Stain Buster — Deodorant

Fabric

Check to see if the stain has changed the colour of the fabric. If so, apply ammonia (warning: never mix bleach and ammonia – the resulting fumes are hazardous) to fresh stains; white vinegar to old ones. Rinse. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover and wash on the hottest possible setting for that particular fabric. Stubborn stains may also respond to oxygen bleach in the hottest water safe for the fabric.

Upholstery

Mix one teaspoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of warm water. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/ammonia solution and blot until the liquid is absorbed. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution and blot until the liquid is absorbed. If the stain remains, sponge the stain with surgical spirit. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Carpet

Mix one teaspoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of warm water. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/ammonia solution. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. If the stain remains, mix one tablespoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution and blot until the liquid is absorbed. If the stain remains, sponge the stain with surgical spirit and blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.