Blood
Flush with cold water, hot water sets the stain. Use hydrogen peroxide if it's safe for the fabric. Also try club soda.
Chocolate
When wet, remove with soapy water. If hardened, scrape off and then attempt to remove with hot, soapy water. Also try ammonia, hydrogen peroxide or vegetable oil
Coffee
Presoak in enzyme solution and use hot water to wash. Also try vinegar or soda water
Fruit
Soak in cold water then work in detergent and rinse.
Grass
Use an enzyme presoak, sunshine, vinegar, or alcohol and water solution.
Grease
Place the fabric on an absorbent cloth. Sprinkle corn starch on spot to absorb grease. Dab it lightly, launder as usual.
Gum
Harden it with ice, scrape it off. If a stain remains, use a laundry pretreater or vinegar
Ink
The alcohol in hairspray will break up the stain. The stain will immediately begin to break up and run. Use an absorbent cloth to dab at it, applying more hairspray as needed. Also try lemon juice.
Make-up
Make a paste out of detergent, rub into stain. Rinse in cool water and repeat. Launder as usual.
Mildew
If you catch it right away, sometimes all that is needed is a rewash and sun drying. Bleach will work on appropriate fabrics, then dry in the sun. Also try lemon juice and salt.
Mud
Let it dry then brush it off. Soak in liquid detergent or a paste made of dry detergent and water. Launder in warm water.
Nail polish
Sponge nail polish remover over the back of fabric. Nail polish remover dissolves some type of rayons. Always test the fabric first.
Pencil
Use a clean, soft eraser
Rust
Light stains may only need lemon juice and sun. Also try alum and vinegar. Don't use chlorine bleach, which sets rust stains
Urine
Enzyme presoak (any commercial pretreater) and chlorine bleach on appropriate fabrics
Red wine
Enzyme presoak, very hot water. Also try soaking in white wine then washing in cold water
Wax
Scrape off any hardened wax. Place fabric between two paper towels and reheat with warm iron. You can place the fabric in the freezer to speed up the process.
Jenna Remilard writes between homeschooling her two children and caring for her household tucked away in the backwoods of rural New England.
 | Most stains can be removed if you've got the right technique and the right cleaner for the job. Use this handy stain removal guide to save your beloved items. |
 | Removing hardened candle wax can be a tricky job. Allowing the wax to harden is the first line of defense against these stains. |
 | Here are some great tricks for wine stain removal. |
If you like to burn candles inevitably you are going to wind up with candle wax somewhere you don't want it. Whether your candle drips on your tablecloth, you spill hot wax all over your carpet, or wax leaks onto your wooden table or furniture it can be a real mess and can be difficult to clean up. |
Dripped candle wax is a pesky problem. It hardens and sets into carpets, tables, tablecloths and dishes. Colored candle wax stains carpets and tablecloths. Removing candle wax from carpets, tables, tablecloths and dishes is possible with time and effort. Removing candle wax from carpeting (or upholstery) can be accomplished by first making the wax very brittle with cold. |
