Burnt Stuff on Iron: Rub iron with aluminum foil to remove burnt on starch, etc.

Deodorant Stains on the Underarms of Washable Shirts: Sponge on white vinegar (or soak stain in it); wait 30 minutes. Launder shirts in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Using an enzyme detergent or a detergent with bleach alternative check care labels to be sure this is okay). I sometimes put liquid laundry detergent right on the area, leave it for five to ten minutes, then wash. To prevent: Let deodorant dry before dressing. And don't let stains sit! Apply prewash spray or liquid detergent ASAP, then launder. Every third or fourth washing, use the hottest water safe for the shirts.

Fabric Softener: I have been using an old dish towel as a fabric softener sheet. I pour a couple of capfuls of Downey on it and throw it in the dryer. It has taken over a year to go thru a bottle of (small) Downey fabric softener. I add more Downey about every 15 loads or just when I notice a little static. It helps to use a towel that is distinct from the other laundry. I use a pink towel, which is a one of a kind in our house.

Fading: Turn dark clothes inside out and wash in the coolest water possible; dry on lowest heat. For all-black clothes, throw in a box of black Rit® dye every 8-10 washes or so to keep black clothes black.

Fluffing Down Comforters/Jackets: Put a couple of tennis balls in the dryer with them to reduce static.

Gum On Clothing: Use egg whites to remove gum on clothing. Brush egg white onto gum with a toothbrush. Let sit for 15 minutes and then launder on the items normally.

Ink Stains: The best way I have found to get out ink stains is to put rubbing alcohol on the stain - it disappears! This must be done before washing.

Laundry Basket Freshener: Place a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of your laundry basket (remember to change it weekly.) You can also simply sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your basket and that will help absorb the odors as well.

Linen Closet: In the linen closet place cotton balls that have been sprayed with your favorite scent. Once they are dry place them in corners and on the shelves.

Lipstick: Use petroleum jelly for removing lipstick stains. Another possibility is to rub in a little vegetable shortening and then launder as normal. If an item is dry clean only, getting it to the dry cleaner sooner rather than later helps to make sure they can get the stain out.

Mothball Makeover: A better idea than using mothballs is to take your leftover soap slivers and put them in a vented plastic bag. You place the bag with seasonal clothes before packing them away. Not only will the scent prevent them from moth harm but also they'll smell great when you pull them out. I especially like this for sweaters, which can be difficult to remove the odor of mothballs from. Using soap you simply have a clean smell rather than the smell of an attic.

Remove ink from clothing: Read the care label! If it says dry-clean only, or the mark is large, rush it to the cleaners. Washable? Try cleaning fluid, spot remover, or petroleum-based pre-wash spray. Test in an inconspicuous area to be sure it's safe for the fabric. Place garment stain side down on paper towels and dab cleaner on stain using a paper or terry-cloth towel. Check paper towels underneath and move frequently so there's always a clean area under the stain to absorb ink. Let area dry and check it. If ink remains, treat with prewash spray and launder. Before drying, check again. Still visible? Repeat steps.

Rust and Mineral Stains: Add 1 cup of bottled lemon juice in the wash to remove discoloration from cotton laundry.

Soiled Shirt Collars: Take a small paintbrush and brush hair shampoo into soiled shirt collars before laundering. Shampoo is made to dissolve body oils.

Stubborn Spaghetti Stains: These can be tough but not impossible and the following will work most of the time. Wet the fabric and then sprinkle with powdered dish detergent. Scrub gently with a toothbrush. Rinse the item and launder normally.

Travel Saver: Whenever you travel carry along a stain pretreatment stick. Taking the time to use it on stains before they set ensures that they will wash out when you get home.

Amazing stuff. I am one of these people who buy loads of magic products, each saying that you can throw away all the other products......... I have a cupboard of the magic ones, I really ought to try using some of them.

When I get around to them I will let you know if they work.

One thing that I would like to know, if anyone has an answer, I stupidly placed a sheet of tumble drier conditioner in with a dark green silk shirt with the result that the shirt was stained and is unwearable. I really like that shirt so want to know if anyone knows how to remove that oily stain, washing it a number of times has done nothing to lessen it.

I know someone who came up with a good way of dealing with oily type stains in shirts etc. After trying several products that didn't work he washed the shirt all over in the cooking oil that had originally stained it. It was then washed a few times in the normal way with washing powder.

Result? The colour of the shirt was slightly darker because, really, it had an 'all over' stain. However, it was wearable again because the stain was now completely undetectable. If the garment is unwearable because of a stain, there's nothing to lose by giving the method a try.

Although, perhaps the thought of wearing a thoroughly oil stained shirt might be a bit of an off-putter for many people, even if no one else knows about it.

Sorry Sue I don't know a way to deal with your stain. But the way I deal with cooking oil or butter stains is to actually put washing up detergent on them. My thinking is - if the detergent takes grease off your dishes it'll take it off your clothes. The majority of times it works. For car grease you should put swarfega directly on the stain - it gets the grease off your hands and works on clothes too.

If all else fails on grease stains try a lttle eucalyptus oil as that is effective too.

Can somebody tell me a way to get bobbles (usually from washing and friction) off of clothes??

You can buy special electric razors for bobbles - honest, I have one.

tellywellies, your idea reminds me of a dress I had many years ago, a ball gown which I wore just the once and slopped some sherry down the front, being silk it stained and dry cleaning didn't remove the stain. I had much the same idea as you have just mentioned, it was a dry sherry (pale) so I bought a bottle of cheap sweet sherry and swabbed the dress down with it but could still see the stain so then I attacked it with a bottle of Guinness - most successful. I then placed the dress in a dry cleaning machine to take out the excess. It was a lovely colour, the pale grey turned to a sort of beige colour but quite acceptable. I wore it to a ball and fortunately didn't discover until the next day that where I perspired under the bust (it was a empire-line dress) the Guinness ran!

LOL!!! Sue, you'd have been the most popular woman there had the bar run dry!!! A regular bell of the ball.