M

MAKE-UP

(see also ‘Lipstick’, ‘Mascara’)

Oil-Based (Foundation, Concealer etc.)

On carpet/upholstery (not leather)

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the dishwashing liquid is removed.
If there’s colour, wipe with white spirits on a cotton bud and then wipe with white vinegar on a cloth.
In all cases, absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Rinse with blood-heat water.
If there’s colour, wipe with white spirits on a cloth.
Mix Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action and water to form a paste the consistency of spreadable butter and leave on the stain for 20 minutes. Don’t use on wool or silk.
For wool and silk, wash in 1 teaspoon of cheap shampoo and blood-heat (body temperature) water.
In all cases, wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer. Dry wool and silk flat on a towel in the shade.
Alternatively, remove excess then massage with equal parts methylated spirits and dishwashing liquid on your fingertips. Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On leather

Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly. Or wipe with saddle soap.
Wipe with a damp cloth.
Sprinkle with talcum powder.
When dry, brush off.
Wipe with leather conditioner. Make your own – see Household formulas.

On polycarbonate/porcelain

Wipe with equal parts dishwashing liquid and glycerine on rolled up pantyhose until the make-up smears.
Wipe with paper towel.
Rinse with hot water.

On stone

Wipe with dishwashing liquid on a cloth.
If stubborn, mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
To each cup of mixture, add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
Spread 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
When dry, brush away.

Powder-Based (Eye Shadow, Blush etc.)

On carpet/upholstery

Vacuum as much as possible.
For residue, cut a cake of bathroom soap in half lengthways and round the edges. Dampen it and use like a rolling pin over the powder. The powder will stick to the soap. Clear it from the soap under water as you go.
Alternatively, after vacuuming, put on rubber gloves and wash your gloved hands with a cake of bathroom soap and water. Shake your hands dry. When dry, wipe over the powder. The powder will stick to the rubber.
In both cases, absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Rinse under the tap with cold water. The make-up stain should come out.
For residue, cut a cake of bathroom soap in half lengthways and round the edges to create a soap sausage. Dampen it and use like a rolling pin over the powder. The powder will stick to the soap. Clear it from the soap under water as you go.
In all cases, wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

MANGO

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by lifting with a plastic comb or by blotting with paper towel.
Place white vinegar on a cloth and wring tightly so it’s damp but not wet. Blot over the mark.
Place the vinegar cloth in one hand and a dry cloth in the other and wipe hand over hand, as though stroking a cat, until the stain is removed.
Absorb excess by covering with paper towel. Place a book on top.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Blot with or soak in white vinegar. Alternatively, soak in ½ lid of Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action and 9 litres of water for 20 minutes. Don’t use on wool, silk or leather.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

MAPLE SYRUP

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Scrub with a toothbrush or pantyhose in all directions – north, south, east and west.
Blot with equal parts white vinegar and water on a cloth.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.
When almost dry, repeat.
If a shadow returns in a couple of weeks, repeat again.

On cotton/fabric (not wool)

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under blood-heat (body temperature) water. Rub the fabric against itself using your hands.
Rinse in equal parts white vinegar and water.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On stone

Wipe with a cake of bathroom soap and blood-heat (body temperature) water on a cloth.
Mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
To each cup of mixture, add 1 teaspoon of grated soap.
Spread 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
When dry, brush away.

On wool

Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap and blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Massage with a little cheap shampoo on your fingertips.
Rinse in equal parts white vinegar and blood-heat water.
Rinse in 1 teaspoon of cheap hair conditioner and blood-heat water.
Gently wring and dry flat on a towel in the shade.

MARBLE

For chips

Find a candle in a colour that matches the marble.
Melt the candle wax over the chips.
Buff with pantyhose or silk to make it flat.
Seal or polish the marble with liquid polish wax CeraFluida.

To clean

Dampen pantyhose with a cake of bathroom soap and water. Roll them into a ball and wipe over the surface.
For heavy staining, mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
To each cup of mixture, mix in 1 teaspoon of grated soap.
Spread 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
When dry, brush away.

