When you spill some food or drink on your clothes, you always tell yourself you’re going to treat the stain later, right? But if you’re anything like me, you are more likely to forget about the stain until you spot it when putting your clothes in the washing machine on laundry day.
By this point, the window of opportunity to pre-treat the stain has closed. So what do you do? Well, I hope to answer that very question in today’s blog post! :-)
We’re going to be exploring how you can remove stains with lemon essential oil. You’ll learn how to do it and why it’s such a good option for treating old stains! I’ll also give you a recipe for a spray you can make to tackle tough stains like ring around the collar!
How To Remove Stains With Lemon Essential Oil
It couldn’t be easier to remove stains with lemon essential oil. You can simply apply a few drops directly to the stain and then toss the item in the wash!
It’s perfect for removing stains that you never got around to pretreating because it can dissolve the dried-out residue and help eliminate any discoloration. Just make sure to get your clothing item in the wash ASAP because lemon oil can have a permanent yellowing effect if it’s left to sit for too long.
Think it sounds too good to be true? OGT readers have put this method to the test and gotten amazing results!
Barb A. put lemon oil on a dried blood stain:
“I got the lemon oil to use on a laundry tip of Jillee’s. The dried blood stain that went thru the dryer twice and didn’t come out was TOTALLY GONE after using. Never did I think that was going to happen! Love this stuff!”
And Susan G. used it on another notoriously hard-to-remove stain:
“I bought this as part of the recipe for a stain remover, and it worked on hair dye that had splashed on my BRAND NEW WHITE bathroom carpets. Amazing!!”
Janet turned to lemon essential oil as a last resort and ended up with a new go-to stain remover:
“Jillee recommended this to remove stubborn stains from clothing. Bought it, tried it, and am now a most happy user. It’s like a miracle stain remover and only a couple of drops. I had a favorite t-shirt that got a stain. I tried several over-the-counter stain removers, and none of them worked. This lemon oil treatment REALLY WORKS! This will be my go-to stain remover for stubborn stains. Thanks so much!”
Lynne was pretty skeptical but gave it a try anyway:
“I have been hesitant to be a fan of essential oils. I love the fragrance of lemon, so I was hedging on a purchase. But what “did it” was reading that this lemon essential oil can remove stains that have gone through a dryer! I was leery but “took the bait.” Boy, it really works!! I carefully read how to use it (i.e., not to leave it on too long before washing). I was amazed at how well it works and immediately purchased two more bottles! This is so much safer than using chemicals, and it works better than what I had been using. Plus, it’s natural!!”
More Ideas You'll Love
I’d love to hear from someone who has used lemon essential oil to remove permanent marker stains, so if that’s you, please let me know in the comments!
Direct application isn’t the only way to use lemon oil to remove stains. Another option is to mix up a simple lemon essential oil stain remover spray, which you’ll learn how to do below!
DIY Lemon Oil Stain Remover Spray
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, 3%
- 2 Tbsp castile soap
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
Directions:
Add the peroxide, castile soap, and essential oils to a dark-colored spray bottle. Replace the top and shake well to mix. To use, spray directly onto stains, then wash the item promptly.
Remove Stain Residue With Sunshine!
- If your clothing item comes out of the wash and the stain isn’t 100% gone, take it outside and let it sit in the sun for a few hours.
- Sunshine is a surprisingly effective way to eliminate any remaining stain residue and discoloration, and your item will look good as new in no time!
Try It For Yourself
You can grab a bottle of 100% pure lemon essential oil from my shop for just $9.99!
What’s your best tip for removing stains of any kind?
Friends don’t let friends pay full price, which is why OGT readers always get 10% off at the By Jillee Shop!
More Ideas You'll Love
Use coupon code below to get 10% off today’s order:
JILLEE10
Want To Save Even More?
OGT Plus members save even more with 20% off their entire purchase, every time they shop! Not a member? Join OGT Plus today!
Friends don’t let friends pay full price, which is why OGT readers always get 10% off at the By Jillee Shop!
More Ideas You'll Love
Use coupon code below to get 10% off today’s order:
JILLEE10
Want To Save Even More?
OGT Plus members save even more with 20% off their entire purchase, every time they shop! Not a member? Join OGT Plus today!
I actually tried the lemon oil awhile ago on a mystery spot. It left a small discoloration where l used the oil. Maybe l was supposed to mix it with something first.l don’t have the Castile soap because it’s expensive. Maybe I’d use the soap if it were cheaper.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Are the ingredients listed in your recipe then mixed with water, or is it just the hydrogen peroxide, castile soap & lemon EO? If it is added to water, how much? Thanks so much!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do not add water, Becky. Just the 3 ingredients. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My son is a mechanic in the military and doesn’t come home often but when he does he always has a couple of uniforms pants that are stained up pretty good with grease and oil. Many have been washed and air dried with stains so he has them to use but stains are still there. I showed him how to treat them with Dawn before he washes them (even the cheap Dawn still works) and to also add a couple scoops of baking soda, and a scoop of vinegar to cut the soap to the machine. He was amazed how much better they looked and smelled with them being cleaned properly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is great information, Mary. Thanks for sharing this! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does this work on stains that have already been washed and dried a few times?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes it does. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So many good tips, thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We don’t have Castile Soap in Spain. What can I use as a substitute?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, is your Castile Soap Dr Bronner’s? I looked up where to get Castile soap and I saw a comment saying that Dr Bronner’s Castile Soap is the common one.
