How to Remove Stubborn Stains, Naturally

Most biodegradable laundry detergents and cleaners can remove stains effectively. But for stubborn stains, here are some simple helpers and useful tips.

Choose non-scented brands for baby/pet bowls, surfaces or bedding (citrus oils in particular are toxic). And for pregnancy/nursing.

Use with SEEP plastic-free cleaning cloths and sponges (they make fair trade rubber gloves in eco packs). Read how to clean floors naturally (without harming spiders).

Greenscents Organic Castile Soap 

Greenscents is a wonderful eco-cleaning company, everything is vegan-friendly with no palm oil, made with natural ingredients, not tested on animals and sold in refillable bottles, which also saves you money! Everything is also made in Somerset with Exmoor water.

Greenscents Organic Castile Soap is a multi-task product that does so many things, you’ll wonder why you never invested in it before! You can use it to wash your hands, face and hair, but also to clean home surfaces and whiten your bedding! All without synthetic additives or irritants.

Use code GSENGLANDNATURALLY for 15% off entire order (minimum purchase £20)

Also in bulk form, there is also a Nonscents range, ideal for pregnancy/nursing, cleaning near babies/pets (or for their bedding and bowls) and for allergies. All scents are naturally derived, and items are also certified organic. 

The castile soap is a fantastic alternative to stain remover. If I’m not sure what to use to clean something, I just use this as it does the job perfectly, nine times out of ten.

Really am lost for words, cannot describe how good this is. I’ve used it for washing clothes in the machine and by hand. Used it for dishes, body, hair – it cleans porcelain fabulously. If there were Oscars for cleaning..

How does the refill scheme work?

You can buy 500ml glass amber bottles (don’t handle with wet hands) for everyday use (and retail sale). Then you can buy refillable items in 5 litre and 20 litre containers. Just return empties for sanitising and reuse, as simple as that! You can buy bundle sets to save money, with the refills included with your first order.

Use with one-time purchase pumps for easy use and refilling.

Allavare Natural Oxygen Bleach

Allavare is a beautiful little brand, which keeps things simple. By only offering three products. And although you can buy them separately, it makes sense to buy the affordable starter bundle which gives enough laundry powder and oxygen bleach for 60 washes, a stain removal bar and a laundry guide to stain removal.

Then you can just top up as and when, either ordering one product or three, as one purchase or on subscription.

Oxygen bleach is a mix of sodium percarbonate and hydrogen peroxide, it needs warm water to activate, then lasts for around 40 minutes to bind to molecules and remove stains. You can pour leftovers down sinks and rains to freshen them. It breaks down naturally into carbon dioxide and water, unlike chlorine bleach.

It can not just brighten fabrics, but remove tough stains like blood and wine, and eliminate odours. Septic tank safe. Test on hidden areas and wear rubber gloves.

Use oxygen bleach in ventilated areas, never mix bleach with vinegar (or lemon juice). Don’t leave oxygen bleach (once mixed) in a sealed container. Oxygen will continue to release, and it could blow up!

Oxygen bleach is safer than chlorine bleach, but still keep away from children and pets (it could bleach fur). For the same reason, avoid on non-colour-fast clothes. 

To use:

• Add one tablespoon to your washing machine (along with laundry powder to brighten and refresh clothing).
• For hand washes, add one tablespoon to every five litres of water, again with detergent.. Ensure powder is dissolved. Do the same to pre-soak stained clothing.
• To remove fabric stains, dissolve 1 spoon (or 3 spoons for cloth nappies, sanitary pads and incontinence pads) in 1 litre of hot water, and soak for an hour or longer. Then wash as normal.
• You can also add a little to pet bedding in the washing machine or hand-wash, to remove pet pee and stains. Rinse well, and allow to dry thoroughly before use.
• For stains, dissolve one tablespoon in hot water, and soak garments for one to six hours. Then wash as normal.
• To deodorise toilets (and drains), dissolve one tablespoon in hot water and pour down. Leave to sit for a while, then flush.

Other uses for natural oxygen bleach

• Mix with water, to clean dirty grout between tiles.
• Add warm water, to remove tea and coffee stains from mugs (rinse well afterwards).
• For limescale, apply neat on taps. Leave for a while, then rinse.
• To clean drains, pour a few tablespoons down sink. Add boiling water, wait a few minutes, then rinse.

Bette’s Stain Bar

This is made just with coconut oil, and packed in paper. It can lift tough stains like grease and old, while being gentle on fabrics and skin.

• For clothing stains, wet stain and rub wet bar directly on, massage gently. Rinse and add to your wash cycle.
• To use around the home, lather the bar with a damp plastic-free cloth or sponge – then use it to clean dishes, surfaces, sinks or even brushes. Rinse with warm water and you’re done!

Really, really pleased with this. A little goes a long way and I’ve managed to get some serious stains out! Gives excellent cleaning without a load of chemicals.

The stain remover works like nothing I’ve tried before, absolutely fantastic at getting stains out of white polo shirts. The clothes come out smelling freshly laundered and I know the ingredients isn’t harmful to skin. When will you start supplying to the supermarkets? It’ll fly off the shelf.

Delphis Eco Stain Remover

Delphis Eco Stain Remover is from a reputable company that makes eco-friendly commercial cleaning products. Sold in easy-to-recycle packaging, these are also vegan and not tested on animals.

This bio formula can remove most stains, and be used as a spot treatment (it’s biodegradable and safe for septic tanks). It dissolves stains by weakening connections between the stains and fabric.

To use, Suitable for most fabrics, remove residue then rinse with cold water, and massage into fabric with a dry or damp cloth, and agitate with a brush for deep stains. Rinse fabric again with cold water and repeat, if needed. For stubborn stains, reapply and allow to sit for 2 minutes, before washing.

Do not use on leather, spot test on silk.

Tips to easily remove most stains

Always start by blotting (not rubbing) the stain as avoids pushing pigment deeper in. Remove solids (sauce, mud, egg) with a spoon or blunt knife and scrape off dried crumbs or powder. Then rinse with cold water, especially for protein stains. Most stains are removed by mixing water with bicarb of soda or cleaning vinegar.

Citrus oils are toxic to pets, so should not be used near animals.

• Grease (cooking, butter, makeup). Absorb with blotting paper, then cover with bicarb of soda for 10 minutes, then use soft toothbrush to help soap reach fibres). Work small amount of dishwash into stain with fingers, rinse with warm water and wash).
• Blood, milk & egg (rinse with cold water and little dishwash, then apply bicarb paste for 10 minutes and rinse).
• Red wine (blot firmly, treat with dishwash liquid in cool water, then launder).
• Tea and coffee (cold rinse, add dishwash and paste of bicarb/water).
• Mud (brush off dry mud, then treat with dishwash mix, rinse and wash)
• Grass (Treat with bicarb paste and dishwash liquid, leave 10 minutes, wash).
• Hard water stains (spray cleaning vinegar (diluted half with water, leave for 10 minutes, wipe and rinse (avoid vinegar on natural stone).
• For grout, apply a paste of bicarb of soda, scrub gently with an old toothbrush, rinse and dry.

Where to recycle cleaning/laundry products

If you have some toxic products that you no longer wish to use, don’t pour them down the sink, as this can harm waterways. You can recycle empty containers with household waste.

With bottles still containing product, your council should be able to collect via the hazardous waste department. The fact that this is where they should be taken, is good reason to switch to a more natural brand!