How to Remove Stains

A free article on Alternative Medicine

By: Alisha Smith

Ink stain on the clothes is one of the problems of cleaning clothes and hence many people go to the drycleaners. Ink stains are simple and common problem of every house. People use costly detergents to remove the stains. Still some ink stains do clean. Many people have to give up their new dresses. Housewives are often irritated of their school children’s dresses. So this is an attempt to provide some tips for removing ink stains from the clothes.

There are different categories of ink stains. Water ink stains are often easy to remove. You will get many types of liquid and powder to remove the water stains. But the permanent ink stains are more difficult to remove. These kinds of stains take more time and higher quality liquid or powder.

One of the biggest problems that hard water can cause in and around the home is the ugly hard water stains and limescale found on shower doors. We all know how embarrassing it can be when we have guests round who visit the bathroom and we know they will see the horrible white/yellow stains all down the shower curtain or door.

Acids have an ability to remove hard water deposits and are typically found in toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, metal cleaners and kitchen/bathroom cleaners that remove mineral deposits. However, there are some natural acids all around your home that can be easily used to get rid of hard water stains and limescale. They have been used for centuries for a variety of different purposes, but are also great for removing stubborn stains. These natural solutions are white vinegar and lemon juice...sees below for some really simple ways of using them to remove stains from common kitchen items.

Do you use Baking Soda? Just about everyone knows that keeping a small box in their refrigerator helps eliminate odors. Baking soda deodorizes not only your fridge, but your drains, carpeting and upholstery as well. It also cleans, scours, and polishes without scratching. And yes, it can also remove stains.

What other uses does White Vinegar have? Besides being a key ingredient in dying Easter eggs, white vinegar is a great spot remover when used undiluted. Combined with lemon juice, the solution will remove hard water scales, remove gummy buildup and remove dirt from wood surfaces. Grandma also always used straight vinegar as an antibacterial product to kill bacteria, mold and germs.

We always have lemons around the house. Why? Lemon Juice is an all natural bleach and disinfectant. Lemon juice and sunshine can remove many stains - be careful though, since it can have the same affect as bleach. Works like a charm on baby formula stains - use to pre-treat laundry just before washing.

Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) works for removing stains on white clothing. It is especially good for removing fresh blood stains. Combine a 1/2 cup with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle and spray on mold and mildew prone areas of your
bathroom. A word of caution: In both cases, laundry and bathroom, make sure that you are using the peroxide on surfaces and materials that will tolerate its bleaching effect (you shouldn’t use it on brightly colored towels, for example).

Borax has such a wide range of uses around your home, that it deserves a page all its own! Borax has been used for ages, as a laundry booster. Keeping to the subject of stains, it will remove tea stains from cottons and linens by soaking the item in a solution of borax and water (1 tablespoon of borax per cup of warm water). For tougher stains, a paste of borax and warm water, worked into the stain before laundering may do the trick.

The items mentioned are just the basics. Keep in mind that when it comes to stains, there are too many variables to use just one solution successfully. Different fabrics or surfaces require different treatments, depending on the type of stain. You need to apply the right chemicals to get the reaction you want without any damaging effects.