Homemade Stain Remover for Carpet and Laundry
I’m excited to show you how to make a fabulous, if not magical, DIY Â stain remover. This stain remover recipe is so easy and cheap to make. And wow, does it perform!
Unlike some other homemade laundry stain and detergent products you’ll find here at Everyday Cheapskate, this one is also a homemade stain remover for carpets. Ah-ha! That got your attention!
Just let me be clear at the get-go that while this stain remover works super well on fabric, upholstery, and carpet in the house and car, it must be rinsed well or laundered once that stain disappears. Got it? OK, let’s get right to it.
Homemade Stain Remover
You will need:
✅ fresh hydrogen peroxide
✅ Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid
✅ spray bottle, any size
✅ funnel (optional)
Instructions:
Into a spray bottle using a funnel if desired, pour one part Blue Dawn and two parts fresh hydrogen peroxide, i.e., 1 cup Blue Dawn and 2 cups hydrogen peroxide. OR 2 tablespoons Blue Dawn and 4 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide. The ratio is important: twice as much hydrogen peroxide as Blue Dawn.
This means you can use any size bottle to make up any amount of laundry stain remover you need or want.
To use:
- Shake bottle to mix. Apply to stain.
- Wait a few minutes. Don’t be surprised when that stain disappears all by itself! Or if not, rub the stain with a clean sponge, brush, or clean white cloth (you don’t want to transfer color from a cleaning cloth to the stained item.)
- Launder the item as usual. If treating carpet, upholstery, use this stain remover sparingly, then rinse and blot with clear water, keeping in mind that you’ve just sprayed full-strength dishwashing detergent on that sofa, chair, or carpet. It needs to be removed entirely.
Pro Tip
I use these 4-oz. amber glass spray bottles for this homemade stain remover and other homemade solutions. I make up the stain solution in a measuring cup, then fill a 4-oz bottle. The bottle’s amber color protects the hydrogen peroxide from light. These bottles are small enough to keep handy and come with quality sprayer tops, and, easily fit any size hand.
Truly amazing
This DIY laundry stain remover is a miracle worker all around the house. I use it on kitchen and bath linens, clothes, carpet, rugs; my white sofas, and dining room chairs. It tackles red wine stains and organic stains like blood, grass—pet, and baby stains, too. You can use this on colored items  (although please test first in an inconspicuous place) and whites.
FAQs
Do I have to use Blue Dawn, or can I substitute something else?
You can substitute any kind of liquid dishwashing soap, although I wouldn’t unless it’s an emergency. That’s because Blue Dawn contains specific surfactants that are far more effective on grease and oil than any other product in its class. And if you use Blue Dawn Ultra, your results will be even more spectacular because the Ultra version contains enzymes. That makes it really effective on proteins, which most household stains contain.
Why do you specify “fresh” hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide dissipates in the presence of light—both sunlight and household light. It loses its effectiveness. If you use an old bottle of hydrogen peroxide that you’ve had sitting on the shelf for years, you might as well just use water. It’s worn out, lost its spunk. Keeping your bottle of homemade stain remover in an amber bottle will help to protect it from light. Putting the bottle in a dark cupboard will protect it even further. The rule of thumb is this: Once opened, keep hydrogen peroxide tightly sealed in a dark place and use it within 6 months.
DIY Stain Remover for Laundry and Carpet
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh hydrogen peroxide
- ½ cup Blue Dawn Ultra or any Blue Dawn (SEE Notes)
Instructions
Prepare Stain Remover
- Into a small bottle using a funnel if desired, pour one part Blue Dawn and two parts fresh hydrogen peroxide, i.e., 1 cup Blue Dawn and 2 cups hydrogen peroxide. OR 1/2 cup Blue Dawn and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide. OR 1/4 cup Blue Dawn and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide. The ratio is important: twice as much hydrogen peroxide as Blue Dawn.
- Apply sprayer top to the bottle, shake to mix.
