Cheap, Easy, and Effective Stain Removal

This is a handy spot removal technique to know because it works on almost any kind of fabric and removes almost any kind of stain. I have used it to remove sweat stains from a white cotton blouse, grass stains from white pants, and wine stains from a knit jersey top. It doesn't weaken the fabric like bleach and you can use it on colors without worrying that it will remove the dye along with the stain. It's cheap. You use store-brand powdered dishwashing detergent from the grocery store-the cheaper the better. Save the expensive stuff for your dishes. Finally, it's easy. The only other things you need are water and a plastic basin.

Step One

The stained object: a white cotton kitchen towel stained with turmeric. A hot water wash with bleach won't get that stain out.

Step Two

Pour about 1/2 to 1/5 cup of the detergent into your plastic basin, and add a few cups of water, and stir with your hand to dissolve the powder. You can use any temperature water depending on your fabric. I used hot water for my cotton towel.

Let your item soak for a day or two. There is no need to rub or scrub the fabric; let the detergent do the work.

This is my towel after one day of soaking. See how the soaking water has turned a mucky yellow? That's the detergent working. At this point, I could choose to keep soaking my towel, rinse my towel and repeat the process with new detergent and water, or declare my item clean. If you choose to continue soaking, you really don't have to change the water unless it becomes absolutely filthy. The detergent will continue to work.

I only soaked this turmeric-stained cotton towel for one day and look at how much whiter it is! Really stubborn stains could take a few days or up to a couple of weeks. Even then, there's nothing to it other than checking on the cleaning process and maybe changing the water and adding fresh detergent,

After your item is clean, launder it the way you normally would before wearing and you're good to go!