Stains are inevitable, but that doesn't mean you can't fight back with DIY cleaners and other easy solutions. You'd be surprised to find out most of the ingredients you need to tackle the mess are already in your pantry and take only minutes to put together. Whether you need answers to getting rid of lipstick stains, grease stains, and grass stains or how to make your own stain remover, we have you covered. Next time a mark lands on your clothing or furniture, don't panic! Consult our handy guide here.
There is nothing worse than seeing your favorite white tee or button-down yellowing under the arms or around the collar. Luckily, you can restore life to your whites with this eco-friendly cleaning solution.
1 / 30
2Remove Pen Marks
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
The first step to combatting pen marks is to not let them set. Start treatment right away with baking soda and vinegar. Depending on the material where you found the stain, you may or may not be able to restore it 100 percent.
One of the easiest places to get rust marks is on baking pans. The trick to removing the stain is by using baking soda and oil. If that still doesn't work, try using vinegar.
Whether you are trying to remove oil- or water-based paint stains, the most important thing is to not let the stain dry. Keep the area wet until you can clean it, and then, depending on the fabric of your item, follow these instructions to remove the paint.
Foundation, lipstick, self-tanner, mascara — all these beauty products are sure to end up on your clothes every once in a while. Thankfully, there are immediate solutions to fixing these problems, and we've compiled an easy list here.
5 / 30
6Remove Blood Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
We've all experienced the random nosebleed, and sometimes a little blood ends up on our clothing. The best way to get the stain out, without using bleach, is to soak the fabric in water then sprinkle salt over it.
Denim stains are probably the most annoying and most frequent stains you encounter on a daily basis. The dye from your new jeans may rub against your bag or even get on your hands. Next time this happens, you can remove the pesky stain with this special soap.
7 / 30
8Remove Water Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
Water stains can be unsightly, especially if you have guests over. Tackle the problem with this DIY eco-friendly Epsom salt cleaner. Your shower doors and tiles will look as good as new!
The next time you try a DIY hair-dye routine at home and some ends up on your skin, don't worry. This graphic will explain all the products that will remove the color everywhere but your hair.
9 / 30
10Remove Tough Grass Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
Summertime calls for outdoor activities, lounging in the park, and grass stains. Here are four solutions to this common hot-weather problem so your clothes stay fresh.
10 / 30
11Remove Pet Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
You may love your pets, but when they have accidents in the house, it could be a big problem. Clean up the stains with this easy DIY cleaner, which uses eco-friendly ingredients.
Our shoes get more muddy in the summertime than any other time of the year because we're hiking, running, or exploring the great outdoors. If your sneakers have mud on them, the best thing to do is to let them dry then treat with dish soap and laundry detergent. Follow these steps to get your shoes back to their squeaky-clean state!
12 / 30
13Remove Coffee-Cup Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
Coffee-lovers can all relate to one problem: the brown edges and spots left in the mug after a drink. Instead of buying expensive cleaners to remove the rings, try using some salt and dish soap.
13 / 30
14Remove Stains From Stainless Steel Appliances
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
Stainless steel appliances are so clean and pretty until you get that first fingerprint or smudge on them. Instead of wiping the prints away with water or other harsh chemicals, this two-step method is natural and inexpensive.
No matter how careful we are, gum always manages to stick to the bottom of our soles or shirt. Thankfully, getting gum out is easier than it seems. All you have to do is quickly stick the clothing in the freezer, wait till the gum hardens, and scrape it off!
15 / 30
16Remove Permanent-Marker Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
The word permanent on Sharpies and other markers can sound scary when the ink accidentally gets on your clothes or furniture. Before you panic, try some of these solutions, from using hair spray to rubbing alcohol to get the stains out.
Maple syrup on your morning pancakes or waffles is a must, and if some of it gets on your clothes, it's worth it. But to keep your garments from being completely ruined, use an environmental-friendly oxygen bleach remover to get rid of the sticky syrup.
One minute you're taking a sip of your juice, and the next, it ends up spilling on your shirt. The easiest way to clean up the mess is by putting cold water on it and then soaking the item in white vinegar mixed with dishwashing liquid before tossing it into the wash. If you end up getting juice stains on your couch or chair, follow these steps to clean the mess.
18 / 30
19Remove Lipstick Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
Lipstick wearers can rest easy with these four cleaning suggestions. Next time you get a mark on your shirt or scarf, try one of these quick and easy solutions.
19 / 30
20Remove Grease Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
One moment you are taking a bite out of your pizza, and the next, a drop of grease has landed on your clothes. The solution? Chalk. See the results of the test when we tried out this remover on a white shirt and denim.
20 / 30
21Remove Red-Wine Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
If you have carpeted floors and a glass of red wine in hand, accidents are bound to occur. Gracefully clean up a spill with this DIY stain remover and follow these step-by-step instructions.
If you have babysat or have small children, chances are there will be crayon drawings on your walls, couch, or clothes. Some ways to get these colorful but annoying marks off is by using baby oil or toothpaste.
Good bread requires good jam and an even better solution to getting rid of jam or jelly stains. All you need are these two ingredients to help keep the stain from setting in your clothes.
23 / 30
24Remove Ketchup Stains
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
Ketchup stains happen to the best of all eaters. Don't let the mark set by mixing up your own stain remover. You already have the ingredients on hand.
Hot, sweltering days call for ice cream, but with that also comes a melting mess that sometimes ends up on your favorite Summer dress or shirt. The solution to getting rid of the stain is using clear dishwashing liquid and lukewarm water on the fabric. Stay away from products with perfumes or other chemicals, which could make your stain harder to remove.
Giving yourself an at-home mani can mean nail polish spills. We have you covered on all the solutions to this problem whether your polish ends up on hardwood floors or in your hair.
You might not mind chocolate getting all over your face, but when it comes to your clothes, it is a different story. The most important step to getting chocolate off is to wipe away most of it before treating it with any stain treatments. This DIY solution is easy to remember and helpful to have around come Valentine's Day.
You can now enjoy your noodles and sushi without worrying about getting soy sauce permanently on your clothes. This easy guide to removing the stain spots will save you time and money!
28 / 30
29Best Stain-Remover Treatments
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff
These tried-and-true stain cleaners may have you questioning if you need to pretreat stains. Our editors conducted their own experiment with four store-bought stain busters to put to the test. Find out the results here.