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The most upsetting thing to happen to most people is having to throw away a favorite sweater because of a small stain. Here are a few tips to help you keep your clothes, carpet or furniture stain free and looking brand new.
 Beer: blot up all of the liquid and sponge the spot with a mild white vinegar and water solution (1 part vinegar, 4 parts water). Rinse with lukewarm water and apply Biz or Wisk (not if this is wool or silk). Let this sit for 30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. If this is an item of clothing, best bet is to take it to the dry cleaners.
Blood: Keep the stain wet, the soak in cold salty water or rinse our under the cold-water tap. Follow with a cold water wash. For dry cleanables, carpets, and mattresses, sponge cold water onto the spot. Another helpful hint is using a salt and soda water combo.
Chocolate: Scrape and blot as much as you can without grinding it into the fabric. Apply cornstarch or talcum powder to soak up as much of the grease as possible, wait 15 minutes, then scrape off. Sponge the stain with a dry spotter until no more chocolate comes off. Then soak it in digestant and launder in warm water.
Coffee/Tea: Blot with a clean cloth and sponge with cool water. Apply pretreat and launder in warm water - air dry. If it's a dry cleanable item, sponge with a wet spotter and a few drops of vinegar, than flush with cool water and pat dry. Just make sure not to use ammonia or heat, as it will set the stain.
Grass: Sponge with alcohol. If the stain is still there, soak it in digestant for twenty minutes then launder in warm water.
Ink: Sponge with water, blot and spray it with cheap hairspray and blot through a cloth. Do this until no more pen color is coming off. Then apply laundry pretreat and air dry.
Ketchup: Scrap off stain, blot and sponge with cool water. Put on pretreat, rinse, and launder in warm.
Lipstick: Blot with dry spotter. Work in a little vegetable oil, mineral oil or shortening and let set for fifteen minutes. Blot again with dry spotter. Sponge remaining stain with wet spotter and a few drops of ammonia, then apply pretreat and launder in warm water.
Liqour: Use wet spotter or undiluted Ivory dish soap along with a few drops of vinegar. Launder in warm water.
Wine: Blot first then sponge with cool water. For study fabrics, rub salt into the stain and pour boiling water on the other side of the fabric. If you have a light fabric, sponge it with a wet spotter and a few drops of vinegar. Rinse with cool water. If this stain is still there, sponge with rubbing alcohol. Let it set for thirty minutes without drying, then rinse with cool water. Another trick is to pour salt over the stain, ground it in a bit, and let it set for a few hours. Then, treat with Spray N Wash and wash normally. If its a carpet spill, blot immediately and cover with a generous handful of salt. Let it sit overnight then vacuum up the salt.
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