Stain removal basics

Have you ever noticed that a freshly laundered white blouse is like an open challenge to see how long you can go before spilling a cup of hot coffee on it? And why does a new carpet demand to be christened with a glass of red wine from a tipsy dinner guest?

How to treat a stain often depends on the fabric or material you're cleaning. Here are some basic rules for treating and beating stains:1. Treat stains as soon as possible
The longer a stain sits, the more time the stain has to set, so move as quickly as possible to wipe up stains. A possible exception to this rule is mud, which cleans up more easily when it dries.

2. Test cleaning products first
If you're trying out a new product, it's a good idea to test the product in an inconspicuous area. That way, if it adversely affects your carpet or clothing, the damage will be minimal.

3. Read the label
Take a minute to check the label of both the garment and the cleaning product before you start stain removal.

4. Pre-treat when you can
It's one thing to have to discard a favourite blouse because of a stain, but it's quite another matter when an unsightly, stubborn stain is visible on your sofa or carpet. So pre-treat difficult-to-launder materials with stain-repellents.

Carpet stain-removal strategies
"If your child spills his chocolate milk on the carpet, it doesn't just sit on the top of your carpet -- it gets into your under padding and can cause a huge issue," says Jan Hope, market supervisor for 3M Canada. "Products like Scotchgard^™act as a repellent, preventing the chocolate milk from soaking in right away."

That repellent property might give you enough time to clean up the mess before it becomes a larger problem. Use a clean, unstained, neutral colour cloth to blot -- never scrub! -- carpet spills.

"After I've blotted up the stain, I'll take another clean, neutral cloth, put it over the spill and just stand on it and that helps get the moisture out quickly," recommends Hope.

For advice on dealing with specific carpet stains, call the Scotchgard^™ Service Centre's stain removal hotline at 1-800-433-3296.

How to treat 8 common stains:
Keeping the four stain-removal rules in mind, here are a few common stains and advice on how to treat them:

1. Blood
Is it a small, controlled stain? A little "spit polish" might do the trick -- blood often breaks down to human saliva. Alternatively, soak the stain with club soda or hydrogen peroxide (on washable fabrics). Caution: Using hot water on a fresh bloodstain will set the stain.

2. Berries
A soak in milk will sometimes take berry stains out. Or try soaking the stain with laundry detergent and work the detergent into the stain.

3. Pet urine
Soak fabric in salt water, rinse and launder.

4. Ink
Try soaking the fabric in milk. No luck? Try scrubbing the ink stain with a toothbrush and non-gel toothpaste. Other remedies include rubbing alcohol and acetone (never on acetates!).