The best advice for removing a stain from any surface is to treat it immediately if at all possible. Before applying any strong solution, such as lighter fluid or nail polish remover, first test an inconspicuous section of the fabric. Here are some of the most common kinds of stains and a few remedies.

1. Blood. Rinse with cold water right away; if the stain remains, sprinkle it with meat tenderizer and cool water. Rinse with cool water after twenty minutes. If the blood has dried, brush away excess so the stain won’t spread when you dissolve it.

2. Candle wax. Sprinkle corn starch or talcum powder on the spot and cover with a paper towel. Press gently with a warm iron. If color from the candle remains, spray with stain remover and let sit for five to ten minutes before washing.

3. Chewing gum. Freeze the gum with an ice cube and break the gum from the fabric. If a stain remains, rub gently with full-strength detergent and wash.

4. Chocolate. Blot or scrape off excess, rinse the fabric with cold water, then rub with full-strength detergent and rinse again with cool water. If the stain remains, apply a fifty-fifty vinegar and water solution and blot. If the stain still remains, blot with lighter fluid or weak bleach solution and launder as usual.

5. Coffee. Treat the same as chocolate stains.

6. Fruit juice. Rinse under cold water. If the stain remains, rub with the cut side of a lemon. But test carefully first, because lemon is “nature’s bleach.”

7. Grass stains. Rub with liquid detergent or try slightly diluted hydrogen peroxide or bleach (if the fabric can take it).

8. Ink. Many experts suggest spraying with hair spray and blotting. You may also try pouring salt on an ink stain while it’s still wet, or sponging it with water and applying a mixture of liquid detergent and a few drops of vinegar.

9. Oil (including grease, butter and salad dressing). Wash with detergent and hot water and rinse. For more delicate fabrics, try club soda. Use corn starch to absorb the grease on rough textured fabrics, let it sit overnight; if the stain remains, try the detergent and hot water method.

10. Wine. Club soda is the standard remedy for red wine stains. If the stain remains after blotting with soda, sprinkle with salt and let sit for fifteen minutes, then wash with cold water and cold-water detergent