Get It Out

If you have kids then you know all about stains and have probably learned a thing or two about getting stains out. Here are a few of the tricks I have used successfully over the past 3 years of mommyhood:

PERMANENT MARKER OR INK ON FABRIC:  cheap hairspray- that's right the cheaper the better.  You know those auquanet aerosol cans your grandma uses- yep- just spray some on the stain until it is saturated- let it sit for a few minutes.  I just throw the item in the wash with the rest of the load, but you can also use a soft brush to rub at the stain and apply more hairspray if necessary.
You can also use rubbing alcohol in the same manner but hairspray works better.

DISCLAIMER* You are supposed to test a small hidden portion of the fabric first to see if it is color fast- but I never do this- who has the time?

INK OR PERMANENT MARKER ON LEATHER:  Think tennis shoes or Robeez or perhaps those lovely leather couches that belong to a certain university that will remain unnamed.

CUTICLE REMOVER!  Health and beauty items save the day!  You'll find this in the nail care section- any brand will do, but Sally Hansen works great in my experience.  Put a blob of cuticle remover on JUST THE STAIN- be very careful not to spread it all over- the small tip of the tube will make this easier.  Let is sit a few minutes and then rub rub it off with a soft cloth.  You may have to do this more than once.
I got BLACK permanent marker out of a brown leather sofa this way.  I also successfully removed blue pen ink from pair of robeez this way as well.

CAUTION- Don't let it sit on too long (more than 5-10 minutes at a time) or you may scar the leather.  If you do leave a funny spot on the leather a bit of leather conditioner or shoe polish will fix it right up.

FOOD GRASS OR OTHER STAINS in CLOTHING:
Biz (the powder not the liquid) works great!  An overnight soak in the washer with about double the recommended amount has gotten just about every stain out that we have encountered: spit-up, poop blow outs, baby food stains (yes carrots and sweet potatoes), grass stains and other miscellaneous stains.

What makes Biz so great are the enzymes  that actually eat away at the stain but leave the fabric intact.  Meat Tenderizer (spice aisle)  works the same way.  I mix a cup of meat tenderizer, a cup of washing soda (NOT baking soda) and a cup of 20 Mule Team Borax together and use it the same way I use Biz.  It works great.    If I have a lot of items I soak them in the washer or I have a big bucket that I use as well.  I also have some smaller bowls and containers for the 1 or 2 items that need special soaking.
You can also mix up a paste of the homemade mix and apply it directly to the stain- let it sit until dry and then throw it in the washer.

Here is my Stain Fighting Arsenal:

• Latex Gloves- because some stains are just GROSS
• Old Tooth Brush- for rubbing out stubborn stains
• Cuticle Remover
• Small Bowls and a Pop stick for mixing up and application of pastes of Biz/enzyme mixture
• Air Duster- learned this from a former dry cleaner- they use a high pressure air blower to BLOW out some stains- really. 
• A spray bottle of hairspray
• My baggie of meat tenderizer mixture
• Baby Powder- apply liberally to ring around the collar, lay a washcloth on top and apply a hot iron.  Shake off the powder and the collar stain comes off as well!
• Regular Detergent and Regular Bleach

*** this is a recycled post- but still helpful, I hope.  I would also ADD to this list
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE.  It makes a great alternative to chlorine bleach for whites and other stubborn stains.  Also- random- but we have a front loader washer that came with this apartment and towels always had a weird smell very soon after washing.  I add a cup of peroxide to the wash when we do towels and no more smell!