Frugal Ways To Get Rid Of Stubborn Stains and Spills

by Nicole Humphrey | More from this Blogger

There is nothing more frustrating than having a stain on a favorite outfit, or spill a drink or something else on your beautiful carpet. And of course replacing the items, especially carpet, is expensive and time consuming.

This list is a list of easy and frugal methods to remove stains and spills:

NOTE: Please remember that laundering and then drying an article of clothing with a stain on it, will set the stain. Try to remember to check the item when you pull it out of the washing machine. Often I do a load of stained items together. Then I know I have to check that load.

Wax

Have you ever spilled wax on your carpet? Or a tablecloth? Or something else and it's so hard to get out. A friend of mine taught me this method to remove the wax. First, if it's a solid surface, either place the item in the freezer and chip it off after about 10 minutes, or use an ice cube to freeze it on a table surface or otherwise. But if it's on a fabric item or carpet, place a paper towel over the affected area. Then iron the paper towel. Keep doing this with more paper towel until there is no residue coming off onto the paper towel. If you can launder the item do that at the end.

Crayon

Who hasn't had crayon on an undesirable surface? A car wax product will remove it. So will a Mr. Clean magic Eraser. Toothpaste will also work. For more ways to use toothpaste, see this article.

Rust

Baking Soda paste will work with scalding hot water to rinse it. Or try this with lemons - Using paper towels to blot the rust up, cut a lemon in half and saturate the stain. Let set for a while and then rinse. Or if on fabric set in the sun to dry. Launder as usual. For more lemon uses, see this article. http://frugal.families.com/blog/great-uses-for-lemons

Make Up

Hairspray works, petroleum jelly works. Even on fabrics. Just spray the hairspray and allow to set for about 25 minutes. Launder as usual. Same with the petroleum jelly.

Ink Stains

I tried a new way to get rid of an ink stain recently. Soak the fabric in milk, then launder. It's gone after one wash. Hairspray also works.

Grease

Just use Dawn dish washing soap and you'll be shocked. When they say "Dawn takes grease out of your way", they were not kidding!

Gum

Try loosening the gum by soaking in white vinegar or rubbing with egg white before washing. For more great Vinegar tips check out this article or this article.

Blood

Strangely, spitting on a fresh blood stain will get the stain out. The saliva will break it down, then you can launder as usual. Spraying with Windex works as well. Another known method is to wet the blood stain and rub table salt onto the stain. Then wash as usual.

There are some stains, that no stain removal idea or tip can get rid of. Sometimes trying to remove the stain will damage the clothing. But give it a shot anyway, it's better than just throwing them out.

Any ideas for stain removal?

Nicole Humphrey writes articles for the Scrapbooking Blog and for the Frugal Blog. She also guest blogs on a variety of topics. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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And What About Those Paper Towel Tubes?

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Learn more about Nicole Humphrey

Nicole Humphrey is a freelance writer, consultant for CTMH and a Sr. Blogger for families.com. She resides in St. Charles, Missouri with Mike and their five children and two furbabies.

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