Bird
droppings
Allow to dry before scraping off excess. Soak washable articles in
biological detergent or sponge with a weak vinegar and water solution
before washing. Non-washable articles: Sponge with weak ammonia and
water solution, then white vinegar, then cold water. Dry thoroughly and
quickly.
Blood
Sponge fresh blood stains quickly with a mixture of one tablespoon of
salt in two cups of cold water, then with an ammonia solution. Wash in
cooler water than usual. Old stains should be soaked in a hydrogen
peroxide or ammonia solution (one part to eight parts of water), then
wash in detergent with a few drops of ammonia added. Carpet: For carpet
or mattress, apply a thick paste of raw starch and water, allow to dry,
then brush off.
Butter
Scrape closely, then place absorbent paper over and under stain and iron
with a warm iron. For washable items, rub powdered detergent welt in,
then rinse. Try white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid if the stain is still
there, then wash in water as hot as the fabric will stand. Non-washable
items: Try ironing through paper, then dab with dry-cleaning fluid. Blot
as dry as possible.
Candle wax
Scrape off as much as possible, then put the article in the freezer for
an hour or two. Otherwise, use a few ice cubes in a plastic bag to
harden the wax. Then place fabric between sheets of absorbent paper or
between several tissues with stronger paper on top, and iron with warm
iron. Remove any fragments with methylated spirits or dry-cleaning
fluid. Carpet: Place absorbent paper over the mark, iron on a cool
setting.
Chewing gum
Rub with ice cubes or put in freezer to harden, then scrape off as much
as you can. Dab remainder with fluid, white spirit or methylated
spirits. Non-washable items: Blot dry as quickly as possible.
Chocolate
Scrape off solids with a blunt knife. For washable articles, use boiling
water poured from a height (taking care not to splash yourself or apply
biological detergent with enzymes to the back of the stain, mopping as
you sponge. Rinse. Use aerosol grease solvent to remove any residue.
Wash as usual.
Cocoa
Soak washables in a solution of 30g borax to one litre of warm water,
then wash as usual. Non-washables: Sponge first with grease solvent then
the borax solution. Carpet: Sponge with borax solution (one tablespoon
to one cup warm water).
Coffee
Washable articles: Soak in a borax or biological detergent solution or
treat with liquid detergent. If fabric will stand boiling water, cover
stain with borax and pour boiling water over it. Let stand in borax,
solution for half an hour. Use hydrogen peroxide to remove final traces
of strain. Rinse, wash as usual. Non-washable articles: Sponge with
borax solution. Mop with warm water or apply a borax paste. Leave for 30
minutes, brush off; repeat if necessary. Carpet: Dab with dry-cleaning
fluid, sponge with cold water, then as for chocolate.
Cola
On carpet, mop up excess immediately from outside to centre of spill.
Lightly sponge remaining stain with eucalyptus wool wash in lukewarm
water.
Cordial
Mop us excess then sponge with one tablespoon of dishwasher powder
dissolved in four cups of warm water. Non-washables: Mop up excess,
sponge with cold water and blot as dry as possible.
Correction fluid
Most of these have their own thinners, which will remove the stain but,
if not available, try dabbing with a cloth dampened with turpentine.
Sponge with warm water and detergent to remove the stain remover before
washing as usual. Non-washable items: First check that colour doesn't
run, treat as above, then sponge with cold water and blot dry.
Cosmetics
Remove solids. If washable, apply liquid detergent, then rinse. Repeat
if needed. Any stain remaining can be soaked in an ammonia solution
before garment is washed. Non-washable articles: Sponge with white
spirit or dry-cleaning fluid until make-up colour disappears. Commercial
spot-removing kits are available for upholstery.
Cream/ice cream
Scrape or sponge off as much as you can. Rinse washable articles in cold
water, then soak in biological detergent or borax solution (one
tablespoon to one cap water). When dry, use dry-cleaning fluid on
residue. Wash. Non-washable articles: Dab with dry-cleaning fluid, then
methylated spirits. Carpet: Sponge with one teaspoon detergent and one
teaspoon white vinegar in one litre warm water. Dab with dry-cleaning
fluid.
Deadly cocktail
Keep alcohol in a locked or childproof cupboard . Even a small amount of
alcohol can harm children.
Deodorant
Soak stain with white vinegar, then rinse and wash as usual.
Non-washable articles: Carefully sponge with warm water and liquid
detergent
Dying for a cuppa
Avoid drinking tea or other hot beverages near babies or small children.
Egg yolk
Soak washable items in cold water and biological detergent, then wash as
usual. Use a grease solvent to remove any remaining stain. Non-washable
items: Expert care is required so find a dry-cleaner without delay.