TIP

To prevent staining on marble, apply marble floor wax at least once a month.

MARGARINE

(see ‘Butter’)

MARMALADE

(see ‘Jam’)

MASCARA

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by lifting with a plastic comb or by blotting with paper towel.
For waterproof mascara, wipe with white spirits on a cotton ball. For non-waterproof mascara, wipe with methylated spirits on a cotton ball.
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry cloth hand over hand, as though stroking a cat.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

For waterproof mascara, put a dry cotton ball behind the stain. Wipe the stain with white spirits on a cotton ball.
For non-waterproof mascara, put a dry cotton ball behind the stain. Wipe the stain with methylated spirits on a cotton ball.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

MASSAGE OIL

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Mix equal parts tea tree oil and dishwashing liquid.
Massage with the mixture on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the mixture is removed.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess by washing under the tap.
Mix equal parts tea tree oil and dishwashing liquid.
Massage with the mixture on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

MATTRESS

For spot stains

Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Scrub with a nylon brush until the soap becomes foamy.
Sprinkle with talcum powder and leave until absorbed.
Whack with a tennis racquet, cricket bat or equivalent.
When dry, vacuum.

To clean

Sprinkle with equal parts talcum powder and bicarb.
Whack with a tennis racquet, cricket bat or equivalent.
Vacuum.

TIP

It’s always best to use a mattress and pillow protectors and to wash them regularly.

MAYONNAISE

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by lifting with a plastic comb or by blotting with paper towel.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly. For whole-egg mayonnaise, scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water first.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the dishwashing liquid is removed.
For colour residue, remove excess then scrub with 2 drops of glycerine on a toothbrush. Leave for 90 minutes. Tightly wring a cloth in white vinegar, fold the cloth flat and polish out the glycerine without pushing it into the back of the carpet or upholstery.
In all cases, absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric (not wool)

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly. For whole-egg mayonnaise, scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water first.
Rinse under blood-heat (body temperature) water.
For colour residue, remove excess then scrub with 2 drops of glycerine on a toothbrush. Leave for 90 minutes. Blot with white vinegar.
In all cases, wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On wool

Remove excess under the tap using blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Massage with 1 teaspoon of cheap shampoo and blood-heat water.
Rinse in blood-heat water.
Rinse in 1 teaspoon of cheap hair conditioner and blood-heat water.
Gently wring and dry flat on a towel in the shade.

MEAT JUICE

(Cooked/raw)

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Wipe with a damp cloth.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap. Rub the fabric against itself using your hands.
Rinse using cold water.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On timber/stone

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
To every cup of mixture, add 1 teaspoon of grated bathroom soap.
Spread mixture 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
When dry, sweep away with a broom. Repeat, if needed.

MEAT PIE

On carpet/upholstery (not leather)

Remove excess by lifting with a plastic comb or by blotting with paper towel.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the dishwashing liquid is removed.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Rinse under blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On leather

Remove excess with a cold, damp cloth.
Massage with saddle soap on your fingertips.
Wipe with a damp cloth.
Sprinkle with bicarb.
When dry, brush off.
Wipe with leather conditioner. Make your own – see Household formulas.

MEDICINE

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the dishwashing liquid is removed.
If there’s residue, scrub with 2 drops of glycerine on a toothbrush. Leave for 90 minutes. Tightly wring a cloth in white vinegar, fold the cloth flat and polish out the glycerine without pushing it into the back of the carpet or upholstery.
To remove colouring, follow instructions above then expose to sunlight or ultraviolet light. (If using ultraviolet light, protect areas around the stain with cardboard.) Check every 2 hours.
In all cases, absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
If there’s residue, scrub with 2 drops of glycerine on a toothbrush. Leave for 90 minutes. Blot with white vinegar and hang in sunshine until the stain fades before washing.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

MICE

To deter

Buy dehydrated snake poo online – python poo is preferable to viper poo.
Scatter it in the ceiling or under the house. The poo is a small pellet; humans can’t smell it and it lasts for about 1 year.
Alternatively, scatter with naphthalene flakes or camphor. (Note: These are less potent than snake poo.)

