Adhesive Tape or Rubber Cement:   

Apply ice or cold water to harden the surface.  Scrape with a dull knife.  Saturate with prewash stain remover.  Rinse, then launder.

Ball Point Ink:   

Treat with hairspray. Rinse. Hand scrub with liquid detergent and rinse well. Treating with rubbing alcohol, glycerine or prewash stain remover may also work.

Blood:

Soak stain in cool water with enzyme presoak, then rub detergent into fabric and rinse.   If stain persists in cottons, polyesters, rayons and linens, try a solution of household ammonia or hydrogen peroxide and rinse. Silk needs to be treated by a dry cleaner.

Candle Wax, Paraffin:

Freeze and then scrape with a dull knife. Place between paper towels and press with a warm iron. Place face down on paper towels and sponge with rubbing alcohol then launder.

Chewing Gum:

Harden with an ice cube.  Scrape off with a dull knife and spray prewash on the spot.  Let stand for two or three minutes, then remove loose gum.  Continue to apply spray and rub between fingers gently to loosen.  Remove remaining gum residue.  Launder.

Chocolate:

Soak in cool water or club soda with an enzyme presoak. Sponge with detergent. Launder in hot water.

Coffee/Tea:        

Soak with an enzyme presoak or oxygen bleach. Rub with detergent and launder in hot water.

Cosmetics:

Dampen the stain with water, then rub with detergent and rinse. Spray with prewash stain remover and rinse.  Launder in water as hot as fabric care allows.

Crayons:

Scrape as much off as possible with a dull knife. Spray with prewash stain remover or rub with detergent and rinse. Repeat if necessary. Launder in hot water with bleach, if safe.

Deodorants:

Scrub with alcohol or vinegar and rinse. Rub with liquid detergent and launder in hot water.

Felt-tip pen ink:

Rub stain with a strong household wall and counter cleaner and rinse, repeat if necessary. Launder. (This type of stain may be impossible to remove.)

Fingernail polish:

Sponge white cotton with nail polish remover; all other fabrics, sponge with amyl acetate (banana oil) and scrape with a dull knife. Launder.

Fruits and Juices:

Soak with enzyme presoak and launder. If stain persists, cover with a paste of oxygen bleach and a few drops of ammonia for about 15 minutes.  White vinegar may also work. Launder in water as hot as possible.

Grass:

Soak in an enzyme presoak and then rinse. Rub with detergent and launder in hot water and bleach. If stain persists, sponge with rubbing alcohol.

Gravy:

Scrape with a dull knife and soak in an enzyme presoak.  Treat with a detergent paste and then later with a prewash stain remover. Launder in hot water and with bleach, if safe.

Grease:

Remove all excess by scraping with a dull knife or use absorbent powder such as talcum or cornstarch and brush off. Pretreat with a strong detergent and rinse. Spray with prewash stain remover and launder in hot water with extra detergent and bleach, if safe.

Ice Cream:

Soak in an enzyme presoak and rinse. Rub with detergent, rinse and let dry. Spray with prewash stain remover. Launder in hot water with bleach, if safe.

Lipstick:

Moisten with glycerine and wash with bleach, if safe.

Mayonnaise or salad dressing:

Rub stain with detergent and rinse. Let dry and then spray with prewash stain remover. Rinse and then launder in hot water with bleach, if safe.

Mildew:

Rub stain with lemon juice and let dry in the sun.  Rub with detergent and launder with hot water and bleach, if safe. If stain persists, sponge with hydrogen peroxide.

Milk:

Soak in an enzyme presoak and rinse. Rub with detergent and launder.

Mud:

Let the stain dry, then brush well and soak in water with dishwashing detergent and 1 Tbsp. vinegar. Rinse and then sponge with rubbing alcohol. Rinse again and then soak in an enzyme presoak.  Launder with bleach, if safe.

Mustard:

Spray stain with prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap or liquid detergent and rinse. Soak in hot water and detergent. Launder with bleach, if safe.

Paint:

Try to prevent paint from drying. Sponge oil-based types with turpentine or paint thinner and then rub with bar soap.  Launder. Saturate water-based (latex) paints with water and soap or detergent immediately. Launder.

Peanut Butter:

Saturate stain with mineral oil. Blot and then spray prewash stain remover and blot again between absorbent mats. Rinse and launder.

Perspiration:

Use a prewash stain remover or rub with bar soap.  If perspiration has changed the color of fabric, apply ammonia to fresh stains or white vinegar to old stains, and rinse.  Launder using hottest water safe for the fabric.  Stubborn stains may respond to washing in a product containing enzymes or oxygen bleach in hottest water safe for the fabric.

Red Wine:

Sprinkle immediately with salt. Soak with enzyme presoak and wash. If stain persists, cover with a paste of oxygen bleach and a few drops of ammonia for about 15 minutes.  White vinegar may also work. Launder in water as hot as possible.

*Enzymatic detergents (products that contain enzymes) are used for improving regular detergent and presoak performance when removing heavy soil and stains.  An enzyme presoak should be for a half hour or more. Good for removing body oil, perspiration, urine and other protein stains including baby formula, blood, grass and many other foods.  Skin is a protein, therefore rubber gloves should be worn during use.