Common household spills are daily struggles for the average American household. We might try our very best to avoid them, but accidents tend to happen! Food, beverage, grass, ink, and marker stains are some of the most common spills.

Ink Stains

For ink stains there are a few different materials you can use to eliminate the mess. For gel ink pens, the elements in the ink make it permanent, and rubbing alcohol will not work. You can use rubbing alcohol, hairspray, shaving cream, and a clean white washcloth (dampened with water). First, take the rubbing alcohol and dab a little bit onto the ink stain. Allow the rubbing alcohol to settle for a few minutes, so there chemicals can penetrate and attack the stain. Then, blot the ink stain using a dampened white washcloth. With certain inks, this method does not always do the job. If the rubbing alcohol was ineffective, try using the shaving cream. Use the same process of applying a little amount, and then blotting the ink up. Only use hairspray as a last option since this method can potentially damage particular clothing fibers.

Tannin Stains (Coffee, Juice, Soft Drinks, Tea, & Wine)

If you’re an avid coffee drinker, I’m sure there has been an instance when you spilled a little bit onto your pants, or shirt. Tannin is a plant component that shows as a color in the final product. For majority of fresh tannin stains, the best way to treat it is using laundry detergent in the hottest temperature of water for washing. But, coffee can be a very difficult stain to remove, depending upon the amount of time it is allowed to sit. First, using a paper towel, blot up as much excess liquid as you possibly can. In a small dish, mix cold water, distilled white vinegar, and powdered laundry detergent to form a paste. Spread the paste on front and back of the stain, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Using a soft –bristle toothbrush, gently rub the stain in a circular motion. Rinse the front and back of the stain with cold water.

Grass Stains

For removing grass stains you will need distilled white vinegar. Apply a good amount of vinegar to the stain using a sponge, and dab to lift the stain. If the stain still remains, mix a paste consisting of baking soda and distilled white vinegar. Then, using a soft-bristle toothbrush, brush the paste onto the grass stain, and wash as usual.