I also noticed it was dark.
Will that have a bad effect on the stain if it’s something white?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, it is Dr. Bronner’s, however there are other brands available. The color will have no effects on the stain. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you!
I will give it a try!
I recently discovered Dawn Ultra Platinum 5X More Foam Soap. It removes old washed and dried oil stains like magic. Just spray it on the stain and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Wash and dry as usual. Like magic the stain is gone. The best oil stain remover
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow! That’s great to know. Thanks for sharing Carrie. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee,
I’ve tried everything… Do you have a secret remover to remove ink from tee shirts? I wear a lanyard at work, and sometimes, I might forget click my pens. So by the end of the day it looks like a 2 yr old wrote on my shirt…
Please HELP!
Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Fran, have you tried hairspray? It always works for me!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try rubbing alcohol on ball point pen ink.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hand sanitizer works too. Just put an old towel or wash cloth underneath to keep the stain from bleeding through to the other side.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another thing that works is a good soak in Oxiclean. My MIL gets ink in her clothes all the time & I just soak it out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.June 22, 2020 – I have a huge question? Saturday I was cleaning getting ready for family to come for Sunday, I look down in front of our pantry that has carpet running in front of it and inside of it and I see a big dark spot that shouldn’t be there. Further investigation I find out a gallon of canola oil had sprung a leak and well, you guessed it a huge greasy mess (great sadness) I got an idea and put cornstarch on it to help soak up some of the mess and scrap it up. I guess the question is, is there anything else I can do?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jennifer Stenquist
Baking soda, cornstarch, baby powder, or any oil absorbent powders will work, but with a spill you may have to do it several times to get it all. After blotting up as much of the spill as you can and sprinkling it with the powder, work it in with a soft brush to get it into the fibers then let it sit for a while. If it’s dry enough to vacuum you can vacuum it out. I’d use a shop vac if you have one though since they’re made for heavy dirty jobs. If doing that several times doesn’t completely remove the stain you may need to move on to a carpet cleaning solution that’s strong enough to tackle a job that big. I know first hand that a product sold by Bed Bath & Beyond called Folex Professional Carpet Spot Remover Spray gets just about anything out of any carpet or upholstery that I’ve used it on. It’s $9.99 in the store, but I’ve always got a coupon from them that I use on it. Good luck! I know it’s got to be frustrating trying to get something like that cleaned up.
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/folex-carpet-spot-remover/212557?keyword=carpet-cleaner
Please log in or create a free account to comment.@Landon YES! Folex works really well! And I second everything else you said, too! Great advice!
Another thing I just thought of for cleaning up the spill is kitty litter. I just remembered that my Dad has always kept it on hand, even though they don’t have cats, to soak up oil leaks from the garage floor when they have car problems. Of course, if you actually have a kitty in the house they may add to the mess.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia will remove many set in stains. My granddaughter got chocolate icecream on a light pink dress. It went thru the dryer unnoticed and I tried many commercial products to no avail. The peroxide ammonia mix completely removed it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s a great tip, Lisa! Thanks! I’ve never heard that one. My elderly MIL has dementia and is living with us, so I’m getting all kinds of stains that I haven’t gotten since our grown children were small. I’ve got a 5 gallon bucket sitting by the washer that her clothes go in after stains are treated, but I’ve got one pair of light colored pants sitting on top of the washing machine because there is a stain that won’t come out even after I’ve soaked them in Oxiclean. I wanted to keep them separate so I don’t forget & put them in the dryer before I get the stain out. I’ll be trying your idea today!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Please let us know if it worked?
It did! I did her laundry after dinner and used the peroxide and ammonia and there was no trace left!
Would this work on darker colored clothing? I know that peroxide is ok, but not sure of the ammonia.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jaime, ammonia is not a part of this recipe, and it does work on dark clothes.
I’m really glad to see this post. I occasionally will forget to pretreat a stain . I use a beauty bar like Dove on my cosmetic stains on my collar and other areas. Peroxide is great for blood and other stubborn stains. It’s great on my Satin pillowcase for stray Mascara stains. I just use that and a little Dawn and the stain comes right out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Before you put clothes in the dryer, it is always a good idea to check for stains again. Once a stain is subjected to heat from the dryer, it becomes even more difficult to remove.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You are so right, but I can never see the stains once the clothing is darkened by the wash water- do you have a trick?
I keep trying to train myself to check everything for stains while I’m checking the pockets before they go in the washer, but ugh!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What I do is let the item air dry to check if the stain is completely gone.
Does this work for all colors?
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