Stain Buster — Food Colouring, All Colours except Red

Fabric

If the stain is fresh, sponge with cool water. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover and wash as usual.

If the stain remains, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach if safe for the fabric or 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of cool water and soak for 30 minutes. Rinse, and then wash.

Upholstery

Mix one tablespoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of cool water. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution. Sponge with cool water and blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge with surgical spirit and blot to remove the stain. Sponge with cold water. Blot until the liquid is absorbed.

If the stain remains, mix one teaspoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia (warning: Never mix bleach and ammonia – the resulting fumes are hazardous) with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Carpet

Mix one tablespoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears. Sponge with warm water and blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge with surgical spirit. Blot to remove the stain. Sponge with warm water and blot until the liquid is absorbed.

If the stain remains, mix one teaspoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.