Counting the Cost

Creatively Frugal Stain Removal

How do you get rid of stains effectively yet inexpensively?

"I got these tips from the owner of a day care center. (Who would know more about stain removal?) Canned foaming carpet cleaner works for just about anything. You can buy the non-name brands at your dollar store. For really heavy grease stains, use the Go-Jo type hand cleaner that mechanics use. This should also be available at your dollar store." ~ Cheryl

"For white clothing I mix just enough bleach with powder detergent to make a paste and then carefully cover the stain with the paste, avoiding any colored threads, and leave it for about 5 minutes. This almost always removes the stain if my regular stain removers won't work. Also for grease stains I use De-Solv-It purchased at the grocery store or hand cleaner paste such as Go-Jo purchased at the auto parts store. For baby clothes with food stains, add some dishwasher soap to the load."

"The most frugal product that I use for stain removal is Ivory ‘Bar’ soap. This takes many stains out. Just take the bar and rub it on the stain. Sometimes I use an old toothbrush and gently scrub in needed. Then wash in the washing machine."

"I keep a bottle of cheap shampoo handy. It's great for collars and other grease stains, and is gentle on delicate fabrics. It is also great for removing stains on the skin." ~ Sue

"I read this in the Tightwad Gazette. Use 1 cup of all purpose bleach, 1 cup of powdered dishwasher detergent. Run hot water into the washer on lowest water setting. Add the powders and let the washer
agitate a bit to mix. Add clothes, agitate and let sit overnight. The Gazette says to use name brands but I use the store brands and it works great. I recently washed a stained t-shirt that was a 20-year-old keepsake from my first born and it looks much
better." ~ Maria in CA

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"I have a 5-year-old who usually ends up with some type of grease stain each time he eats pizza, spaghetti, salad dressing or anything with an oil base. I use a dab of hair shampoo (not a shampoo and conditioner mix) and put it right on the stain covering it well. I throw the clothes in the regular laundry and poof...oil marks are gone. I do laundry once a week, so sometimes it is a few days before I get to the wash. I put the shampoo on the clothes when it happens and toss them in the pile. This is the best solution I have found to keep clothes useful (my son wears a uniform to school, and replacing them is expensive) as opposed to ‘play clothes only.’ I also do a lot of thrift store shopping and you'd be amazed at the great deals I find that have a little bitty stain that someone couldn't get out. (I am a business executive and wear lot of suits and professional clothes). I do the shampoo ‘magic’ and have all kinds of designer labels for next to nothing. I also use cheaper brand shampoos such as VO5. Hope you will find this tip useful! It's saved me a bundle." ~ Chris

"I use lemon juice directly on to the stain and then leave it hanging outside in the sun for a while. This gets rid of most stains I have come across." ~ Colette

"For oily stains (like pizza grease or butter), I use Lestoil. apply it directly to the stain, rub, let sit a bit, then launder in warm
water. Many times this has saved items I thought would be ruined." ~ Esther

Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to share his or her ideas!