Save your cash while you help save the planet

ECO STAIN REMOVAL

SO often, we throw old items out because they’re stained or damaged, but you can save money, prevent waste and breathe new life into treasured possessions by following my advice:

Butter, oil, chocolate, suncream and fake-tan stains

Mix a thin paste from two to three teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda and a squirt of eco-friendly washing-up liquid. It’s worth buying bicarb in bulk online (you’ll pay €2.30 for a 500g box online rather than €1.75 for the 200g pot you find on the baking shelves of the supermarket).

Wet the stain lightly then massage in the paste. Pop the item in a plastic bag overnight so the paste doesn’t dry out, then wash the next day in a 20C long eco wash.

Stubborn lipstick, make-up or nail varnish stains

Upturn a small bowl on a work surface and cover it with an old towel or tea towel. Place the stain on the towel. Soak a small cotton pad (such as a reusable make-up remover pad) in surgical spirit and dab at the stain from the WRONG side of the fabric and it should start to transfer on to the towel. Keep moving the towel underneath so the stain doesn’t transfer back on to the garment. Chewing gum can be pulled off in a single piece if the garment has been put in the freezer for a few hours then use this dabbing process to remove any residue.

Bloodstains

Don’t delay – blood is easier to remove when fresh than dry. Dissolve 50g salt in 250ml hot water and allow it to go cold, then use this solution to either soak stained clothing or dab (don’t rub!) with a cloth to remove from furniture, carpets or mattresses.

Curry, juice, grass and wine stains

Add two tablespoons of Pure Magic (see main story) to a large bowl of cold water and soak for 30 minutes then leave to drip dry in bright daylight (no rinsing). The impossible to shift stain – if you’ve tried all the methods above and the stain still won’t budge, you’ve got one last option before throwing an item in the bin: the hot treatment. Sprinkle over two teaspoons of green bleach and pour over boiling water to cover. Use a wooden spoon to keep the item submerged (or lay a plate over the top), and soak for four hours, then rinse.

Burnt saucepans

Don’t even think about throwing away a saucepan if it has become tarnished from having been left to boil dry. Sprinkle it with washing soda and cover with boiled water overnight to soak. The next day, wipe away the debris, and scrub at any stubborn stains with a ball of scrunched-up foil dipped into dry bicarbonate of soda.

Rescue tired cast-iron cookware

Rather than spend hundreds of pounds, you can give your treasured items a facelift by soaking them overnight with two tablespoons of washing soda and boiling water. A spray of Pure Magic will dissolve any rust spots and you can create a non-stick coat by rubbing the interior with coconut oil and putting it in a hot oven for 30 mins to seal.

Muddy footprints

If humans or pets leave muddy paw or footprints on your carpet, don’t reach for a wet cloth! Leave the mud to dry out (it may take a day), sprinkle with dry bicarbonate of soda, gently working it into the carpet pile, then vacuum up.