Coffee | Easy | - Cold water
- Mild detergent
- White vinegar
| - Mix detergent with cool water and dab the stain.
- Add a splash of vinegar, wait 5 minutes, then rinse.
- Wash as usual and air dry.
| - If it contains milk, use an enzyme cleaner.
- Avoid hot water that can set the stain.
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Red wine | Medium | - Paper towels
- Salt or baking soda
- Club soda
- Oxygen bleach
| - Soak in cool water with oxygen bleach for 30 minutes.
- Rinse, then wash normally.
| - White fabrics can handle stronger oxygen bleach.
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Blood | Medium | - Cold water
- Enzyme cleaner
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
| - Apply enzyme cleaner and wait 10 minutes.
- Rinse, then spot treat with peroxide if needed.
- Wash in cold water.
| - Your own saliva can dissolve fresh blood stains.
- Heat will set protein stains, keep water cold.
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Sweat / Yellow stains | Medium | - Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Dish soap
| - Mix baking soda, peroxide, and water into a paste.
- Apply to stain and let sit for 30 mins.
- Scrub gently and wash.
| - Sun drying helps bleach it further.
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Deodorant Marks | Easy | - Nylon stocking
- Dryer sheet
- Vinegar
| - For fresh white marks, rub with pantyhose or dryer sheet.
- For buildup (yellow), soak in vinegar/water (1:1).
- Scrub and wash hot.
| - Don't wet fresh white marks, rub them dry first.
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Makeup (Foundation/Lipstick) | Medium | - Makeup remover
- Dish soap
- Shaving cream
| - Apply makeup remover or dish soap.
- Rub gently with fingers or soft brush.
- Rinse with warm water.
| - Shaving cream works well on foundation.
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Sauce / Ketchup / Soy Sauce | Medium | - Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Cold water
| - Spot treat with dish soap, let sit.
- Soak in vinegar water if stubborn.
- Wash normally.
| - Heat sets tomato stains, use cold water first.
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Chocolate | Medium | - Dish soap
- Enzyme detergent
- Cold milk (hack)
| - Pre-treat with dish soap to cut fat.
- Soak in enzyme detergent.
- Wash in warm water.
| - Milk content needs enzyme cleaner.
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Grease or oil | Hard | - Dish soap
- Baking soda
- Soft toothbrush
| - Brush off powder, apply dish soap directly.
- Gently work it in with a soft brush.
- Rinse with warm water and wash.
| - Avoid high heat drying until the stain is gone.
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Ink | Hard | - Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton pads
- Mild detergent
| - Keep dabbing until the ink lifts.
- Rinse, then wash with detergent.
| - Gel ink may need repeated alcohol treatments.
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Gum | Hard | - Ice cube
- Dull knife / Card
- Oil / Solvent
| - Rub with ice until hard.
- Scrape off gently.
- Treat residue with oil or solvent.
| - Peanut butter works on residue (oily).
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Grass | Easy | - Stain remover
- Laundry detergent
- Soft brush
| - Let the stain remover sit for 15 minutes.
- Gently brush, then wash normally.
| - Sunlight can help fade remaining marks.
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Tea | Easy | - White vinegar
- Cold water
- Lemon juice
| - Soak in vinegar and water (1:2 ratio).
- Scrub gently.
- Wash as usual.
| - Lemon juice works on light fabrics.
|
Curry / Turmeric | Hard | - Lemon juice
- Dish soap
- Sunlight
| - Apply lemon juice to the stain.
- Let it sit in direct sunlight for an hour.
- Wash normally.
| - Turmeric is photosensitive and fades in sun.
|
Candle Wax | Medium | - Iron
- Paper bag / Towel
- Dull knife
| - Scrape off hardened wax with a dull edge.
- Place paper bag over stain and iron on low.
- The wax will transfer to the paper.
| - Keep moving the paper to a clean spot.
|
Rust | Hard | - Lemon juice
- Salt
- Rust remover
| - Sprinkle salt and squeeze lemon juice over it.
- Let sit in sun for drying.
- Brush off and wash.
| - Commercial rust remover is safer for delicate items.
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Fruit Juice / Berries | Medium | - Boiling water
- Vinegar
- Lemon
| - Stretch fabric over a bowl.
- Pour boiling water from a height through stain.
- Soak in vinegar if mark remains.
| - Boiling water method works best on tough cottons.
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Mud / Dirt | Medium | | - Shake or brush off dried mud.
- Rub detergent into the stain.
- Wash on the hottest setting safe for fabric.
| - Potato starch can help lift mud from delicates.
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Urine (Pet/Human) | Medium | - Enzymatic cleaner
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
| - Saturate with enzymatic cleaner.
- Let sit for 15-30 mins (keep moist).
- Wash with cool water.
| - Avoid ammonia-based cleaners (smells like pee to pets).
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