Some stains are stubborn and require a lot of work, and the result may not be to your satisfaction.

By Jessica Woo

Here are 20 simple tricks to remove stains.

1. Red Wine

Soak red wine stains in white wine, then cover the stain with a thick baking soda paste. Let it sit a few hours and then wash as usual.

2. White Deodorant

Remove white deodorant marks from a garment by gently rubbing the protective foam used on dry-cleaning hangers against the fabric.

3. Oil

If you get an oil stain on you, coat the mark with baby powder and let it stand overnight. By morning, the stain should be gone. If a bit still remains, repeat the process until the stain is completely gone.

4. Grease

Dawn dish detergent is successful at removing grease and oil stains from clothing due to its high level of surfactants.

5. Make-up

Shaving cream and a washcloth will remove liquid makeup from shirt collars.

6. Wax

If you get wax on a piece of clothing, layer wax paper over the hardened wax and then run an iron over it to loosen it up. Once you pull off the paper, the wax should come right out with it.

7. Dirt

To clean dirt off suede, remove the crust from a piece of bread and allow it to become stale. Gently rub dirt and stains with the edge of the stale bread, and they’ll disappear. To de-scuff suede, use an eraser or nail file.

8. Lipstick

Use hairspray to remove a lipstick stain.

9. Powder

If blush or bronzer breaks in your handbag, pre-moistened makeup removing wipes will clean up the loose powder flawlessly.

10. Perfume

Spilled some perfume on you by accident? Apply a few drops of denatured alcohol on a cheesecloth pad and sponge the area from the outside in.

11. Sweat

Remove stubborn sweats stains by applying a mixture of cream of tartar, crushed aspirin, and warm water to the area. Wait twenty minutes and then rinse with warm water.

12. Watermark

Remove watermarks from leather boots by adding a few drops of vinegar to a bowl of cool water and scrub the stains with a soft bristle brush until stains are no longer visible. Let dry overnight.

13. Leather

Windex restores the glossy sheen on patent leather without doing any damage.

14. Self-tan

Use a lemon wedge to remove excess or streaky self-tanner on your body.

15. Coffee or tea spills

Sponge the stain with lukewarm water before gently blotting with a bit of glycerin.

16. Yellow stains

Spray shirts prone to sweat stains with lemon juice before washing. The natural acid dissolves alkaline sweat reside that could cause yellow discoloration.

17. Chocolate

If you’ve dripped chocolate onto a silk garment, scrape off as much as possible with a blunt edge and then gently brush the stain with warm, soapy water. If the brown mark remains, sponge it with a solution of equal parts denatured alcohol and household ammonia, then  rinse it with warm water.

18. Blood

Fresh blood stains are best removed by soaking the garment in cold water with a sprinkle of ammonia for 20 minutes. If the stain has already set, dampen it with warm water and then apply some unseasoned (important) meat tenderizer, making a paste over the stain. Cover with a paper towel and make sure it stays moist. The next day, rinse off the paste with water mixed with a little bit of ammonia and wash normally.

19. Ink

On cotton: gently use rubbing alcohol, then wash. On polyester: spray liberally with hair spray and pat with a clean, dry cloth, before throwing the item into the machine.

20. Stains

Never forcefully rub or pound when it comes to stains, as it further ingrains marks. Instead, always blot.