| Head to your local hardware store or supermarket for | | | | Ink on coloured fabric |
| all removal agents mentioned. | | | | How to solve the problem |
| Stain | | | | Milk |
| Ballpoint ink | | | | How to do it |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Soak immediately in slightly warm milk then wash |
| Methylated spirits | | | | Stain |
| How to do it | | | | Ink and felt tip pen |
| Dab with absorbent white cloth and methlyated spirits | | | | How to solve the problem |
| Stain | | | | Methlyated spirits |
| Beetroot juice | | | | How to do it |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Dab with an absorbent pad dipped in methlyated spirits |
| Borax and biological detergent | | | | Stain |
| How to do it | | | | Lipstick |
| First rinse with cold water. Soak coloureds in a solution | | | | How to solve the issue |
| of borax for 15 minutes. For white linen, sprinkle borax | | | | Soap or methlyated spirits |
| on the fabric and flush with hot water. Wash with | | | | How to do it |
| biological detergent. | | | | Rub fabric against fabric with soap or a little |
| Stain | | | | washing-up liquid and then wash. Dab with methlyated |
| Bird droppings | | | | spirits if the fabric isn't washable |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Stain |
| Borax, biological detergent and chlorine bleach or | | | | Mildew - dried |
| hydrogen peroxide | | | | How to solve the issue |
| How to do it | | | | Salt or lemon juice |
| Scrape off excess droppings and sponge with a | | | | How to do it |
| solution of borax or soak in biological detergent. If | | | | Rub with damp salt or a lemon and leave in the sun |
| stains still remain, try soaking in dilute chlorine bleach | | | | for at least 12 hours. |
| (white cotton) or hydrogen peroxide (coloureds and | | | | Stain |
| synthetics, but not nylon). | | | | Mildew on shower curtains |
| Stain | | | | How to solve the issue |
| Blood | | | | Chlorine bleach |
| How to solve the problem | | | | How to do it |
| Salt or biological detergent | | | | Sponge or soak in dilute bleach and machine wash |
| How to do it | | | | with detergent. |
| Presoak fresh stains in heavily salted cold water or | | | | Stain |
| detergent. | | | | Mildew on white cotton and linen |
| Stain | | | | How to solve the issue |
| Candle wax | | | | Household chlorine bleach |
| How to solve the problem | | | | How to do it |
| Absorbent paper, a warm iron and methlyated spirits | | | | Mildew is almost impossible to remove and is caused |
| How to do it | | | | by damp. Soak in diluted bleach then thoroughly rinse |
| Scrape away the excess. Place a kitchen towel over | | | | and wash. |
| the residue and press with a warm iron until the paper | | | | Stain |
| absorbs the softened wax. Dab any colour residue | | | | Mildew on white synthetics |
| with methlyated spirits before washing. | | | | How to solve the issue |
| Stain | | | | Hydrogen peroxide |
| Chewing gum | | | | How to do it |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Soak in one part hydrogen peroxide to nine parts |
| Ice cubes | | | | water. Rinse and wash. |
| How to do it | | | | Stain |
| Freeze the gum with a bag of ice cubes. Once it | | | | Paint- emulsion and water based |
| becomes hard and brittle, break away the gum with a | | | | How to solve the issue |
| knife. | | | | Water |
| Stain | | | | How to do it |
| Coffee and tea | | | | Sponge immediately with plenty of warm water. Dried |
| How to solve the problem | | | | paint can be scraped or picked off, but is difficult to |
| Detergent, vinegar and borax | | | | wash off. |
| How to do it | | | | Stain |
| Flush with cold water and spot clean with a solution of | | | | Paint - solvent based |
| washing detergent but not soap. If staining remains, | | | | How to solve the issue |
| soak in a solution of one part vinegar to two parts | | | | White spirit |
| water or a solution of borax. | | | | How to do it |
| Stain | | | | Dab with white spirit. |
| Colour run in washing machine | | | | Stain |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Perspiration |
| Washing soda and colour dye remover | | | | How to solve the issue |
| How to do it | | | | Clear vinegar or lemon juice |
| If you dye an entire washload, soak in cold water with | | | | How to do it |
| washing soda to avoid setting the colour. As soon as | | | | Soak or sponge with vinegar, but use lemon juice on |
| possible, machine wash again with a colour run dye | | | | wool. Rinse and wash. |
| reversal product. | | | | Stain |
| Stain | | | | Plasticine |
| Contact adhesive and glue | | | | How to solve the issue |
| How to solve the problem | | | | White spirit |
| Acetate (nail polish remover) | | | | How to do it |
| How to do it | | | | Scrape off as much mud as possible and dab dye |
| Dab with acetate. | | | | stains with white spirit. |
| Stain | | | | Stain |
| Cooking fat | | | | Pollen |
| How to solve the problem | | | | How to solve the issue |
| Bicarbonate of soda and biological detergent | | | | Sticky tape |
| How to do it | | | | How to do it |
| Add a few drops of water to bicarbonate to make a | | | | Lift away the pollen with sticky tape or a vacuum |
| paste and spread over the stain. Leave for 30 minutes | | | | cleaner, but don't rub or you'll fix the dye. |
| and then wash in biological detergent. | | | | Stain |
| Stain | | | | Red wine |
| Crayon | | | | How to solve the issue |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Carbonated or soda water |
| Methlyated spirits | | | | How to do it |
| How to do it | | | | Dab or flush with carbonated or soda water and |
| Scrape away excess before dabbing with methlyated | | | | wash. |
| spirits. | | | | Stain |
| Stain | | | | Rust |
| Curry | | | | How to solve the issue |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Lemon juice |
| Biological detergent and hydrogen peroxide | | | | How to do it |
| How to do it | | | | Flush with lemon juice, leave for 15 minutes and |
| Some curry stains contain strong natural dyes that are | | | | launder. |
| almost impossible to shift. Dab with a strong solution of | | | | Stain |
| detergent before laundering. Soak stubborn stains in a | | | | Scorch marks |
| solution of hydrogen peroxide bleach. | | | | How to solve the issue |
| Stain | | | | None |
| Dried fruit | | | | How to do it |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Scorch marks are permanent damage, but their |
| Lemon juice | | | | appearance can be disguised by carefully shaving |
| How to do it | | | | away the damaged fibres. |
| Place the garment stain side down on absorbent | | | | Stain |
| kitchen towel and dampen with lemon juice. Dab with | | | | Shoe polish |
| hot water and wash. | | | | How to solve the issue |
| Stain | | | | White spirit |
| Fresh fruit | | | | How to do it |
| How to solve the problem | | | | Dab with white spirit and wash |
| Borax or salt | | | | Stain |
| How to do it | | | | Urine |
| Soak in a solution of borax for 15 minutes to neutralize | | | | How to solve the issue |
| the acid and then wash. Alternatively cover the stain | | | | Detergent, vinegar or shaving foam |
| with salt and then wash. | | | | How to do it |
| Stain | | | | Soak in detergent and wash. For non-washable fabric, |
| Grass stain | | | | dab with mild vinegar solution. On mattresses, sponge |
| How to solve the problem | | | | with a dab of shaving foam. |
| Biological detergent or methylated spirits | | | | Head to your local hardware store or supermarket for |
| How to do it | | | | all the removal agents mentioned. |
| Grass is a combination of protein and dye. Detergent | | | | For more hints and tips watch out for the Cleaning |
| should remove most stains. Dab any remaining dye | | | | Bible by Kim and Aggie (£9.99, Penguin |
| with methlyated spirits. | | | | non-fiction). |
| Stain | | | | |