All of us, no matter how neat, have been in a situation where we've had to remove stains from our clothes. In most cases, stain removal is quite simple, though sometimes clothing requires professional care. What follows are some stain removal tips.

Many stains become permanent only because one hasn't acted quickly enough. Rather than allow the stain to become embedded in the fibers of our clothing, it's best to act immediately. If the garment can be easily removed without causing embarrassment, soak it in cold water to loosen the spot. If the garment can't be removed, wet a cloth with cold water and blot until you've removed as much of the stain as possible.

It's important to blot gently at the stain. By rubbing it you're only producing more damage to the fabric. This will also cause the stain to spread.

If the garment is still stained after blotting it with cold water, try using a mild dish washing liquid. Blot a little onto the stain with a cloth until it's lifted. Soap can be blotted up with a damp sponge. If you're in an area where you can actually mix up a solution of one part dish washing liquid to two parts water, this will make for easier blotting.

Club soda and even other "clear" sodas will also help to remove the stain. Pour it on a cloth and blot until the stain is lifted.

If you happen to have some vinegar handy, you can also use this to blot at the stain.

Cold water or any of the above remedies will help to remove the stain, or at least help it to fade away. After that you can launder the item of clothing as usual. If you try one of the above methods and the stain is still visible, you may want to pretreat with a laundry detergent or spot remover for a few hours before using the washing machine.

If you got to the stain early enough, it should come out of the washing machine good as new. If not, you may want to try pretreating again and throwing it in with your next batch of laundry. It's important to note that stained clothing should never be placed in the dryer or exposed to another form of heat such as an iron. The heat will cause the stain to set in permanently. If after a couple of washings the stain still exists, you should probably take the clothes to a dry cleaner for professional advice.

Stain removal isn't difficult. Just remember the three most important rules of stain fighting: act immediately, blot — don't rub, and never apply heat until the stain is removed. Soon, your little mishap will be only a distant memory.