Day to day living can cause wear and tear on the fabrics in your home between children, pets and family get togethers. Below are some helpful tips and suggestions for fighting the stain war.

• Candle Wax: Scrape off as much of the candle wax as possible wih the dull edge of a butter knife. Then take a paper towel and lay over the spot and iron over the spot lightly. You may have to change out the paper towel a couple of times if it's a large spot. The heat of the iron will draw the wax into the paper towel.
• Tea or Coffee: If it's in clothing or table cloths, try rubbing glycerin into the spot then pour boiling water over the stain. Once the stain disapates, wash the entire cloth by hand or gentle cycle of your washer.
• Grease: Does the man in your life like to come in from working on the car and leave grease stains on your furniture or decorator towels? ry rubbing tacum powder into the grease spot to absorb the grease then sponge off the powder before washing. If it's furniture, try the above step then use your upholstry steam cleaner to finish cleaning the spot. Another method is lighter fluid poured on the grease stain, it will pull the grease residue out of the fabric, but it is has an odor to it and sometimes can stay even after cleaning.
• Scorches: If you have scorched your favorite table linens when you accidently set that hot pan on it or lighting those romantic candles, try rubbing the cut side of an onion on the scorch then soak the linens in cold water before washing.
• Red Wine: Red red wine you make me feel so fine....Did that party you had last night leave you with reminders? Try pouring table salt on a fresh stain and rinse with cold water. For a dried stain, pour club soda onto the spot then wash in your usual way. If it's in carpet, you can try the same steps then use a carpet steam cleaner to clean.
• Rust: At your local hardware store you can find a product called oxalic acid crystals. Mix one teaspoon with one cup of distilled water and pour over the spot then wash as usual.
• Fruit Juice: Children and fruit juice is a never ending battle. If you have a trail of juice stains marking your table cloth or carpet like Hansel and Gretels trail through the forest, try rinsing with cold water (sponge blotting if on carpet), then clean as usual (carpet steam cleaner if on carpet).
• Ballpoint Pen: Did your children forget that pens were for writing on paper not fabric? Try spraying the ink with aerosol hair spray and bloth gently with a towel. The hair spray will transfer to the towel.
• Mildew: Mix up a container of half hydrogen peroxide and half water then apply to the mildew spots. Once you see the spots start to disolve, wash in your usual manner. If it's your outside furniture, hose off the fabric really well then let dry in the sun.
• Yellowing: Do you ever notice certain fabrics yellowing from age? Try mixing up a paste of salt and lemon juice and apply a layer to the yellow area then let sit in the sun for approximately 30 minutes, then wash as usual.
• Meat Juices: Did that Christmas dinner leave a trail of meat drippings across your table cloth? Soak the linens in cool water till the spots disolve and wash as usual. Remember do NOT soak in hot water because this is considered a protien stain.
• Cream or Milk: Never use hot water on protien stains. You want to rinse the spot with cool water and clean as usual.

I hope that these tips for caring for your home fabrics helps you fight the battle with stains....happy hunting!