| Acids | Quickly sponge with water. If colored fabric, add drops of ammonia to restore color, or hold over fumes of ammonia.
Alternative: Sprinkle baking soda on both sides of stain, allow to stand, sponge it off. Before using ammonia, test for color fastness. White vinegar is a good substitute. |
| Adhesive Tape |
Remove excess carefully to avoid shredding the fiber. Freeze to harden remainder and gently brush with a sponge or fine-bristled brush.
Alternative: Swab or sponge laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) or a grease solvent.
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| Albumen | Sponge with cold water. |
Alcohol
(and alcohol paints) | Swab or sponge with denatured alcohol. |
| Alkalies | Act quickly. Sponge with lukewarm water, restore color with vinegar. |
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| Blood |
Dampen the area of the stain with water, sprinkle with table salt, rub in and then wash.
If persistent, add 3 drops of ammonia to solution. To bleach out, dampen and leave in
sun or swab with hydrogen peroxide and let sit overnight, then wash.
Alternative: Flush with water, then soak briefly in solution of meat tenderizer and cold water.
Remove blood stains from upholstery by covering the spot immediately with a paste of cornstarch and cold water. Rub lightly and place object in the sun to dry. The sun will draw the blood out into the cornstarch. Brush off. |
| Candle Wax | Crumble off wax. Place blotter over spot, iron on reverse side. |
| Cheese | Swab with cold water. |
| Chewing Gum | Swab or sponge with denatured alcohol.
Alternative: Chew another piece of gum until all the sweetness is gone, then use this piece to pick off the gum in the garment. The garment should be chilled beforehand. |
| Chocolate | Allow melted chocolate to dry and harden and scrape away hardened chocolate with blunt knife.
Swab with detergent moistened with water. Wash. |
| Cod Liver Oil | Swab or sponge very fresh stains in warm water and a laundry detergent. |
| Coffee | Pour boiling water through stain, from reverse side. |
| Collar Lines | Use dime store chalk. Draw heaving line, let set overnight, then wash. |
| | |
| Cream Soups | Sponge with warm water. If persistent, swab with moistened laundry detergent. |
| Drawing Ink | Swab or sponge with denatured alcohol.
Alternative: Place a paper towel or a rag under the stained area to absorb excess ink. Spray and saturate stain with a non-oily, alcohol based hair spray. Blot with a rag and repeat until the stain disappears. |
| Dyes | Fresh stains may respond to cold water. |
| Eggs | Scrape away as much as possible. Sponge with lukewarm water. Never use hot water, as heat hardens the stain. If this does not succeed, spread the stain with a paste of cream of tartar and water, adding a crushed aspirin to the paste. Leave for 30 minutes. Rinse well in warm water. |
| Fish | Swab with cold water. |
| Fruit | Swab with warm water. If persistent, sponge with cold water, rubbing in a few drops of vinegar. Allow to stand for 3 hours, rinse with water. |
| Glue | Dampen, then sponge with vinegar or 10 percent acetic acid, then rinse. |
| Grass Stain | Sponge with denatured alcohol, white vinegar, or benzene.
Alternative: Grass stains can be removed from clothing by pouring a little Karo syrup on the stain. Rub fabric lightly, toss it into the washing machine, and the grass stain should wash away. |
| Grasshopper | Apply oxalic acid solution; wash immediately. |
| Gravy | Saturate area with pretreatment laundry stain remover product containing enzymes. Wait for a minute and launder. If stain remains, use an aerosol pretreatment product or cleaning fluid. Wash with detergent in the hottest water safe for fabric. |
| Grease (food) | Swab with a little shampoo and then put it through the wash as usual.
Alternative: Soak in a solution of 3 parts detergent and 1 part ammonia. Lighter fluid usually works well, too. Then, wash thoroughly. |
