Treating ballpoint stains requires a lot of patience. First dab the area with a mixture of vinegar and white spirits, adding a little lemon juice for white items. Hairspray can be used instead; apply liberally, and dab off using a clean, dry cloth. For woollens, use eau de Cologne or spirit of soap. Wash the item in the usual way, and you should find that the stain has gone. Alternatively, use a proprietary stain remover for ballpoint pen.

Fresh beer stains, caused by hops and malt, usually disappear by simply rinsing the item in warm water. Dried on beer stains should be treated with warm, dilute vinegar before washing. For very stubborn stains, soak invinegar, then dab on some glycerine and wash in the usual way. This will shift most beer stains. Mineral water is also as effective against beer stains as it is against hangovers!

Fresh stains should wash out in the washing machine. For old or stubborn stains, pre-treat with an enzyme based presoak product, or add stain removers to the detergent. Alternatively, treat the stain with lemon juice, vinegar or salt before washing.

At the first sign of blood, try the following first aid remedy. Rinse immediately under cold running water, and then soak in a solution of salty water. Dried on blood stains should be soaked in a solution of ammonia before being washed.

Soak the stain in fresh lemon juice, then wash in the usual way.

Butter is easy to wash out, and can even be used to help remove stubborn grease, tar and resin stains. Spread some butter overthe stain, and leave for a while to take effect. The grease, tar or resin should then be easy to scrape off. Dab the stain with spirits or use an aerosol stain remover containing benzene and wash in the usual way.

Soak cherry stains in freshly squeezed lemon juice, or bleach them out using a liquid bleach for coloureds. Cherry stains on whites can be removed by adding stain removers to the detergent compartment prior to machine washing.

Garments with chewing gum on them should be placed in the freezer until it hardens, or apply ice in to the gum to harden it. The gum can then be scraped or cracked off. Treat residual stains with a little alcohol or anaerosol pre-treatment product before laundering.

When sweet temptation turns into a nightmare, start by carefully scraping the chocolate off with a knife. Mix some alcohol or glycerine with an egg yolk, apply it to the stain and leave it take effect for a short while. Then rinse in cold water before washing in hot soapy water.

If there was milk in your coffee, dab first with cold water, then treat with warm glycerine and wash out in warm water. Fresh black coffee spills should be washed straightaway in warm soapy water. For old dried-on black coffee, add some salt to the soapy water, then dab the stain with a mixture of glycerine and egg yolk. Leave for 30 minutes beforer insing first in cold water and then in lukewarm water. Coffee stains are also simple to bleach out using a liquid bleach for coloureds. Coffee stains on whites can be removed by adding stain removers to the detergent compartment prior to machine washing.

If there was milk in your coffee, dab first with cold water, then treat with warm glycerine and wash out in warm water. Fresh black coffee spills should be washed straight away in warm soapy water. For old dried-on black coffee, add some salt to the soapy water, then dab the stain with a mixture of glycerine and egg yolk. Leave for 30 minutes before rinsing first in cold water and then in lukewarm water. Coffee stains are also simple to bleach out using a liquid bleach for coloureds. Coffee stains on whites can be removed by adding stain removers to the detergent compartment prior to machine washing.

Before you get too tipsy, sponge off any spillages with warm water, then wash using a liquid detergent.

Fresh stains usually come out when washed. For old, dried-on stains, treat the area with a detergent for delicates and then rinse with mineral water before washing in the usualway.

A clean shirt collar is essential for the well-dressed professional. Pre-treat with a heavy duty liquid detergent or a powder detergent paste prior to washing. There are special handwash detergents available in practical tubes, which are ideal for this purpose, and which are also handy for travelling.

A dash of curry may well spice up your favourite dish; but it can also do untold damage if spilt on clothes, especially if stains are not treated correctly. First, soak in warm water, then work in some glycerine or, for very fine or delicate fabrics, some eau de Cologne, spirits or alcohol. Curry stains can also be bleached out.

Don’t break out in a sweat if you get unwanted deodorant stains on your clothing. Treat with a 5% solution of citric acid before washing.

You won’t get egg on your face if you sprinkle egg stains with salt rather than rub them. Once dried the stain can then be brushed off, and spot-dabbed with cold water. If the stain is still visible, dab with a solution of ammonia, and then wash in the usual way.

Removing an oil stain can often take longer than a complete oil change. Place a clean, absorbent pad under the stain. First treat the stain with alcohol, and then with turpentine.  Allow it to soak in thoroughly, and then dab gently with a clean paint brush. Repeat until no more oil shows on the pad. Then pour a little liquid detergent onto the stain and brush carefully. Rinse thoroughly, then wash in the washing machine using powder detergent. For stubborn stains, repeat the procedure.

