How to Get Stains Out of Anything With This Pantry Cleaner Secret
Have you ever had clothes, carpets, or upholstery ruined by stubborn stains that just won’t budge no matter what you try? Those wine, grease, ink, or food stains seem impossible to remove, even with commercial cleaners. Well, you’re in luck! There’s a versatile pantry staple likely already in your kitchen that can get even the toughest stains out of fabric – baking soda.
Baking Soda – The Secret Weapon Against Stough Stains
Baking soda, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate, is a mild alkaline powder with a host of cleaning and deodorizing abilities. Its gentle abrasive quality lifts stains, while its alkaline pH neutralizes acids and breaks down residue. As if that wasn’t enough, baking soda also absorbs stubborn odors lingering after stains are removed.
From wine, coffee, grease, and tomato sauce to blood, ink, grass, pet stains, and more – baking soda has the stain fighting power to tackle them all. Unlike chlorine bleach that can damage delicate fabrics over time, baking soda gets to work without damaging fibers or causing color loss. Read on to discover how making a simple paste is the secret trick to stain removal success with baking soda.
Mix Up a Stain Removing Baking Soda Paste
The key when using baking soda as a stain remover is to contain its cleaning power in a targeted spot. Making a paste concentrates the baking soda onto the stain before gently lifting it away.
To make a stain fighting paste:
- Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with 1-2 tablespoons cool water until a thick, spreadable paste forms
- For extra stain fighting action, mix in 2 tablespoons lemon juice to naturally bleach and brighten fabric
Alternatively, simply sprinkle a generous amount of dry baking soda onto wet stains before laundering clothes or fabric. The water activates the baking soda to start lifting the stain immediately.
Technique is Key: Apply, Allow to Set, and Gently Agitate
Split staining on dark versus light fabrics will also improve results. Here is a step-by-step technique to lift stains effectively with a baking soda paste:
- Apply a thick layer of baking soda paste over the stain let sit for up to an hour
- Use an old toothbrush or soft cloth to gently rub the paste into fabric
- Rinse the fabric thoroughly with cool running water
- Check stain removal progress and repeat steps if needed
- Once paste is rinsed away, wash fabric as usual to remove baking soda residue
Using a soft bristle toothbrush allows you to gently agitate the stain which helps dislodge residue without damaging delicate fabrics.
Allowing the baking soda paste to set starts breaking down the stain compounds, while scrubbing lifts them away. Thorough rinsing prevents staining with baking soda residue.
What Kinds of Fabric and Stains Can Baking Soda Tackle?
Baking soda is safe to use on washable cotton, linen, rayon, wool, and microfiber when homemade pastes are correctly rinsed away. It should not be used on dry clean only silks or wools.
As an alkaline cleaner, baking soda also works well on partial synthetic fabric blends. Specific stains it can remove includes:
- Wine: lifts red wine from white shirts without bleaching
- Coffee and tea: eliminates yellow coffee and brown tea stains
- Grease and oil: cuts through food grease and motor oil spills
- Fruit and berries: removes pigmented food stains from tomato sauce, beets, cherries, blackberries, etc.
- Blood: lifts set in blood stains without harsh chemicals
- Ink: works on pen, permanent marker, and highlighter stains
- Grass: eliminates green grass stains on knees and elbows
- Sweat and bacteria: deodorizes and removes yellow pit stains and body oils
- Pet accidents: cleans away tough urine, feces, and vomit stains
Troubleshooting Tricky Stain Issues
For most fabric and stains, baking soda paste will begin lifting stains within 1 hour. But excessive stains or fabric discoloration may take up to 24 hours of paste application time.
If stains remain after your second application, try soaking the fabric overnight in cool water mixed with 1 cup baking soda before applying more paste treatment.
For fresh stains, pre-treat the area immediately by blotting liquid and sprinkling a thick layer of baking soda over it before adding paste. This prevents deep setting.
Occasionally bleach spots can result on colored fabric if excess lemon juice or water reacts with heat during drying. Counteract this by immediately making a new batch of paste minus the lemon juice and reapply to the lightened areas before washing as normal.
Since baking soda is mildly abrasive, test pastes first in an inconspicuous area on delicate or highly textured fabric to ensure no damage. Reduce scrubbing intensity if needed.
Conclusion – Why Baking Soda Deserves a Spot in Your Cleaning Arsenal
With stain removing abilities rivaling even commercial products, baking soda’s versatility, affordability and availability make it a no-brainer go-to for tackling laundry and household fabric stains.
Keep a box on hand for stain emergencies, and you’ll save yourself endless time, frustration and money. One $5 box contains enough baking soda for months of heavy stain duty.
Next time wine gets spilled on the tablecloth or grass stains end up on your kids clothes, don’t reach for the chemical cleaners under your sink. Instead, get cleaning with that box of baking soda in your pantry!
So give baking soda paste a try next time tough stains threaten your favorite shirt or accommodation carpets. Our simple pantry cleaner secret could save your wardrobe! Still have stain questions? Let us know in the comments.