Magic Stain Removers

Cleaning without chemicals is possible, and usually just as effective. Natural cleaning products are safer for you and the environment.

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STAIN	TREAT WITH	WHAT TO DO
Beer, beetroot	Borax, water	Dab or soak with a mix of two tablespoons of borax per 500ml water.
Blood (new)	Cold water, salt	Soak in cold water. Add a handful of salt for hard stains.
Blood (old)	Vegetable glycerine,	Rub with glycerine to soften, then treat cold water as for new blood.
Chocolate, coffee	Borax, water	Dab with, or soak in, a solution of two tablespoons of borax per 500ml water.
Cosmetics	Cloudy ammonia,	Dab with a solution of one part cloudy water ammonia per three parts water.
Grass	Water, sugar, eucalyptus oil	Dampen with water and sprinkle with sugar. Roll up, leave for one hour, then launder. Rub stubborn stains with eucalyptus oil
Grease, oil	Cornflour, washing soda, eucalyptus oil	Sprinkle with cornflour. Place stain between layers of paper towel and iron gently. Repeat if needed. Soak stubborn stains in water with one tablespoon washing soda and one teaspoon eucalyptus oil.
Rust	Salt, lemon juice	Mix salt and lemon juice to make a paste. Rub into stain, leave 10-20 minutes, then rinse out.
Scorch mark	Vegetable glycerine, borax	Cover the mark with a mix of vegetable glycerine and borax. Dry then brush.
Tumeric (curry)	Hydrogen peroxide (3%)	Dab stain with neat hydrogen peroxide.
Wine, red	Soda water, borax, water	Apply soda water immediately. If stain persists, soak in a solution of two tablespoons borax per 500ml water.
Wine, white	Soda water	Apply soda water immediately, then launder as usual.