- 1). Treat wine and other alcoholic-beverage stains as soon as possible, as the sugar in the alcohol will leave a brown stain on the fabric. Place the tablecloth in a sink or plastic basin filled with the hottest water safe for the fabric and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Add 1/2 cup color-safe bleach if the stain has already set in. Allow the tablecloth to soak for at least two hours, then rinse thoroughly. Spray red-wine stains with cool water immediately to keep the stain from setting in, then soak the tablecloth in water and soap as directed.
- 2). Treat blood stains immediately by running a stream of cold water through the stain. When you've removed as much of the blood as possible, place the tablecloth in a sink or plastic basin with a mixture of 1 tsp. of liquid dish soap, 1 tbsp. ammonia and 1 quart lukewarm water. Allow the tablecloth to soak for 15 minutes, then rub the stain from the wrong side of the fabric. Allow the tablecloth to soak in the solution for another 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
- 3). Scrape dry candle wax from your tablecloth with a dull table knife. When you've removed all the wax that you can, place the stained area between two layers of paper towels. Press the paper towels with a warm iron, replacing the paper towels as the paper becomes stained with the wax.
- 4). Remove coffee or tea stains by saturating the stain with a laundry prewash stain remover. Allow the stain remover to penetrate the stain for about five minutes. Place a few drops of a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent on the stain and rub the detergent into the stain. Place the tablecloth in a sink or plastic basin filled with warm water and allow the tablecloth to soak for at least two hours. Add a color-safe bleach to the water if the coffee or tea stain is old. Rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water.
- 5). Treat pasta sauce and other tomato stains by soaking the stain with a laundry prewash stain remover. Allow the stain remover to penetrate the fabric for one to two minutes, then rub a few drops of a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent into the stain.
- 6). Apply a prewash stain remover to gravy stains as soon as possible. Fill your washing machine with warm water. Add an enzymatic laundry detergent and a small amount of color-safe bleach, according to the directions on the product label. Allow the tablecloth to soak in your washing machine overnight. Drain the water and finish by washing the tablecloth in hot water and your usual laundry detergent.
- 7). Sprinkle salt over butter and grease stains to absorb the grease. Pretreat the stain with laundry stain prewash stain remover, or rub a few drops of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent into the stained area.
- 8). Wash your tablecloth -- by hand or in the washing machine, depending on the method most appropriate for the fabric -- once the stains are gone. Check the stained areas carefully before placing your tablecloth in the dryer. If the stain remains, repeat the cleaning technique or try a different technique. Never place a stained tablecloth in the dryer, as the heat will set the stain.
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