Tricks of the Trade for Getting Out Stains: A List of How to Get Rid of Almost Any Stain

As a mother of 4 small children and owner of a dog, I have had almost every stain you can think of on my walls, carpet, clothes, furniture-you name it. After frantic calls to my mother, sisters and friends, I have collected many great ways to get stains out of almost anything. Here are the tricks of the trade that I have used and have received great results from.

Ashes and soot: Carefully brush off soot or remove using masking tape. Moisten, and apply detergent and rinse thoroughly.

Baby formula: Moisten the spot with cool water, apply digestant, and keep moist. After 15 minutes, rinse with plenty of water. If fabric is non washable, sponge with water/detergent mixture, allow to dry, then treat with an oil solvent.

Bacon grease: Use an absorbent to remove as much grease as possible. Apply a combination solvent followed by petroleum jelly.

Ballpoint pen: Apply glycerin, treat with detergent and rinse. For non washables, apply with glycerin, then treat with an oil solvent.

Barbecue sauce: Rinse with cool water, apply glycerin and a combination solvent and rinse again. For non washables, apply a mixture of half white vinegar, half water, and blot dry. Apply plain water and blot dry again.

Beer: Use cool water and vinegar and rinse.

Candle wax: Sandwich fabric between paper towels, and use a warm iron on it. Apply an oil solvent to any remaining stain.

Cheese sauce: Sponge with warm water, and use oil solvent.

Gum: Soften the bulk with peanut butter, then remove or freeze with ice. Break with hammer. To remove the remaining gum, rinse with cool water and use a combination solvent.

Chocolate: Apply absorbent, then oil solvent. Use digestant for any remaining stain. You can also dry-clean the garment.

Cooking oil or butter: Apply combination solvent, launder and dry. Use an oil solvent if needed.

Cranberry juice: You should sponge with plain water.

Crayon: Sandwich fabric between paper towels and use a warm iron over it.

Blood: Soak several hours in salt water, rinse, soak in ammonia/water, rinse and use digestant. Bleach if needed.

Glue: Soak in very warm water until the glue softens.

Grape juice: Sponge off with cool water, spread fabric over bowl, pour boiling water through fabric.

Grass: Sponge off with vinegar and then rinse with plain water.

Iron scorch: Brush or rub surface with fine sandpaper, wash, and bleach remaining stain with water and vinegar.

Ketchup: Use combination solvent, then vinegar and rinse with plain water.

Lipstick: Use an oil solvent.

Ink: Sponge with alcohol, then hydrogen peroxide, and rinse.

Mascara: Use an oil solvent.

Motor oil: Use an absorbent to remove as much oil as possible and apply a combination solvent followed by petroleum jelly wash.

Nail Polish: Treat with acetone, bleach and vinegar and water.

Paint: Soak stained area with mineral spirits, and apply liquid soap.

Tea: Use glycerin, let stand 30 minutes and rinse with cool water.

Red wine: Use an oil solvent, and use vinegar/water combination and then rinse.

Urine: Use a vinegar/water mixture, and then rinse.

I hope you find this list useful. It has helped me get plenty of tough stains out. Obviously, not all stains will come out, but using these techniques will definitely help save many of your fabrics.