To Use:
- Shake bottle to mix, then spray on the stain
- Wait a few minutes or as long as needed for stain to break down. Don't be surprised when that stain disappears all by itself! Or if not, rub the stain with a clean sponge, brush, or clean white cloth (you don't want to transfer color from a cleaning cloth to the stained item!)
- Rinse well to remove all of the soap or launder the item. You've just sprayed full-strength dishwashing detergent on that shirt, sofa, or carpet. It needs to be completely removed.
Notes
- Spray Bottles: I use these 4-oz. amber glass spray bottles for this homemade stain remover and other homemade solutions. I make up the stain solution in a larger container, then fill the 4-oz bottle. The bottle's amber color protects the hydrogen peroxide from light. These bottles are small enough to keep handy and come with excellent-quality sprayer tops.
- You can substitute any kind of liquid dishwashing soap, although I wouldn't. That's because Blue Dawn contains specific surfactants that are far more effective on grease and oil than any other product in its class. And if you use Blue Dawn Ultra, your results will be even more spectacular because the Ultra version contains enzymes. That makes it really effective on proteins, which most household stains contain.
- It is mandatory that you use fresh hydrogen. Why? Because hydrogen peroxide dissipates in the presence of light—both sunlight and household light. It loses its effectiveness. If you use an old bottle of hydrogen peroxide in this recipe that you've had sitting on the shelf for years, you might as well just use water. It's worn out, lost its spunk. Keeping your bottle of homemade stain remover in an amber bottle will help to protect it from light. Putting the bottle in a dark cupboard will protect it even further. The rule of thumb is this: Once opened, keep hydrogen peroxide tightly sealed in a dark place and use it within 6-months.
Updated and Republished 11-2-22
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Would you be able to dilute this as a pretreater for carpet cleaning stains, or is it more effective to use your carpet cleaner recipe?
I would not do that! WAAAAY to difficult to remove all of that Blue Dawn. Really, you need to use this sparingly and strategically directly on a stain and then blot and rinse it up as soon as the stain dissipates.
Thanks so much for the reply!!! Saved me a day of rinsing
I have used this many times for stains I couldn’t get rid of in my carpet and it worked wonders. I will say that I greatly reduced the amount of dawn because of how difficult it is to remove from carpet. Once I apply mostly peroxide with a few drops of dawn, I rub it in, leave for 20 or 30 min, then flush with vinegar and water (about 1 part to 1 part), then use a hand held carpet cleaner to suck it all up. Magical!! Thanks, Mary!
Any ideas about getting ink out of light colored carpet? We’ve tried WD40 and Lestoil with limited success. (Our new rescue dog with separation anxiety.) and a green ink pen!
Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. That will work, provided you have not set the stain with the other tries. If the stain remains, move on to lacquer thinner (not paint thinner), which you can find in the paint aisle of Home Depot, Lowes.
Toilet bowl stain rings! Flush, pour in 12 oz. Pepsi or CocaCola, let stand overnight. Flush after 12 hours, brush lightly with toilet brush. Voila! Stain ring is GONE!!!
Thanks for your input David. And yes that works due to the carbonation … but who can close a toilet to users for 12 hours? And at a cost of $.50 to $1.50 per cleaning (depending where and how you purchase your Coke), I find baking soda/vinegar or borax to be cheaper, better, and faster!
Thanks for all your tips..I’ve used peroxide for bleach for my white clothes for yrs..like hubby’s socks, works better than any reg bleach..keep the tips coming!
Any advantage to adding Nok-Out to the stain remover for pet accidents on carpet? If so, how much?
A qualified yes, Steve. Pet stains (urine especially), needs to be blotted up and then treated with Nok-Out immediately. However as a kind of preventive or getting after anything hints left behind, Nok-Out is very effective when added to a carpet cleaning machine’s reservoir (replace one cup of water with a cup of Nok-Out). More on this: How to Completely Eliminate Pet and Other Strong Household Odors