Removing Stains and Other Tough Jobs

Clean & Green: The Complete Guide To Nontoxic And Environmentally Safe Housekeeping, Ceres Press* 1994

The following recommendations for stain removal are in alphabetical order by stain. Since each stain situation is unique, I suggest you make up your quantities according to the job. (One teaspoon of cornstarch will not help you if the stain is three feet wide.) As with all formulas, try a test strip first. It is always best to clean a stain as soon as possible, when it is still fresh and wet. Note: Make sure to rinse well with water after applying stain remover.

• BABY FORMULA Rub with unseasoned meat tenderizer.
• BERRIES AND RED WINE Soak in white wine.
• BERRIES Pour boiling water from a height of three feet onto taut fabric.
• BERRIES Soak in vinegar.
• BERRIES Soak the stained cloth in milk.
• BERRIES Boil nonshrinkable cloth in milk in a non-aluminum pot.
• BERRIES Rinse with soda water.
• BERRIES Rub vegetable glycerin into the stain before washing.
• BERRIES Washing soda paste rubbed into stain.
• BLOOD Make a paste of cornstarch and water and rub into the stain.
• BLOOD Wipe with hydrogen peroxide.
• BLOOD Rub with a cornmeal or cornstarch and water paste.
• BLOOD Rinse with club soda.
• BUTTER Make a paste of washing soda and water and rub into the stain.
• CHEWING GUM Place clothing in freezer, or freeze the gum with ice cubes. Then pull gum off.
• CHEWING GUM Rub full-strength vinegar onto the gum.
• CHEWING GUM Cover with egg white; loosen the gum.
• CHOCOLATE AND COCOA Mix sodium perborate and water to a paste, rub on the stain, then launder as usual.
• CHOCOLATE Wipe with hydrogen peroxide.
• CHOCOLATE Borax and water paste rubbed onto the stain.
• CHOCOLATE Washing soda and water paste rubbed onto the stain.
• CHOCOLATE Rub with any vegetable oil.
• COFFEE AND TEA
• COFFEE AND TEA
• COFFEE AND TEA
• CRAYONS Rub the marks with baking soda using a mild abrasive pad like a supermarket green pad.
• CRAYONS Rub with toothpaste.
• CRAYONS Rub with baking soda and olive oil paste. Recommended on washable surfaces only, because the oil can cause a stain of its own. I like to use this cleaner on walls.
• CRAYONS Make a paste of washing soda and water. Rub onto the marks until gone.
• DECALS Rub the decal with vegetable oil.
• DECALS Rub with vinegar.
• DECALS Rub with oil and vinegar salad dressing without herbs.
• EGG Wash in cold water.
• FOOD Rinse with club soda.
• FRUIT AND JUICES See Berries.
• GRASS Soak in vinegar.
• GRASS Soak in a strong alcohol and water solution.
• GREASE Rub with bread.
• GREASE Cover with wheat bran, rub in and wipe off.
• GREASE Absorb with cornmeal and wipe off.
• GREASE Cover with borax, rub in and wipe off.
• GREASE Cover with cornstarch, rub in and wipe off.
• GREASE Cover with unscented kitty litter until the kitty litter has absorbed the grease; wipe off.
• GREASE Cover spot with pure potato broth; rinse off.
• GREASE Make a washing soda and water paste. Rub into the grease.
• GREASE Rub with a dry bar of soap.
• GREASE Cover the grease with salt, rub in and wipe off.
• GUM LABELS Scrape off what you can with your fingernail. Dab label with vegetable oil. Let sit until glue softens and scrape remainder off.
• COFFEE AND TEA Pour boiling water from a height of three to four feet onto taut fabric.
• COFFEE AND TEA Mix sodium percarbonate and water to a paste and rub onto the stain.
• COFFEE AND TEA Soak in strong vinegar solution.
• COFFEE AND TEA Simmer cloth (preshrunk only) in milk to cover in a non-aluminum pan.
• COFFEE AND TEA Pour soda water on stain, then rinse.
• INK Soak stain in lemon juice.
• INK Make a paste with sodium perborate and water; rub into the ink stain.
• INK Make a milk, vinegar and cornstarch solution and soak the stain.
• INK Soak in milk.
• IODINE Wipe with alcohol.
• LIPSTICK Rub with white supermarket-type toothpaste.
• LIPSTICK Rub with olive oil and baking soda paste. Recommended for washable surfaces only as the oil can leave a stain of its own.
• LIPSTICK Rub with paste of washing soda and water.
• MACHINE OIL Rub with vegetable or nut oil.
• MACHINE OIL Saturate with kitty litter.
• MACHINE OIL Scrub with washing soda and water paste.
• MEAT STAINS Soak in strong washing soda and water solution.
• PETROLEUM OIL Saturate with diatomaceous earth.
• MOLD Rub with Australian tea tree oil.
• MOLD Rub with borax and water paste.
• MOLD Soak in strong vinegar solution.
• MOLD AND MILDEW Rub with lemon juice and salt.
• MUSTARD Rub with vegetable glycerin.
• NAIL POLISH Rub with alcohol.
• OIL Wipe with vegetable oil (oil draws out oil).
• PAINT Soak in milk.
• PAINT Soak in hot vinegar.
• PAINT Soak in water and washing soda.
• RUST Rub with cooked, cooled rhubarb. Wash off.
• RUST Wash with lemon juice.
• RUST Wash with alum and lemon juice paste.
• 428. RUST Make a paste of lemon juice and salt; rub on rust stains.
• RUST Wash with alum and vinegar paste.
• RUST Rub with tomatoes.
• SHELLAC Wipe with alcohol.
• STAINS Rub with a paste of borax and vinegar.
• STAINS Soak in equal parts milk and vinegar. Wash off.
• STAINS Rub with a mixture of 1 part vegetable glycerin and 2 parts vegetable-oil-based liquid soap.
• STAINS Wash with a washing soda and water paste.
• WAX Rub with paste of washing soda and water.
• WINE See Berries.

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