WARNING

Do not use naphthalene flakes if you have children under 3 years of age.

For large areas, mix 1 teaspoon of dehydrated snake poo and 1 litre of water in a spray pack and spray under the house.

MICROWAVE

To clean

Mix 2 tablespoons of bicarb, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl (2-litre volume).
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat until the mixture comes to the boil, but doesn’t boil over, and the interior is covered in steam.
Wipe every surface of the microwave, including the back grille, with a cloth wrung out in the mixture.
Remove the filter pad inside the grille and place it in the solution. Rub gently with your fingertips until clean. No need to rinse.
Allow the filter pad to dry before returning. This will reduce smells.

TIP

Create a Christmas fragrance by heating orange peel in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Or mix 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 4 tablespoons of water in a bowl and heat in the microwave for 1 minute.

MILDEW

(see ‘Mould’)

MILK

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Scrub with a toothbrush or pantyhose in every direction – north, south, east and west.
Wipe with a damp cloth.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric (not wool)

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap. Rub the fabric against itself using your hands.
Rinse using cold water.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On stone

Wipe with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
If stubborn, mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
To each cup of mixture, add 1 teaspoon of grated bathroom soap.
Spread 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
When dry, brush away.

On wool

Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Massage with a little cheap shampoo on your fingertips.
Rinse in blood-heat water.
Rinse in 1 teaspoon of cheap hair conditioner and blood-heat water.
Gently wring and dry flat on a towel in the shade.

MOISTURISER

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly. To remove moisturiser with a waxy base (check the label), mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and massage using your fingertips.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the liquid is removed.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric (not wool)

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly. To remove moisturiser with a waxy base (check the label), mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and massage using your fingertips.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On wool

Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Massage with a little cheap shampoo on your fingertips.
Rinse in blood-heat water.
Rinse in 1 teaspoon of cheap hair conditioner and blood-heat water.
Gently wring and dry flat on a towel in the shade.

MOLASSES

(see ‘Maple Syrup’)

MOSQUITOES

To deter

Mix 1 teaspoon of lavender oil in a 1-litre spray pack of water and lightly mist around the area. It can also be used as a personal insecticide.
Wipe chairs and tables with 2 drops of lavender oil on a cloth.
Plant lavender, basil, pennyroyal, pyrethrum daisy, Pelargonium citrosum (citronella plant) and tansy around entertainment areas.
Alternatively, place freshly chopped mint in a vase.

MOTHS

In pantries

For pantry moths, place bay leaves at 50-cm intervals along shelves and inside containers that hold carbohydrates such as pasta and rice. It will take 3 weeks to get rid of the moths.
For a serious problem, add 1 teaspoon of bay oil to 1 litre of water in a spray pack. Spray over surfaces and wipe with a cloth.
Alternatively, wipe shelves with 1 drop of oil of pennyroyal on a cloth.

WARNING

Oil of pennyroyal can be harmful to pregnant women and pregnant pets.

In wardrobes

To deter silverfish, mould and moths, place 1 camphor ball, 4 cloves, 2 drops of lavender oil and 2 drops of eucalyptus oil in a small muslin bag. (You could also use 6 cedar chips in place of the cloves or eucalyptus oil.) Tie it off and hang in your wardrobe. Replace eucalyptus and lavender oils every 2 months. Replace the rest yearly.

MOTOR OIL

(see ‘Engine Grease’)

MOULD

In wardrobes

Wipe interior walls with ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in a 250-ml bottle of baby oil on a cloth. Relabel the bottle.
To absorb moisture, tie 6 sticks of white blackboard chalk together with string or ribbon and leave inside the wardrobe to absorb moisture. When the chalk sticks are wet, place them in the sun until they dry out. You can use them over and over again.
To prevent mould from reoccuring (and to also deter silverfish and moths), place 1 camphor ball, 4 cloves, 2 drops of lavender oil and 2 drops of eucalyptus oil in a small muslin bag. (You could also use 6 cedar chips in place of the cloves or eucalyptus oil.) Tie it off and hang in your wardrobe. Replace eucalyptus and lavender oils every 2 months. Replace the rest yearly.
For serious continuous damp, seek professional advice.

