Any or all of the following, depending on the stain:

A prewash stain remover

A prewash enzyme soak

Laundry detergent

Dishwashing detergent

Cold water

Ice

White vinegar

Salt

Paint thinner

Isopropyl alcohol

Hydrogen peroxide

Bleach

Non-flammable stain remover (See Tips)

Shampoo

Most of these recommendations take less than an hour, including drying time.

Prewash stain remover: a liquid, gel or solid product that is usually applied several minutes (but sometimes up to one week) before laundering

Prewash enzyme soak: a product specially formulated for protein stains like blood and egg

Non-flammable stain remover: an evaporative liquid that is designed to be directly applied to a fabric before laundering.

Working with non-flammable stain remover, the key to using this stuff is to put the fabric, stain side down, on a paper towel, or clean white rag and apply the stain remover to the back of the stain. This forces the stain off, not through the fabric.

Water temperature
When in doubt, use cold or warm water rather than hot. Hot water will often set the stain in the fabric. Never use hot water on blood.

Washing method
Again, when in doubt, hand wash rather than machine wash. This is not only gentler on fabrics, it will keep the stain isolated to one garment.

Drying method
Again, when in doubt, air dry, rather than machine dry. Machine drying, especially at high temperatures, can set the stain.

Colorfast?
Test for colorfastness by applying a small amount of whatever stain remover you're using on a hidden area of the fabric.

2torial #0513: Learn2 Remove a Stain Stay out of the red! Never serve red wine with white carpets! And never try to eat a burrito in your prom dress! And above all, never, never play catch with a jar of spaghetti sauce! What!? you've chosen to ignore this advice!? Well, fear not! There's a whole range of products and home remedies just waiting for you to give them a shot and make your misery disappear. They're all readily available, and will greatly increase the odds of having a wearable shirt, or a presentable rug, by evening time. On one hand, you want to treat most stains as soon as possible. The longer you wait before dealing with a problem, the worse it gets, right? On the other hand, it's not a good idea to treat a stain unless you know what it is, and how the fabric will react to treatment. So unless you're sure about what you're dealing with, take it a little slowly, and read the Tips section below. Limit the Damage   Once you've accurately determined which stain is on what kind of fabric, act quickly. Find the kind of stain you're treating below and follow the first step, i.e. blot up the excess, scrape off the solids, etc. What you do first often decides if what you do next will work. Re-read the care label attached to your garment   In some cases, the best thing for the stain is not at all right for your clothes (or upholstery). For example, normally you'd wash a white cotton blouse that's been treated for ink stains in very hot water. But you wouldn't want to do that to a purple silk. Use discretion - and err on the side of caution. If in doubt, send it out Unfamiliar, very ornate (beads, sequins, metallics), or deeply textured fabrics may be beyond home care. Sometimes the best nest step is to consult a professional. Follow the stain guide   Determined that the task is within your control? Go ahead and good luck. To treat greasy or waxy stains... Butter or cooking oil: First use talcum powder, or cornstarch to absorb as much oil as possible, then... Rub shampoo on the stain, then wash in the hottest water the fabric can stand. Chocolate: Wet the fabric with tepid water, apply a prewash treatment and rinse. Then... Soak in an enzyme presoak. Wash normally, but don't machine dry until the stain is gone. If it's still there, repeat the presoak/wash cycle. Crayons and other wax: Scrape off as much waxy substance as you can, then... Place the fabric between two sheets of tissue. Then press gently on the area with a warm iron, to drive the wax out of the fabric. Use an enzyme presoak, or treat with a nonflammable stain remover (see illustration). Hand wash. Repeat a few times if necessary. Lipstick: First try to remove the stain with nonflammable stain remover (see illustration above). Then, if stain persists... Apply a prewash stain remover, and rinse. If it still persists... Rub the stain with liquid detergent, and wash in warm water. Shoe polish: First scrape off as much waxy substance as you can, then... Clean the stain with a solution made from isopropyl alcohol and water, in equal amounts. Whites can handle straight alcohol. Launder as usual.     To treat other difficult stains... Alcohol (new): Rinse with cold water. If stain persists... Soak for about fifteen minutes in a mixture of tepid water, liquid detergent and a few drops of white vinegar. Then... Launder in warm water Alcohol (old): Old alcohol stains are tough! Try rinsing with cold water, then... Use an enzyme presoak in warm water. Then... Launder in warm water. Blood: Soak the fabric in cold water (very important!). Rub some liquid detergent into the stain, rinse in cold water, then.. Put some hydrogen peroxide on the stain for no more than five minutes, then rinse clean with cold water. Rub some more detergent into the stain. Launder in warm water. Egg: Scrape off as much as you can, then... Soak in an enzyme presoak with cold water for a half-hour. Launder in cold water. Fruit and fruit juice: Soak immediately in cool water, then... Cover the stain with a paste made from colorfast bleach, a little hot water and a few drops of ammonia. Wait for about twenty minutes, then... Launder as usual. Grass: Soak the fabric in cold water, then... Sponge the stain with isopropyl alcohol, but test first for colorfastness on a hidden area. If the stain persists, soak in an enzyme presoak for about a half-hour. Launder as usual. Gum: Use ice cubes, or put the fabric in the freezer to harden the gum, then... Scrape and pull the gum off the fabric. Apply nonflammable stain remover (see illustration) and allow to air dry. Launder as usual. Ink: Apply isopropyl alcohol to the fabric around the stain, then to the stain itself. Then... Place the fabric stain side down on a paper towel. Sponge alcohol onto the stain, to drive it into the paper. Rinse well, then rub in some liquid detergent. Hand wash in hot water. Ketchup: Apply a prewash treatment on the stain and rinse. Then... Soak in an enzyme presoak for about a half-hour. Wash normally. Mud: Let the mud dry, and beat off as much as you can. If a stain remains, then... Rub in a paste of liquid detergent and colorfast bleach. Launder as usual. Paint (water based): Get to these before they dry. Rinse the fabric well with warm water, then... Apply an enzyme presoak in warm water. Rinse again, then hand wash. Paint (oil based): Scrape off as much as you can, then... Sponge on some paint thinner, and blot the stain with a paper towel. Repeat this a few times. Once you've blotted up as much as you can, rub liquid detergent on the stain while the fabric is still wet with thinner. Hand wash in hot water. Rust: Dampen the fabric with cool water, then... Apply a bit of lemon juice, that's been mixed with salt. Boil some water in a pot, then hold the stain over the steam for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Launder as usual. Soft drinks: Soak the stain in cold water, then... Sponge a mixture of cold water and isopropyl alcohol, in equal amounts, onto the stain. Air dry   -end- Learn More!