How to Get a Stain Out If the Shirt Says No Bleach

Stained clothes are often treated with bleach, but if a shirt isn't bleach-safe, use alternative methods to remove the stains. Many household items work to remove stains and are gentler on fabrics than bleach, which can wear out clothing fibers. Hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice both lighten stains without harming the fabric. You can also use oxygen bleach on many stains in lieu of chlorine bleach. It is gentler on fabrics but has a similar effect.

White vinegar
Laundry soap
3 percent hydrogen peroxide
Cream of tartar
Lemon juice
Baking soda
Toothbrush
Salt

Instructions

- 1
  Dab white vinegar onto small stains, and let it sit for five to 10 minutes. Then, launder as usual. If the stain is large, immerse the entire shirt in 3 parts white vinegar and 1 part water, and let it sit overnight. Alternatively, pretreat set stains with 2 tbsp. of laundry soap, 3 tbsp. of white vinegar and 1 qt. of water. Rub the mixture into the stain, and leave it to dry. Then, wash the shirt as usual.
- 2
  Mix 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar to form a paste. Rub it onto the stain, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wash it. Hydrogen peroxide has a bleaching effect, so dark shirts may be lightened. Soak severely stained clothes in 1/2 cup of peroxide and 3 cups of water for half an hour. Launder as usual.
- 3
  Add 1 cup of lemon juice to the washing machine while the shirt is in the wash cycle. The lemon juice works to remove stains from hard water and rust.
- 4
  Cover makeup stains in dry baking soda, and brush the shirt with a toothbrush until the stain comes out. The baking soda absorbs the makeup and allows it to be brushed off.
- 5
  Pour table salt or baking soda over a wet stain to absorb the liquid, then wash it as usual.

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