By
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Act quickly if you've just spilled something. Blot the stain with a white paper towel to remove any excess food or liquid. Rubbing a stain will only push the stain further into the fabric.
Step2
Rinse the stain with cold water only, preferably running water. Rinse both sides of the fabric thoroughly, then blot the stain again with paper towels. Repeat the rinsing and blotting until the fabric is clean.
Step3
Apply a special stain remover. Read the directions on the stain remover first. Many stain removers shouldn't be used on certain fabrics. If you don't have a stain remover, apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Allow the detergent to remain on the fabric for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse the fabric and blot it. Repeat until the stain is clean. Never put stained fabric in hot water or a hot dryer because heat will set the stain.
Step4
Remove any excess material from a set-in stain with a soft brush. To clean the fabric, soak the fabric in cold water to loosen the old stain and follow the above steps to remove the stain. You can clean the fabric in a cold water wash and let it drip dry. After the fabric is dry, check to see if the stain is removed. If you can't remove the stain, take the fabric to a dry cleaner before washing it in hot water or drying in a hot dryer.