On carpet/upholstery (not leather/suede)

Remove excess by vacuuming.
Mix ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in 1 litre of water in a spray pack.
Lightly spray over the area.
Sprinkle with uniodised salt.
Scrub with a clean broom.
Vacuum.

On cotton/fabric (not polyester satin/silk)

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Soak in ½ lid of Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action and 9 litres of blood-heat (body temperature) water for 20 minutes. Don’t use on wool, silk or leather. (See also ‘On Delicates’, below.)
If mould remains, add 1 kg of uniodised salt to a 9-litre bucket of water. Soak fabric overnight.
Remove, gently wring but don’t rinse, and hang in the shade to dry. A salt crust will form.
Brush the salt off and the mould will come off with it.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On delicates

Wipe with methylated spirits on a cloth.
Add 1 cup of uniodised salt to a 9-litre bucket of blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Immerse the garments and soak overnight (salt water won’t damage delicates).
Gently wring but don’t rinse the items, hang to dry (shade is best) and a salty crust will form.
When dry, brush the crust off with a soft brush and the mould will come away with it.
Rinse in 1 teaspoon of cheap shampoo and blood-heat water.
Gently wring and dry flat on a towel in the shade.

On leather

Mix ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in a 250-ml bottle of baby oil. Shake the bottle and relabel it.
Wipe the mixture with a cloth in even, parallel strokes across the entire panel of leather.

On polyester satin

Aim a hair dryer at the satin until warm.
Rub a clothes brush in the direction of the watery-looking part of the satin.
If any mould remains, cover with uniodised salt and brush backwards and forwards with a clothes brush. The salt does the cleaning.

On silicone

If mould is on the surface of the silicone, sprinkle with bicarb, spray with white vinegar and scrub with a toothbrush.
If mould has penetrated the silicone, you may have to replace it. Test first by spraying with ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in 1 litre of water in a spray pack. Spray over the area and leave for 24 hours.
To replace silicone, remove the old silicone with a special silicone remover or a very sharp knife. Then replace with new silicone or candle wax.

On silk

Place coarse uniodised salt in the toe of pantyhose and tie off.
Rub over the stain – with the grain of the silk – until the mould comes off.
Hang in sunshine. Ensure it is dried away from the wind so the fibres don’t tangle and leave a dusty look.

On suede

Mix ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves and 1 litre of water in a spray pack.
Lightly mist over the suede.
Leave in the shade to dry.
Brush the mould off with a stiff brush. If any mould remains, repeat.

On timber

For French polish or unsealed timber, wipe with ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in a 250-ml bottle of baby oil on a cloth. Relabel the bottle.
For sealed timber, mix ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in 1 litre of water in a spray pack. Lightly spray and wipe with a damp cloth.

MOUTHWASH

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Blot with or soak in white vinegar.
If the mouthwash contains colour, soak in white vinegar and hang in sunshine until the colour fades.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On marble

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
Spread 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
When dry, brush away.

MUCOUS

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the dishwashing liquid is removed.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Scribble with a cake of bathroom soap.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Rinse under blood-heat (body temperature) water.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

MUD

On carpet/upholstery

Allow the mud to dry or it will smear. Vacuum.
For black mud, scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the soap is removed.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.
For red mud, wipe with white spirits on a cloth.
Sprinkle with talcum powder. Vacuum.
If mud is on the surface, sprinkle with equal parts unprocessed wheat bran and bicarb. Scrub with a brush to loosen. Vacuum.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Soak in ½ lid of Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action and 9 litres of water for 20 minutes. Don’t use on wool or silk. For wool and silk, scribble with a cake of bathroom soap run under cold water.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

MULBERRY

(see ‘Berry’)

MUSTARD

On carpet/upholstery

Remove excess by lifting with a plastic comb or by blotting with paper towel.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wipe with a damp cloth until the dishwashing liquid is removed.
If there are yellow marks, wipe with 2 drops of lavender oil on a cloth.
Absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.

