How to Naturally Clean the 10 Most Stubborn Household Stains

When happy hour gives way to a giant red wine spill, do not fret. Act as fast as you can, blotting the red wine stain with paper towel to absorb as much as possible. If the stain is dry, it’s OK to soak it slightly with water and then absorb the wine. Once you’ve soaked up as much as you can with paper towel, sprinkle baking soda on top to create a thin layer covering the entire stain. Let it sit overnight. In the mornin, dip a cloth in white vinegar and gently dab the area, and then vacuum over the area. You can repeat this process until the stain is nothing but a distant memory (if only the same could be said for your red wine hangover).

We’re spilling the tea on spilt cooking oil! The first step is sprinkling the stain with baking soda until it’s completely covered. Let it sink in for 30 minutes. Fill a bucket with hot water (enough to fully submerge the item or stained portion in) and mix in two tablespoons of baking soda. Place the item in the bucket and let it soak for another 30 minutes. Next, wash it as usual in the washer and dryer. And finally, go buy yourself a cooking apron.

The writing’s on the wall: your kid is a menace. But have no fear, you can clean those scribbles with ease (even if parenting is an uphill battle). Using an old toothbrush, dip it in white vinegar and gently buff away the crayon. Once the marks have been removed, wipe the entire area with a damp cloth.

Your future may be written in the tea leaves, but your caffeine addiction is written in the coffee stains on your mugs! But much like that first sip in the morning, you can resurrect your stained coffee mugs from the grave with this simple and natural trick: sprinkle a little bit of baking soda into your mug, and then drizzle just enough warm water to create a paste. Scrub the paste over the stain using a sponge and watch them – poof! – disappear.

Sad puppy dog eyes may melt your heart, but they’re not going to melt away the urine stain on your carpet. To rid your home of pet mishaps, mix equal parts vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and soak the stain. Let it sit for five to ten minutes and then blot the area. Repeat the process as many times as it takes to remove the stain (and the odour!). Learn more natural cleaning tips for your four-legged babies.

Blood is thicker than water, which makes for a gnarly stain. To remove the evidence, pour white vinegar directly over the stain to help dissolve it, and let it soak for 30 minutes. Rinse out the vinegar using very cold water. You can repeat this process as many times as it takes to dissolve the blood stain entirely.

Here’s a bright idea…the next time baby unleashes a “poonami” upon your home, wipe as much of the solid waste off the stained item as you can, and then leave the item out in the sun to dry. Once it’s fully dry, run it through a regular wash and dry cycle and prepare to be amazed! It’s literally the only time excessive sun exposure can be used for good.

Ketchup stain? No sweat. Mustard stain? SOUND THE ALARM! Whether it’s under your nails or all over your tablecloth, mustard stains are extreme, but we’ve got just the thing! Mix a half-teaspoon of natural dish soap, with half a cup of warm water, and a teaspoon of white vinegar. Apply the “secret sauce” to the saucy mess and allow it to soak in for 15 minutes. Rinse the stain well with hot water and then run the item through a regular wash and dry cycle.

We blame the kids but lets be honest, the majority of the smudges on the walls are our own doing. Whoops! Thankfully, cleaning those smudges is just as easy as making them. Mix half a cup of baking soda with a quarter cup of warm water and mix it into a paste. Scoop a teaspoon amount onto a clean sponge and gently rub the paste onto the smudge. The stain should easily lift. Be warned, this task is oddly addictive (and oh so satisfying).

Mud is one of those unique messes that get worse with water, so resist the urge to sop up a muddy mess when you first see it, and instead, let it dry. Vacuum the dried mud as much as possible. Then, mix one tablespoon of natural liquid dish soap with two cups of cool water. Using a clean cloth, dip it in the solution and gently sponge the area. Using a second cloth, blot the stain until the liquid is absorbed. Continue the process until the stain disappears.