15 Eco-Friendly Hacks to Eliminate Obnoxious Stains

Nothing is more embarrassing than sporting a brand new button down shirt to dinner only to stain it seconds into your meal. While it certainly happens to the best of us, recovering from such a gaffe is never easy. 

What if we told you that there are every day, eco-friendly household products that can get rid of those obnoxious stains and restore your favorite shirts or jeans to new, while saving you money in the process? All you need to do is open your pantry to see what you can use to get these ugly looking stains out. 

We can agree that we like our clothes to smell fresh and look squeaky clean after we take them out of the dryer, but we rarely think of the harm a load of laundry can cause to our body and to our environment. The harsh chemicals and energy spent for a single load of laundry can not only cause skin or eye irritation and in some cases damage internal organs, but will also emit large amounts of carbon dioxide into our environment.  

Believe it or not, 20 percent of carbon dioxide emissions comes from energy used in residences, and nearly half of that comes from our laundry. Even though high-efficiency washers are being used more frequently, there are still some eco-friendly alternatives that can help mitigate the irreversible damage to our bodies and to our environment.   

It’s time to start using these eco-friendly stain removal hacks so you can save yourself a costly trip to the cleaners, help the environment, and most importantly, protect your health one load at a time. Let’s prepare for the next time that juicy burger lands in our lap or red wine spills on your shirt. So stop using those harmful chemicals and use this eco-friendly guide, so you can finally wash those hideous stains and your worries away for good.  

Hack #1: Club Soda & Salt

Sprinkle salt and pour club soda on the affected area until the stain is completely soaked. Let this sit overnight and then wash regularly. Avoid using this method on greasy stains because club soda might set the stain.  

Hack #2: Vinegar

Do not rub, but sponge the stain with white vinegar until the affected area is completely soaked. Once the area is soaked wash the article of clothing regularly. If the stain is very bad, soak the affected area and let it sit overnight and then wash. 

Hack #3: White Wine

Believe it or not, white wine neutralizes red wine! To get rid of this stain just pour the wine over the affected area until the stain is completely soaked. Once completely soaked wash the piece of clothing regularly.  

Hack #1: Baby Powder

Pour and press the baby powder firmly on the affected area which will allow the baby powder to absorb the grease. Let the baby powder sit on the affected area overnight and then wash the article of clothing as you typically would.  

Hack #2: Artificial Sweetener

Pour the artificial sweetener on the affected area and allow the powder to soak up the grease. After a few minutes, blot and do not rub the affected area with the powder. After blotting, simply wipe off the powder. 

Hack #3: Chalk

Press chalk onto the affected area and give it a few minutes to absorb the grease. After a few minutes, remember to brush off the residual chalk before washing! 

Hack #1: Lemon Juice & Salt

Sprinkle table salt and squeeze the lemon juice on the affected area. Once soaked, rub thoroughly until the stain begins to disappear. 

Hack #2: Baking Soda

Make a paste by mixing baking soda with warm water. Then, use a toothbrush to apply the paste to the stained area. Once the stain is covered with the paste, scrub the paste into the stain. Let the paste sit for an hour and then rinse. 

Hack #3: Aspirin

Crush three pills into a plastic bag and mix the powder with 2 tablespoons of warm water until a paste forms. Apply the paste to the affected area and let it sit  for an hour before rinsing it off. 

Hack #1: Vinegar

This one is simple: just swap out your detergent for a cup of white vinegar. The acidity will remove the icky buildup just like bleach. Take note, this method isn’t as harsh on your clothes like bleach. 

Hack #2: Shampoo

This one may require a little elbow grease: First, soak the stain with warm water and then apply the shampoo to the stain. Once the soap soaks into the fabric, scrub the area very hard until the stain starts to disappear. 

Hack #3: Stale Bread

If you have stale bread around just gently rub the bread gently on the area of filth until the dirt is gone. Believe it or not, the gluten in the bread actually will absorb the dirt. Gluten free bread will not work. 

Hack #1: Lemon Juice

First squeeze the lemon onto the stain and let it soak for a few minutes. Once the lemon juice has absorbed into the stain regularly wash the article of clothing. 

Hack #2: Salt & Cold Water

Run the stain under cold water. Once the stain is soaked, sprinkle salt on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. When ready, continue to run cold water until the stain begins to disappear. 

Hack #3: Baking Soda

Mix hot, warm, or cold water with some baking soda and stir it so that it forms into a pasteOnce you have the paste, apply it to the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes is up, simply wash it off. 

Check out this guide to eliminate those hideous and embarrassing stains! Not only will you find additional hacks, but you will also find the most receptive clothing items for these eco-friendly cleaning supplies as well. If you find that these hacks aren’t working as well as you hoped, visit Tommy John to replace your old underwear or your favorite collared shirt. 

Sources: Elle | TheSpruce | Organized Home | HowStuffWorks | Natural Living Family | Country Living | The Daily Beast |  EnergyStar | Mother Earth News