The Ultimate Stain Remover Guide: From Urine and Mold to Rust and Underarm Sweat

Stains are a part of life, and unfortunately there is no single technique or cleaning product that has been invented with the idea of "one cleaner cleans all". Different stains have different properties that require a specific stain remover to make it magically disappear. Grease, blood, red drinks, ink, tar, sap, gum, wax, and chocolate are the main culprits when it comes to ruining carpets and clothing, but I have found a few procedures that will eliminate the mess that stains can cause.

Ballpoint pen: Rub glycerin onto the stain; allow garment to sit for 20 minutes. Rinse in cold water. Next spray the spot with Aqua Net hairspray. Launder in Biz or Tide.

Blood: Soak the garment in ice cold salt water. Next apply a small amount of Biz. Rinse in salt water. Flush the garment with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Rinse again in salt water. Launder in the washing machine using Wisk detergent. Do not dry the fabric until the blood stain is completely gone or it will set.

Butter: Spray the stain with Shout or Spray 'n Wash. Next apply K2r. Launder in Biz or Wisk.

Chocolate: Spray garment with Shout or Spray 'n Wash first, and launder. If the stain hasn't magically disappeared, then next soak the garment in a mixture of 1 cup of Tide to 1 gallon of water overnight. Launder again. For carpeting, apply Tide mixture to stain with a clean white cloth, and continually blot.

Crayon on Fabric: Scrape off excess crayon wax with a butter knife, Place a single layer of paper bag over the stain. Move a hot iron back and forth rapidly over the paper bag. Replace the paper bag when it becomes saturated with crayon. Repeat as many times as necessary until you've ironed up as much crayon as possible. Pour dry cleaning fluid over the remaining stain. Blot with a clean, dry white cloth. Apply a drop of Dawn dish detergent to the spot, and blot again with a clean, dry white cloth.

Crayon on Walls: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Egg: Scrape off dry egg with abutter knife. Soak in warm salt water for 30 minutes. Remove the remaining stain with K2r dry-cleaning fluid.

Grass: Soak the garment in cold salt water. Next apply white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Launder in Biz.

Grease: Start with Shout or Spray 'n Wash. Next use mineral spirits or K2r dry-cleaning fluid.

Gum: Freeze the gum with ice. Scrape off as much of the gum as possible. Next use K2r dry-cleaning fluid on the stain. Rinse with mineral spirits. Launder in Biz or Wisk.

Felt-Tip Pen: Soak the spot in denatured alcohol. Then drop a dab of Dawn onto the spot. Rinse with cold salt water. Launder in Biz.

Ketchup: Immediately blot the stain. Next soak the garment for one hour in Sard Oxy Plus Soaker and warm water. Launder in Biz.

Mayonnaise: Apply Spray 'n Wash or Shout and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Rinse in salt water. Apply K2r dry-cleaning fluid and launder in Biz or Wisk.

Mildew on Clothes: Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of a powdered non-chlorine bleach containing sodium perborate or potassium monopersulfate with one pint of water. Let stand 30 minutes or longer; then rinse. Old stains may need to soak overnight. Mix 2 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach with 1 quart warm water. Soak the stain for 15 minutes and then rinse. Do not use chlorine bleach on silk or wool.

Mildew on Shower Curtains or Walls: Scrub mildew with a solution of 3/4 cup household bleach to 1 gallon water.

Mildew on Mattresses: Sponge with a cloth moistened with 1 cup denatured or rubbing alcohol mixed with one cup of water. Dry thoroughly.

Mold: The odor of mold indicates there are thousands of live mold spores floating in the air. These spores may be breathed in and cause illness, or aggravate pre-existing respiratory conditions. Untreated mold can make you permanently ill and cause severe damage to your home. Tilex kills 99% of household molds. It can be used on glazed tile, grout, tubs, shower doors, vinyl curtains, counters, sinks and no-wax floors. It can also be used on cement pool areas and outdoor furniture.

Mud: Spray with Shout or Spray 'n Wash, allow garment to sit for 30 minutes. Then soak in a solution of 1 cup of Tide to 1 gallon of water overnight.

Mustard: Blot the stain. Completely cover the stain with the Sard Wonder Stick. Launder in Biz. Another trick is to apply glycerin to the stain and then launder.

Red Drinks: Apply denatured alcohol to the stain. Blot with clean, dry white cloths. Next, apply a mixture of 2 tbsp. ammonia and 1 cup lukewarm water in a bowl and a solution of 1 cup white vinegar and 2 cups lukewarm water in another bowl. Apply solution to stain by alternating from vinegar solution to ammonia solution. Continually blot with clean, dry white cloths.

Red Wine: Drop denatured alcohol onto the spot. Rinse with white vinegar. Next sprinkle salt onto the stain and rinse in hot water. Launder in Biz or Wisk.
Wax: Freeze the wax with ice. Scrape off as much wax as possible. Apply a small amount of K2r dry-cleaning fluid to the stain. Rinse with mineral spirits and then launder in Biz or Wisk.

Rust: Whink rust stain remover. This convenient liquid formula safely and easily removes rust stains from white sinks & white toilet bowls as well as colorfast fabrics & carpets. No Scrubbing Required! Apply directly to the rust stain and watch it disappear. It can be found at Wal-mart in the laundry aisle. Another trick is to make a paste of lemon juice and salt; rub directly onto rust stains.

Scuff Marks: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Soap Scum: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Tomato Sauce: Immediately blot the stain. Next soak for 1 hour in Sard Oxy Plus Soaker and warm water. Launder in Biz.

Tar: Blot the stain with mineral spirits. Rinse in hot water. Apply K2r and launder in Biz or Wisk.

Underarm Sweat Stains in Clothing: Soak the garment in Sard Oxy Plus soaking powder. Dissolve the powder completely before adding clothes. Launder in Biz.

Urine: Apply K2r dry-cleaning fluid directly onto the stain. Blot with clean, dry white cloths.

Wood Furniture: Rings can be left by wet cups and glasses. Use a clean, dry white cloth. Pour a drop of vegetable oil onto water stain. Sprinkle salt onto the oil. Rub in a circular motion with the white cloth. Wipe up the remaining salt and oil residue. Polish furniture with Liquid Gold.

Oil Solvents
K2r can be purchased at Safeway or Woolworth stores. It is an excellent product for greasy stains.

Detergents
Biz and Wisk contain enzymes that literally eat away at protein stains like grass or blood.

Mineral Spirits
Removes most greasy stains.

Denatured Alcohol
Very effective at breaking down stubborn stains without leaving a residue on fabrics.

Mold Dangers
The amount of mold particles in the air can increase greatly when mold is disturbed. Consider using protective equipment such as rubber gloves or eye goggles when handling or working around mold-contaminated materials. You may also want to pick up a high-efficiency filter dust mask like the N-95 from a local hardware store. Once mold starts to grow in insulation or wallboard, the only way to deal with the problem is by removal or replacement.

Freshen your Home
Put a dryer sheet into a brand new vacuum bag. It will leave a fresh odor throughout your house when you vacuum.