Laundry Stain Removers

Stains don’t have to ruin your laundry (and we don’t have to be as dramatic as Lady Macbeth). Having something on hand to treat spots right away will help preserve your clothes (and your money). I never leave the house without my Tide To Go pen - with a toddler, spots and spills happen daily. I also recommend the Oxiclean stain remover wipes.

But first, a few rules.

• Treat as soon as possible
• Always blot, don’t rub
• Treat from the wrong side of the fabric (the inside)
• Never apply heat to spots or the stain will set
• Check clothes before putting them in the dryer to see if the stain is out - if not, repeat washing

Now, here is a list of common stains and how to get them out.

Blood: Pour hydrogen peroxide through the stain, rinse with cold water, pre-treat and launder as usual. Or, make a paste of meat tenderizer* and water; rub the paste into the spot and let it sit until you launder.

Fruit Juice: Rinse with cold water; then using your finger, scrub with a detergent or soap pulling the fabric as taut as possible to really work the soap into the fibers; rinse with cold water, again pulling the fabric as taut as possible. Pre-treat and launder as usual.

Grass: Scrub white, non-gel toothpaste into the stain with an old toothbrush; rinse and launder as usual. If the stain is on jeans (denim) saturate the stain with rubbing alcohol and let it set; rinse with cold water and repeat until stain has come out.

Sweat: White vinegar and water

Tomato based (ketchup, sauce, etc.): Rinse with cold water, then saturate with white vinegar and rinse again. Pre-treat and launder as usual.

Oil based (dressing, veg oil): Sprinkle with baking soda to absorb the oil; once completely absorbed (the baking soda will cake-up) scrape off, pre-treat with white vinegar and launder as usual.

Dirt/Mud: First, allow to dry. Then vacuum the area with the hose attachment; rub a cut potato over the stain and launder as usual

Baby Formula: Rinse well. Then make a paste of un-seasoned meat tenderizer* and water; rub the paste into the spot and let it sit until you launder.

Greasy Work Clothes: Sprinkle spots with baking soda to absorb and draw grease out; pre-treat and launder as usual. For stubborn stains, spray the spot with WD-40® and let it soak in; work in undiluted dish detergent using your fingers; rinse with the hottest water you can for the fabric. Final tip: pour a can of Coca-Cola® into the washing machine when you wash.

* A note about meat tenderizer: a paste of meat tenderizer and water will tackle any protein-based stain; be sure to use unseasoned

For more specific stain removal instructions, I recommend About.com’s Housekeeping Section.