On cotton/fabric

Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Rinse using cold water.
If there are yellow marks, wipe with 2 drops of lavender oil on a cloth.
Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On stone

Massage with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly.
Wipe with a damp cloth.
If there are yellow marks, rub with 2 drops of lavender oil on a cloth.
If stubborn, mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
To each cup of mixture, add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
Spread 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
When dry, brush away.

MYSTERY STAINS

If you don’t know what the stain is, use this guide.

Proteins

These have a dark ring around the edge and include blood, semen, seeds, nuts, meat, cheese, milk, other dairy and fish.
To remove, use cold water and scribble with a cake of bathroom soap. For fabrics, rub the fabric against itself to loosen the stain. Wash according to the fabric. Don’t use blood-heat (body temperature) or hot water, or you’ll set the stain.

Carbohydrates

These are darker in the centre, lighter around the edge and feel stiff. They include sugar, fruit, fruit juice, cakes, biscuits, lollies, soft drink, alcohol, honey and many plants. They also include starches, such as potato, rice, corn, ground corn, wheat-based products (pasta, couscous etc.), floury grain foods and wallpaper paste.
To remove sugar stains, use blood-heat (body temperature) water and scribble with a cake of bathroom soap. For fabrics, rub the fabric against itself to loosen the stain. Wash according to the fabric.
To remove starchy stains, use cold water and scribble with a cake of bathroom soap. For fabrics, rub the fabric against itself to loosen the stain. Wash according to the fabric. If in doubt, use cold water first.

Fats/oils

These spread evenly across a surface, feel greasy between your fingers and, if you wash the stained garment, continue to spread. It’s why a greasy chip mark on your T-shirt gets bigger every time you wash it. Stains include cooking oils (lighter in colour) and mechanical oils (darker in colour and more viscous).
To remove lighter oils, massage with dishwashing liquid on your fingertips until the liquid feels like jelly. This means the oil has been emulsified and is water soluble. Wipe with a damp cloth.
For darker or thicker oils, such as engine grease, use baby oil to dilute the stain before emulsifying with dishwashing liquid. Wipe with a damp cloth.

Pigments

These include ink, paint, dye, rust and oxide and each requires a different solution.
For ink stains, place rotten milk solids over the stain. The ink will be absorbed into the solids. Alternatively, rub with white spirits on a cotton bud.
Permanent pen markers contain their own solvent, so write over the mark, and while it’s wet, wipe with white spirits on a cotton bud.
For children’s or artists’ watercolour paint, blot with water on a cloth until removed.
For water-based paint, use methylated spirits on a cotton bud or cotton ball. For oil-based paint, use white spirits or turpentine on a cotton bud or cotton ball.
For fresh vinyl-based paint, blot with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on a damp, cold cloth.
For old vinyl-based paint, blot with methylated spirits on a cloth.
To remove rust from hard surfaces, use CLR or Ranex. Always wear rubber gloves. Don’t get CLR or Ranex on your skin because it can cause irritation. To remove rust from absorbent surfaces, use lemon juice and salt.
For a vegetable-based stain, wipe with white vinegar on a cloth.
For an oxide stain, wipe with 2 drops of glycerine on a cloth and remove any remaining colour by exposing the stain to ultraviolet light. Protect the area around the ultraviolet light with cardboard.

Resins

These include sap, chewing gum, shellac, silicone, wax and glue and feel sticky to touch.
For plant-based resins, such as tree sap, wipe with glycerine or tea tree oil.
The solvent for shellac is methylated spirits applied with a cloth.
For superglue, remove with superglue remover or acetone.
For craft and PVA glues (which go on white and dry clear), use steam.
For two-part epoxy glues (e.g. Araldite), remove with acetone.
For gums and paper glues, wipe with a damp cloth.
For contact adhesives, remove with tea tree oil.
Glues used in children’s crafts are made of carbohydrates, so use blood-heat (body temperature) water and a cake of bathroom soap and scribble over the stain.
To remove silicone, carefully cut it off with a utility knife.