Stain Removal Chart

Blood

Rinse or soak fresh stain in cold water. Work detergent into any remaining stain. Rinse. If stain persists, put a few drops of ammonia on stain and repeat detergent treatment. Rinse. If necessary bleach.

Candle Wax

Scrape off excess. Place stain between clean white blotters or several layers of facial tissues. Press with warm iron. Sponge with detergent. If dye spot remains, bleach.

Cream, Ice Cream or Milk

Sponge stain with cool water or soak stain in cool water for 30 minutes or longer. If stain remains, work a detergent into spot then rinse. Bleach if necessary.

Deodorants and Antiperspirants

Wash or sponge stain thoroughly with warm water and detergent; rinse. If stain remains, bleach with hot sudsy water. Launder. You may be able to restore fabric color by sponging with ammonia. Rinse thoroughly.

Ketchup

Scrape of excess. Soak in cold water 30 minutes. Pretreat with a detergent paste. Launder.

Chewing Gum

Rub with ice to harden. Scrape off excess with dull blade. Sponge with cleaning fluid.

Chocolate or Cocoa

Soak 15 minutes in cold water. Rub detergent paste into stain, then rinse thoroughly. Launder in hottest water safe for fabric. If colored stain remains, sponge with hydrogen peroxide, rinse and launder.

Coffee or Tea (Black)

Soak fresh stains immediately in cold water. Then use bleach treatment with hottest water safe for fabric. Or if safe for the fabric pour boiling water through spot from a height of 1 to 3 feet. Launder.

Coffee or Tea (With Cream)

Rinse or soak in cold water. Work detergent into stain. Rinse. Dry. If grease stain remains, sponge with cleaning fluid. Repeat, if necessary. If stain remains, bleach.

Cosmetics: eye shadow, lipstick, liquid make-up, mascara, powder, pancake make-up or rouge

Apply undiluted liquid detergent to stain, or dampen stain and rub in soap or detergent paste until thick suds are formed. Work in until stain is gone, rinse well. Repeat if necessary. If color remains, bleach if safe for fabrics.

Egg or Meat Juice

Rinse in cold water. If stain remains, sprinkle with meat tenderizer, let stand 15-20 minutes. If stain still remains, sponge with cleaning fluid or diluted bleach. Launder in hot water. The use of hot water first may set stain.

Dye

Rinse or soak in cold water. Work detergent into stain. Rinse. If necessary, bleach. Stain is not always possible to remove. A commercial color remover may also be used.

Fabric Softener Stain

Rub with bar soap until stain has lightened. Rinse thoroughly. Launder. Rubbing alcohol is sometimes effective if the color of the garment can take it. Launder. If desired, dry cleaning can be used.

Felt tip pen

Spray spot with cleaners suitable to this purpose. Sponge stain thoroughly. Rinse with cold water. Reapply cleaner if necessary .

Fruit, Wine

Soak fresh stains immediately with cool water. Then use bleach treatment with hottest water safe for fabrics, pour boiling water through spot from a height of 1 to 3 feet. Launder.

Grass

Work detergent into stain. Sponge with denatured alcohol. Bleach, if necessary.