How to Remove All Kinds of Stains

The rust spot on the driveway doesn't have to be permanent. The nail polish your daughter spilled on the carpet can be gone before she has a chance to buy another bottle. The beautifully drawn tree on your bedroom wall can be wiped away in seconds. Remove those pesky stains that have been lurking around your home for months.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Remove bloodstains from hardwood or tile floors. Use soap and water, if that does not remove it, use a solution of water with ammonia. Mop the area with the solution. If the stain persists, let solution sit for a few minutes and mop again.

2. Get rid of stubborn rust stains from driveways or sidewalks using a chemical called oxalic acid. Wet the stain and sprinkle the oxalic acid on it. Let stand for a few minutes then scrub with a hard bristle brush and rinse. You may need to repeat the process to completely remove the stain.

3. Clean dirt and grease stained hands with a mixture of equal amounts olive oil and sugar. Put hands together and rub for a few minutes. Rinse with water and dry. Not only do you get the grease and grime off your hands, they're moisturized.

4. Do a way with orange stained hands after peeling too many carrots or carving the Halloween pumpkin. Slice a potato and rub your hands with it.

5. Prevent tomato stains on your plastic storage containers. Spray the container with cooking spray before putting any tomato based foods in them.

6. Rinse that grimy stain off the bottom of a glass vase. Fill the vase with water and drop in two Alka-seltzer tablets. Let the vase sit for an hour and rinse clean.

7. Wipe away those annoying stains off your linoleum floors with an easy solution. Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and rub the stain. Rubbing alcohol will also help remove nail polish from carpet and unwanted stickers on mirrors.

8. Remove crayon marks from walls, appliances or plastic surfaces. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on a wet sponge and scrub. Your child's unwanted masterpiece will come right off.

Tips & Warnings

• Always test the area you want to clean in an inconspicuous place before cleaning to make sure it does not damage the material.

• Oxalic acid is sold as a wood bleach in the paint department. It is also in a cleaning product called Zud, sold in most grocery stores.

• Follow manufacturer's instruction when using products. Do not alter or substitute cleaning information, may be harmful.