by L.S. Watts

Created on: April 29, 2009

Stains are inevitable in life. Knowing how to treat various stains is invaluable. Not all stains are remedied the same way. By understanding how to remove a stain properly you can prolong the life of your clothes.

Today, we have many stain fighters available at our fingertips. There are products such as Shout, Spray n Wash, Oxy Clean, and even Tide now has a stain stick that you can carry in your pocket. However, what do you do if you don't have these things handy for you to use?

Grass Stains

There are few options when dealing with grass stains. You can try rubbing liquid detergent on the unsightly area. Another technique that works is hydrogen peroxide, slightly diluted. You can also use warm water with vinegar to help remove the stain. Sometimes you can use bleach or color safe bleach depending upon the washing instructions located on the tag.

Mud Stains

Let the mud dry first. Then brush off as much mud as you possibly can. Many basic mud stains can be remedied by simply running under warm water and adding laundry detergent directly to the stain. For red clay, however, you can make a paste from vinegar, salt and water. Apply to the stain and let it sit for about thirty minutes. Then wash in hot water.

Ink Stains

The most suggested way to remove ink stains is by spraying with hair spray and blotting the ink spot. Another suggestion is pouring salt on the stain while it's still fresh. However, you could use a mixture of liquid laundry detergent, warm water, and a few drops of vinegar to remove the stain. Some people have used fingernail polish remover to eliminate the ink stain, but you can also use baking soda and warm water.

Blood Stains

First and foremost, run the stain under cold water immediately. If the stain persists, you could rub meat tenderizer mixed with cold water on the spot. Then wait twenty minutes and rinse with cold water. Hydrogen peroxide works wonders, too. Wait for the stain site to foam and blot the site. If there is still some of the stain left, you can repeat with the hydrogen peroxide.

Oil Based Stains

Club soda is known to be best with more delicate fabrics, but you can use corn starch to absorb the oil or grease with sturdier fabrics and let sit over night. You could also try using Dawn dishwashing liquid. It has been known to cut through oil and grease easily. The most suggested way to remove the stain is to wash immediately with laundry detergent and hot water.

Tea Stains

Beer is a good stain remover for tea. Simply pour a slight amount of beer

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