Miracle Stain Remover and a Healthier Alternative to Dryer Sheets
I’ve been keeping a secret from y’all and I just can’t live with it anymore. I have a miracle stain remover recipe that has time and again proven to work on some of the most stubborn stains. Plus, find out why we don’t need dryer sheets anymore!
Miracle Stain Remover and a Healthier Alternative to Dryer Sheets
Recently, Pretty Handsome Guy came back from a business trip with a stained button-down shirt. It had wing sauce on it AND it had been allowed to settle for a few days AND he hadn’t pre-soaked it or used any stain remover. (Have I not taught him anything?! Sigh.) I thought for sure the shirt was a goner. But, I decided to put my miracle stain remover recipe to the test. Low and behold after 24 hours of soaking in the concoction, the stain was magically gone! No scrubbing, it was simply gone. Can I apply for a magic wand now?
I can’t lay claim to the recipe. I found it on our local “Mommy” message board back when I was a new mom. But, this recipe has worked on more stains than I can count.
I mixed up a batch today to try on one of my son’s shirts that got blueberry jelly on it. My mom tried to wash it to get the stain out, but it was still there after laundering. Normally once a stain goes through the dryer it is set in. But, that didn’t deter the me from trying my Miracle Stain Remover. Sit back and learn young Jedis (we watched Star Wars last week, so it is on my brain.)
Miracle Stain Remover…
Ingredients:
(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)
- 1 scoop of Oxi-Clean
- 1 scoop of Liquid Clorox 2
- 1 scoop of Cascade powder dishwashing detergent (or another powered brand.)
Fill your basin with warm water then add the Oxi-clean, Clorox 2, and powdered Dish Detergent. Give it a swirl and mix until the powders dissolve and bubbles form.
Place the stained garment into the mixture, being sure the stain is submerged. After two hours you can take a peek! My stain was gone.
For tougher stains, let it soak overnight. Remove the clothing to behold the miracle! Normally I will throw the garment into the wash, but you could simply rinse and dry it.
And, this formula is also safe for colors as well!
Laundry Detergent…
In the spirit of sharing, I also have this recipe for Making Your Own Laundry Detergent for only $1.25 per year! I mean, have you seen the price of laundry detergent lately?! 200 oz. for “gulp” $35! Whereas the recipe I made yielded 250 oz. for….are you ready for this…$0.61! This is a 97% saving on detergent by making your own.
And the best news is that it is safe for HE washers. You only need 1/4 cup per load. Click Here to Get the Recipe for Making Your Own Laundry Detergent for $1.25 per year!
Drying clothes…
And since I’m talking laundry today, this post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my secret weapon for drying clothes.
I use two of them! They may look like medieval torture devices or rabid animals, but these little hedgehog dryer balls have completely kicked our fabric softener sheets to the curb! I haven’t used dryer sheets in over 9 years now! At first I was concerned about static (the bane of my hair’s existence), but then a friend told me that you can eliminate static by not letting your clothes over dry. Simply shut off the dryer when your clothes are about 95% dry. Don’t let the dryer run and run and run until the clothes are piping hot and there isn’t a spot of dampness on them. Instead, let the moisture sensor (if you have one) do its job and it should shut off right before the clothes are dry. The waistbands in jeans or sweatpants may feel slightly damp, but everything else feels dry. And most importantly, pull out fleece, polyester, or synthetic clothes about halfway through the cycle.
The dryer balls (you should use two) work together to punch, separate, fluff, and dry your clothes. They also help keep wrinkles to a minimum, but I’m not afraid of a few wrinkles (see my no iron solution to wrinkles post.) The Dryer Balls cost less than $10, but the cost savings of not using dryer sheets is definitely worth it. Plus, you don’t have to stress about the chemicals that are in dryer sheets. These little wonder balls (I can’t believe I just typed that) last for a long time, but it’s good to have three in case one hedgehog loses a nose (it can happen.) I have been using mine for over nine years. They start to get darker on the nubs from dye in your clothing, but it doesn’t transfer and it doesn’t hurt their effectiveness.
And how much water should you use? I don’t want to use TOO much water and find that it watered down the stain remover. Thanks!
Sarah, I just filled the small white tub. It probably holds 1-2 gallons.
I read all your articles and they were very good. I take care of the laundry room and found this information helpful. What are the measurements for mixing up your own washing detergent. I did not see that information. I know that you don’t use the full packages of all three. Thanks for the articles.
The recipe is from Busy at Home.
