1. Your first step is to blot any excess liquid with an absorbent white cloth or a paper towel.

2. Next, treat the stain with a stain remover. Rather than applying the treatment on top of the soiled area, put the stain remover on the back of the cloth and lay the stained area on a clean paper towel. This way you push the stain out of the fabric the way it came in, rather than working it further into the fabric.

3. Rinse the clothing thoroughly, then launder it.

Almost any spot can be tackled with a liquid detergent that contains enzymes (enzymes help break down the stains). Tide is a great all-purpose detergent that can be either added to a wash or applied directly to stains. You can also invest in a stick or spray stain remover specifically designed to pretreat stains, like Shout or Spray ’n Wash.

But if you want to be fully armed for a war on stains, here are some more weapons:

• A prewash stain remover like All Stainlifter should be applied directly to stains before the wash cycle.
• Enzyme presoak products such as Axion and Biz break down protein stains (think: grass and blood) so they will be more effectively removed by a regular detergent. For best results, presoak clothes for an hour or longer.
• In-wash stain removers like Clorox Oxi Magic Multi-Purpose Stain Remover should be added to the wash cycle along with detergent to lift stains more effectively.
• Powder detergents, which can be added to the wash cycle or used for soaking, are especially effective on clay and mud.