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We have discontinued our stain solution website.

At Illinois Extension, our reputation is built on providing reliable, proven research-based information. It's behind every recommendation we provide, woven into the very fabric of every program, every encounter, and every word we write. Much has changed in the textile world since the Stain Solution website was created. We no longer have the expertise to confidently update the website to reflect those changes.

We won't promise you something we can't stand behind. You deserve reliable information you can trust.

Although we've discontinued the Stain Solutions website, there are still thousands of pages of content that can benefit your family, your business, and your communities. We hope you'll explore the many ways we can help you build a better world. When we are able to verify the information about stain removal, we'll begin again, a fresh start to helping you fix life's little hiccups.

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Enjoy Our Blogs

Coring and feeding the lawn this fall

September 14, 2020

Homeowners have likely heard of core aeration as a way to relieve soil compaction in the lawn. While that is certainly true, coring has several more benefits for the grass plant, microbial activity in the ground, and thatch ...

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Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ is a cultivar of our native wrinkle-leaved goldenrod that provides a spectacular display of fireworks-like flowers for up to 2 months in late summer and fall.

Goldenrods for Landscaping

September 12, 2020

For many gardeners, an entire season of continuously blooming plants is a primary goal. Not only do these fantastic flowers deliver ornate beauty throughout the year, but they are also greatly beneficial to pollinators by providing a continuous food source of pollen and nectar. Since...

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Two glass canning jars on a table, one standing up with the lid on, the other tipped sideways with the lid on the table

If you're planning on canning

September 11, 2020

Food preservation has skyrocketed this year, likely due to more people staying at home looking for a safe and sustainable project. In fact, University of Illinois Extension’s “Fill Your Pantry” webinar series hit a record number of participants (view recordings and handouts at...

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aster, purple with yellow centers. credit: pixabay.

A different fall-blooming beauty

September 11, 2020

When thinking of fall bloomers for your garden, everyone's usual go-to is the mum, but don’t rule out the gorgeous asters sitting next to the mums. There are 180 species of aster, many of which are native to Illinois. New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and aromatic aster (...

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Lawn Aeration and Overseeding

September 10, 2020

We recently bought a home at the end of May with a lawn in need of assistance. When we moved in, we quickly tackled the mole problem by trapping five moles, and one vole! Next, we moved onto the damage done by the moles; we leveled out the mole hills and seeded those areas; however, in the end, we...

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A different kind of back to school

September 10, 2020

At the start of the 2020-21 school year, we see displays of face masks alongside the traditional school supplies of notebooks, pens and pencils. Whether your student is a preschooler or college student, it is quite likely going back to school looks at least a little different this year. With...

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Too much of a good thing

September 9, 2020

Are you familiar with the uncomfortable feelings of overindulgence? Whether it be excess eating, working or sleeping, many have felt the pains of overdoing it. In yogic thought, there is a moment in time when we reach the perfect limit of what we are engaged in. Practicing Brahmacharya, the fourth...

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What happens when you cut out your daily milktea or fancy coffee drink?

September 8, 2020

Milktea drinks taste so good. Just thinking about the creamy milk, the refreshing tea flavor and the chewy Bobas might have already made you want to grab a cup. Or, perhaps it’s the aroma of coffee that tempts you! However, have you ever thought about how much the daily store-bought drink costs...

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Weather influences foliar disease

September 7, 2020

The weather can, does, and will influence foliage disease each year, starting in the early weeks of spring. While early spring was a long time ago, many diseases are now quite visible in the home landscape. Ornamental flowering crabapples and apple trees have had...

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Bald cypress is an Illinois native plant only know to occur in extreme southern Illinois. While it does wonderfully when planted here is central Illinois, should it be considered native?

How Native is Native?

September 5, 2020

The term native often means different things to different people. Most definitions draw a line between geography and time scale which typically is demarcated by the point of human intervention or influence on the landscape. I really like this definition from the Forest Service in 2012, “A...

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