Most stain removers for fabrics – clothing, your sofa, what have you, are not so green. Most have plenty of toxic goodies in them. For greener stain removal try…
Wash on cool settings only: Hot water will set a stain, not get it out.
Wash quickly: The longer you allow them to sit, the worse stains get. Working on stain removal quickly is best.
Try glycerin: Natural vegetable based glycerin is easy to find at a health food store or co-op, and can often remove a stain. You need to rub the glycerin into the stain, then soak it before washing. If you’re using this on say, a couch, allow it to sit, then clean it off with water soaked rag.
Use the power of the sun: Read Solar Stain Fighting to learn how.
Always pre-soak: Pre-soaking stains is crucial when it comes to clothing (good luck soaking an entire couch). You can soak an item in the sink or in your washing machine. You can add the detergent while the clothing is soaking, but don’t start the washer for about an hour. Also, if you like you could try adding a little green bleach to the mix. NOT real bleach! Try Ecover Non-Chlorine Bleach Liquid.