Stains are a fact of life, but the good news is that you probably already have everything you need to remove them naturally! So, don’t fret when you have an active lifestyle that may lead to accidental spills. Using natural products you already have in your cupboards will help to remove stubborn stains.

Rust Stains

No matter how careful you try to preserve your pots and pans, you will encounter rust stains. And not only is rust unsightly, but it is also extremely damaging and costly to repair across the board. It’s so damaging that corrosion costs each of the armed services in the U.S. an average of $5 billion a year. Instead of throwing away and replacing things that have rust stains, try the following:

• Porcelain or ceramic: Use hydrogen peroxide to restore your precious porcelain or ceramic. First mix one part of 3% hydrogen peroxide and two parts of cream of tartar. Then, put this mixture on a soft sponge and scrub it on the stain. Let it sit for one to two hours, then scrub the area with a stiff-bristle brush and rinse away the residue
• Stainless steel: Use baking soda on your stainless steel by first mixing one tablespoon of baking soda and two cups of water. Apply this mixture with a cloth on the stained area and scrub in the same direction as the stain. Keep it on for half an hour to an hour, then wipe off the residue with a water-dampened paper towel. For large stains, you can sprinkle a layer of the baking soda mixture instead of using a cloth, and then follow the other steps mentioned.
• Concrete: Use Trifolium phosphate (TSP), an industrial-strength degreaser, for your driveway, garage floor, or patio. Mix a half cup of it with a half-gallon of hot water. Then, pour it on the concrete enough to cover the stain. Let the solution stay on for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterward, use a push broom to scrub the concrete. Rinse it off with a pressure washer with clean water.

Stains on Appliances

The coatings on your appliances have two primary functions: decoration and protection. But it’s easy for your appliances to become stained over time. When it comes to white appliances, you can remove unsightly yellow stains by using four tablespoons of bleach and two tablespoons of baking soda. Add this mixture to two cups of warm water. Let the mixture remain on the spot for five to ten minutes. Afterward, thoroughly rinse it off.

Common Laundry Stains

There are seven types of natural stain removers used for laundry, and you probably already have them all! They are table salt, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, distilled white vinegar, borax, and lemon or lime juice.

For most stains, you can scrub salt and lemon on your clothing until it is saturated. Then, set it out under the sun with the stain faced up for two to three hours. Afterward, machine wash and dry the garment. However, this is not recommended for more delicate materials, like chiffon.

Lemon or lime juice has natural bleaching qualities. However, to prevent permanent discoloration, you should remove the juice on colored clothing much quicker than you would on whites. It is great for removing yellow underarm stains as well.

Baking soda also aids in boosting detergent performance, softening fabrics, and reducing suds for quicker loads in front load washers. It is a perfect green odor reducer to keep your laundry smelling fresh and is safe to use on all fabrics.

Distilled white vinegar has tons of amazing benefits for clothing. It is safer than fabric softeners and chlorine bleach, it is gentle on fabrics, and it is inexpensive. It is also very beneficial for removing mildew stains, removing odor and yellow underarm perspiration stains, and brightening your clothes.

Hydrogen peroxide is also a better alternative than harsh chlorine bleach. Peroxide’s oxidizing agent acts as bleach and can remove most stains.

And lastly, Borax is amazing. Many may think that Borax is a chemical risk. However, it is a natural mineral consisting of oxygen, water, boron, and sodium. With this composition, it can remove stains, help in controlling odor, soften hard water, and boost the performance of any detergent for cleaning clothes.

Stains on Your Teeth

With all the different types of food, it is easy to get stains on your teeth. This is especially true for those that wear braces. Even clear aligners, like Invisalign aligners, which are changed about every two weeks, can cause teeth staining.

To naturally fight against teeth stains, you should eat more fruits and vegetables. You should also drink plenty of water, maintain your oral hygiene, reduce your sugar intake, and reduce food and drinks that easily stain the teeth. You can also use hydrogen peroxide for your mouthwash or baking soda when brushing your teeth. With hydrogen peroxide, rinse with one part hydrogen peroxide and two parts water.

Carpet Stains

To remove carpet stains, you must remove the excess solid stains off the carpet immediately. You should also apply carpet cleaner to the spot immediately, and let it sit in for a while before blotting to wipe it up. You also can use white vinegar:

Saturate a clean, lint-free cloth with white vinegar and wring it out lightly. Then, sprinkle a light amount of table salt over the stain, and place the cloth wet with white vinegar over it. Let the cloth sit on the stain for 30 minutes, then check to see if the stain is fading. If the stain has not faded enough, let the cloth sit for another 30 minutes. Check the stain again, and continue to reapply the cloth if the stain has not faded. Repeat these steps until the stain is completely gone. Once the stain faded, let it air dry. Then, vacuum this area a few hours later.

By using the natural tips mentioned above, you can restore and maintain your items for many years to come.