Have you ever gone to your closet looking for your favorite tee or jeans only to find that that one piece of clothing has been scarred for life? Somehow my white t-shirts were no longer the pristine garments I had once coveted when Mom was still doing my laundry. Why were stains & spots now creating unexpected patterns and designs? I was spending a good part of my life standing in front of my closet playing "rust roulette," wondering if the next shirt I pulled out would be wearable.

Who or what was responsible for this? It wasn't Mom's fault. Maybe the washing machine needed to be replaced. Had the porcelain inside chipped and caused the rust spots? Nay, nay. I, alone, was to blame for all the damage done.

Now obsessed with stain removal, I've purchased every product on the market. I started reading and researching. I even started ripping clothing out of my sister's hands just so I could prove to her that no stain could stand in my way. And it can't.

Read on, my spotted friends. Take these simple steps to treat stains before your clothes hit the machine and let those laundry elves work their magic.

What you'll need:
Pick these up for pennies and arm yourself! Most everything on this quick super stain removal shopping list should cost about $1. Go ahead and buy the generic, store brand and save your money. Keep it simple - don't buy fancy scented products or anything with conditioners or colors.

Ammonia
Baking soda
Bleach - for whites only
Cream of Tartar
Denture tablets
Dishwashing liquid
Hydrogen Peroxide - 3% only, not the kind that will bleach your hair
Lemon juice - fresh or bottled
Salt
Shampoo - try baby shampoo! It's gentle.
Shaving Cream - use foam, not gel
White vinegar