DIY Stain Remover for Laundry and Carpet
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 carpet. While this stain remover works super well on fabric, upholstery, and carpet in the house and car, it must be rinsed well once that stain disappears, or the item laundered to complete the job. Use sparingly on items that are not easily laundered such as upholstery and carpet. Rinse well!
Servings: 12 ounces
Cost: Varies
Equipment
- Spray bottle with sprayer top
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.