Everyday life can be messy business. Here are some stain removing tips for rescuing your favourite tablecloth or that piece of carpet you just can’t cover with a rug.

1. Coffee

If you can’t do without your morning coffee but can definitely do without the stain, try running cold water over the back of the stain then applying liquid detergent. Rub the fabric together or gently use a toothbrush to work the detergent into the fabric. Let it sit for a few minutes then wash as usual.

2. Ink

If you’ve fallen victim to a leaky ballpoint pen, place paper towel under the fabric then soak the stain with hairspray. Let it soak for a few seconds then blot the stain. Once you have removed as much as possible, wash as usual. Alternatively, use a cotton ball to apply rubbing alcohol. Press firmly and wait for the stain to be absorbed.

3. Red Wine

If your guests had one too many glasses of red wine and left a mess on your tablecloth, quickly use paper towels to absorb as much of the wine as possible. Spread salt over the stain, let it sit, then put it in the washing machine with cold water.

4. Tomato Sauce

Anybody with kids knows that tomato sauce is a staple required on almost every meal. If your kids have squirted sauce across the tablecloth, don’t despair. Rinse the back of the spot with water, then pre-treat it with liquid detergent and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse well and repeat until you have removed as much as possible, then wash as usual.

5. Chocolate

 

If your after-dinner mints have become an after-dinner headache, scrape up as much as you can with a butter knife, being careful not to spread it. Rinse the back of the tablecloth under cold water, since this allows the stain to travel back the least amount of fabric possible. Rub liquid detergent onto the stain, dish soap will work if you don’t have any laundry detergent on hand. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then soak in cold water for 15 minutes. Every few minutes, rub the stain between your fingers to loosen it. Rinse and repeat until you have removed as much as possible. Use a stain removing spray on both sides of the fabric then wash normally.

6. Gravy

You can’t have a Sunday roast without gravy, and you can’t have gravy without a little mess. Blot the stain with a damp, absorbent cloth to remove as much gravy as possible. Then, apply a liquid stain remover and let it soak in the washing machine. After a few hours, wash as usual.

7. Mud

Unlike most stains, resist the urge to clean up mud while it is still wet since you will only make it worse. Once it’s dry, vacuum the dirt up or brush it off. Rub liquid detergent into the stain to loosen it. After letting it soak for 10 to 20 minutes, wash as usual.

8. Melted Wax

Don’t let a little candle wax ruin a romantic dinner. Simply place the tablecloth straight in the freezer. Once the wax has dried, scrape off as much as you can with a butter knife. If a waxy residue remains even after putting it through the wash, place the stain on top of wax paper and start ironing. The heat should make the wax melt off your tablecloth and onto the wax paper.

9. Carpet Stains

 

If someone has made a mess of your carpet and a rug simply isn’t an option, quickly scrape off anything solid with a butter knife before it can turn into a permanent stain (except for mud of course). In the case of liquids, use an absorbent cloth to blot away the excess, working from the outside of the stain into the centre. Remember to blot rather than rub, since rubbing can permanently damage your carpet. Keep doing this until the cloth does not pick up any more colour. Next, apply a carpet stain remover, or a vinegar solution to the carpet and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, blot the stain as you did before.

10. Wall Stains

If your perfectly painted walls are starting to become a mosaic of smudges and fingerprints, wash thoroughly with sugar soap and a natural sponge (coloured sponges can deposit dyes onto your walls). If you’re looking for a quick fix, wipe your walls with half a cup of white vinegar mixed with half a cup of warm water. Alternatively, use eucalyptus oil on a cotton ball to remove pesky fingerprints.