NEW YORK - You packed light, figuring a couple of outfits could get you through. That was before the coffee landed on your lap.
But before you go searching for a same-day service dry cleaners or rushing to the mall, there are some things you can do to get the stain out without spending money or sneaking club soda into your carry-on.
Here are some things the experts recommend you bring or find at your destination if you run into trouble:
-Lemon dish detergent. Helps remove grease, lipstick and mascara stains, says Joseph Hallak Jr. of Hallak Cleaners. Pack in a small bottle.
-Blue laundry detergent. Hallak says it works well on blood stains.
-Shout Wipes. They work great on stains from wash-and-wear fabric, says Anne Hankey, an instructor in Fashion Marketing and Management at The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago. She advises against using them on cashmere or silk.
-Stain stick. Good for pretreating a stain until you can get to the dry cleaners, says Hankey. Janie Dry Stick helps remove grease stains and works well on lighter coloured garments, says Hallak.
-Forever New. The fabric care wash works best on delicates, says Hankey. Soak the stain in the powder-water solution, blot it, and then rinse. The wash also refreshes garments, making them smell nicer, she says.
-Baking soda. A paste works well as a pretreatment for oil and blood stains. Follow up with laundering when you get back, says Hankey.
-White wine. For removing red wine, put a little white wine on the stain and soak it in water, says Hankey.
-Woolite packets. Good for hand-washing garments in the sink.
-Q-tips for dabbing at the stain. Rubbing is a no-no.
