Quick Tricks for Removing Tough Stains

We've all made the mistake of getting stains on our clothes or furniture, and no doubt suffered the frustration of trying to find a way to remove those stains before they could set in. It's not so bad with white clothes because you can try bleach as your first option, but colored clothes and upholstery present a big problem when dealing with stains like ketchup, ink, make-up and blood. So, for everything you can't use bleach on, here are some tips you can try!

The following tips are intended to remove stains that haven't set in longer than 24 hours and have not been washed or treated with any other stain removing products.

My preferred method is using Green Works Natural All Purpose Cleaner and a cheap toothbrush (works on a variety of stains, including ketchup, blood, ink, grass stains and make-up!). I learned this trick working in a clothing refurbishing warehouse for two years since it was the best way our company had found to clean fabric without washing. Until I took that job, I had no idea you could use Green Works on fabrics.

Soak the stain thoroughly with Green Works, then scrub with the toothbrush until you work up a foam and the stain disappears, and let it dry. You don't even have to throw the garment in the wash afterward because Green Works is non-toxic and even leaves a pleasant smell behind. I keep some in a small bottle in my glove compartment with a toothbrush to deal with on-the-go stains. It's safe to use on dry clean only clothes as well, which might save you some money in the long run. Do not use on leather or silk, safe on all other fabrics and upholstery.

Green Works can also be used to clean rubber and cloth (again, no leather or silk!) parts on dirty shoes. Spray the area thoroughly and start scrubbing with a toothbrush, repeat as necessary. I use this trick to keep the white bottoms of my sneakers pristine, despite the fact that I live in a very muddy rural area.

A very handy trick for blood stains is hydrogen peroxide. Dump enough on the area to soak it and scrub with a toothbrush or a wash cloth (for more delicate fabric, like satin) until the blood disappears. It only takes a few seconds for small spots, or a couple of minutes for larger areas. A handy trick because it lets you use something you probably already have on hand in your medicine cabinet. Works on upholstery and garments. Do not use on silks, leathers, or dry clean only garments, as results might be undesired.