Easily remove tough stains with this DIY homemade stain remover made with natural ingredients. Save money and avoid harsh chemicals. No more stressing about stubborn stains, this homemade spray is a miracle worker. Plus, 8 household ingredients you should use for tackling any type of stain!
If you love making your own homemade stain remover, make these natural laundry products next: homemade laundry detergent (liquid), homemade laundry soap powder, fabric softeners (with vinegar or with salt), wool dryer balls, or homemade bleach alternative.
What Readers Say
“This stuff is awesome! For years I stuck with Shout. Then I switched to just plain vinegar which worked great. Last night I decided to make this and used it on my husbands dress shirts, particularly on the neck line. I was floored when I took the shirts out of the dryer. The neck stains almost completely GONE!”
CRYSTAL
What are the best natural laundry stain removers?
The good news is my homemade stain remover spray will conquer just about any stain!
I also want to provide you with a guide for how to use natural household ingredients to tackle stains. Different types of stains require different types of solutions.
There are 8 simple ingredients that work best for natural stain removal, no matter what kind of stain you need to conquer. Here are the best options that can easily be found at most grocery stores.
How to Make The Best DIY Stain Remover Spray
The best stain-fighting ingredients come together to make this miracle cleaner. It’s incredibly powerful at removing any type of stain, and even some old stains. The proof is in the photos.
Recipe Video
Ingredients Needed
- 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin
- 1/4 cup water (use distilled water if storing this product longer than a few days)
- 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
- 1 TB hydrogen peroxide (regular 3% strength)
- 40 drops of lemon essential oil
Ingredient Spotlight: Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon is a key ingredient in this recipe. It makes this spray a powerhouse solution! Since fresh lemon juice would spoil quickly, use lemon essential oil. Also use this oil to also make an all-purpose cleaner. Instead, you may use 1-2 juiced lemons if the spray is used within a couple of days. Learn more about using essential oils.
Equipment Needed
- 8 or 16 ounce Spray Bottle
What Kind of Spray Bottle? The best choice is a dark amber bottle, due to the hydrogen peroxide which can’t be exposed to light when stored. This is why hydrogen peroxide is always sold in brown bottles. If you’re making a small batch of this recipe and plan to use it immeadiately, it’s fine to use a clear spray bottle (or make your own glass spray bottle).
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Combine All Ingredients
In a spray bottle, add all the ingredients. Place the lid on the bottle and shake to combine.
Step 2: Use Immeadiately or Store For Later
The spray may be used immeadiately. It may also be stored for later use, at room temperature, in a dark location (like a dark cupboard under the sink or in the laundry room).
What Readers Say
“I didn’t have glycerin, so I left it out. I just got blood off of a light colored camisole!! AMAZING!”
Suzanne
How long will this spray last?
If using distilled water, the spray should keep for up to 1 month. Safety guidelines for making homemade cleaning products.
How do you use this stain remover on clothes and other surfaces?
- First, blot a liquid stain with paper towels or a cloth.
- Gently shake the DIY laundry stain remover spray. Spray or pour the solution on the stain (preferably a fresh stain).
- Let the stain remover rest for 5 minutes.
- Scrub the soaked stain with a scrub brush, old toothbrush, or cloth until the stain has been lifted. Repeat again, if needed, until the stain lifts.
- Rinse the garment in hot water with soap or in the washing machine using your favorite laundry soap.
- For a stubborn stain, after using the spray, place the garment in the washing machine with ½ cup washing soda and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide, along with whatever laundry soap you normally use in your laundry routine.
What kind of stains can this spray lift and dissolve?
Here are just a few of the stains and surfaces I’ve personally used this easy homemade stain remover on.
Anytime you use a cleaning product, always spot test in an inconspicuous area. All surfaces respond differently and I can’t guarantee all surfaces will respond positively to a cleaning solution.
- Carpets: Please test this spray first in a small area to ensure the hydrogen peroxide doesn’t discolor your carpet.
- Couches: Dustin once spilled red wine on my prized white couch. This stain remover was my first defense, then I used my homemade bleach alternative to finish the job.
- Clothes: Remove any food, pen marks, blood stains, or grass stains with this solution.
- Pet Stains: Remove Fido’s waste from the surface, spray with the solution, allow time to rest, then wipe the area with fresh water and a cloth.
- Pen and Marker Stains: If you have kids, you know what I’m talking about!
- Food Stains: Chocolate stains, coffee stains, red wine stains, ketchup stains, mustard stains–this solution lifts and dissolves them all.
- Baby Stains
- Fresh Grease Stains: I also like using this grease removal method.
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Natural Homemade Stain Remover Recipe
Equipment
- 1 16-ounce dark spray bottle or 8-ounce spray bottle
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin a natural solvent that lifts stains
- 1/4 cup distilled water or tap water if using within a couple of days
- 1/4 cup liquid castile soap unscented or any variety
- 1 TB hydrogen peroxide 3% strength
- 40 drops lemon essential oil or fresh lemon juice (from 1-2 lemons) if using within 1-2 days
Instructions
- In a dark spray bottle (due to the hydrogen peroxide which can't be exposed to light during storage), add all the ingredients.
- Place the lid on the bottle. Gently shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Shake before each use.
- How to Use (Lift and Remove Stains):
- First, blot a liquid stain with paper towels or a cloth.
- Gently shake the bottle. Spray or pour the solution on the stain (preferably a fresh stain).
- Let the stain remover rest for 5 minutes.
- Scrub the soaked stain with a scrub brush, old toothbrush, or cloth until the stain has been lifted. Repeat again, if needed, until the stain lifts.
