Soak & Stain Remover

Analisa Malone

Sometimes the most effective solution is also the simplest. This is not really a recipe. It is one hard-working ingredient used with water: sodium percarbonate.

Sodium percarbonate is the oxygen-bleaching ingredient found in many commercial laundry soakers and stain removers.

It is one of those ingredients that quickly earns a permanent place in the laundry. Once people see what it can do for dull whites, stained clothes and musty towels, they rarely want to be without it.

Unlike chlorine bleach, sodium percarbonate is an oxygen bleach. It is useful for everyday soaking and stain treatment without the strong chlorine smell, but it still needs to be used correctly and is not suitable for every fabric.

Great for

✔️ Brightening dull or yellowing whites
✔️ Lifting food, sweat, body oil and many everyday stains
✔️ Freshening musty towels, sheets and washable fabrics
✔️ Soaking heavily dirty laundry
 Helping remove built-up organic residue and odours

Back to blog

The Recipe

750g = 30+soaks Makes / Yield
As required Time

Ingredients

  • Sodium percarbonate
    1 tablespoon (approx. 20–25g) per bucket or sink of water
  • Hot or boiling water
    As required to cover items

Method

  1. Add the sodium percarbonate to a bucket or sink of hot water. Stir until fully dissolved before adding laundry.
  2. Submerge items fully. See below for how hot to go and how long to soak for your fabric.

Good to know

Is this bleach?

Effectively, yes — it's an oxygen bleach, not a chlorine bleach. Learn the difference between the two.

Read Bleach V Oxygen Bleach

How long should I soak for?

It depends on what you're dealing with. As a rough guide: 1–2 hours for everyday grime like sweat or light dinginess, several hours or overnight for stubborn stains like food or grease, and a full 8–12 hour overnight soak for musty towels or forgotten washing.

There's no exact cut-off — if your schedule suits a longer soak, that's fine too. Just don't leave delicate or borderline fabrics sitting for extended periods, even ones on the suitable list.

What do I do after the soak?

Don't leave items to dry straight out of the soak water. Rinse them or run them through a normal wash, with or without your regular laundry powder, to carry away the loosened stains and any leftover residue. For really stubborn marks, a shorter soak followed by a normal wash often works better than one very long soak.

What fabrics is this not suitable for?

❌ Wool, silk and other protein-based fabrics
❌ Non-colourfast or printed fabrics that may fade or bleed
❌ Leather, metal trims, buttons and embellishments

Always test an inconspicuous area first if you're unsure

Store with care

Keep in a labelled, airtight container away from moisture and direct sunlight.

⚠️ Must be kept away from children and pets.This can be dangerous if inhaled or consumed.

Why this works

When dissolved in warm or hot water, sodium percarbonate breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate. Together, they help loosen organic stains, cut through body oils, deodorise laundry and restore brightness to washable fabrics.

Back to recipe hub