Stain Ballpoint ink
Removal agent Methylated spirits
How to do it Dab with absorbent white cloth and methlyated spirits

Stain Beetroot juice
Removal agent Borax and biological detergent
How to do it First rinse with cold water. Soak coloureds in a solution of borax for 15 minutes. For white linen, sprinkle borax on the fabric and flush with hot water. Wash with biological detergent.

Stain Bird droppings
Removal agent Borax, biological detergent and chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide
How to do it Scrape off excess droppings and sponge with a solution of borax or soak in biological detergent. If stains still remain, try soaking in dilute chlorine bleach (white cotton) or hydrogen peroxide (coloureds and synthetics, but not nylon).

Stain Blood
Removal agent Salt or biological detergent
How to do it Presoak fresh stains in heavily salted cold water or detergent.

Stain Candle wax
Removal agent Absorbent paper, a warm iron and methlyated spirits
How to do it Scrape away the excess. Place a kitchen towel over the residue and press with a warm iron until the paper absorbs the softened wax. Dab any colour residue with methlyated spirits before washing.

Stain Chewing gum
Removal agent Ice cubes
How to do it Freeze the gum with a bag of ice cubes. Once it becomes hard and brittle, break away the gum with a knife.

Stain Coffee and tea
Removal agent Detergent, vinegar and borax
How to do it Flush with cold water and spot clean with a solution of washing detergent but not soap. If staining remains, soak in a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water or a solution of borax.

Stain Colour run in washing machine
Removal agent Washing soda and colour dye remover
How to do it If you dye an entire washload, soak in cold water with washing soda to avoid setting the colour. As soon as possible, machine wash again with a colour run dye reversal product.

Stain Contact adhesive and glue
Removal agent Acetate (nail polish remover)
How to do it Dab with acetate.

Stain Cooking fat
Removal agent Bicarbonate of soda and biological detergent
How to do it Add a few drops of water to bicarbonate to make a paste and spread over the stain. Leave for 30 minutes and then wash in biological detergent.

Stain Crayon
Removal agent Methlyated spirits
How to do it Scrape away excess before dabbing with methlyated spirits.

Stain Curry
Removal agent Biological detergent and hydrogen peroxide
How to do it Some curry stains contain strong natural dyes that are almost impossible to shift. Dab with a strong solution of detergent before laundering. Soak stubborn stains in a solution of hydrogen peroxide bleach.