Homemade Stain Remover

Whether you need to make a homemade stain remover on the fly or are trying to remove an old stain from furniture, walls, and even upholstery, these simple, low-cost recipes are the perfect hacks for you.

This post was originally published August 7, 2020

Stain removers are not exactly at the forefront of our minds, so most of us don’t usually have an array of stain removers in our homes ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.

The good news is that you can DIY your own stain remover with ingredients you most likely already have on hand.

These hacks work wonders on furniture, walls, flooring, and fabrics to remove the most stubborn stains. 

Living in a house with kids adds a whole new level of disarray – and with that “disarray” comes a variety of stains I never knew possible.

We have had markers on the walls, ketchup on the couch, and food on the ceiling. Tell me I’m not the only one!

Even after I switched to natural cleaning and laundry products, there were times I just needed a little extra for those stubborn stains. 

Below you’ll find a few different options that you can use as a homemade stain remover, from getting old stains out of clothes and fabric to getting that permanent marker out of your wooden furniture.

Homemade stain remover

Each one of these stain removers, like all of my cleaners, uses natural, eco-friendly ingredients that are easy to make and work really well!

I have used a lot of different combinations over the years to remove stains from couches, clothes, and walls, sprucing up leather shoes, and even cleaning leather furniture.

Some of them worked better than others, and below, I am excited to share the best of the stain remover hacks with you.

How to remove stains from furniture

I learned how to remove stains from furniture shortly after my husband built me a surprise custom coffee table. It didn’t take long for my 2-year-old to get a hold of a marker and color a masterpiece across the top.

Of course, I had no stain remover in the house, so as I was trying not to panic, I remember hearing how lemon essential oil works as a natural stain remover.

So, with no stain remover in the house and little confidence, I gave lemon essential oil a shot; it worked like magic.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE. 

What you need to get stains out of wooden furniture

• Lemon essential oil
• Clean, microfiber cloth

Instructions

1. Apply a drop or two of lemon essential oil directly onto the stain.
2. Use the cloth to rub the spot gently with the grain.
3. Allow to dry and repeat if needed.

NOTE: Test a small area first on the bottom or back of furniture to ensure it doesn’t remove stain or paint.

Make sure to use natural, pure lemon essential oil. The FDA does not regulate essential oils, so manufacturers can label them 100% pure even if they are not. So do your own research first.

How to get stains out of upholstery

This recipe can work for upholstery, carpet, and other fabrics. As always, be sure to test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t have any negative effects.

Do not use this method for pet urine stains on the carpet. Follow this recipe instead.

What you need to get stains out of upholstery

• 1 teaspoon of sal suds
• 1 tablespoon of white vinegar
• 1 cup of hot water
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Combine the sal suds, vinegar, and hot water in a spray bottle.
2. Lightly mist onto the stain.
3. Allow it to sit for five to ten minutes and then rub it into the stain.
4. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and let it sit for another five minutes.
5. Wipe the spot clean as best as you can with a cloth and then go over it with a hand vacuum. Repeat if necessary.

Additionally, follow up with a homemade upholstery cleaner spray if you choose.

Use this recipe here to learn how to get stains out of car seats.

How to get stains off of walls

My walls get pretty dirty, especially around the lower level, where sticky fingers can reach. It’s not uncommon for the walls to be painted in leftover lunch, grease, or artwork.

Before making the recipe below, dab a rag with a drop of lemon essential oil and try wiping the wall clean. This works exceptionally well for cleaning grease off of kitchen walls.

Most often, the lemon will suffice, but if a little more elbow grease is needed, use the recipe below.

What you need to get stains and grease off of walls

• 1 tablespoon of castile soap
• 1/4 cup of vinegar
• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• 1/2 gallon of warm water
• Lemon essential oil, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wipe the wall down with a dry cloth to remove any dust.
2. Mix soap, vinegar, and baking soda into warm water. Stir well.
3. Wipe the wall gently with the mixture and a soft cloth.
4. Add lemon essential oil to the cloth as needed for tougher stains.
5. Dry the wall with a soft, microfiber cloth to avoid water damage and streaks.

How to get stains out of carpet

What you need to get stains out of carpet 

• Sal suds
• Baking soda 
• Vinegar
• Water 
• Spray bottle
• Lavender essential oil (optional)

Instructions 

1. Apply a small amount of sal suds to the stain. (for easier application, combine equal parts of sal suds and water to a spray bottle, then spray onto the area of concern) Allow it to sit for five to ten minutes and then rub it into the carpet with a clean cloth. 
2. Sprinkle the carpet with baking soda. If using the lavender, stir it into the baking soda before sprinkling it onto the stain. Use 8 drops of lavender for 1/2 a cup of baking soda.
3. Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and lightly mist directly on top of the baking soda.
4. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then work the mixture into the carpet with a dry cloth.
5. Wipe clean with another dry cloth and vacuum clean. Repeat if needed.

Tips on how to get marker out of clothes, furniture, and walls

Unfortunately, I have had plenty of experience with marker stains. So if you ever had permanent marker stains on walls, furniture, or fabric, you know how hard it can be to get it out. Here are a few natural how-tos to try that actually work!

Always test a small area out of sight first.

How to get permanent marker off clothes

Choose from one of the items below:

• Rubbing alcohol
• White vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Toothpaste, not the gel kind

1. Apply a small amount of your stain remover of choice onto the marker stain using a clean cloth. Dab the stain rather than scrubbing it to prevent it from going deeper into the fabric.
2. Repeat until the stain disappears.

How to get permanent marker off table and wooden furniture

Choose from one of the items below:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Lemon essential oil
• Toothpaste, not the gel kind

1. Apply a small amount of your stain remover of choice onto the marker stain.
2. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes, and then gently dab it with a damp cloth, rotating the cloth, so you’re always dabbing the stain with a clean section of the cloth.
3. When the cloth is picking up no more ink, gently wipe it clean.
4. Repeat until the stain disappears.

How to get marker off wall

Choose from one of the items below:

• Baking soda (mixed with a little water to make a paste)
• Toothpaste, not the gel kind
• Rubbing alcohol 
• Lemon essential oil 

1. Apply a small amount of your stain remover of choice onto the marker stain using a clean cloth. 
2. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes before gently wiping clean.
3. Repeat until the stain disappears. 

Be gentle when rubbing the walls. If you’re too aggressive, you can end up removing the paint.

And that’s it! I hope you find a hack that will work for you. Let me know what you think in the comment section below. And for more great DIYs, be sure to check out some of these simple projects.

• Homemade wood floor cleaner
• How to clean wood stove glass
• DIY screen cleaner
• Homemade natural oven cleaner
• Shoe deodorizer hacks
• How to freshen a mattress (quick and simple tricks)