Unlikely Home Remedies for Stain Removal

Spilled grape juice on the carpet? Coffee on your cotton skirt? Quick, reach for the…

• Dark colored juice or wine spilled on carpet or fabric - Sprinkle salt on the stained area, and rub with a cloth and cold water. Color will gradually be neutralized as well as the liquid removed.
• Oil paint stains on clothing - Spray the spot with windex and rub repeatedly. Most paint will be lifted. Spray again and put garment through the washing machine.
• Rust stains on cotton clothing - Rub the stains with lemon juice and salt and leave in the sun to dry. May need to be repeated several times.
• Coffee stains - Mix one egg yoke and a tablespoon of milk and water. Rub repeatedly on the stain as soap. If the stain has been allowed to set, a stronger solution may be needed: add a few drops of alcohol to the mixture.
• Candle wax on cloth - Rub wax spots with alcohol or naptha; wax will dissolve.
• Tar on cotton or wool - Scrape off as much as possible and then apply salad oil to the stained area. Let sit for 24 hours. For cotton, then regular wash with laundry detergent. For wool, apply ether or alcohol to remove grease.
• Coal oil spilled on wood - Sprinkle a fine powder of chalk or cornmeal over the stain. Cover with a sheet of paper and rub a warm iron over top two or three times.
• Feathers or other plumage on a hat or boa - Heat your stove burner to medium and sprinkle a pinch of salt on top. Hold the plumage over the smoke for several minutes; dirt and grime will burn off leaving feathers clean and fresh again.