A Powerful Stain Remover - Life at Bella Terra

My sweet friend, Chloe, from Celebrate and Decorate gave me a very attractive duvet cover and pillow shams for a king bed that she no longer needed. It is made of a high quality woven Belgian linen and from Restoration Hardware (which we all know is not inexpensive). However, the duvet has unknown various stains, possibly rust? I didn’t want to ruin the beautiful linen fabric, but an intervention is needed. The good news is that in the process, I found a powerful stain remover using simple items in your home.

My First Pass at removing the stain

I often use OxiClean for tough stain removal. Since it comes in a powder, I find it most effective when I make a paste using OxiClean and water. Using a toothbrush, I gently work the paste into the stain. Did you know that when you mix water and OxiClean, the paste changes temperature? It gets very warm.

After applying the paste, I let it sit on the fabric for a few minutes. You can actually see the stains starting to disappear.

Even though the laundering instructions on this linen set say to Dry Clean, I washed the pillow shams in cold water. Before drying, I did double check that all the stains washed out and only then, did I hang them on the line outside to dry.

Did you know that sunlight has natural bleaching abilities?

After washing in cold water, hung on line to dry

Second Pass at Cleaning Stains

Naturally I thought I was on a roll having great success with the OxiClean, however, stains STILL remain on the larger duvet cover. OxiClean didn’t touch them at all. And unfortunately, I discover this while attempting to hang the extremely large and heavy damp cover on the line.

Stains set when dried and even though this was an old stain, I remove it from the clothes line. It is time to step up my approach to stain removal. After searching the internet for answers, I decide to try this.

Hydrogen peroxide, cream of tartar and baking soda

Using hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and cream of tartar (using equal amounts), I make another paste and apply it in a relatively thick layer to the stubborn stains. Here I let the concoction sit on the stains for at least 30 minutes. Notice how the paste bubbles up while it is working.

After a half an hour, I scrape off the extra paste and surprisingly the stains are GONE!

Scraping off the excess paste and stain is gone

Like before, I re-wash the duvet cover in cold water and hang it on the line to dry. Each and every stain is gone!

So pleased with the results

Here is what the linens look like now. We are so happy with Chloe’s generous donation of this duvet cover which is perfect in our bedroom for the fall season.

Wentworth Court Belgian linen set from Restoration Hardware

I did debate whether I should press or steam the duvet and shams, but it is linen after all and it will not stay pressed looking very long.

I am so impressed with this household stain remover, I try it on a blouse that has had a stubborn stain for months. Fortunately, the stain is on the cuff so I can wear the blouse if I roll up the sleeves.

Here you can see the orange stain on the cuff. I have tried numerous over the counter products on this and nothing has taken this stain out.

So I make the same combination of hydrogen peroxide, cream of tartar and baking soda and apply it generously.

As I am writing this, I am waiting to launder the blouse, but all indications are that the stain is gone!

I am so excited to share this powerful stain remover with you as it’s nice when something outperforms your expectations.

Well, today is the first day of Fall so happy Autumn, everyone! I hope to spend a few hours today getting out some of the fall decor. I also bought a flat of pears from Costco yesterday so I see a Pear and Caramel pie in my future (if you missed that post, see it here).

Have a terrific Wednesday!

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This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #661