Bloodstains can be difficult to remove if they are not attended to promptly. The first step in defense is to soak the soiled fabric in a solution of one half teaspoon of salt per one cup of cold water. You can rub as necessary until the stain has faded and then wash as normal. Older bloodstains call for a soaking solution of two tablespoons of ammonia per one gallon of cold water. Wash in cold water and dishwashing liquid to remove any left over stain. If the bloodstain is on a large article, like a blanket that you do not want to soak completely, make a paste of cornstarch and water and rub it onto the stain. Let it dry, brush it off and keep repeating until the stain has disappeared.
Coffee and tea stains call for a different approach on stain removal. First, stretch the stained part of the fabric over a bowl, as if you were putting a head on a drum, and secure it with a rubber band. Then pour boiling water over the stain. Wash the article as you would normally, using a small amount of bleach if the fabric can tolerate it. This also works on fruit and berry stains that have not been allowed to set. It works with red wine also if you first sprinkle a little salt on the stain.
Lipstick will usually come out of fabric by rubbing peanut butter on the area. Before the peanut butter dries, wash the fabric with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Hairspray is good at getting out ink stains on fabric. Put a piece of cloth beneath the stained spot before spraying to blot any ink that may come through. Hairspray also gets ink stains out of leather. Saturate the stain let the spray dry and the brush lightly with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. You can also use petroleum jelly to get ink out of leather.
Chocolate stains do not have to be horrific for fabrics that are light in color. Just scrub the stained area immediately with ammonia, then wash as you normally would. Scrub grease stains on washable fabrics with a lather of laundry detergent and water. Distilled water works best for this since soft water cuts grease better than water that has a high mineral content.
If spilled beer dries onto clothing or tablecloths, mix up a solution of vinegar and dishwashing liquid, then sponge it onto the stain. Rinse with warm water and wash as usual. Small spots of hardened candle wax can be removed from tablecloths by rubbing with a generous amount of vegetable oil. Wipe off the excess and wash as usual. For larger wax amounts on tablecloths, first scrape off the excess with a dull knife, then place the stained area between two paper towels and press with an iron on a low setting. Replace the paper towels as the wax is absorbed into them, then wash as normal when the paper no longer absorbs wax.
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