Sometimes, you wear new clothes, and they get dirty right after. Clothes get dirt stains now and then, but this does not mean you have to discard your favorite outfit when it is stained.
There are various household ingredients to help get dirt stains out of your clothes in no time and we’ll discuss them extensively.
10 Ways to Get Dirt Stains Out of Clothes
Dirt stains can still be lifted from clothes whether fresh or even after it is dried. However, it is recommended to get the stain out as soon as it happens to prevent the stain from setting into the clothes and making it difficult to get it out.
Now, before using any stain treatment method, check the care label of your clothes. Some fabrics, like silk and wool, may be dry cleaned only and if your cloth is washable, you may want to test your stain removal method on an inconspicuous area first.
1. White Vinegar
White vinegar is an effective stain remover. It is safe to use, cheap, and super gentle on fabrics. Vinegar is a cleaning solution for several kinds of stains and for stains that are even more specific like; underarm sweat stains, urine stains, and mildew stains. Here is how to use white vinegar to get rid of dirt stains below:
Step 1: Make a solution of two tablespoons of salt, half a cup of vinegar, and two quarts of warm water. You could also add half a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap.
Step 2: Soak the stained cloth in the solution for about forty-five minutes. Rinse the cloth and launder as usual.
Note: Vinegar is bound to leave your cloth smelling fresh and dirt-free, however, the amount of vinegar required depends on how heavy the stain is.
2. Baking Soda
One of the best natural cleaners is baking soda; it works magic on oily and greasy stains; it gets rid of any dirt stain and odor, keeping your clothes smelling fresh. Here’s how to use it below:
Step 1: Pour some baking soda mixed with some detergent directly onto the stain. Sprinkle some water on it and allow it to sit for thirty minutes.
Step 2: Use a soft brush to massage the solution into the stain. Rinse and launder the cloth as usual.
3. Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice possesses bleaching qualities that can break down stains like; food coloring stains, underarm stains, and rust stains. Follow these simple steps to use lemon juice below:
Step 1: Pour some lemon juice into a sink and soak the cloth in the juice for an hour. Rinse the cloth and wash as usual, either by hand or by a machine.
Step 2: If there are any lingering stains after this process, sprinkle some baking soda over the stain and scrub with a brush. Rinse and launder again.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent with bleaching qualities; it is safer to use than chlorine bleach. Hydrogen peroxide effectively whitens clothes and lifts underarm, curry, red wine, and blood stains from clothes. Here’s how to use it below:
Step 1: Soak the stained cloth in hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes. Use your fingernails or a blunt knife to scrape as much dried residue as you can to help loosen the stain.
Step 2: Rinse the cloth with more hydrogen peroxide then rinse the cloth under cool running water and launder as usual.
5. Borax
Borax is a natural mineral made up of oxygen, sodium, boron, and water; it boosts your normal laundry detergents’ performance, lifts stains, softens hard water, and gets rid of odors too.
Borax does not create any toxic fume but can irritate the skin, so before using, be sure to use a hand glove.
Step 1: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of borax and some laundry detergent in 3 quarts of warm water.
Step 2: Soak the stained cloth in the solution for up to 30 minutes and hand wash the cloth in the solution after soaking. Rinse the cloth under cool running water then wash and air dry.
6. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a natural for absorbing oil; it is one of the best treatments for lifting all kinds of oil stains from clothes. Here’s how to use cornstarch to get rid of dirt stains from the clothes below:
Step 1: Pour a handful of cornstarch over the stained area of the cloth. Allow the cornstarch to sit on the stain for 15 minutes, then brush away. The starch will absorb most of the oil.
Step 2: Pour a little bit of dishwashing soap or some liquid laundry detergent over the area and allow it to sit for up to 20 minutes.
Step 3: Rinse the cloth under cool running water and wash as usual and air dry.
Note: If the oil stain is dried by the time you want to begin cleaning, soak it in water for about 30 minutes before beginning this method.
7. Talcum Powder
Talcum powder is an alternative to cornstarch. If you haven’t any cornstarch at your disposal, you can make use of talcum powder. It is perfect for absorbing the oil from oil stains.
Step 1: Sprinkle the powder over the oily stain and allow it to sit for at least 45 minutes.
Step 2: Brush away the powder and rinse the cloth under cool running water. Then, wash as usual, either by hand or with a machine.
8. Stain Remover
Stain removers come in handy for the removal of tough stains. Here is a simple step-by-step guide on using stain remover to get sweat stains from a hat below:
Step 1: Apply the stain remover directly to the stain on the clothes. Rub in the stain remover with an old toothbrush by scrubbing.
Step 2: Let the stain remover set into the clothes for up to five minutes. Fill a sink with cold water and some laundry detergent to make a solution. Soak the clothes for about 20 minutes and rinse with warm water.
9. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol gets rid of almost any kind of stain. This magical liquid can dissolve stains from clothes and even carpets too. Here’s how to use it below:
Step 1: Pour some rubbing alcohol into a bowl and soak the stained clothes in the alcohol for about 30 minutes.
Step 2: Rinse the alcohol out of the clothing under cold running water then wash the cloth.
10. Dishwashing Detergent and Glycerin
Liquid dishwashing detergent is a good stain remover and is even more powerful when combined. It is effective at breaking down grease stains and food stains. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use dishwashing detergent and glycerin to get dirt stains out of clothes below:
Step 1: Mix 3 tablespoons of liquid detergent and 2 teaspoons of glycerin in 2 quarts of warm water.
Step 2: Soak the stained cloth in the solution for 30 minutes and rinse the solution out of the cloth under running water. Launder the cloth as usual.
How To Get Dirt Out Of Clothes Without Washing
Sometimes, we can get stains out of fabrics without washing them. The stains could either be dry cleaned or blotted out. To get rid of dirt stains without washing, you can use cornstarch powder.
Cornstarch powder can help get rid of stains without washing. Here is a step by step guide on how to use cornstarch to get rid of stains below:
Step 1: Lay the fabric on a flat surface. Cover the stained area with cornstarch powder, wait 30 minutes, then shake the powder off.
Step 2: Soak a cloth with some dry cleaning fluid and blot the stain up. While blotting, the stain will transfer to the cloth.
Step 3: Once the stain is completely off, wet a clean cloth with water and dab on the stain.
Note: When blotting the stains out, keep changing the cloth to a clean one to keep the stains from transferring back to the cloth.