Back in 1981, When i was in vocational school for food prep our instructor gave use the same stain remover recipe minus the oxy clean. We had to wear white uniforms and got stains daily but this soak took care of everything! I used it on cloth diapers and lined dried and people would stop and ask how i got them so clean.
Wow, Roxanna, I had no idea the recipe goes back. Cool.
I am going to try this stain remover recipe. I was just wondering one thing…I wasn’t sure how much water to use. Do I just add the ingredients to the washer and fill with water according to the size of my load? Or do I need to use a smaller container- like a 5 gallon bucket- to do my soak ?
Thanks 🙂
Tamara, I fill up a small (1 gallon?) basin and add the stain remover recipe. I usually let the clothes soak at least 24 hours to really do their thing. If there is any stain left, I just rub it and it disappears! Then I throw the wet clothes in the washer.
Just had to tell you THANK YOU for posting your stain remover recipe. It really works! We have six children ages 14 yrs to 8 months so I deal with all kinds of stains. I just used it on school issued white football pants (old and dingy to begin with) that had been used daily for practice and games for two weeks (!) before our son brought them home to be washed. Mud, grass & sweat were ground in for weeks. Soaked them overnight, dumped out dirty solution, added fresh mix and soaked for another half a day. They boarder on “sparkling”. While putting his pads back in them he asked, “What did you do? These are amazingly clean!” When an eighth grade boy notices, it’s clean! Best part…no scrubbing! I had in the past used fels naptha & a nail brush with miserable results.
It gets out baby stains just as well. After years of ruined clothes, I am finally one happy Mama!
Erin, woo hoo! So glad it worked for you, too. It’s in my go to arsenal of stain removers. But honestly, I rarely get to use the other ones because this works so good.
I use an entire box of the washing soda the borax an entire 3lb tub of oxi clean and 3 fels naptha bars to make an entire 5 gallon home depot bucket full of laundry soap. it lasts for months. I am getting ready to make some more here in the next few weeks it has lasted me about 6 months and i still have a good month’s worth left… and I do a LOT of laundry. i love the recipe its so easy to make it costs me anywhere between 25-30 to make it.. it gets a lot of the stains out so i really dont have to pre treat much of anything..and it brightens and whitens. i love it!
Is this concoction okay to reuse? I mixed up a bath and am soaking clothes atm. When I remove those clothes will it work with a second load of clothes or will I have to mix up another batch?
Shanna, if your clothes that were soaking weren’t too dirty (and the water looks clean) you should be able to reuse. But, honestly, I don’t know. Just guessing.
They were clean, just some toddler clothes I recieved from a friend for my daughter..
They had a few stains. And this solution worked on one of her other shirts, so I figured I’d
try and get these clothes stain free. If it works, I’ll let you know.
I decided not to re use it, because I went ahead and washed it after soaking.
However, I do LOVE love, this recipe. i wonder if the Oxi Clean and Clorox 2 would work without the Cascade?
I have not personally tried this, but I have heard Tennis Balls work just as well as the dryer balls.
I heard that one several years ago, but at about $3 a tube, I’m thinking about taking the gamble before I spend $18. Heck, if nothing else, the pet can play with them if they don’t work.
Here’s a site of someone who has tried it evidently.
http://ideas.thenest.com/decor-tricks/cleaning-organizing/qa/laundry-qa-tennis-balls-in-the-dryer.aspx
With all the laundry talk I have to share my “no-iron” shirt trick!
Put the shirts in the dryer for 5-10 minutes at low –take them out (they should still be wet but warm) and hang on plastic hangers. The 5-10 minutes in the dryer will get out all the wrinkles and they will dry smooth from hanging.
ok everyone i have a pair of very light colour jeans and they were washed with red 🙁 now they been sitting for years as i could never get it out 🙁 but now i have come across them again my favorite jeans would love to wear them again can anyone help me plz
Erin, I say grab some RIT dye and dye them to any color you like! (You might have to go medium dark or red to cover the stains. 😉
im not sure we have that im in owen sound ontario canada 🙁 where could u buy it ?
Probably online here: http://www.ritdye.com/store/
hi just wondering to make it into a liquid,how much water would you put in and what size of container.I like to keep a batch made up.Right now I am using the dawn,ammonia and water.Would like to try this.My daughter still believes in shout,even though she works herself to death scrubbing
Karen, the recipe is from Busy at Home. She has great directions here: http://busy-at-home.com/blog/diy-laundry-detergent-save-big-have-fresh-clean-laundry