So much more to offer than stains!

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We have discontinued our stain solution website.
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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.

 

Enjoy Our Blogs

Going Greek with Gyros

As we head into the fair season, it's quite possible that you may come across a gyro stand. Gyros, a popular Greek sandwich, are traditionally made with roasted lamb on a vertical spit and served on pita bread with tomato and onion. Gyros are most commonly topped with tzatziki sauce, made with...
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The New Guy in Town

Reports have been scattered, but throughout Cook and DuPage counties, homeowner's have discovered unfamiliar insects feeding on their viburnums in the landscape. This turns out to be yet another pest from a foreign land, the Viburnum Leaf Beetle. Like many of the insects that are not native to the...
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Leaves of Three, Let It Be

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Are your summer outings followed by days of itching discomfort? Knowing more about poison ivy and how it grows might help you avoid rash problems later. Remember the old adage, Leaves of Three, Let It Be! Poison ivy grows in various...
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Summer Sun Safety!!

It's here, It's here, It's here….. Yes… Summer is finally here (after a long winter) but we have to make sure we are prepared for the Sun!! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) skin cancer is the number one cancer in the United States which and most cases of melanoma...
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Summer home maintenance saves $$$

With warmer weather and longer days comes the excitement of spending more time outdoors enjoying all that summer has to offer. It is also an excellent time to do some regular home maintenance and repair that can save money all season long. Relatively inexpensive maintenance in terms of time and...
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Plant of the Week: Beardstongue, Penstemon

This week's Plant of the Week is Beardstongue (Penstemon digitalis). I've noticed many beautiful Beardstongues blooming in landscapes this past week. Several species of Beardstongues can be found in the garden, but Penstemon digitalis is a pretty solid...
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Growing Degree Days - What?

I received an email the other day asking about Squash Vine Borer. The individual that contacted me informed me that they had already seen one out and felt that it was early as his squash were just beginning to vine out. Usually squash vine borer is more commonly seen in late June through beginning...
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Antibiotic alternative aids immune response

Everyone knows that there is a huge debate about antibiotic resistance and the cause(s).  I will not even address that issue in this column - there's not enough space here, plus it is a multifaceted problem.  I read the following article in...
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Probably More Than You Wanted to Know!

My son Wilson researched and wrote this up. Thought it was interesting. Mike     "If life gives you cabbage, make sauerkraut." - Dale Carnegie German for 'sour cabbage', the art of making sauerkraut was probably first practiced in the Far East thousands of years ago. The builders of...
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Fruit Juice Not As Nutritious As Once Thought

Fruit juice may be part of your morning breakfast routine, but some argue that even the natural sugar found in 100 percent juice, is partially responsible for the obesity epidemic and the debilitating diseases that may follow. But does the fruits' healthy vitamins and antioxidants trump any...
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