One downside of traveling is being stuck with all the laundry — and all the stains — when you get home. Every trip has its fair share of stains — whether its candy and ice cream from a family vacation or coffee and curbside grime from a business excursion. Treating stains when they occur is half the battle — and will make your life easier when you get home.

Put together a travel stain kit...

Pack the following items in a re-sealable plastic bag or small cosmetic bag:    

• Small travel bottle (with a pull-top lid) filled with your favorite formula of Tide® Liquid or Ivory Snow® (for more delicate items)
• Sturdy plastic knife (Since many airlines now restrict such items, alternatives may include a hotel card key, laminated video rental card or any other sturdy card.)
• Portable clothesline (Two trees or the shower walls or hotel balcony make the perfect place to hang a line.)
• Portable drain cover or access to a small bucket/dishpan (If you're camping you probably have this packed already. The hotel ice bucket works as well.)
  

And act fast! The key to successful stain removal is treating the stain before it has a chance to set in. When pretreating, remember each stain is unique and there is no one single way to treat all stains. However, with these general guidelines and your travel stain kit, you should be set until you get home to do laundry.

As always, before treating any garment, first refer to the instructions on the care label.

1. When the stain occurs, gently blot it with a clean paper towel or cloth to remove as much as possible.
2. Rinse with water if you have access (a drinking fountain works wonders) — or use ice from the cooler or your empty drink.
3. Get out your stain kit when you get back to the hotel or camp ground and scrape off any dried residue with the back side of the plastic knife or other smooth tool.
4. Squeeze Tide Liquid or Ivory Snow® onto the stain. Gently work it into the stain using your hands.
5. Soak the garment in cool water for 30 minutes. Air-dry on your clothesline.
6. Launder when you get home. Some tough stains may require additional treatment. If the stain is still there after washing, do not put the garment in the dryer. Check the Tide Fabric Advisor for information about specific stains.

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Take off travel stains - a travel stain treatment guide

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