- Rinse the garment in hot water with soap or in the washing machine using your favorite laundry soap.
- For a stubborn stain, after using the spray, place the garment in the washing machine with ½ cup washing soda and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide, along with whatever laundry soap you normally use in your laundry routine.
Video
Notes
MY TOP Favorite
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Hi Kristin, Thank you SO much for all your recipes. I now use your stain remover (which I make in double batches), your soft scrub (BTW, you may already know this but I find rubbing a little lemon oil on the porcelain sink/tub keeps it cleaner quite a bit longer), your laundry soap AND your whitening formula. I use a recipe from Dr. Bronner’s for all purpose spray I really like (so simple and super effective for every surface). All the recipes you have provided are fantastic, I am so so pleased with how well they work and that I am reducing my plastic waste. I can not thank you enough. The reason I am writing here is I am wondering whether I could use your stain remover on silk. I’m sorry if I missed this somewhere. Thanks for your help! Best everythings, Sylvie
Hey Sylvie, Thank you SO much for sharing your kind words. I’m so happy that you’re enjoying all the recipes and that they’re working so well for you. I’m not sure about satin with this cleaner. Satin can be a tricky one and I’d hate for the solution to do any damage to the fabric. If there’s a way to perform a small spot test in a discrete area, that’s what I would do.
Had an interesting time reading this. If there is one chore that is inevitable it is laundry. Just as the washing basket is empty, it no sooner is full once again.
So true!
LS Team
I am just about to make the stain remover as can’t find anything to get rid of my grandsons football stains or general kids stains now long will it keep if use boiled cooled water I’ve tried my own laundry soap which consists of laundry soda baking soda shred up soap and borax and that doesn’t even shift.can you use on coloured clothes
Awesome recipe.Thanks for sharing
I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipe, Rust
I didn’t have glycerin, so I left it out. I just got blood off of a light colored camisole!! ?
Thanks!!!!
Hi! I just found this video and subscribed to your blog. Looking forward to seeing what new ideas you have! I’ve been doing the natural thing for years but this is one area I hadn’t shifted into DIY.
My concern is that I’ve only used hydrogen peroxide to bleach things… how is it not ruining colored clothes???
This stuff is awesome! For years and (unknown reasons) I stuck with Shout, I guess maybe because my mother used it. Then I switched to just plain vinegar which worked great. Last night I decided to make this and used it on my husbands dress shirts, particularly on the neck line. I didn’t have time to let it sit because I had already started the washer, I kind of just rubbed it in quickly. I was floored when I took the shirts out of the dryer. The neck stains almost completely GONE! Next time I will definitely let it sit the 5 mins so I can see the magic! Thanks Kristin!
I feel like a dolt having reread that – new lesson; never comment or question when you are I’ll and have a fever! ??
Lol, no worries, Mare ;). It’s definitely confusing the way it’s set up.
This item in the ingredient list is confusing me: 1/4 cup castile soap I like orange, tea tree, or peppermint
Hey Mare, Those are the castile soap varieties I personally like to use.
ASAP- Do you mean right after you notice stain or right before washing?
Preferably when the stain is fresh.
I like to treat stains before I put clothes into hamper. This way on laundry day I can just throw them in the washer. Can this stain remover be sprayed on, left for several days, and still be effective once clothes are washed?
Hey Robyn, This stain remover is best used ASAP, and then washed off clothes. You could probably wash it off in the sink and then let the clothes rest on the side of the hamper until you’re ready to wash everything.
I really want to love this but haven’t had much success with it yet. I tried it on two items: (1) The grayish yellow armpit discoloration of a white top and (2) A white satin back tablecloth with leftover stains after being washed already (tomato and grease stains). On the top, it didn’t seem to do anything at all but on the tablecloth, it left more discoloration, like grease almost, from where I sprayed it. I sprayed and washed twice and now have stains all over that tablecloth.
Also, when I spray the solution, it comes out half gloopy and half misted like you’d expect. I did shake it prior to spraying so I’m not sure if this is an issue. For context, I also used sodium percarbonate in addition to my regular laundry soap. I have a front loader machine which uses less water (this affected how I used soap nuts). The first time I sprayed, i just let it sit without scrubbing but the second time I did agitate the fabric. Both times I let it sit for about 45 minutes before washing as there was another load in the wash.
Please let me know if you see an error in the way I was using it!
Hey Kat, I’m sorry you haven’t had success with this. I use this for fresh stains (grass, food)–that’s what I’ve had the greatest success with. For armpit stains, I’ve had good success with making a baking soda paste, along with lemon essential oil, applying it to the area and letting it rest for a while. Then scrubbing the area and washing the garment.
Great recipe!
I’ve tried a couple that called for baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. One of them worked really well, and became my go-to. But then, for some reason, it back fired one day when i used it on several pieces of clothing. All of my colored shirts were soon bleached. So, I had to go back to the search for the perfect stain remover. This one looks great. I don’t think 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide mixed with everything else would do much damage to colors, so i think I’ll try it that way first. I don’t wear much white because I am always staining my clothes, and I’ve always hated bleach.
I still haven’t found the perfect recipe for homemade bleach. I’ve tried whitening my pillows with several recipes, and nothing seems to work, and they’re not that old. I’ll check out your recipe for that too. Thanks!!
Hey Tiffany, I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipe! Let me know what you think of the bleach alternative…I’ve had really good success with it!
I’ve been making this for 2-3 years and since we eat a keto diet we seem to get grease stains on our clothes. I began using sal suds instead of Castile soap and it works great at getting the stains out. I spray and give a little scrub with an old toothbrush
That’s awesome, April! I’m so glad you’re enjoying this!