GETTING THAT SPOT OUT

Here are some things to keep in mind for successful home stain removal:

• Test the spot remover on hidden areas of the fabric
• Work on the stain from the wrong side of the fabric, using a blotter underneath.
• Don't rub.  Use light brushing strokes to avoid leaving a ring.
• Use a weak solution several times rather than a few applications of a strong solution.
• Do not iron stains.  Heat can set stains permanently.

PROTECTING CLOTHES FROM INSECTS

• Thoroughly clean your winter wardrobe before packing clothes away for the warm months.  Food stains, perspiration, and body oils attract insects, such as clothes moths and carpet beetles, whose larvae will have a summer-long feast.
• When washing clothese at home before storage, don't use fabric softeners or starches--they attract silverfish.
• Aromatic herbs and spices, such as southernwood, wormwood, tansy, mint and lavender may repel moths.  Dry and crumble the herbs, then sew them into cheesecloth, muslin, or linen bags.  Suspend the sachets in closets and garment bags, and tuck them into dresser drawers.  Occasionally squeeze the sachets and shake them a bit to release more scent.
• Chill woolens and cashmeres before storing them to eliminate moth eggs and larvae.  Put the clothing in a plastic bag, then stick it in the freezer for 24 hours.  Then take it out and put it in airtight storage.  It will be moth-free all summer.

STAINS AND REMOVAL

Important:  Use only one method at a time.

BLOOD

• Soak clothing in cold water for 30 minutes.
• Spread a paste of cornstarch, cornmeal, or talcum powder on the clothing and allow it to dry.  Brush away the powder.
• Dab hydrogen peroxide on fabric that will take bleaching.
• Persistent stains can be dabbed with diluted ammonia.  (Do not use on acetates.)

CHEWING GUM

• Rub with an ice cube until gum flakes off.
• Loosen by soaking in white vinegar or rubbing with egg white before laundering.

COFFEE, TEA (BLACK)

• Stretch stained portion of fabric over bowl, pour boiling water on stain from height of 1 to 3 feet.
• Try applying a few drops of white vinegar to stain.

COSMETICS (EYE SHADOW, FOUNDATION, MASCARA, BLUSHER)

• If fabric is washable, apply liquid laundry detergent to stain and rub until thick suds form.  Rinse.  Repeat.
• If yellow stain persists, dab on a mixture of equal parts of milk, hydrogen peroxide solution and water.  Watch carefully and rinse thoroughly as soon as stain disappears.

DEODORANT, ANTIPERSPIRANTS

• Wash or sponge the spot with warm water and liquid laundry detergent.
• To restore color, sponge with ammonia (diluted for silk or wool); rinse with water.

FRUITS, BERRIES

• Sponge first with cold water before stain can set.
• Pour salt or hot water on stain; soak in milk before laundering.
• Stretch over bowl, pour on boiling water from height of 1 to 3 feet.
• For nonwashables, dab with a few drops of eucalyptus oil.  Leave on for several hours.  Sponge with liquid laundry detergent and water.  (Never use soap.)
• Sponge old stains with white vinegar.

GRASS, FLOWERS, FOLIAGE

• Sponge on diluted alcohol for washables and nonwashables.
• If stain remains, use mild solution of hydrogen peroxide.

GRAVY

• Soak washables in cold water to dissolve starch
• Sponge cool water on nonwashables.  Then apply an absorbent cloth

GREASE (COOKING OIL, SALAD DRESSING)

• For nonwashables, make paste of baking soda, cornstarch or cornmeal to absorb.
• For washables, pour on boiling water before washing.
• Dab with water and ammonia.

ICE CREAM, MILK, EGG

• Sponge on cold water. (Ne3ver use hot water--it will set the egg stain).
• Soak washables in cool water, dab on liquid laundry detergent, rinse. Then bleach if necessary.
• Treat with a few dabs of ammonia mixed with detergent.

INK

• Dab on rubbing alcohol liberally and allow to soak before blotting with cheesecloth.
• Work in concentrated ammonia, then apply vinegar to neutralize ammonia.
• Apply lukewarm glycerin, then flush with water.  Add a few drops of ammonia.
• Use mild solution of hydrogen peroxide.

LIPSTICK

• Rub with cold cream or shortening.  Wash with club soda.

MUD

• Let the mud dry, then brush it off.  With soapy water, sponge the back of the stain.  Launder.

NAIL POLISH

• Sponge back of fabric with banana oil; if necessary, sponge on rubbing alcohol combined with drop of ammonia.

PAINT

• Remove while fresh.  Sponge with soap and water.  Use turpentine afterward.  For latex paint, sponge on rubbing alcohol.
• For old paint, dab on banana oil.

MUSTARD

• Work glycerin into stain.  Plush with detergent solution.  DO NOT USE SOAP.

PERSPIRATION

• Wash with warm water and detergent.
• Use ammonia on fresh stains, vinegar on old stains.
• Hold over ammonia fumes to restore color.

RUST

• For white washables, soak them in lemon juice, then bleach in the sun.  (Do not use if manufacturer warns against bleaching.)

SCORCHES

• Rinse in cold water immediately.
• Boil in 1 cup of soap and 2 quarts of milk.
• Wet with soapsuds.  Place in sunlight.
• For nonwashables, sponse with hydrogen peroxide.

TOMATO-BASED SAUCES

• Soak in cool water for 30 minutes.  Work undiluted liquid laundry detergent into stain.

WINE

• For washables, stretch over bowl, pour on boiling water from height of 1 to 3 feet.
• Pour on salt or hot water, soak in milk.
• Apply cold water, sponge with glycerin and detergent, then apply few drops of ammonia and detergent (If stain turns pink, apply white vinegar)
• Squirt with soda water.

DISHWASHER DETERGENT PASTE FOR STUBBORN STAINS

To remove stubborn food stains from washable fabrics, try making a paste of water and an automatic dishwasher detergent.  Apply it to the stain, let it work for five to 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and wash as usual.  You may want to test this on an inconspicuous section of fabric to make sure it won't adversely affect the color.

WE HOPE THESE TIPS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL!!