Most fats and grease spots can be removed using washing up liquid or warm soapy water before being washed in the washing machine. It is advisable to use liquid detergent, which contains more surfactants than powder, making it more effective at removing fat. A more old-fashioned remedy is potato flour, which absorbs the fat so the stain can then be brushed off. If the stain is still visible, use soda crystals or a paste of detergent, and then wash at the hottest temperature possible for the fabric. Alcohol, liquid detergent and proprietary stain removers, including aerosol stain removers containing benzene are also effective against fat stains. After treating the stain, machine wash using a liquid detergent. Stains on silk ties can be treated by applying a little talcum powder with the tip of a knife to the spot and leaving it to absorb the fat, before removing it carefully with a piece of cotton wool.

Like ballpoint pens, marks made by a felt tip pen are hard to eradicate as the colour is absorbed deep into the fabric. It may help to dab the stain several times with alcohol, turpentine or glycerine before washing.

Fruit stains are not usually a problem if treated before washing with a stain remover. If the stain is still visible after washing, dab it with a little vinegar or lemon juice. Some fruit stains such as peach only really show up once they are washed, and these are particularly difficult to remove. Soaking old, dried-in fruit stains for several hours in buttermilk with a dash of lemon is often effective. A solution of ammonia or spirit of soap usually does the trick on delicate fabrics. Fruit stains also respond well to bleaching; for coloureds use a liquid bleach which is suitable for use on coloureds, and for whites, add a powder stain remover to the detergent before washing

First soak the area in mineral water,and then wash the garment in the washing machine. Treat persistent stains with liquid bleach before washing.

Do not let grass stains get wet, as this only makes it harder to get rid of them. Instead,apply some dilute ammonia or lemon juice to the area, and then wash at the hottest temperature possible for the fabric.  For dried on grass stains, you could try an old house wives’ remedy of first soaking the area in sour milk, and then rinsing in fresh milk. Flannel should be dabbed with a mixture of egg white and glycerine. Light-coloured summer clothing can be treated with alcohol. Bleach is a very effective remedy for lightening grass stains. For coloured garments, woollens and silks, make sure you use a liquid bleach which is suitable for use on coloureds, and for whites add apowder stain remover to the detergent before washing.

First dab the sticky spot with warm water, then apply liquid detergent directly to the stain.

When this cooling summer treat melts and trickles down your clothes, first dab the spot with a solution of ethyl alcohol andammonia. Then wash in clear, lukewarm water.

Denatured alcohol, lemon juice and proprietary stain removers are effective against ink stains. Vinegar or warm soapy water arealternatives, but care should be taken with these; try them on a hidden part of the garment first.

Warm water applied with a cloth is usually enough to remove most jam stains. For stubborn or heavy staining, treat as for strawberries, i.e.with soapy water or a little alcohol.

A shot of liqueur responds well to a dash of high percentage alcohol! Dab stains with pure alcohol or dilute spirits. Wash in warm soapy water, and rinse in luke warm water.  Liqueur stains on woollens and silks also respond well to being washed in warm water.

Don’t panic, lipstick is usually removed by one wash in the machine. To help dissolve the tell-tale traces of lipstick, dab with eucalyptus oil or glycerine before washing. Stubborn stains can be pre-soaked in a dilute solution of ammonia or removed using an aerosol stain remover containing benzene

Mayonnaise can become a serious issue if not treated correctly. Remove the worst with a knife, and soak the area with warm water. Then dab glycerine on the stain, and wash in the usual way. If the stain is still visible, apply a dilute solution of ammonia.

A drop of milk on clothing is easily dealt with if the stain is first treated with cold water before being rinsed out in hot water. Use luke warm water for velvet and silk.

To eradicate mustard stains, take your grandmother’s advice and sponge with warm soapy water first. If this does not shift the stain, apply a solution of ammonia or glycerine (except on velvet and silk). For velvet and silk, dab gently with eau de Cologne or a drop of spirits. Mustard stains can also be bleached.

Remove nail varnish from clothing carefully using nail varnish remover, then wash in the usual way. Do not use on acetate, triacetate or modacrylic fabrics as it will dissolve the fabric.

Getting paint on your clothes is no reason to see red. First establish what type of paint you are dealing with. Water soluble paints are best treated first by rinsing under cold running water and then pre-treated with an aerosol stain remover or liquid detergent before being washed in the usual way. For oil-based paints, soak the area in turpentine or paint brush cleaner to loosen the stain, then wash in the usual way. For acrylic paint the treatment is more complicated: mix some spirits with a few drops of ammonia, and dab the spot several times before washing in the usual way.

The alcohol used in the manufacturing process can cause perfume to vaporise on to clothing and this can affect the colours on silk fabrics. Perfume and deodorant stains can be pre-treated with a solution of citric acid (one part citric acid to 5 parts water), and then washed in the usual way.

White wine, sherry or clear alcohol can all be used to attack a red wine stain, however the best remedy is simply a large pinch of salt. If possible you should rinse the stain out straight away and, before placing in the washing machine, soak the area with a dash of lemon juice. If the stain doesn’t vanish in the wash, try using glycerine. Don’t use salt or white wine on velvet or silk, as they only respond well to corn flour or potato flour. Dilute ammonia solution, cream of tartar or spirits can be used to tackle stubborn red wine stains.  Bleach can also be used on red wine stains.

