stain removal

No matter how hard we try to keep clean, stains happen to the best of us. They usually occur at the most inopportune time landing on some of our favorite tees, sweaters, and fashion god forbid, white dresses. That said, we compiled a list of tried and true easy stain fighting tips from designers, clothing care gurus, and fellow editors. Now if only we could look just as glamorous as Lily Donaldson and Gemma Ward, seen here in Vogue, while cleaning our clothes . . .

More handy tips plus how to get rid of lipstick, blood, and sweat stains.

Easter is a festive holiday that involves egg dying, ample chocolate consumption, and fancy clothing for many kids. And, sticky fingers and melting candy can lead to clothing stains so now it's time to try and salvage your tot's Sunday best! Here are some tips to combating common stains.

• Chocolate: Warm hands and chocolate rabbits can lead to smudges and smears on dresses and slacks. Try this method of removing the delicious treat from clothing. Allow the chocolate to harden, you can even put the apparel in the fridge to speed up the process then use a butter knife to scrape off the excess. Then run hot water on the back of the stain to push it out of the fabric and continue this until it is no longer making a difference. Next, saturate the stain with dish soap and let it sit for ten minutes. Saturate the remaining chocolate stain with household dish detergent and let it sit for ten minutes before rinsing it again with hot water. As a last resort, you can put the item in the washer with a gallon of whole milk for half an hour before allowing it to rinse in the regular cycle.
• Egg: If your kiddo slopped some of their scrambled, poached or hard-boiled egg on them, try this method of removal. Use a butter knife to scrape the residue off the affected area. Then take an absorbent cloth to soak up any excess and dab the front and back of the stained material with cold water. Next, take a dab of laundry detergent and rub the fabric between your fingers while rinsing. Repeat until the entire stain has lifted.
• Egg Dye: If your tot's hands ended up with more color than their Easter eggs, try mixing sugar and vegetable oil into a hand scrub and massage into the affected area before rinsing with soap and water.

For tips on how to remove grease, citrus, and cocktail stains, read more

I recently got a tour of the backstage at the San Francisco Opera. Fab-u-lous. The drama, the behind-the-scenes action, the velvet, lace, beading. Oodles of hats and costume jewelry — I could have played dress-up for hours, it was a real treat. Along the way I picked up a stain-solution tip I'd never heard, or imagined, before. Let's just say, it involved one of PartySugar's preferred poisons . . . Intrigued?

To learn how to target stains like a pro, read more