Good Housekeeping Institute tips on how to beat any stain

From grass to red wine, there are some stains that seem almost impossible to remove. 

But experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have shared how some of the trickiest marks can be busted with just 10 simple household items.

Ice cubes, rubber gloves and toothbrushes can all be used to rid fabrics and furniture of pesky marks – you just need to know what to do with them. 

They also offer advice on how best to use more obvious tools like paper towels, cotton buds and soda water.

Helpfully, the tips also mean that you can keep your home clean without spending money on expensive products. 

Here, FEMAIL reveals the 10 cleaning heroes…  

Sticky stains: Candle wax and chewing gum can both be tackled with ice cubes

Ice cubes

Candle wax and chewing gum can both be tricky to remove but ice cubes can help freeze sticky stains so that they become brittle enough be picked or scraped. 

You can achieve the same result by placing the stained item in the fridge to cool.   

Toothbrush

Toothbrushes can be used for different tasks depending on their state. 

Old toothbrushes are perfect for scrubbing mould stains off grout and tricky-to-reach cracks, while new toothbrushes can brush powders off oily stains. 

For these delicate tasks only use soft brushes to avoid damaging fabrics.   

Scrubbing up: Clean tooth brushes can be used to wipe away powdery stains. Stock image

Scrubbing up: Clean tooth brushes can be used to wipe away powdery stains. Stock image

Rubber gloves

Rubber gloves have long been used to protect hands while cleaning – but they can also be used to remove pet hair from sofas or car upholstery. 

Rub the gloved hand over the furniture to create friction that will help the fur stick. To remove the fur from the glove, simply dunk your hands in hot water. 

Glycerine 

Less common than the other items but no less helpful. 

Glycerine is helpful for loosening tough stains. 

The Good Housekeeping Institute advises diluting it with one to two parts of water and allowing it to soak for an hour before washing as normal. 

Soda water

One of the better known cleaning heroes, soda water is perfect for forcing pigment-based stains such as red wine out of fabrics. 

However only use makes that are low in salt otherwise you may inadvertently end up setting the stain. 

Nail polish remover

A manicure spill can be disastrous but nail polish remover can be a fast-acting way to remove the stain, as long as it’s small.  

A blunt knife

A blunt knife is ideal for scraping off any solid or bulky part of a stain. However take care not to scratch or damage the surface.

Breaking down the stain: A blunt knife is idea for scraping off any solid part of the stain

Breaking down the stain: A blunt knife is idea for scraping off any solid part of the stain

Paper towels

As well as cleaning up spills and soaking up water-based stains, paper towels can also be used to tackle dried candle wax.

Sticky tape

Sticky tape is ideal for lifting pollen particles off clothing and carpets. 

This method also works well for removing other dry debris, such as pet hair.

The Good Housekeeping Institute advises: ‘Place a paper towel over the wax spill (once it’s dry), and gently iron over with a cool iron. The wax will lift into the paper towel and away from the fabric.’

However be wary of using patterened or coloured towels as they could transfer dye.  

Cotton buds

Delicate items require delicate tools and cotton buds can be the perfect fit. 

They can also be used for a range of other handy household chores, including applying vegetable oil on to stuck zips and clearing dust from between dirty keyboard keys.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk