BY ELLEN WHYTE

HAVE you ever dropped your latte or spilled a runny fried egg sandwich all over your shirt by accident?

Check out these tips to try to get rid of the stain.

Make a careful analysis

First, if it's something you can take off (or a sofa cushion or other items) then look carefully before resting it on a surface.

Some surfaces such as wood or plastic can absorb the stain, causing more trouble. Other may release chemicals that mix in with your stain, making it worse. The best surface to work on is glass.

Remove as much of the spill as possible

Blot liquid spills with tissues or a clean cloth. Scrape solid or viscous items with a spoon or chopstick.

Whatever you do, don't rub. Rubbing will spread the problem and may push the stain deeper into deep fabrics.

Rinse the blot out

Try to rinse the blot out. Generally, water is the best as it is neutral. Using vinegar, white wine and other liquids may work, but they may also react with the stain or material and make things worse.

Give it a good wash

Wash quickly or spray with a stain remover before you put it in the machine. If using a remover, be careful as some can bleach or are made for certain types of material.