I was working on a project with a young lady I help out with and she got into the leftover Easter egg dyes and had a wonderful time. I think she enjoyed mixing the colors then we realized we had it all over our hands. That stuff is hard to get off.

So when I googled it, the autosuggest function already had a sentence ready immediately for us. I typed, 'how to remove dye' and it gave us this tip. Wash your hands with a brush and toothpaste. It really works!

I knew toothpaste was good for trumpet valves and other instruments as my Dad taught me that, but the Easter Egg thing surprised me.
It tickles though, I'll warn you!

Any other hot tips?

One of my favourites is: After you've been cutting onions, you're left with a nasty smell on your hands. A dab of tomato ketchup rubbed over them, (in the manner of soap) will completely eliminate the smell. And no, your hands won't then smell like ketchup.

Your toothpaste one sounds like a good one. Toothpaste is also good for getting rid of water marks on wood furniture. Rub it gently over the stain, and the abrasive action of the toothpaste will completely remove it.

If you get permanent marker on fabric, spray it with hairspray before washing. It really helps get the stain out. Tried and tested on bottle-green scribbles all over my pale yellow sofa!

You can also remove garlic and onion smells on your hand by 'washing' them under running water whilst rubbing them over something stainless steel (I use our soup ladle). You can buy a 'soap' that does the job, but why bother if you have a kitchen implement already which works just as well?

Scorched pots and pans are a cinch to clean. Cover the base with ordinary white vinegar (the cheapest you can find) and bring to the boil. Simmer as long as necessary, and if the burn is really stubborn, scrape it a little with a wooden spoon (not usually necessary). The burns will just lift off. It's magic!

Add some bi-carbonate soda to the vinegar and no scouring needed.

Wow, Madmags, I didn't know the ketchup tip! That is a great tip. And I love ketchup so it makes it even better, lol

Welcome, minkpenny. I wash my hands with ketchup automatically now, without thinking. I must say though, it's brought some funny looks and comments from friends or neighbours who happen to be in my kitchen at the time...

Spraying greasy marks on clothes with bug-spray, before washing, removes the stain.

Your own saliva will remove your own blood. Great for quilters when they prick their fingers.

Lady I found your 'own saliva removes blood stains' post interesting enough to do a bit of research on it, as I was curious as to why this happens. Snopes and TruthOrFiction had nothing on it, nor did I find any scientific explanation (yet), but I did find this post in a forum, which may of use...

"When sewing, if you prick your finger and get a spot of blood on white or light-colored fabric, thread a needle with a short length of thread (no knot), put the thread in your mouth and get it soaked with saliva, then run the needle and thread through the blood spot several times. The blood will come out; I've done it more times than I wish to admit."

Up until I read that, I had imagined spitting on said stain . The thread sounds much easier

Edited to add: Next time I scratch a mosquito bite which then bleeds on my (invariably white) pants, I will try that!

Isn't it great what we learn through FT?

You can also try the crushed up aspirin method if all else fails. It makes sense that aspirin thins the blood so it takes out that stain.

I keep hearing that the washing the dog who's been skunked with tomato juice doesn't work but it worked for our dog.

Ah, I took the cat in the car carrier and he promptly peed in there and it leaked onto the seats.
Finally I believe someone here suggested an enzyme breaking detergent for it. Well, I ended up getting a special detergent for diapers and brushing it with a toothpaste, and finally the smell went away.

Hydrogen peroxide is also wonderful for lifting blood stains. I've used it many times.

I have a water stain on a dresser that I will have to try that toothpaste trick on, I'll let you know if it works!

Mags I believe it has something to do with the enzymes in your saliva working with your own blood. Obviously it won't work with large amounts of blood (unless you can muster up a bucket full of saliva).

Am I the only one who finds it just a tad scary that so many people here have different tips for getting rid of eviden... I mean, blood stains?

It's when we start asking where's a good place to buy 8x10 rugs, you gotta worry

Toothpaste does s great job keeping white tennis shoes white too

What the toothpaste or the tennis shoe?

I saw a tip on Kim and Aggie's, 'How Clean is Your House', in the UK. Apparently, to get stickers from surfaces, you rub a dollop of mayonnaise, thoroughly on to the sticker, and hey presto it scrapes off! Haven't tried it, but it worked on the programme lol

you can use spray polish like Pledge, or for surfaces which won't be damaged, nail polish remover.

demurechicky, I can attest to the fact that that works, although I use the slightest touch of butter. It's great to remove stubborn price stickers from gifts. As long as whatever you use contains oil, it will do the job.

Thanks for that Mags, I'll remember that next time I buy glass or crockery that some inconsiderate person has stuck a mega sticky sticker on!

They have some really good tips of the programme, and I feel mega clean and tidy after watching it too! One for stains on wood, was to use granulated coffee or a tea bag dependant upon the type of wood.

I have used white wine to remove a red wine stain and that worked!

I've just learned a new one for me: Borax sprinkled throuhgout the house is an efficient flea killer (My dog had become infested). It's cheaper than the sprays and other treatments, safe and non toxic for the family, and apparantly it works well. Time will tell.

(I will, however, concede that it's messy! I hate walking on 'crunchy' floors, and leaving the powder down overnight drove me nuts).