There are many times that we couldn't handle the tarnish or rust stains, that we'd rather give up and replace the utensils. But these tips will help you save your money on new utensils.

SHOE DRESSING STAINS. To remove white shoe-dressing spots, rinse them first with cold water; then launder the washables. Sponge stains made with colored paste shoe dressings with cleaning fluid or turpentine. It is often helpful to first rub in a softener; vaseline, lard, or gylcerin. Liquid dressings should be sponged with alcohol, diluted with two parts of water for acetate, rayon, or delicately colored materials. If dye stains remain use bleach. Sponge them with hydrogen peroxide or with a soduim perborate solution, or moisten the stain and sprinkle sodium perborate powder directly onto it. Rinse thoroughly after using these bleaches.

FOR THE TAR AND PITCH GROUP, casualties of the open road, first rub lard or Vaseline into the stain until the tar is softened. After that, wash fabrics that will launder, in warm suds. Sponge non-washable fabrics with cleaning fluid, or dip the stain into it and rub between your hands. If the stain is on a rug, scrape up as much of the tarry material as possible, then apply cleaning fluid with a cloth. Use an upward brushing motion to keep it from being worked down into the rug.

MUD is another road casualty. Always let mud splashes on clothing, or mud tracked onto a rug, dry thoroughly before you do anything about it. When it is dry, brush off as much as you can and then sponge the stain with clear water, or with a detergent and water. The last traces usually will yield to sponging with alcohol.

FURNITURE AND FLOOR WAX. Stains from paste or liquid polishing wax and no-rub furniture wax can be removed with cleaning fluid. If traces remain, wash or sponge the material with warm soapy water. On rugs you can use either soapy water or a foam-type rug cleaner. Warm water and a detergent usually will deal with spots from self-polishing floor wax and cream-type waxes. If the stain is on a rug, follow, if necessary, with a foam-type cleaner or (when thoroughly dry) with cleaning fluid. For very stubborn spots on a rug use a brush dipped in cleaning fluid.

TARNISH STAINS from brass, tin foil, copper and other metals, usually can be sponged off with an acid. Use vinegar, acetic acid, or lemon juice, and rinse after the stain has been removed. Do not use bleaches on these stains.

STUBBORN IRON RUST STAINS can sometimes be removed with special iron rust soaps or with oxalic acid (poisonous: don't handle it if you have a sore or cut). Sprinkle a few crystals onto the stain, dip the fabric (if washable) into boiling water, then rinse thoroughly. You may have to repeat this. It is almost impossible to remove iron rust stains from non-washable materials. Consult your dry cleaner. If the stain is on a rug try sponging it with clear water. If this is unsuccessful, consult a professional cleaner.

FOR GRASS, FLOWER, AND FOLIAGE STAINS on washable fabrics first try hot water with soap or detergent Rub the stain briskly or scrub it with a soft brush, then launder the garment. If the stain has not yielded completely use a bleach. Sodium perborate is a good selection. Moisten the stain, sprinkle it with sodium perborate powder, let it stand for half an hour, then rinse. Or immerse the garment in a solution of one tablespoonful of sodium perborate in a pint of water and let it soak for several hours or overnight. Use hot water for all washables excepting silk and wool. Stains continuing after this treatment can be soaked in a stronger solution of the bleach. Household bleach also will deal with these stains but it may harm colors and cannot be used on silk, wool, blends containing these fibers, or on wrinkle proof resin finishes.

To remove white shoe-dressing spots, rinse them first with cold water; then launder the washables. Use the Vaseline into the stain for the tar and pitch group until it is softened before washing it. For mud stains, let the cloth dry then brush it off before washing it. Stains from paste or liquid polishing wax and no-rub furniture wax can be removed with cleaning fluid. Acid can be used to removed the tarnish stains, avoid the bleaches on these stains. Iron rust stains can be removed with special iron rust soaps.