Egg yolk
Soak washable items in cold water and biological detergent, then wash as
usual. Use a grease solvent to remove any remaining stain. Non-washable
items: Expert care is required so find a dry-cleaner without delay.
Fat
Remove anything solid, then spray washable articles with biological
detergent. Use grease solvent on what's left before washing in the usual
way. Non-washable articles: Dab with grease solvent, then liquid
detergent and sponge oil with cold water, repeating as often as
necessary.
Fruit, fruit juice,
berries
Sponge or soak fresh stains at once in cold salted water, soda water or
milk. If article is washable, treat it with detergent, rubbing it into
the stain with your fingers; or treat with borax solution, vinegar or an
ammonia solution (one part to five parts water). Cover wet stain with
salt and wash at high temperature, if possible. Non-washables: Sponge
with cold water when dry, use upholstery spotting kit or dry-cleaning
fluid. Carpet: Sponge with warm water, then treat as for chocolate.
Furniture polish on
carpet
Dab with dry-cleaning fluid, lighter fuel or turpentine, then sponge
with a solution of one teaspoon of detergent, one teaspoon of white
vinegar and one litre of warm water.
Gentian Violet or
Merchurochrome
On clothing or carpet, cover stain with calamine lotion. Allow to dry,
then brush off. Dab with cloth dipped in methylated spirits. For carpet
that's heavily stained, make a paste of metho and borax and rub into
fibre. Cover slain and let dry before vacuuming. Repeat as necessary.
Grass
Dampen stain on washable items, then rub with methylated spirits or
glycerine. Leave an hour, then wash as usual. Non-washable items: Sponge
with methylated spirits or liquid detergent, followed by cold water. For
stains that have browned, sponge with one teaspoon wool wash in one cup
warm water. Rinse after sponging.
Gravy
Scrape off, then sponge with cold water. if washable, soak in a pre-wash
solution, then wash with biological detergent. Non-washable articles:
Sponge with cold water, then treat with white spirit or dry-cleaning
fluid. Sprinkle with talcum powder; wipe and re-apply Carpet: Treat the
same as for chocolate stains.
Grease
Scrape off what you can, then put absorbent paper under and over grease
mark and press with a warm iron (change paper as often as needed).
Sponge with white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid and, if washable, rinse
then wash as usual. Non-washable items: Try as above without washing.
Carpet: Sprinkle with talcum powder, cover with paper towel and hold a
hot iron over the paper. Press only lightly and repeat if necessary.
Hair dye
Once it's dry it will often not come out, so act quickly. Rinse washable
articles in cold water and rub with liquid detergent. Sponge with
methylated spirits or ammonia if necessary. Rinse, wash as usual.
Non-washable articles: Dab with hydrogen peroxide, methylated spirits or
ammonia and sponge with cold water.
Iodine
For washable articles, cover stain with damp English mustard and leave
for 24 hours before washing as usual. Non- washable articles: Sponge
with alcohol or methylated spirits.
Jam
Soak or sponge garments in a solution of 30g borax to two cups warm
water, then wash as usual. Non-washables: Sponge, stain with warm water
containing ammonia or borax or use dry-cleaning fluid.
Meat juices
As with blood, they’re harder to move when dry, so rinse or
sponge with cold water quickly. Soak washable items in biological
detergent, working the powder into the stain. If it’s still
visible, use white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid, rinse, then wash in
lukewarm water. Non-washables: Use a dry-cleaning solvent.
Metal polish
Scrape off what you can. If washable, rinse in cold water, rub with
liquid detergent or try methylated spirits. Rinse again, then wash.
Non-washable items: Dab with white spirit or dry-cleaning fluid.
Mildew
Unless the fabric is drip-dry or permanent-press, soak in diluted
bleach, then wash as usual. Or spread spots with lemon juice, cover with
salt and leave in the sun. Keep moist till spots are gone, then rinse
and wash as usual. For dark clothes that have been hanging in a
cupboard, sponge with hot water and a dash of Dettol. Iron kill mould
spores and dry well before rehanging.
Milk
Rinse washables in cold water. Then soak in lukewarm water with
detergent and a dash of ammonia. If needed, follow up with dry-cleaning
fluid, rinse, then wash as usual. Non-washables: Sponge with a grease
solvent, then with lukewarm water and blot dry.
Mud
Let it dry and brush off what you can. Soak in hot water with plenty of
good detergent, then rub by hand in the bucket to release as much dirt
as possible before putting the article in the washing machine.
