Removing Stains

A cotton or polyester knit top can be totally ruined by just one splash of oil or grease which will leave that tell-tale stain running down the front of your shirt. Even a single spot will...

It is sometimes difficult to get that dry, set-in stain out of your favorite clothing. You can remove the stain, but it will take patience and a little elbow grease. The type of stain will dictate...

Many of us at some point have had nasty sweat stains on our clothes. These stains can take multiply washes to remove the stains and sometimes even more to remove the odors. However, with these...

I'm a shoe snob but not the general $500 a pair Staletto type. I just like moderate to slightly pricey shoes so that they can last and in order for them to last, I like for them to stay...

Spray paint consists of propellants, solvents and pigments. When dry, it mimics a water-based or latex paint. Due to the application method, over-spray is common, so covering clothing to reduce...

Therapy Putty, similar to Silly Putty, is a silicone polymer clay that squishes into shapes, stretches and bounces. It has a tacky hardness to it and a wet and glossy finish. Therapy Putty is...

Removing a butter stain can be quite a bit more tricky than removing other types of stains as most laundry products were meant to remove liquid stains, not solid stains. However, there still is a...

Anyone who has had to clean children's clothes knows the shock of finding Silly Putty stains. Silly Putty has been around for more than 50 years, and while it may be the king of modeling clay, it...

It happens to every cook, eventually. You may be coloring icing, cookie dough, or a beverage and you splash food coloring on your clothing. Usually, washing your clothing with your normal laundry...

When fabric is left moist for a period of time, mold may develop. Favorable conditions for mold to develop include the presence of water, oxygen, nutrients and warm temperatures. If mold is not...

If you are a smoker, live with someone who smokes or have visited a venue where smoking occurred, there's a good chance your clothes have nicotine stains. Other fabrics such as linens and curtains...

Getting pine tar or sap on your clothing can be very irritating, especially when it comes time to remove it. Removing pine tar from polyester clothing or other materials, such as car seats, is...

Heat-sealed patches have been a popular sew-free garment addition for years. Their uses range from the most practical repairs to name tags to stylish embellishments. Heat-sealed patches have been...

When metal and water come into contact, it seems that the metal is always on the losing side. Rust forms, creating a red-colored stain that makes the metal brittle. If white fabric comes into...

Sometimes clothes with mold problems have an unpleasant odor, while other times the molded spot will present itself with a black spore-filled stain. It can be a challenge to find a mold-killing...

Gum is a sticky substance that is meant to be chewed for a long period of time without coming apart. If, by accident, you somehow sit on a piece of chewed gum, it can be tricky to remove the gunk...

Removing iron-on patches can often leave the residue from the patch glue behind on clothing. The glue not only stains the fabric but can attract lint and debris that are difficult to remove later....

Rubber stains are particles of rubber that have been left behind; the friction of the rubber object coming into contact with clothing is what causes the rubber to stick. Changing a tire, putting...

When we make purchases for clothing we're making an investment into something we expect to last for years. Other than the wear and tear from the wash cycle, the presence of stains can wreak havoc...

Ugg boots are very comfortable and very popular, but they are not stain resistant. The soft, suede finish on these boots makes them "soak up" stains and marks. If you want to use your Ugg boots as...

Softball pants can be difficult to clean because of the types of dirt and clay that stick to them. However, these pants can be washed to the point of looking new. It will take more than just...

Spray adhesives are a convenient tool. They allow the user to quickly and efficiently apply adhesive to paper, foam, vinyl, fabric and several other materials. With this convenience comes the...

Spilt pickle juice is bothersome mainly because of the powerful scent associated with vinegar; however, the juice can also stain fabrics because of the dyes used in the pickling process. Removing...

Spilling something on a favorite shirt or pair of pants can be devastating, especially if it stains or is difficult to remove. Hot glue on fabric may seem impossible to remove, but with a few easy...

White socks and tone legs while taking a shower.

