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Homemade Stain Remover Just 4 Ingredients

Conquer tough stains with easy, budget-friendly homemade stain remover! Four ingredients, powerful results—say goodbye to stains for good!

Conquer Stains with Just 4 Ingredients: Your Ultimate Homemade Stain Remover Guide

If you’re like me, the battle against stubborn stains is an ongoing saga. But what if I told you the solution is sitting right in your kitchen? With just four simple ingredients, you can create a powerful homemade stain remover that’s not only tough on stains but gentle on your fabrics and your budget.

I first discovered this life-changing solution in 2014 when rising prices on store-bought stain removers had me hunting for alternatives. Living in a busy household, pre-treating stains became essential, but I was spending close to $5 per bottle. I knew there had to be a better way.

DIY homemade stain remover using baking soda and dish soap for removing tough stains on clothing and upholstery

The Power of Homemade: A Cost-Effective Laundry Hack

Let me take you back to a warm summer afternoon in Ballantyne. It was my daughter’s 10th birthday, and we had a celebration at the Ballantyne Hotel. The day was filled with laughter, good food, and family. Grandma had gifted my daughter a beautiful white birthday shirt, and she was thrilled. But the excitement quickly turned to tears when we got home and discovered that Grandma had unknowingly wrapped a bottle of red wine in the shirt. The bottle broke during the trip, and the shirt was soaked in red wine.

As a mom, seeing that devastation on her face was heartbreaking. But I wasn’t going to give up. I pulled out my trusty homemade stain remover—a blend I had perfected over time. After soaking the shirt overnight, I washed it as per the care instructions, and guess what? The red wine stain was gone. Completely. When I handed the shirt back to my daughter, she thought I had bought her a new one. That’s the magic of this homemade solution.

I’ll never forget my daughter’s face when she saw that her stained birthday shirt looked brand new. She was convinced I had bought her a replacement, but it was the power of my homemade stain remover that saved the day. That one experience made me a firm believer in DIY solutions.

White shirt stained with red wine before and after using a powerful homemade stain remover with simple ingredients

The Recipe: 4 Simple Ingredients

Here’s how you can make it:

Ingredients:

Get all ingredients here

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 30 oz bottle

Directions:

  1. Combine the Dawn, ammonia, baking soda, and warm water in a mixing bowl.
  2. Stir vigorously until the baking soda dissolves completely.
  3. Transfer the mixture to a spray or squeeze bottle for easy application.
  4. Before using, always shake the bottle and test a small patch of fabric to ensure colorfastness.

This stain remover works wonders on grass, grease, food, and blood stains. Whether it’s a fresh spill or an old, stubborn mark, this solution is effective on both white and colored fabrics.

White shirt with stains, cleaned using an effective DIY homemade stain remover made with natural ingredients

My Laundry Routine: Unlocking the Secret to Success

If you’re new to the laundry game, here’s the routine that’s worked for me and my family for years:

  1. Treat the stains immediately: Don’t let them sit—apply the homemade stain remover as soon as you spot a stain. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes.
  2. Sort your laundry: Separate into bright colors, whites, towels and sheets, and jeans.
  3. Wash with homemade detergent: Yes, I even make my own laundry detergent!
  4. Dry carefully: I prefer to line-dry most of our clothes. It’s gentler and saves on electricity. Win-win!

A Word of Caution

As amazing as this recipe is, there’s one thing to keep in mind: Do NOT use it with chlorine bleach! The ammonia in the recipe reacts with bleach to create harmful fumes, so be sure to avoid that combination.

Also, while this homemade stain remover is powerful, it’s not meant for delicate fabrics like silk or wool. Stick to using it on sturdier, washable fabrics to avoid any damage.

FAQs: Your Homemade Stain Remover Questions Answered

Q: Is this safe for all fabrics?
A: It’s generally safe for most fabrics, but always test a small area first.

Q: Can I store it for future use?
A: Yes, store it in a labeled airtight container, but keep it out of reach of kids and pets.

Q: Why Original BLUE Dawn?
A: In my experience, nothing works better than Original BLUE Dawn for stain removal. I’ve tried other soaps, but I always come back to this one.

Get Your Supplies Today!

Ready to give this powerful homemade stain remover a try? Make laundry day a breeze and grab the ingredients from Amazon today! Click here to purchase your supplies: Shop Now.

White shirt with stains, cleaned using an effective DIY homemade stain remover made with natural ingredients

Homemade Stain Remover Just 4 Ingredients

Yield: 4.5 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Estimated Cost: 15-30 cents per ounce

Conquer tough stains with this easy, budget-friendly homemade stain remover! Simple ingredients, powerful results—say goodbye to stains for good!

Materials

  • 2/3 cup Dawn liquid Soap
  • 2/3 cup ammonia
  • 6 Tablespoons baking soda
  • 2 cups warm water

Tools

  • large mixing bowl
  • spray or squeeze bottle

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients together and mix well
  2. Pour into a spray bottle, or squeeze bottle
  3. Use just like the real thing

Notes

Saturate the stain with the homemade stain remover.

For best results, treat the stain as quickly as possible.

After waiting for about five minutes, machine wash the stained garment as you normally would.

Always launder an item of clothing according to the instructions on the garment label.

Important Note:

Do not use this on anything that will be washed with chlorine bleach due to the ammonia!

Did you make this project?

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About Julee: Julee Morrison is an experienced author with 35 years of expertise in parenting and recipes. She is the author of four cookbooks: The Instant Pot College Cookbook, The How-To Cookbook for Teens, The Complete Cookbook for Teens, and The Complete College Cookbook. Julee is passionate about baking, crystals, reading, and family. Her writing has appeared in The LA Times (Bon Jovi Obsession Goes Global), Disney's Family Fun Magazine (August 2010, July 2009, September 2008), and My Family Gave Up Television (page 92, Disney Family Fun August 2010). Her great ideas have been featured in Disney's Family Fun (Page 80, September 2008) and the Write for Charity book From the Heart (May 2010). Julee's work has also been published in Weight Watchers Magazine, All You Magazine (Jan. 2011, February 2011, June 2013), Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine (Oct. 2011), Red River Family Magazine (Jan. 2011), BonAppetit.com, and more. Notably, her article "My Toddler Stood on Elvis' Grave and Scaled Over Boulders to Get to a Dinosaur" made AP News, and "The Sly Way I Cured My Child's Lying Habit" was featured on PopSugar. When she's not writing, Julee enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new baking recipes.
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