Homemade Stain Removers You Should NOT Use

Sometimes using homemade stain removers on your laundry instead of store-bought products has its advantages. For example, baking soda, salt and Castile Soap are three common stain removers. Homemade stain removers such as these are inexpensive and free from harmful chemicals. That's a good thing. But not all good things are really what they appear to be. Hair spray, shampoo and vinegar are also three typical stain removers. But these three can actually do more harm than good. Here are five homemade stain removers you should NOT use:

1. Milk
Milk is often recommended to get rid of washable ink stains such as ballpoint pen. The truth is, milk has no cleaning power to remove these stains. If you use milk on your laundry, you'll likely just end up with a protein stain to contend with.

2. Shampoo
This is an age-old, homemade remedy for getting light oil stains out of fabrics. Clear, thick shampoo is said to work the best. While certain shampoos may actually remove oily stains, they may also stain the fabric. They may foam excessively and be hard to launder out. You're better off simply using a laundry detergent that contains stain fighters. It's safer and less expensive.

3. Hair Spray
The only type of hair spray that can remove ball-point pen ink is alcohol-based. The alcohol can actually cut through the oil in the stain. According to The Ohio State University Information Extension- Family and Consumer Services- using hair spray on a stain can leave a sticky residue on the fabric. It may also alter the color of the fabric.

4. Dishwasher Detergent
Dishwasher detergent is said to remove a variety of stains including peach juice, other foods, ink, and lipstick. The problem with using this homemade stain remover is, they typically contain high amounts of alkaline and chlorine- both are known skin irritants. Using dishwasher detergent can lighten the colors of your laundry, and harm wool, silk and nylon.

5. White Vinegar
Since white vinegar contains diluted acetic acid, it's said to be safe to use as a homemade stain remover. The Ohio State University Information Extension- Family and Consumer Services offers a warning about white vinegar: it "may weaken cotton, rayon, acetate, triacetate, or silk fibers and may cause color change." If you want to use vinegar on your laundry, try it on a hidden seam first to make sure it's not going to fade the color.

Resources
http://ohioline.osu.edu/outside/stainrem.html