Welcome to the stain removal guide.
Check our hints and timesavers categories for the do's and don'ts of stain removal. Just click on the category you are interested in. If you can’t find the answer,
Ask a ACleaning on 0844 555 2040.

• Red wine from raw silk
  The red dyes used on raw silk are unstable. Attempting to remove the wine stains would probably result in loss of color. The only option here is to flush the stain with cool tap water and hope for the best. If a portion of the stain comes out, you can then immerse the entire garment in water and attempt to redistribute the dye to camouflage the stain. Let the garment air dry. Ironing it will be a nightmare.
• Shirt Collars And Cuffs
  Using a nail brush Scrub shirt collars & cuffs with a mixture of fairy washing up liquid and water before laundering.(don"t worry about foaming as washing powders contain anti foamants) This will clean away any stubborn grease and grime from collars and cuffs.
• Chocolate From Clothes
  Treat the stain with a prewash spray or pretreat with a product containing enzymes. Rub with heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder. If stain remains, relaunder with bleach that is safe for the fabric. If stain still remains, treat as a "Dye Stain."
• Cooking Oil From Clothes
  To remove cooking oil from clothes - first sprinkle some baby powder onto the stain. Then rub in with a little cold water. Thenwash as usual and the stain should disappear.
• Blood Out of Bed Sheets
  The key is to keep the stain wet, rinse out under the tap in cold water. If the stain is on the mattress sponge out with water. If you have successfullt rinsed the stain just launder in cold water. If the stain is old soak in cool salt water for a long time (hours) and rinse thoroughly. Soak again in water with a some ammonia. Launder as above. Since blood is organic you can try soaking in an enzyme solution for a half an hour and launder. As a last resort bleach if the sheets are white.
• Bleach from clothing
  The short answer is, you can"t. There are dyes available for clothing, however it is virtually impossible to match the existing color, unless you dye the entire garment. In these instances, you need a dye remover, to remove the existing color from the entire garment, and then you essentially start fresh, with the color you have chosen. Dyeing clothing can be somewhat messy work, and it seems no matter how careful you are, the dye will end up places that you don"t want it!
• Construction Adhesive
  Construction adhesive is used to secure wall panels, ceiling panels, or for extra strength in installing almost anything. Tools & Technique: This stuff sticks to everything! If you get it on your skin try to remove most of it with a paper towel, then remove residue with turpintine or mineral spirits. Depending on the brand this does not always work. If this fails, the top layer of your skin will eventually fall off, or you can speed the process by scrubbing your hands with a pumice stone.
• Crayon Marks off Hard Surfaces
  It is very easy to remove crayon marks from hard surfaces such as walls and cupboards etc. Spray WD-40 on the surface and wipe off.
• Patent Leather Shoes
  Tools & Technique To clean patent leather shoes clean with a soft damp cloth dipped in a mild detergent. Buff using a soft dry rag, such as an old diaper. Do not wax, but for a glossier shine wipe some milk on the surface, let dry and buff.
• Microwave
  In a cup of water add 2 tablespoons of either lemon juice or baking powder in a four-cup microwave safe container. Let the mixture boil in the microwave for about 4 to 6 minutes, then wipe the walls and door clean with a sponge or cloth.
• Wine from Carpet
  A a quick tip is to pour salt over the spill and allow the wine to soak into the salt and vacuum up the salt. This applies to both red and white wines.
• Pencil from Clothes
  Use a soft pencil eraser to remove all the marks you can. Be careful not to damage or stretch the fabric. Spray the stain with a laundry pre-treat. Launder as usual.
• Magic Marker Ink
  Hair spray will remove magic-marker ink from surfaces.
• Gum
  Gum can be removed by using ice to harden and a dull knife to remove.
• Fleas From a Cat
  To properly get rid of fleas you must address both your cat and her environment. Using special flea shampoos, flea collars and flea combs can help control the fleas on your pet. You must also treat your home with frequent vacuuming and washing of your pets bedding. Generally a flea bath will rid your pet of fleas in combination of using the previous mentioned steps. New flea birth control taken internally by your pet are very effective at controling fleas.
• Candle wax from carpet
  Technique: Chip off and remove as much as possible first. Then take a terry towel and lay it down on the wax, then take an iron (on meduim heat) and place it on the towel, this will enable the wax to wick up into the towel. Be sure to keep inspecting the towel as you work, and continue moving to a fresh or clean area of the towel until the wax is gone. Dyes in candles can cause permenant stains, once wax is removed if a stain remains treat as a dye stain.
• Coffee
  To remove coffee or tea stains from varnish, rub camporated oil on. Leave a moment, then wipe off with a dry cloth .
• Grass
  Grass stains will usually come out of your clothes if you pre-treat with vinegar before machine washing.
• How can I fix a bleach stain on my shirt?
  The short answer is, you can"t. There are dyes available for clothing, however it is virtually impossible to match the existing color, unless you dye the entire garment. In these instances, you need a dye remover, to remove the existing color from the entire garment, and then you essentially start fresh, with the color you have chosen. Dyeing clothing can be somewhat messy work, and it seems no matter how careful you are, the dye will end up places that you don"t want it!
• Body fuilds from clothes
  General Information: To clean semen stains out of clothing, do not store the clothing for months until you are called to testify at an impeachment hearing. The best course of action is to treat the stain immediately. Tools & Technique For regular washable fabrics, rinse the stain under warm water not hot! and wash as soon as possible using regular detergent and an additive to breakdown the protein.