You can’t go around it: stain removal is part of the house cleaning chores that are forever haunting you. Common everyday household items can help you make your house sparkle.
Stain! The bane of most families with kids, pets and adults as well. We can trust families to have little or big accidents every now and again. Stains can be such a pain sometimes but it can be so easy to get rid of them if action is taken quickly and swiftly! That coffee stain on your favourite white shirt or the grass stain on the kid’s pants? Always happens when you are in a hurry or when you least expect it.
Stain Removal Tips
Walls: black marks, crayons, mould, pen and marker
- Black Marks. Try toothpaste for a change! Not just for teeth. Rub gently against the black marks and let stand for a few minutes. Wipe off with a damp,soft cloth/ microfibre cloth. If this doesn’t work, try some sugar soap on the black marks. Always works a treat to see the black mark disappear within seconds (depending on how deep the marks are). If marks have become ingrained, then scrub with some more sugar soap, then wipe off. Be careful no tot scrub too hard and remove the paint off the wall!
- Crayon: got Picasso at home? Not an issue, try sugar soap. It can be used to remove marks from walls.
- Mould: Vinegar and baking soda are your best friends: they help kill mould. Make a paste with 1 part vinegar, 2 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Grab an old toothbrush and work it into the area. Let stand until dry then rinse off with water.
- Pen: Make a paste with water and bicarb soda. Rub the paste over the mark with a microfibre cloth. The mildly abrasive bicarbonate soda will get the marks out.
- Permanent Marker: Any hand sanitiser close by? Rub some on the mark and wipe clean. Re-apply for stubborn marks and wipe clean with a microfibre cloth.
Kitchen area: benchtop, splashback, stove tops, kitchen cabinet…
- Kitchen Oils: Oil from cooking everywhere in the kitchen? Range-hood, ceiling or cupboards with oil coatings, wipe the area with some tea tree oil. Amazing on grease/oils as it breaks down the fats and helps wipe it away with a clean cloth.
- Kitchen Stone Benchtops: Stone benchtops can be hard to keep clean with kids and cooking around. How to keep them in top shape? Get some car polish and polish your benchtop with a thin and invisible film that helps reduce stains from accidental spills!
- Glass Splashbacks: Warm soapy water to cover the area. Then wipe dry with paper towels to give it the shine back.
Other smelly stains: pet urines, baby/kids poop!
- Smells: Deodorise your carpet by sprinkling some bicarb soda on the floor, let stand for 10-15 minutes then vacuum the powder off the carpet. This should get rid of smells.
- Urine: Soak up the excess wetness by applying pressure to the area using a towel or paper towels. If dry, pour a bit of warm water to help. Mix a bit of laundry soap with water and gently scrub the area. Blot with absorbent towels to remove excess liquid. Apply bicarbonate of soda to deodorise.
Of course always patch test before applying anything to your carpet or walls. Try to keep to eco ways of cleaning your house and see the difference this brings to your home!
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