Spilling on a shirt you actually like, like that one shirt you finally got broken in just right, is such a ridiculously specific heartbreak. One second you are having a completely normal day, next second you have marinara or coffee or some mystery smear right in the middle of your chest, and you’re frantically dabbing at it with a paper napkin, which is probably only making it worse. And yeah, you have that stain removing spray in the laundry room that says it works on “everything,” but you already know how that’s end. It doesn’t. Unless the yellowish stain fades a bit, that stain just becomes part of the story of the shirt.
And then what? You either resign it to the “yard work” pile, or it becomes that one sweatshirt you only wear when no one is going to see you, that’s how that goes. Which is like, yeah, ok, not the end of the world, but not always necessary either. You actually don’t need industrial chemicals to combat stains. You can get pretty decent results using things you probably already have lying around your house. You know, things you might snag from a medicine cabinet or a shelf in your kitchen. It’s not magic folks… but it’s pretty damn close.
Aspirin
This one sounds a little wild, but it’s one of those old-school tips that keep sticking around because… Well, it really does work. Take five or six uncoated aspirins and crush them up – use the back of a spoon, or anything. Then fill your sink, or a small tub, with warm water, mix in the crushed aspirins, and throw the stained clothes in. Let it soak a minimum of half an hour, better if it’s closer to an hour, if the stain is really bad. Then, just run it through the washer and dryer like normal. This one is particularly good for things like sweat marks, or those random stainish grey smudges for no reason. Not a miracle cure, but strangely effective.
Vinegar and Lemon
This one smells awful going in, but it does work. Mix some water, distilled white vinegar (not the special balsamic kind), and lemon juice, just sort of eyeball it, and don’t worry about the exact ratios, maybe about a third of each. Toss the stained item in and let it soak for about a half hour. The lemon brightens a little, and the vineager sort of breaks down the dirt. This one works well for food stains, especially anything greasy and sticky. After the soak, put it through a normal wash and dry. The vinegar smell goes away after it is washed, trust me.
Baking Soda
This one is probably the easist. Fill up your sink, or a bowl, with water, mix in about a cup of baking soda, then let the stained clothing sit in it for 15 minutes or so. That’s it. Baking soda is good for lifting stains, but also neutralizing any gross smells too, which is nice if it has sat for a while. This one is particularly good for gym clothes or something that you put in your bag and forgot about for a few days (we’ve all been there). After the soaking, wash and dry like normal, and you don’t need any extra steps.
Anyway, so the next time you’re trying to figure out how to get that bump on your favourite shirt out, or you find a stain long forgotten, maybe don’t go right to the chemicals. Try one of these first! They’re pretty simple, cheap, and they don’t smell like a mad scientist. Worst case, you’re out a lemon and a couple aspirins. Best case, you save a shirt you kind of like!
