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Ultimate stain-removal chart

Wipe out any spot, smudge, or splatter with this go-to guide for washable fabrics.

AFTER TREATING Wash fabrics as recommended. The sooner, the better!

COFFEE

JUICE

WINE

TOMATO SAUCE

Scrape off any excess, then apply a DISH-SOAP solution (see Juice). Blot with a damp towel to remove any residue. If the stain persists, apply a few drops of

WHITE VINEGAR. DRINKS

Boil some WATER and stretch the fabric over a bowl. Carefully pour the water through the stain from about a foot above. If the coffee had milk in it, follow with an oil solvent,

like CARBONA STAIN DEVILS #8 COFFEE, TEA, WINE AND JUICE ($3.40, soap. com). If it contained sugar, follow with a pretreatment product, like SHOUT TRIGGER

TRIPLE-ACTING STAIN REMOVER ($3.30, amazon.com) and let sit for 30 minutes before washing.

Apply a DISH-SOAP solution (1 tablespoon clear soap in 10 ounces water). Blot to remove the stain and soap residue. If the stain remains, use a warm white towel to blot on an AMMONIA solution (1 part ammonia to 2 parts water).

For RED WINE: Coat the stain with SALT. Boil WATER and stretch the fabric over a bowl. Carefully pour the water onto the spot from about a foot above. For WHITE WINE: Run cold WATER over the stain, then spray with a DISH-SOAP solution (see Juice) and dab with an ENZYME DETERGENT. (Most everyday detergents contain enzymes.)

BERRIES

CHOCOLATE

GUM

ICE CREAM FOOD

Use a spatula or a plastic knife to scrape off any excess. Apply

a HYDROGEN PEROXIDE formula (1⁄2 teaspoon dish soap and 1⁄2 cup hydrogen peroxide). Rinse.

Rub an ICE CUBE over the spot to freeze the gum, then chip away as much as possible using a spatula or a plastic knife. To loosen the remaining residue, apply a lubricant, like GLYCERIN, then scrape it off. Rinse. If any gum remains, dab with DISH SOAP.

Scrape off any excess. Then spray with a DISH-SOAP solution (see Juice) and dab

with DETERGENT.

Rinse thoroughly with cool WATER, then apply a stain pretreatment, such as SHOUT. Fill a sink with more cool WATER and a few drops of DETERGENT and let soak.

MUSTARD

KETCHUP

SALAD DRESSING SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS

Flush the stain with WHITE VINEGAR, then apply a DISH-SOAP solution (see Juice) and let sit for 15 minutes.

Treat with SHOUT. If any of the stain remains, use an eyedropper or a clean toothbrush to apply WHITE VINEGAR to lighten it.

Sprinkle CORNSTARCH on the spot and let sit to soak up the oil. Rinse with cool water. Apply SHOUT and let sit for another 15 minutes.

SOY SAUCE

Rinse stain with cold running

WATER. Blot with AMMONIA solution (see Juice) then rinse again. Pretreat with SHOUT.

THE STAIN EXPERTS

Donna Smallin Kuper, certified housecleaning technician and author of Clear the Clutter, Find Happiness.

Kevin Tibbs, formulation scientist and creator of the Better Life line of cleaning products.

The Real Simple homedepartment editors.

Illustrations by Eight Hour Day

HERE, YOU’LL NEED THIS

Ultimate stain-removal chart (cont.)

NAIL POLISH

FOUNDATION

LIPSTICK MAKEUP

Place the stain facedown on clean paper towels. Apply NAIL-POLISH REMOVER to the back of the stain. Replace the paper towels frequently to soak up the liquid. Repeat as needed. Rinse in cold water. (Note: If the fabric is acetate or triacetate, take the piece to a dry cleaner.)

Apply RUBBING ALCOHOL to the stain using a cotton swab, then blot with a cotton ball. Repeat as needed.

Spritz the spot with HAIR SPRAY and let sit for 10 minutes. Wipe with a damp cloth to remove any residue and remaining stain.

OUTDOORS

GRASS

Treat with SHOUT and let sit for 15 minutes. Rub in solution using a clean toothbrush.

DIRT OR MUD

Scrape off any excess once the stain is dry. Dilute a gentle detergent, like WOOLITE, with water and rub it on to form suds. Rinse. If any stain remains, apply a solution of

1 part WHITE VINEGAR and 1 part WATER to lighten it.

GROSS STUFF

BLOOD DRYER TIP

Be sure a stain is removed before drying or the heat will set it.

For a wet stain: Soak in WATER, then dab on AMMONIA with a cotton swab. For a dry stain: Soak in SALT WATER for a few hours. Rinse. Treat with an AMMONIA solution (see Juice).

POOP

Scrape off any excess using a plastic knife. Turn the fabric over and rinse thoroughly with COLD WATER. Pretreat by soaking in WARM WATER with DETERGENT for 30 minutes. To disinfect completely, add CHLORINE

BLEACH OR COLOR-SAFE

BLEACH to the wash and launder in warm water.

VOMIT

UNDERARM YELLOWING

Scrape off any excess using a plastic knife. Treat with SHOUT and let sit for 30 minutes. (To disinfect completely, add CHLORINE

BLEACH OR COLOR-SAFE BLEACH to the wash and launder in WARM WATER.)

For a fresh stain: Dab with SHAMPOO. For an older stain, make a paste by stirring 4 ground-

up DIGESTIVE-ENZYME TABLETS (such as Nature’s Plus Digestive Enzyme) with 1 tablespoon WATER. Apply and let sit for 1 hour.

HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS

CANDLE WAX

Rub an ICE CUBE over the spot to freeze the wax, then chip away as much as possible using a plastic knife. Boil some WATER and stretch the fabric over a bowl. Carefully pour the water onto the spot from about a foot above.

INK

PAINT

For ballpoint: Create a

PETROLEUM-JELLY “dam” around the stain to stop it from spreading. Next, apply RUBBING ALCOHOL with a clean toothbrush. Open a window for ventilation and dab with a cotton ball and MINERAL SPIRITS. Let dry. Rinse with a DISH-SOAP solution (see Juice). For permanent marker: Use a clean toothbrush to rub

AMODEX INK AND STAIN

REMOVER ($15, wayfair.com/ RSstain) into the spot.

Use a paper towel to wipe away any dried acrylic-paint or water-based-paint residue. Sponge on a solution of DETERGENT diluted with WARM WATER. After the paint softens, remove the excess with a spatula or a plastic knife. Rinse and repeat as needed.

BABY FORMULA

COLLAR RING

Dab with DETERGENT. Soak for a few hours.

Pretreat with SHOUT. If the discoloring remains, apply AMMONIA if the stain is fresh or WHITE VINEGAR if the stain is old. Rinse.

Dab with DETERGENT and let sit for 15 minutes.

PET URINE

HAVE A RUG SPILL? Find the best solutions for stains on rugs and carpet at real simple.com/ carpetstain.