Stain Buster: Water Spots

Fabric

1. Spread out a clean white or light-colored towel on an ironing board.

2. Turn the garment inside out. Place the area with the water spot face down on the towel.

3. Using a wet cloth, moisten the spotted area thoroughly.

4. Set your iron to the appropriate dry setting for the fabric. Iron the dampened area until dry.

5. Shift the stained area to a dry portion of the towel and repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the water spot disappears.

6. If a slight ring remains, turn the garment right side out and rub the affected area with the back of a spoon.

Upholstery

1. Using a wet cloth, moisten the spotted area.

2. Fold several paper towels until you have a stack about 1/8 inch thick. Place them on top of the stain and weight them down with a vase or heavy pot.

3. Point a fan or a hairdryer (on the "cool" setting) at the stain so that the force of the air transfers the moisture to the paper towels.

Carpet

Carpets and rugs generally do not water-spot. This doesn't mean you should ignore water spills. Untreated moisture can be a breeding ground for mildew.

1. Using a clean white cloth, blot up as much of the moisture as possible. If the carpet is very wet, walk on the cloth to hasten the transfer of the liquid.

2. Fold several paper towels until you have a stack about 1/8 inch thick. Cover the damp spot and weigh the towels down with a heavy object, such as a vase or pot, and leave it there overnight. As the carpet drys, the moisture will be absorbed into the paper towels.

3. The next day, remove the paper towels and fluff up the carpet with your hands or a soft brush.

Steam It Out

Water spots on fabric, carpet, or upholstery will often disappear when hit with a blast of steam from an iron or garment steamer. Make sure your iron is emitting steam only; if it spurts water, that will only add to the problem.