Stain Busters

[Texasmujer]

There are many household products that lead a double life as stain busters.

LEMON JUICE: REMOVE small rust srains on white, washable fabrics with a mixture of lemon juice and salt. Place item in sun to "Bleach" out the stain. (Check the label first. Some white fabrics are too delicate for this approach.) *OR add one cup of lemon juice to wash water to remove discolorations from white, washable cottons. *APPLY as a paste with salt to clean brass, copper, or stainless steel. Scrub gently, rinse. *APPLY lemon juice to hands to remove berry stains.

MAYONNAISE: RUB into water marks on furniture. Let set for an hour; wipe clean. Repeat as necessry. Polish surface once spot disappears. *Rub a dab into chewing gum caught in hair. Once softened, gently use a wide-tooth comb to detangle.

PINK RUBBER ERASER: LIGHTLY rub soils on cotton upholstery to "erase" stains. *REMOVE finger marks from woodwork and scuff marks on hard floors. *The stain eraser also cleans dirt or spots on piano keys.


ALCOHOL, RUBBBING: ERASE stains. Blot fabric with alcohol (or an alcohol based hair spray) to remove. *USE to sponge grass stains off of cloth or fabric. *DAB up traces of candle wax from your rtablecloth. After scraping up hardened wax, place paper towels over the spot and press with a warm iron to lift the stain. Sponge away any residue with rubbing alcohol.


AMMONIA: To REMOVE perspiration stains from washable garmens, soak in cold water. Then soak in solution of 1 quart warm water, 1/2 tsp. detergent and 1tbsp ammonia for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry. Don't apply ammonia to silk, wool, or other blends. *TO LIFT lipstick from fabric, rub in a vegetable oil and let sit for 10 minutes. Dab spot with ammonia and dish soap and launder as usual. *A solution of 1tsp ammonia to one cup water can be used to remove stains caused by milk, ice cream, ketchup, chocolate---even soy sauce (Clean with dish detergent before treating stain). *TO TREAT blood on carpet, apply a cool detergent solution, blot, them follow with a cloth dampened with a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tbap ammonia.

BAKING SODA: YOU can also apply a paste of baking soda and water to perspiration stains on washablke clothing. Let sie; wash as usual. *REMOVE black scuff marks from nonwax floors by rubbing them with soda and just a bit of water. *Coffee and tea stains on cups disappear when lightly scrubbed with baking soda. *USE a paste (with a little water) on a toothbrush or cloth to gently scrub off grass stains on leather boots and/or shoes. *To remove crayon marks from blackboards, scrub gently with baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly. *REMOVE spaghetti sauce, ketchup, or crayon stains on a plastic high chair tray by sprinkling with baking soda and then wiping clean with a dampsponge or cloth.

CLUB SODA: APPLY immediately to red wine or colored-juice spills on carpets or tablecloths. Let sit for a minute, then blot. Folow with a solution of 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 cup water to completely remove stain and let dry. *TO CONQUER shocolate stains, first blot up excess, then flush with club soda. *DID a housrplant up-end itssself on your carpet? Vacuum excess dirt and spritx with club soda to clean residue. *Flush bloosdstains with club soda and dry with a towel. Repeat as necessary.

BLEACH: THIS basic removes stains from coffee to ketdhup on washable and colorfast fabrics (ALWAYS test first)> NEVER use bleach on wool, silk, mohair, leahter, or spandex. *APPLY with a cotton-tip swab to work on small stains or spots when you want to avoid washing the entire
item with bleach. *TO fight mildew in the bathroom, dilute 3/4 cup bleach per one gallon water. Apply to surface, let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves. *To clean dirty grout, cover it with cotton balls or strips of fabric (or paper towels) that have been soaked in bleach. Let sit for an hour before scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Rinse clean.

ICE CUBES: A STICKY situation? Place ice on gum stuck to fabric. Let harden and scrape off. *PLACE ice in a plastic bag to freeze candle wax on carpeting. Scrape up as much as possible. Put a few paper towels on remaining spot and press wirth a warm iron. Repeat as neede. *YOU can use the same technique if you spill grease on a wood floor.










































































[Edited by Texasmujer on 21st February 2005 at 16:22]