Cleaning & Organizing Laundry Stain Removal

7 Natural Laundry Stain Removers

Several common household items can be turned into natural laundry stain removers. They allow you to avoid the harsh chemicals of some commercial stain removers, plus they’re often less expensive. Here are seven natural stain remover products that will help you banish stains while effectively keeping your laundry routine green.

Natural Laundry Stain Removers

The Spruce / Nusha Ashjaee

  • 01 of 07

    Baking Soda

    baking soda as a natural cleaner

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    That same box of baking soda that you have in your kitchen cabinet is one of nature's best gifts for the laundry—and it's very inexpensive. It is a perfect green odor remover to keep your laundry smelling fresh and is safe to use on all fabrics, including children's sleepwear.

    Baking soda also aids in boosting detergent performance, softening fabrics, and reducing suds for quicker loads in front-load washers.

    To use, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to each load along with your detergent. For heavy smells on clothes, use baking soda and water as a presoaking mixture for the garments, letting them soak overnight in a washer tub or large sink.

  • 02 of 07

    Lemon or Lime Juice

    lemons and limes

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    Fresh or bottled 100 percent lemon or lime juice naturally bleaches fabrics due to the acetic acid. However, if you spill some on colored clothing, you'll want to remove the juice before it causes permanent discoloration.

    Use either type of juice on white fabrics to help remove yellow underarm stains or rust stains. Add 1 cup of lemon juice to the wash when washing your white clothes. Use a paste of equal parts lemon juice, baking soda, and water for tough stains on whites. Scrub the paste on whites with yellow underarm or color stains, let sit for 30 minutes, then wash normally to remove the tinge.

  • 03 of 07

    Distilled White Vinegar

    distilled white vinegar

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

    Distilled white vinegar is a miracle worker in the laundry room. It is inexpensive, gentle on fabrics, and safer to use than chlorine bleach and fabric softeners. Always choose white vinegar over apple cider or other types because it won't stain fabrics (and it's cheaper).

    White vinegar is key to removing yellow underarm perspiration stains and odor, removing mildew stains, and whitening and brightening your clothes. Just adding 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse will leave clothes feeling soft and smelling fresh. You can even use vinegar to clean your washer and help control musty washer odors.

    Tip

    Freshen your washing machine before laundry day. Eliminate odors and soap scum residue by adding 2 cups of vinegar to an empty washer and running it through a normal warm cycle.

  • 04 of 07

    Hydrogen Peroxide

    hydrogen peroxide bottle

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

    Head to the medicine cabinet for hydrogen peroxide as a good alternative to the much harsher chlorine bleach when you need to whiten clothes. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidizing agent that can be used as a bleach. The 3 percent solution sold in drug stores as a first-aid disinfectant is the best choice for laundry as well. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen and is a more environmentally safe alternative to chlorine bleach.

    Hydrogen peroxide works well in removing underarm yellowing and the dye from nail polishcurry, and red wine stains on whites and light colors. Add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the washer drum or in the automatic bleach dispenser before adding the water to brighten clothes. Or, pour undiluted hydrogen peroxide on a stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing normally. Always test an inconspicuous part of a non-white item before using it on a stain to see if there is any discoloration.

    Not sure if using hydrogen peroxide is the right choice for your fabrics? The Spot Check makes stain removal simple.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below
  • 05 of 07

    Borax

    borax in a glass jar

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    Borax is a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. It has no toxic fumes and is safe for the environment. However, borax can irritate skin and should not be ingested.

    Borax boosts the performance of any type of detergent in cleaning clothes and removing stains (especially on cloth diapers), softens hard water, and helps control odor. Almost all DIY laundry detergent recipes contain borax.

    To eliminate a stain, mix 1 tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water to form a paste. Spread it on the stain and leave it on for 30 minutes before washing as usual.

  • 06 of 07

    Talc, Cornstarch, or Chalk

    talc

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    Talcum powder, baby powder, kitchen cornstarch, or plain white chalk are wonderful natural treatments for helping to absorb oily stains. These items can even remove stains if you promptly catch the oil or grease drip on fabric.

    Simply sprinkle the oily stain liberally with baby powder, talcum powder, or cornstarch; you can also rub the area with white chalk. Allow it to sit on the stain for at least 10 minutes to absorb the oil; then simply brush away. Later, wash or dry clean the garment following the instructions on the item's care label.

  • 07 of 07

    Table Salt

    table salt

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    Simple table salt works in the laundry as a mild abrasive element for stain removal of rust and red wine stains and to absorb liquid stains before they are set. If you have a red wine spill, sprinkle it liberally with table salt. Use the cheapest salt you can find. Let it absorb the liquid, and then brush away before you wash the item. Remember, if you don't wash it out, salt can leave white stains on your fabric.

    If you have stains or residue on the bottom of your iron, salt works well as a gentle abrasive. Simply dampen a handful of salt very slightly, and scrub the faceplate of the iron. When the iron is clean, wipe it with a clean damp cloth.

FAQ
  • Is vinegar or hydrogen peroxide better for stains?

    Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work differently to remove stains. Vinegar is more of a general stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide may have a slight bleaching effect on fabric so it's best to use it on white or light-colored items.

  • What is the most powerful stain-removing ingredient?

    Baking soda or distilled white vinegar can be powerful stain removers when used separately as described above. If you prefer using a commercial product, try oxygenated bleach, such as OxiClean, which works wonders on stained white and colored fabrics.

  • What is the best stain remover for old stains?

    Fresh stains are easier to remove but if you have an old stain, the trick is to soak the item in a stain remover solution overnight before washing. The solution you use for soaking depends on the type of stain you are trying to remove.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Sanitize Safely and Effectively: Bleach and Alternatives in Child Care Programs. California Environmental Protection Agency.

  2. Borates, Tetra, Sodium Salts (Anhydrous). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.