I love springtime flowers, but I hate the pollen stains. How do I remove them?

Before you begin, check the pollen-stained garment’s label. Then you will want to start by sponging the stain with a liquid detergent, or if the care instructions don’t warn against the use of it, a liquid detergent containing a non-chlorine bleach. Follow by a thorough rinsing. Then create a soak solution by mixing ½ liquid detergent for every gallon of water used. Let the item soak for 30 minutes. You will want to make sure that the entire item is submerged in the solution. I recommend weighing the item down with a white towel. Using a colored one may cause the colors to run, ruining your clothing. Next, wash the item in hot water. Air dry and repeat if necessary.

Is there an easy way to remove ketchup from clothing?

I would recommend applying a pretreater, such as Shout. Use an eyedropper and diluted vinegar (one part water) to bleach any remaining color. Finish with a regular wash cycle.

Oh no! I spilled barbeque sauce on a cotton dress. What should I do?

Check the label on the dress to see if dry-cleaning is the recommended care procedure. If so, inform the professional cleaner that stain is BBQ sauce. If the dress is washable, you could try a spot remover or pretreat with a liquid detergent, followed by recommended laundering procedure. Air dry and repeat the procedure if necessary.

How would you remove fruit juice from a tablecloth?

To remove any stain from a tablecloth, it is best to remove or reduce the soil or stain before laundering. I recommend that you rinse the fresh stain in cold water to dilute it. In a solution of ½ the amount of regular detergent in 1 gallon of water, soak the tablecloth for 30 minutes. If it is a large tablecloth, more soak solution may be needed. Discard the soaking solution and wash the tablecloth as directed on the care label, with the hottest water recommended. Repeat the procedure if necessary. If you notice that the care label allows for the use of chlorine or non-chlorine bleach, use it in the wash procedure.

No matter how hard I try, I always end up muddy after a day of gardening. What’s the best way to remove mud from clothes?

First, try to remove as much of the mud as you can with a soft bristle brush. Then, rinse the item in cold water to dilute the mud. Next, wash the garment in warm water using a powder or concentrated detergent. If the stain is not completely removed, rub glycerin or white shortening onto the stain and leave for several hours or overnight. Once the time has elapsed, turn the stained item inside out on to a paper towel and pour a cleaning fluid like Energine Cleaning Fluid® on top. If some stain remains, apply a rust remover product following the manufacturer’s instructions. Rinse with a solution of three tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart water. Repeat if necessary. Follow with a regular laundering.