Come clean already. Do you struggle with laundry? In a perfect world, we could afford to have everybody's clothes dry cleaned on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, those costs can add up over time. That doesn't mean you can't handle with care yourself. It's a delicate situation -- so follow these tried-and-true tips for keeping you and your kids' clothes in tip-top shape and warding off those super stains. If you get a spill on an article of clothing, spot treat it immediately. Attack greasy stains with salt, cornstarch or baby powder. Blot red wine with a cloth napkin infused with white wine. When washing jeans, turn them inside out so that colors don't fade. One sticky situation is contending with gum. Fold the article of clothing gum side out, put it in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer. After a few hours, the gum should come off easily. How many times have your child's clothes been ruined by big chocolate blemishes?
Put the article of clothing into the freezer so that the chocolate hardens. Use a spoon to lift the chocolate. Then apply a dry cleaning solvent to the area. Blot the stain with your finger and then rinse with warm water. Seeing green? For hard-to-treat grass stains, use a stain stick on the area. Rub the stick on the grass stain. Let it sit. Then wash. For a bloody mess, you'll want to treat the clothing as soon as possible. Rinse the clothing in cold water, and rub the area with your finger. Soak the article in ammonia and water for about 20 minutes-- and then wash. Ink is another tough one stain to fight. Spray the sink stain with hairspray until the area is soaked. Let it soak in and then wipe with a clean rag. Do this until the stain dissipates. Then wash as usual.