When you have a big family, you choose diligently the hills on which you're willing to sacrifice yourself. For me, somewhere along the way, stains became an unworthy hillock. For one thing, I have sons, what do they care? Also, I really do have a whole repertoire of overdue things that I'm barely getting done.
Even the most prepared meet untimely hurdles. "While you're making plans, life happens," as they say. So I'm faced with a dilemma, do I give a rats patootie about this coffee stain? It's not a crisis, but can't I just have one nice thing? How many other things could I accomplish in the time it takes to putz around with this unsightly blemish?
The "How Stuff Works" website gives instructions:
1. Identify the material that has the stain.
2. Blot any excess.
3. Presoak 15 min.: 1qt warm water + 1/2 tsp dishwashing detergent + 1 Tbsp white vinegar.
4. Rinse.
5. Sponge remaining stain with rubbing alcohol.
6. Launder, if possible.
Or the Queen of Clean, Linda Cobb says
Getting to the stain before it dries helps prevent it from becoming a stain.
She tells us to keep club soda around.
As well as helping with lots of other stains, it helps remove coffee stains.
Okaaaay. . .
Well, I'll write it on my shopping list for next time. In the meantime, I hope the 15 min presoak can safely be translated to, say, a few hours. I've got a track meet to get to.
