Specific Stain Tips

Try these proven tips for stain removal !

Bleach:
Bleach stains on carpet and clothing don't actually come out. However, you can "re-dye" the fabric using a marking pen in as close a color as you can manage. If this doesn't work, oh well, you were probably going to have to replace the item anyway.

Blood:
Use baking soda/water or soap/water first followed by a vinegar/water rinse. If this doesn't work, use hydrogen peroxide, but remember hydrogen peroxide is also a bleach. Cornstarch is also supposed to remove blood stains. Rinse the stain in cold water, then rub in moistened cornstarch. Place the item in the sun. If you catch the stain quickly enough, wet a long piece of white cotton thread with saliva and place it across the spot. The thread will absorb the blood.

Candle Wax:
Candle wax can be removed from walls and other surfaces with an iron and a piece of paper. Set the paper over the wax and gently iron. When the wax seeps through on to the paper apply a new paper. Repeat until wax is lifted. Clean the remains with vinegar and water.

Coffee:
Try the following, in order until the stain is gone: 1) Wash with a soap or detergent, rinse and follow with a white vinegar/water solution. Rinse. 2) Work denatured alcohol into the stain, then rinse with water. 3) Dip a white cloth into a beaten egg yolk and rub the yolk into the stain. Rinse with clear water.

Crayon:
Crayon will come off with cleaners like Zippo lighter fluid or WD-40. Crayon may come off easier when heated (by a blow dryer, for example) but don't heat the crayon if you are using a flammable cleaner. After the crayon comes off remember to wash your walls with soap and water.

Food Globs:
If you've got a glob of stuck-on food (i.e. in a casserole dish or on the stove), sprinkle baking soda on it, then follow with a hot water/vinegar mixture. Let sit; the longer the better. It will be much easier to clean and often will simply wipe off with no scrubbing.

Food Stains:
Food stains are usually best treated with simple soap and water or baking soda and water. Some food stains will come out easier after a soak in milk or salt. This is a good trick to remember at the dinner table. If you spill a little food or juice on the tablecloth, cover it with salt and clean later (rather than having to remove the entire cloth immediately during dinner).

A handy tip if you spill a bit of food on your clothes at a restaurant is: saliva and/or club soda. Go into the restroom, dab as much of the food out of your clothes as you can using a bit of club soda on a napkin. Rub in a bit of saliva and keep dabbing. The enzymes in your saliva that break down the food in your mouth will help to break down the food on your clothing as well.

Gum:
Use ice to harden and a dull knife to remove. If this is ineffective, try soaking the gum in rubbing alcohol. Alcohol dissolves gum. Ever try drinking vodka and chewing gum at the saw time?

Ink:
Hairspray or rubbing alcohol will work for many types of ink. Simply spray or pour, then blot until gone.

Make-Up:
To remove mascara, lipstick, nail polish and other make-up try nail polish remover. If the stain still isn't coming out, try a dry-cleaning solvent or other petroleum-based solvent such as WD-40.

Mildew:
To remove mildew from the corners of the tub, dip cotton balls in bleach and let them sit, when you finish cleaning the bath, remove cotton and rinse well. The mildew will be gone. If you prefer not to use bleach try borax, alcohol and/or vinegar and water. These methods are safer but may not be effective against all types of mildew and the treated cotton balls will have to be left on longer.

Motor Oil:
WD-40, lighter fluid, rubbing alcohol, cooking oils, baby oil, paint thinner and nail polish remover are just some of the solvents that will help dissolve motor oils.

Mustard:
Mustard contains turmeric, a yellow dye, that can be very difficult (sometimes impossible) to remove. First try petroleum based distillates (ie. lighter fluid, paint thinner, dry cleaning solvent). If stain remains use vinegar and water solution. If stain still remains use hydrogen peroxide. This will bleach the area, so do not leave on too long. Flush with water and dry.

Rust:
Rust can often be removed with an acidic solution such as vinegar and water or lemon juice and water. Scrubbing with crumpled aluminum foil may also work to remove rust from certain metals. For truly tough rust, commercial, highly-acidic cleaners may have to be used.

Scorch Marks:
In some cases scorch marks can be removed, but don't expect miracles. Try this method: Rub scorch marks with the raw, flat side of a cut onion. Let set, then rinse.

