When it comes to cleaning your home, you can always use store-bought cleaners to get rid of the cobwebs and dust bunnies. However, if you’re concerned about the chemical component in commercial cleaners, you might want to opt to make your own instead. Why? Well, while many of us favor convenience over just about everything, household cleaning products may be doing more damage than we realize. Thing is, making your own DIY stain remover recipes is a lot easier than you might think and healthier, too.
Excluding environmental issues, commercial cleaning products are space-consuming, toxic, and they can potentially harm your health. On top of all that, they can be pricey, too. On the other hand, there are plenty of alternative cleaning recipes you can concoct right at home out of everyday household products that you probably already have in your pantry.
Here are 8 highly effective DIY stain remover recipes you should try the next time you’re going to clean your home:
Hydrogen Peroxide and Warm Water
Rinse the stain thoroughly with warm water. Fill a spray bottle with peroxide and spray a generous amount onto the stain. Let the peroxide sit for at least 30 minutes. Next, gently rub the stain with a towel to work in the peroxide. Lastly, rise the stain with warm water. This works especially well in removing those stubborn perspiration stains on white fabrics, and fabrics and bringing other stains to the surface on colored fabrics.
Vinegar as A Carpet Stain Remover
Next time your pet leaves an unexpected present on the carpet, don’t use a commercial carpet cleaning product. Instead, try this simple mixture instead: Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water, according to Real Simple. This combination can work wonders for removing stains and deodorizing those pet odors that seem to linger on your carpet. Before you spritz, first absorb as much of the stain as you can using towels. Then, blot the spot with a damp cloth. Finally spray the spot with the vinegar mixture — you can even add a non-bleach detergent to the water and vinegar mixture on all affected carpet fibers. Finish off by patting the area dry two or three times.
Lemon Oil as Wood Stain Remover
Water may cause unsightly white rings or black marks on wood. When it is trapped beneath the finish layer, water forms a white ring, which isn’t that difficult to remove. Using a fine steel wool pad, drench it with lemon oil, and rub the white ring away. The lemon oil acts as a lubricant and polisher, while the steel wool buffs out the white rings. Just make sure that the pad is saturated enough so that the steel wool doesn’t scratch your wood furniture.
Club Soda and Salt as A Stain Remover
Red wine isn’t a friend for your white furniture or carpet. However, a crisis can be averted by using club soda and salt. But you must attack the stain right away. Blot the fresh stain to soak up excess liquid. Sprinkle the area liberally with salt and pour club soda (or seltzer water) over the area. Then leave club soda and salt on the stain for a few hours, re-blotting the area and vacuuming to remove excess salt. The carbonation in club soda brings the spill to the surface and the salt stops any potential staining.
Lemon Juice as A Rust Remover
If you’ve ever gotten rust on your clothes, you can attest that it can be very challenging to get rid of, especially on white garments. Next time try dabbing the area with lemon juice, then sprinkling cream of tartar on top of the lemon juice. After rubbing the solution into the rust stain, let it sit until the rust diminishes and can be washed off. Throw your garment into the laundry as usual. If you have any leftover lemon juice, it can also be used as a bleaching alternative!
Tea Bags as A Hardwood Floor Cleaner
There are many commercial cleaning products for hardwood floor cleaning and polishing. However, many products are overly expensive and can contain some harmful chemicals that can ultimately do more harm than good. Instead, simply use boiling water and two teabags, which creates a beautiful shine for hardwood floors while still being safe. Let the teabags sit in boiling water for a few minutes. Soak a cloth in the mixture and wring out any excess liquid. Wash your floor with the damp cloth; the tannic acid in tea will create a shiny finish while removing any surface stains.
Clean Windows with Vinegar, Water, Newspaper
Crystal clear windows and mirrors can be accomplished using this simple DIY recipe: mix two tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water and pour into a spray bottle. Squirt the mixture onto the surface and wipe clean with newspapers, but not paper towels, which cause streaking and unwanted residue. Clean windows are guaranteed.
DIY Laundry Detergent
Whether you prefer liquid or powdered detergent, there is a homemade recipe for both types of DIY laundry detergent. For liquid detergents, simply boil a quart of water and add two cups of soap (grated), two cups of Borax, and two cups of washing soda. Dissolve all ingredients and add two gallons of water. You can add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil for a fresh scent and use about one-fourth cup of detergent for each load of laundry. For powdered detergent, try this formula: mix two cups of finely grated soap with one cup washing soda and one cup of Borax. Store in an airtight container and use two tablespoons for each full load.
Sure, you can use commercial cleaners to take care of your home. However, you can clean more effectively, inexpensively, and safely by using homemade DIY cleaners that can get the job done and leave your home looking spotless.