Treating rust stains is time-consuming, and requires patience. Hard wearing, light coloured fabrics and woollens can be treated with lemon juice, and then washed and rinsed thoroughly. Dark-coloured and delicate fabrics can first be treated with spirit of soap, then lemon juice, and finally dabbed with some pure spirits. A simpler way is to use a proprietary rust remover for fabrics. It is vital that rust stains are removed as soon as possible, as leaving them for too long can cause permanent damage to the colours and fibres. Do not use chlorine bleach on rust marks!

For scorch marks on clothing, soak the area in a 10% solution of warm white vinegar. Some fabrics can then be bleached using hydrogen peroxide or chlorine (always test an inconspicuous area first).

Shoe polish is essential for a well heeled look – but not on your clothing! To get rid of the stain, use neat alcohol on white fabrics, and a solution of 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water on coloureds. This type of stain also reacts well to liquid detergent or aerosol stain removers containing benzene before being washed in the usual way using a liquid detergent.  Residual stains on white fabrics can be removed with colour run removers or bleaching agents.

Oil based lotions and creams can be treated in the same way as butter, and then washed in warm soapy water. Any residual staining is best treated with a bleaching agent.  Stain removers containing benzene are also effective in the removal of skin lotions and creams.

Rubbing soot only embeds it more deeply into the fabric, making it harder to washout. Try shaking it off first, and then sprinkle some potato flour or sawdust over the soot.  Alternatively, salt can be used on white fabrics that can be washed at high temperatures. If you still cannot shake the soot out, try using a little alcohol on the spot. Aerosol stain removers can also be very effective at removing soot.

Rub the stain with a piece of raw potato, and then wash in soapy water.

Garments with strawberry stains on them should first be soaked in warm soapy water. For stubborn stains, use a liquid bleach.

Street dust can simply be brushed from clothes using a soft clothes brush.  Damping the brush with a little water or spirits first can help remove the dirt.

Sugar is easy to remove from fabric by simply washing the item in hot water as soon as you can.  For coloured sugar, adding a few drops of lemon juice to the water will help remove stains.

The signs of hard work are only too obvious on light-coloured fabrics.  Soak sweat stained clothes in lukewarm water containing white vinegar, and then wash in the usual way.

First, smear with butter to loosen the tar, and then carefully scrape off any coarse residues from the fabric.  Then treat the mark with a little alcohol or use an aerosol stain remover containing benzene.  Place a thick wad of kitchen paper under the fabric to absorb the tar residues.  Another approach is to place the tar marked fabric between two sheets of blotting paper, and use a hot iron to remove the tar.

If you still have warm water in the kettle from making the tea, then use a little to sponge off any tea stains (take care that it is not too hot!).  A heavy duty liquid detergent can also be used to help remove the stain.  With coloured fabrics, test on a hidden piece of fabric first.  Treat stubborn stains with a mixture of glycerine and egg yolk for approx. 1 hour before rinsing and washing as normal.

Ketchup should be washed out as soon as possible in warm soapy water or with water containing a little ammonia.  Alternatively, treat the area first with a heavy duty liquid detergent, and then wash in the usual way.  Like curry and mustard, tomato ketchup responds positively to bleach.

First rinse the toothpaste off thoroughly using warm water, then wash the garment at as high a temperature as possible for the fabric.

Be very careful when treating unidentified stains.  To start with you need to find out what the fabric is made of.  Egg yolk works wonders on washable, coloured fabrics; after treating the stain, rinse with cold water.  White, starched fabrics should be dabbed with eau de Cologne or spirits, before treating with a solution of ammonia and bile soap, and left to soak overnight if necessary.  Treat woollens with a warm water based paste of corn flour or potato starch.  Once dried, the stain can simply be brushed away.  Use a piece of clean linen soaked in vinegar to wipe stains from velvet, and then wash in clean water.

Fresh vegetable stains can normally be wiped off with a cloth and some cold water.  Tomato and spinach stains are more of a problem.  First, rub with a slice of raw potato, and then wash in warm soapy water.  If the vegetables have been prepared with fat, flour or cream, treat the stain with a little liquid detergent before washing.  Vegetable stains usually disappear without a problem when treated with bleach or stain removers.

The unfortunate effects of dripping wax can easily be ironed away.  With non-coloured wax you should first scrape off any coarse residues very carfully, then place the item between two sheets of blotting paper or paper towel, and iron at a low temperature with the wrong side of the fabric uppermost.  Change the blotting paper or paper towel frequently.  With coloured wax, place the item in the freezer for a short while, and then carfully scrape off as much of the wax as you can.  If the stain is still visible, treat as for grease. 

White wine stains should not be left for too long before treating them.  The best remedy is to wash the spillage off with hot water straight away.  If this isn't practical, apply a generous amount of salt to the area to soak up the worst of the spillage.  This is also effective for red wine.