Tie dying your clothing can be a creative way to individualize your wardrobe. Whether going it alone or creating pieces as a group activity, tie dye is a great way to add a pop of color to your...

Women's underwear becomes stained for a variety of reasons. Luckily, most body fluid and substance stains are easily removed from foundation garments with a minimum of fuss. When faced with a...

Underarm sweat can cause not only unsightly wet areas in that region of your clothing, but it can also result in permanent stains. White clothing is one of the worst victims of underarm stains as...

Accidentally dripping melted butter on your clothes while cooking can be disheartening. A greasy butter stain is difficult to get out of clothing, and will not disappear with detergent alone. But...

Though white tennis shoes look great when first purchased, after some wear your shoes may take on a dingy, dirty look due to stains, dirt and more. While using bleach to restore your shoes to...

The task of removing an old stain from your favorite dress can be tricky. It can take a long time to remove the stain, depending on the length of time the stain has remained on the dress. The...

For a good portion of the United States, from Oklahoma through the Deep South, people know that one of the hardest stains to remove is what results from coming into contact with the red dirt earth...

If you use Neosporin First Aid Antibiotic Ointment for small cuts and scrapes, you may have been dismayed to notice stains on your clothes or cloth furniture after application. These stains come...

Nothing in a summer garden is as enticing as the fragrance of stargazers and other lilies. That delightful scent, unfortunately, can be as perilous as it is alluring, since lily pollen will stain...

The process of removing petroleum jelly stains from clothing is not easy. Petroleum jelly, often called by the brand name Vaseline, is a substance that can stick to surfaces, potentially causing...

Paint is supposed to be on walls and canvases, but occasionally it does end up on our clothing. Paint can be very pesky to remove from a shirt if you aren't sure what to use, and you certainly...

Every woman has experienced stains on her clothing, especially her shirts, from makeup. Sometimes, while applying your makeup, the brush falls and causes a mark or stain on your shirt. Other...

Have you ever needed to use a certain sneaker but you where stopped by the months of outdoor torture on your sneaker? How about getting off you're brand new Nike's grass and mud stains? There's...

One of the few problems with synthetic fabrics is the issue of stain removal. These fabrics are often delicate and have special care instructions that set them apart from basics such as cotton....

Grape jelly may be good on bread with some peanut butter, but it's not so lovely when you wear it on your Halston dress. Tough grape stains on clothing can turn your favorite shirt or dress into...

Oil-based soaps can be surprisingly effective at stain removal, especially for difficult stains such as grass and blood. They should be used immediately after the stain is produced for the most...

Getting paint on your jeans is in an inevitable part of the painting process. "Goo Gone" and "Goof Off" are two wonderful products that can almost always remove the stain and restore your jeans.

Betadine is the brand name for a popular antiseptic featuring the polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) functional group. PVP-I consists of a long organic polymer chains that stabilize iodide ions,...

Rust stains on any type of fabric can be extremely difficult to treat. When it comes to polyester, however, you have a few more options. As a fairly resilient material, polyester can withstand...

Anyone can work up a good head of sweat during a ballgame. Long after memories of the victory fade with time, the sweat lingers on in the form of stains on a cap visor. Suede visors require extra...

It is winter, and it is cold and slushy outside. Try as you may, you cannot avoid stepping through the slush and getting rock salt on your shoes. Preventive maintenance is the best way to avoid...

Salt stains typically develop during cold winter months when roads and sidewalks are covered with salt. While this makes for a more safe travel experience, you sometimes can collect salt stains on...

Getting a stain on your favorite item of clothing is never fun, and it's especially annoying when that stain is food coloring. Food coloring is extremely difficult to get out of fabric...

Accidents happen - you spill something on the floor and on yourself, no biggy. But getting stains out of a carpet or your favorite shirt is gonna be a little tough, especially if you don't want to...

Resin from trees can be extremely sticky and leave very difficult to remove stains. With a little persistence however, and techniques that are specific to different surface types, most resin...