Woman reaching for fallen wine glass

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Ink: Press a teaspoon of citric acid onto the spots (using a bone spoon) and moisten with water. Then pour boiling water over the stains until they disappear.

Wine or fruit: Stretch the fabric over a bowl and pour boiling water through it until the stain disappears.

Rust: Stewed rhubarb, spread over the stain, left for a few hours and washed off, is pretty effective. (Boiled fig leaves work just as well.)

Blood: Soak thoroughly in cold, salty water for an hour or so before washing.

Old coffee or tea stains: Can be soaked in a diluted solution of methylated spirits and 1/2 cup to 2 cups of water. Leave garments to soak for an hour and then wash as normal.

Scorch marks: Bruise two onions and then boil in 1/2 pint vinegar with some grated soap and 2 ounces of Fuller's Earth. When cooled, apply mixture to scorch mark and rinse off when dry.

Mildew: Soak for a few hours in buttermilk before washing.
— Lucy Lethbridge