot first. Peroxide is a bleaching agent, and optimism is not a substitute for a test patch.

high school football layer with grass stains on shoulder of jersey
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5 from 1 vote

Homemade Laundry Stain Remover

Two ingredients, thirty seconds to mix, and it outperforms anything you'd pay $6 for at the store. This is the stain remover I reach for before anything else touches a spot.
Prep Time2 minutes
Stain treatment time5 minutes
Total Time7 minutes
Category: Cleaning, DIY Household Cleaners, Laundry
Yield: 1.5 cups

Materials

  • 1 part Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid
  • 2 parts fresh hydrogen peroxide

Instructions

  • Combine Blue Dawn and hydrogen peroxide in your spray bottle. Shake to mix.
  • Spray directly on the stain and wait a few minutes. Rub gently with a brush or clean white cloth if the stain needs a little convincing.
  • Launder as usual. For carpet or upholstery, rinse and blot thoroughly with clear water until the soap is completely gone.

Notes

Important: Use fresh peroxide. An old bottle that's been sitting around has already lost its punch. Store the finished mix in a dark cupboard, ideally in an amber bottle, and use it within six months of opening the peroxide. Never combine this with vinegar; peroxide and vinegar together form peracetic acid, which can irritate your skin, eyes, and lungs.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use Blue Dawn, or can I use something else?

You can substitute another dish soap in a pinch, but I wouldn't make it a habit. Blue Dawn has surfactants that cut through grease and oil better than most anything else in its category. That's not brand loyalty talking. That's just what's in the bottle.

What's the difference between Dawn Ultra, regular Dawn, and Dawn Platinum?

Regular Dawn, sometimes labeled Simply Clean, is the non-concentrated version, so it's more diluted. Ultra is concentrated. Platinum is close to Ultra but carries even more surfactants. I reach for Ultra because it's concentrated and has enzymes, and enzymes are what go after protein-based stains, which is most of what lands on your clothes.

Why fresh hydrogen peroxide? What difference does that make?

Peroxide breaks down when it's exposed to light, sunlight or the regular kind in your house. A bottle that's been sitting in your cabinet for two years isn't doing much of anything anymore. You might as well be spraying water on that stain. Buy a fresh bottle, use it, and don't let it sit around waiting for a special occasion.

Can I mix vinegar into this instead of, or along with, the peroxide?

No, and I mean that as more than a style preference. Mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar creates peracetic acid, which can irritate your skin, eyes, and lungs. Keep those two apart. This recipe is Dawn and peroxide only. Don't get creative on this particular point.

How long should I let it sit on the stain?

A few minutes is usually plenty. Watch the stain instead of the clock. You're looking for it to visibly fade or lift. Older or set-in stains might need a second application, but I've never needed to let this sit for more than ten minutes or so.

Can I leave this on the fabric overnight?

I don't recommend it. This isn't a soak-and-forget solution. Peroxide left too long on colored fabric can lighten it more than you intended, and you'll trade a stain for a faded patch, which is its own kind of laundry heartbreak. Treat it, watch it work, then launder.

Is this better than the stain sticks and sprays sold in stores?

For my money, yes. I've used the pricey commercial versions for years, and this homemade version handles the same stains for a fraction of the cost. That's really the whole reason I started making it myself: no reason to pay someone else for two ingredients I already keep under my sink.

How should I store it, and how long does it last?

Keep it in an amber bottle if you can, tucked into a dark cupboard. Light is the enemy of peroxide, so the darker its storage spot, the longer it stays effective. Once you've opened your peroxide, use it within six months for the best results.

 

Question: If you try this and it saves a shirt you’d already written off, I want to hear about it. That’s the kind of win worth bragging about.

If you liked this stain trick, you’re going to want the ones I don’t put on the site. They go straight to the inbox, free, every day. Subscribe here and stop finding out about the good stuff two years later.

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25 replies
  1. Susan says:

    5 stars
    I keep a half-bar of FelsNaptha soap on my laundry shelf for stains. While the washer is filling, just wet the bar, rub it on any stain, and toss the garment into the wash. Air dry to check if another try is needed, but usually works on the first try. I also have a bar in my kitchen, and try to treat stains as they occur. I think this is the ‘special’ ingredient in your homemade laundry soap, Mary!!

    Reply
  3. Karina says:

    Iโ€™m excited to try this stain remover. Iโ€™ve been using your laundry detergent for years.

    I mixed up the stain remover and over night it changed colors to Pink?! Is that normal?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      I recommend you make small batches and store in an dark glass container like the spray bottle pictured. Why? Hydrogen peroxide dissapates over time. Kept in a dark place, hydrogen will remain potent for up to 6 mos. Most of us would use up 4 to 8 oz. of this reipe during that time.

      Reply
  6. Amelia says:

    I use to work in hotel laundry and believe I’ve attempted to use every stain method known to man. For grease, oil and makeup rub into stain shaving cream, dawn platinum and spray with rubbing alcohol. Continue to repeat until you see stain begin to lighten up. (OxiClean 5 n 1) Is another tool I use for really difficult grease stains. After you begin to see the stain lighten up I then applied my commercial stain remover and let it sit for 24 hrs. (Store your items in an air tight bag or container. You want your stain remover to remain wet and not dry out.) Wash in the hottest temperature your items can handle. Dawn Platinum is an absolute must have. Cheaper brands will not be as effective.
    For blood stains always keep a spray bottle of peroxide around spray soiled bloody area heavily and saturate the entire area. Keep repeating this for about 30 mins. ( Peroxide is breaking down the blood and each spray rinses some of the stain away.) Apply OxiClean 5n1 stain remover generously to the stained area. Wash and laundry at highest temperature setting fabric can handle.

    Reply
      • Christine Gahman says:

        I’ve purchased the glass bottles and mixed stain lifter formula and it works great, however the bottles are not spraying well, and drip all over from the screw on lid and the mixture foams out onto counter. any thoughts as to why this is happening? im ready to put mixture into new spray bottle and see how it does.

      • Mary Hunt says:

        Without seeing this situation, it’s difficult for me to give you a good response. If you have checked to make sure the sprayer top is screwed on tightly, and you still have a problem, be sure to contact the Amazon seller. You may have recceived a defective product.

    • Mary Hunt says:

      Yes, with this caveat. You should always test first in an inconspicuous place like a seam or hem. That’s just a blanket rule of thumb for any treatment or product you have not used before.

      Reply
  10. Cindy K says:

    I mixed some up and couldnโ€™t wait to use it! Iโ€™m a huge fan of your Everyday Cheapskate DIY products; I use many of them. So now I am experimenting with this stain remover on my laundry, and Iโ€™m amazed with how great it works! It seems to work better than my store-bought brand, and itโ€™s much less expensive; Iโ€™m phasing that one out and using this one from now on! Less work (scrubbing stains) and less costโ€ฆIโ€™m happy! Thank you for these wonderful hints and DIY recipes!

    Reply

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