Scuff Marks on Walls and Floors:
You can erase black-scuff marks using a pencil eraser. A rubber-soled shoe (most tennis shoes) works by the same principal. Bread will also work as an eraser.

Urine and Vomit:
Blot up as much of the stain as you can with mild soap and water, detergent and water or baking soda and water. When the stain no longer transfers to your towel, blot with a vinegar and water solution. If the stain remains, you may have to resort to an enzyme digester found in pet stores. In some cases, meat tenderizer may work in place of the digester.

Water Stains and Mineral Deposits:
Wipe with vinegar and water or lemon juice and water. If it's returning, use a baking soda/vinegar paste. Cover and let dry (the longer the better). Rinse and Buff. For chrome and silver try the following alternative method, it works wonders and it's fast! Wet the metal slightly with water then scrub with a piece of aluminum foil. The foil acts as an abrasive, but it also removes the stains in a reaction similar to that used in the aluminum/silver cleaning. (Silver cleaning described below.)

Wine:
White wine is supposed to remove red wine. Soaking the stain in milk or salt is also supposed to help remove red wine and fruit stains. If you spill wine on a tablecloth at dinner blot up as much as you can. Then cover the stain in salt. It will help absorb the rest of the wine and it should wash out with cold water later.

General and Miscellaneous Household Cleaning Tips

Air Freshener:
For immediate air freshener, place a fabric softener sheet in the wastepaper basket or add a dab of fragrance on a light bulb. When the light is on, the heat releases the aroma. This is a quick fix and does not actually neutralize the odors, just covers them up. If you have a little more time, sprinkle baking soda around and let sit before vacuuming it up. For smoke odors set out a bowl of vinegar. Make sure you have time to let the vinegar-smell dissipate before you have company or your house will simply smell like vinegar. If you like a house with a more exotic smell, boil water and throw in your favorite smelling herbs and fruits (cinnamon, cloves, oranges, lemons, limes, etc.)

Cigarette Burns:
If you can't afford a commercial solution, cut the burnt fibers from the carpet. Fill the hole with liquid glue and replace the carpet fibers with stray fibers from leftover pieces or pieces cut from an inconspicuous place. This takes a little skill and luck and only works well on certain types of carpet.

Dust and Grime in Hard-to-Reach Crannies:
Use paintbrushes to reach hard-to-reach dust cracks. Use an old toothbrush to get your scrubbing solution into the crannies around your faucet knobs and other hard-to-reach cracks in the kitchen and bathroom.

Pet Hair:
To avoid having to clean up quite so much pet hair, brush your pet often (outside, of course). To get pet hair off upholstered furniture, put on a pair of dishwashing gloves, dampen them slightly, and then run your hands over the area. Or, get a piece of tape, wrap it around your hand, press onto your furniture or clothes and jerk upward. When the stickiness of the tape starts to wear off, replace the tape and continue until pet hair is gone.

Ring Around the Collar:
Dirty neck rings around shirt or blouse collars can be removed by putting shampoo on them. Rub the shampoo in like you were washing your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept by the washing machine is handy for all kinds of stains in clothing. Don't forget this trick when you are traveling.

Silver Cleaning:
This homemade cleaning solution works like magic! Place aluminum foil in the bottom of a shallow bin or in the bottom of a clean kitchen sink. Mix very hot water, salt and baking soda. Pour over the aluminum foil. Put your tarnished silver into the bin and watch as the tarnish leaves the silver and appears on the foil. This method is actually much better for your silver than commercial silver cleaners because it reverses the tarnishing reaction on the silver and restores the silver to its original state. Commercial cleaners often remove the tarnish and strip the top layer of silver.

Smoke Odor:
A bowl of vinegar set out will help remove smoke odor. It will also make your house smell like vinegar, so don't do it just before company is coming. However, once the smell of vinegar is dissipated, the smoke odor will be gone or greatly reduced.

Stuffed Animals:
If the stuffed animal does not have any mechanical parts, put it inside a pillow case, tie a knot in the case and wash it in the washing machine. You can also freshen a stuffed animal by placing it in a paper sack with baking soda or talcum powder and shaking it up.