Don’t see red when you spill your red. You probably have one of these handy “stain removers” right on hand.

• Salt: It’s not only tried and trusted but probably already on the table. Sprinkle liberally on the stain and let it soak in. Once dry, brush off the excess, then wash with laundry bleach if necessary.
• Mineral water: Pour over the mark. Carbon dioxide bubbles are pretty effective at dissolving wine and preventing the stain from setting. Blot dry with a cloth until the stain is no longer visible, then wash in the machine to remove any last traces.
• Baking soda: Dissolve a packet of this stain buster in about 50 ml of lukewarm water and apply generously to the spill with a cloth. Leave to work for 15 minutes. Next, rinse the item under the tap before popping in the washing machine.

Even if you weren’t able to treat the stain straight way, all is not lost. Spray the marked area with a colourless glass cleaner and leave it to sink in for a few minutes, before wiping off the stain with a damp cloth. Keep repeating the process until the stain is gone. Putting the item in the washing machine will remove any last traces.

From starting your day to keeping you going when its late, many of us run on tea and coffee. Even if your day and hot beverage runs away with you, a spill needn’t bring things to standstill. Here’s how to treat tea and coffee stains quickly and effectively:

• Tea: Use warm water to get excess brew out and apply gall soap. Alternatively, consider alcohol for whites and glycerin for colours. Combine with yolk and wash out after one hour.
• Coffee: Soak or dampen it immediately and ideally wash before it dries. If the mark isn’t budging, try a stain remover. Leave on for about 30 min before rinsing and rewashing.

Whether its gardening, picnicking or playing games, many of us feel drawn to a nice stretch of lawn. But at the end of the day, you’d prefer lingering memories not stains. In general, we recommend an immediate soak before using a detergent with enzymes in a high-temperature cycle. Here are some other options if the stains prove stubborn or you only notice them after laundering.

• Gall soap: This old-fashioned stain remover has stood the test of time but is better reserved for rugged fabrics, such as denim, cotton and blended textiles. Rub the soap in circular motions on the stain, then soak for about 1-2 hours. Then wash as usual. If necessary, repeat on particularly stubborn stains.
• Alcohol/spirits and glycerin: Go for glycerin if your fabric is coloured because alcohol may fade dye along with stains. Whichever you choose, apply it directly to the stain using a cotton cloth. Next wash in the machine.
• Lemon juice and cleaning vinegar: To avoid faded patches, only use these natural bleaching agents on whites or light colours. Drip a small amount onto the stain, then wash at as high a temperature as possible.

Nose bleeds, cuts, scrapes and injuries are painful enough without having to worry about what they do to your clothes. But speed is of the essence here. Soak both sides of the fabric in cold water, then wash in lukewarm soapy water before giving it a final rinse. If you want to use a chemical agent, go for an alkaline stain remover.

Oil and water famously don’t mix. That’s why none of the usual rinsing and soaking techniques work with greasy stains. Instead you need to treat the stain dry with something like baking powder or crushed chalk that will absorb the oil, drawing it out of the fabric. Whichever you choose, you can follow the same steps:

1. Place a clean cloth behind the stained fabric. Sprinkle baking soda or crushed chalk liberally over the mark.
2. Leave it until you see clumps forming. That means the powder has absorbed the oil. Brush off and keep repeating with fresh chalk or baking soda until the power remains loose.
3. As a pre-wash treatment put a blob of liquid dish soap onto the stain and rub it in gently with an old toothbrush. Leave it to sit for about 5 mins.
4. Toss your garment into the washing machine.
5. If you can no longer see a darker patch where the stain was air dry. Do not tumble dry the heat will bake the stain in.

If the stain has is stubborn or has set, use an enzyme-based product to treat it.

Makeup on clothes can be a pretty mess. Since lipstick and a lot of other cosmetics contain oils, it’s best to try and lift the mark with glycerin, eucalyptus oil or an alkaline stain remover. Give it a bit of time before carefully dabbing to remove the stain and rinsing.