I’d like to think I’m clean and tidy all of the time, but that’s far from the truth. And just like everyone else, I spill and drop things and end up with stains more than I’d like to admit!
Related: My Most Popular Cleaning Hacks
But between being a mom to two kids and learning a whole lot from talking to friends, I’ve collected quite a few tricks for removing household stains. Here are some tips I want to share so that your next mishap can turn into a thing of the past!
For those water stains in your shower
No matter how often you clean your bathroom, it’s hard to make it look clean when you have that pesky grime hanging onto the glass and the side of your shower.
My favorite trick to seamlessly get rid of this grime is to cut a lemon in half and sprinkle the cut side of the lemon with salt. Then, use it as a “scrubber” to get rid of the hard-to-remove stains!
I find it works best to move the lemon in small circles. Just put in a little elbow grease 🙂
Removing stains in your microwave
You can also use a lemon to clean your microwave! I don’t know what it is, but microwave stains sometimes seem impossible to remove.
But by cutting a lemon into slices, placing a few slices into a cup of water, and setting the microwave on high for four minutes, the job gets a whole lot easier.
When the timer goes off, remove the cup of water and easily wipe your microwave clean. Simple and stress-free.
Time to remove that wine
It’s inevitable. Every once in a while, that red wine will end up on your white shirt or on your light-colored carpet.
And while I used to remove the stain with a common stain remover I purchased from my grocery store, that changed when I discovered Silvadore. Silvadore is known for argon wine preservers, the brand makes an incredible stain remover.
Just spritz the spray on your stain to moisten it, wait a few minutes, and rinse the garment with water… stain removed!
Be gone, blood!
If you have kids, this type of stain is one of the most common. But whether you catch it right away or you find it a day later, it’s actually pretty simple to remove.
According to the American Cleaning Institute, soak the blood-stained garment in cold water if the stain is fresh. You don’t want to use hot water because it will actually set the stain. After, throw it in the washing machine like you normally would!
If the blood is already dry, soak the garment in warm water with an enzyme-based stain remover, and launder it after.
Getting rid of pesky pen ink
I turn to Good Housekeeping regularly for helpful household tips. And when I found this hack for removing ink, I wanted to share it with you!
If a ballpoint pen is the culprit, place a paper towel under the stain and flush it with rubbing alcohol. Then, use a dropper to apply alcohol directly onto the stain (or immerse the stain in a dish if the stain is larger).
Let the spot soak for 15 minutes, and the ink should begin to dissolve almost immediately. (You can do some blotting if it needs some help!) Next, rinse the stain under cool water, apply a stain remover, and wash the garment on the hottest setting in the washing machine.
Now, let’s say a felt-tip pen is the one to blame. Unfortunately, this is a little more time-consuming, but the work should be worth it! Rinse your stain under cold water to get rid of as much of the ink as you can. Then, fill a bowl with hot water and pour in a bleach-free laundry detergent. Add a couple of splashes of ammonia as well!
You’ll want to stir the solution and immerse the garment in the blow. Give the stain a quick rub and let it soak for 30 minutes to one hour. It should start to fade, but leave it in the bath for longer (maybe even overnight) if need be. When it’s lightened as much as possible, rinse it, rub in a bit more laundry detergent, and throw it in the wash.
Check to make sure the stain is removed before drying!
Banishing BBQ sauce stains
Give me BBQ sauce any day. Don’t give me BBQ stains any day. But when the stains do occur, it’s not the end of the world.
The TODAY Show recommends pre-treating the stain with lemon juice or vinegar and letting it sit for five minutes. Then, you should scrub the stain with a small brush or toothbrush, and follow by rinsing it with water.
Before throwing your garment in the wash, rub the stained area with laundry detergent and you should be good to go!
For those tough berry stains
If you’ve tried my grandma’s blueberry cobbler, you know how easy it is to finish off a couple of servings. But similar to eating anything that good, you know how easy it is to have a spill!
If those berries (strawberries, blueberries, cherries or blackberries) end up on your shirt, the Spruce recommends addressing the stain as soon as possible.
First, lift any solid pieces off of your garment with a dull knife or a flat surfaced object like a credit card. Rubbing it off will only set it further into the fabric! Then, flush it with cold water from the back side of the fabric.
If you don’t catch it right away, use a stain remover on the dried berry stain and work it in with a toothbrush. Let it sit for around 15 minutes before washing.
Whether you find the stain immediately or after a few hours, you’ll want to wash it with heavy-duty detergent after doing your initial pre-treatment. Use the hottest washing machine setting possible, and make sure to check that the stain is completely gone before drying the garment.
Remove that pesky candle wax
I’m almost always burning a candle. Which sometimes means that the wax ends up where it doesn’t belong. Luckily, the TODAY Show has some tips that will help get rid of it in a cinch!
Begin by scraping away as much hardened wax as possible. Then, sandwich the wax-stained fabric between two thin towels. Now, you’ll want to grab your hair dryer or an iron and apply heat to the towels so that they absorb the wax from the fabric. Remove the towels after to get rid of as much wax as possible.
Do you still see a stain? It’s normal! Dissolve the remaining oil-based stain with a solvent (they recommend acetone nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol).
Place the stained fabric with the candle wax stain side down on a folded towel. Then, use a cotton swab to dab solvent on the back of the stain. Blot the residue and you’re done!
Combat chocolate stains
Reader’s Digest offers a great solution to getting rid of chocolate stains. Because, yes… chocolate can stain clothing pretty bad! But no need to fear, all you’ll need is some liquid laundry detergent and a stain remover to make it look like you didn’t have a mishap in the first place.
Start by shaking off any excess chocolate. Then, rinse your garment with cold water. Cold! Cover your garment with laundry detergent for about 5-10 minutes, and after, soak it in cold water and rub the stain to work in the detergent.
If you can still see the stain after taking these steps, apply a stain remover and work it into the stain. Follow by popping it in the washer like normal!
Now I know the stain possibilities are endless, but I hope these stain removal tips will help you tackle those pesky ones that seem impossible to remove!
From my home to yours,
Jill
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