• Unless you keep the surfaces in your house covered with plastic at all times, you are going to have to deal with stains on your clothing, rugs, furniture and other areas. Add other factors to the equation---especially pets and children---and you can find yourself looking at cleaning techniques and products that can cost you a lot of money. There are some ingredients you can find around your home that you can use for stain removers.
  
  

White Vinegar

• The mild acids in vinegar can dissolve the effects of many stains, including sticky stains such as soda and candy, or deeply-colored stains like coffee or wine. Vinegar can be applied directly to clothing or carpeting to work away at these stains. Usually, white vinegar is diluted with water in equal parts to prevent the acids from causing a lot of damage to the surface.
  
  If you do decide to use white vinegar as a cleaning solution, remember that the acid in the vinegar can damage some sensitive materials, such as delicate cotton, satin or silk. In some cases, vinegar can have a lightening effect on colors. It is always a good idea to spot test a vinegar cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area of your garment or carpet to make sure no damage or discoloring will occur.
  
  

Peroxide

• Hydrogen peroxide, feared by so many children for its stinging effects when cleaning scraped knees, can clean more than just open wounds. Peroxide can also be an effective stain remover for certain stains. Peroxide's fizzing action makes it good at removing certain stains that may seem embedded in the surface.
  
  For instance, peroxide is one of the best products for removing sweat and perspiration stains from clothing. Mixing equal parts peroxide and water and allowing the stained area to soak for 30 minutes will considerably lighten---and maybe even remove---the sweat stains.
  
  Peroxide has whitening capabilities similar to bleach, and so it should only be used on white garments or surfaces. If the stain does not lighten, you can apply undiluted peroxide to the garment, but take care with this intense whitening power.
  
  

Baking Soda

• Known for its ability to combat smells, baking soda can also be applied to most surfaces without danger, as it simply absorbs stains and is then washed away or vacuumed up itself. Sprinkle baking soda onto pet stains or smelly spills (such as spilled milk) to eliminate odors. You can combine baking soda with peroxide for a stain remover and deodorizer.
  
  Baking soda is often mixed with water, toothpaste and other cleaning products to produce a lightly abrasive cleaning solution to remove stains, and also to clean sensitive surfaces, such as jewelry.