Non-washable articles: Sponge the dried mud with detergent and water
solution, then use dry-cleaning fluid.
Mulberries
Rub a mulberry stain with a green mulberry, then sponge, or wash as
usual.
Nail polish
Wipe up spill and dab with acetone or amyl acetate; don't use oily
polish remover. Sponge out any colour left with methylated spirit.
Rinse, wash as usual.
Never decant
Leave any household poisons in their original containers. Never store
dangerous liquids in empty food or drink containers.
Paint
Always easier tackled while still wet, it's a good idea to note from the
can the name of the thinner for the paint you are using in case of a
major spill. Water-based paint should wash out well in cold water but,
if it has dried, use methylated spirits or paintbrush cleaner. For
oil-based paint, sponge with warm detergent and water, then soak stained
area in white spirit and scrub gently with an old toothbrush. It takes a
while and you will need to repeat the process, but it will come out in
the end. Alternatively, soak paint-stained garment overnight in warm
water with one tablespoon of vinegar, two tablespoons of ammonia and one
teaspoon of salt. Rinse in cold water and hang to dry.
Perfume
Act immediately on spilt perfume. Rub in a little glycerine, leave for
several hours, then wash in warm soapy water and rinse. Non-washables:
Sponge with warm water and borax.
Perspiration
Soak for 30 minutes in warm white vinegar, rinse well and wash as usual;
or dissolve three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda in a bucket of cold
water, soak for an hour, then wash in the usual way. On a silk dress or
shirt, make a paste of fuller's earth and water and spread over the
stain. Brush off when dry. For a woollen garment , sponge with a weak
mixture of bicarbonate of soda and warm water. If the underarm area is
yellow, sponge with hydrogen peroxide and keep it damp for half an hour.
If it's oily, dab with dry-cleaning fluid.
Pet stains
See Urine/Vomit.
Sauces
See Cream
Scorch marks
are difficult to get rid of. Careful rubbing with fine sandpaper or
steel wool with a little peroxide may help fade the mark. For washable
articles sponge or soak in ammonia, hydrogen peroxide or borax solution.
On silk or wool, cover scorch with a mix of equal quantities borax and
glycerine, leave for one hour, then carefully hand wash. Non-washable
articles: Sponge lightly with glycerine solution, then sponge with warm
water. Repeat.
Shoe polish
Scrape off what you can. Dab with white spirit or grease solvent, while
holding an absorbent pad underneath to stop stain spreading. Whites can
he bleached. After treatment, rinse and wash as usual. Carpet: Sponge
carpet or chair covers with a mix of three parts wool wash and four
parts warm water. Use a rough cloth like towelling, then sponge with
cold water. If necessary, first treat with white spirit or dry-cleaning
fluid.
Soft drinks
See Fruit, Fruit Juice and Berries.
Tar
Scrape off deposit. For washables, apply white spirit or eucalyptus oil.
Rinse, wash as usual. Sponge tar off pets' paws with eucalyptus oil on a
soft cloth, followed by warm soapy water. Non-washable articles: Dab
with white spirit or eucalyptus oil – or see a drycleaner.
Tomato juice
See fruit, fruit juice and berries.
Urine
Fresh stains on washable articles can be rinsed in cold, salty water,
then washed. Soak dried stains in biological detergent and use hydrogen
peroxide and ammonia solution if necessary. Non-washable articles:
Sponge fresh stain with cold water, then white vinegar solution. For
dried stains, you may need a drycleaner.
Vomit
Remove excess. Run washable article under cold tap, soak in biological
detergent, rinse, then wash as usual. Non-washable articles: Sponge with
cold water. Then sponge with mix of two and a half cups warm water and
one tablespoon of borax. A wipe with eucalyptus oil helps cover odour.
Wine
There are almost as many remedies as there are wine drinkers, but act
quickly! Washable articles can be sponged with soda water, saturated
with white vinegar or covered with salt (rub off when dry). After all
treatments, rinse, then wash as usual Non-washable articles: Sponge with
cold water. Then sponge with detergent solution or use upholstery
cleaner. Carpet: For white wine, treat as for chocolate stains. For red
wine, cover stain with absorbent powder, leave for 12 hours, vacuum next
day. Sponge thoroughly with warm water.
Yellowing
Articles that have been stored for some time and yellowed can be
corrected with a mild bleach solution. For something that can't be
bleached, soak 12 hours in one dessertspoon of cream of tartar to four
litres of hot water. Rinse, wash as usual.
Zinc cream
Remove deposit. Dab with neat wool wash on a cloth wrung out in hot
water. Repeat as necessary, using a fresh part of the cloth for each
application.
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