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
Crimson Clover

Cover crops to the rescue

Healthy soil is essential for healthy plants.  Using cover crops in the home garden is one way to promote soil health.  Cover crops are non-harvested crops that add organic matter to the soil, transfer nitrogen by creating nitrogen compounds usable by plants, and break up heavy clay or...
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multiple monarch butterflies on a flower

Clearing up the science on Monarch butterflies

A tale of two articles Have you read some of the headlines lately concerning monarch butterflies? “Monarch Butterflies are Thriving!” “Monarch Butterflies are Endangered!” Both these headlines (or something similar) recently saturated newsfeeds for Americans. Considering these stories came out...
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Choose your garden tools to fit your needs

Evidently every day this summer I deemed too hot to work in the garden was just another day for the weeds to celebrate and use their heat-miser advantage over me to grow and multiply. As a result, I am now spending most of my gardening time attempting to catch up on weeding in an effort to go into...
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Purple background with "Family Financial Feuds" and "Fraud: More than the Dollars", with a graphic depicting a person and fraud symbols

Fraud: More than the Dollars

According to data from the Supplemental Fraud Survey (2021), an estimated 3 million American adults reported being victims of personal finance fraud during a 12-month period and lost more than $3.2 billion total. Furthermore, it is equally important to acknowledge that more than half of financial...
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closeup of the inflorescence of purpletop

Grasses can be purple?

While driving to work today, I scanned the sides of the road to see what grasses are in bloom. I was happy to see large patches of a grass with purple inflorescences. These dark purple grass spikelets belong to Purpletop (Tridens flavus). Ah, a common name that accurately describes...
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Growing Loofa Gourds

Most gardeners who have planted a summer squash in their vegetable garden can attest to the prolific growth of healthy squash vines.  And in good years, many can also recount the bountiful harvest, with fruits ripening faster than you can pick them at times.  I think we’ve all found those...
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Interesting and Brief: A History of Apples & Their Uses

When local orchard branches are laden with delicious jewels of fruit, the apple season has arrived. Before sinking your teeth into this year’s harvest, consider the rich history of this commonplace fruit. When planting America’s roots in the colony of Jamestown... John Smith was pleasantly...
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Glowing sun behind trees spilling rays of light over a grassy late summer meadow

What are the Dog Days of Summer?

As we move through August, some folks will reference it as being the “dog days.” What are they talking about? We associate these “dog days” with hot weather. But it does not refer to living dogs being uncomfortable in the heat. Instead, the term is associated with a bright star called...
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All Our Specialty Websites
The future of farming
Raise healthy cattle for healthy profit
Enjoy evergreens throughout the year
Life is tied to the planet's health
Build a beautiful community
Together we make communities better
Turn leftovers into fertilizer
Create joy in a pot
Be a cottage foods seller
Producing food for a growing world
Keys to managing your diabetes
Be ready before disasters occur
We help you build thriving communities
Powering our needs
Taking good care of our planet
Build a brighter family future
Growing profits
Light a fire this season
Treat yourself to beauty
Healthy foods lead to healthier lives
Illinois is rich in native tree species
Pick a fruit from your backyard tree
Start living well today
Grow new revenue with that land
Herbs add flavor to life
Grow more food at home
Bring the joy inside
Grasses improve the health of our planet
It's a buggy world
Keep Illinois natural areas strong
Healthy lawns help us all
Raising livestock in a changing world
Your source for reliable information
Stay current in a changing landscape
Live a life of joyful purpose
Grow specialty mushrooms for profit
We have one planet
Explore solutions to nutrient loss
Make wise decisions
If your plant isn't happy, find solutions here
Explore all types of plants
Grow and eat this fall delight
Problems of too much or too little
Be a steward of the land
Grow the world's most beautiful flower
Protect your home environment
Big taste in each bite
Soil health impacts plant growth
Emerging news for commercial growers
Creating places for kids to grow
Take measures to avoid ticks
Cook the centerpiece of your celebration
Vaccines save lives
Be prepared for hazardous weather
Start their love of gardening early
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Eat.Move.Save.

Make healthier choices on any budget. 

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Illinois Pollinators

Pollinators are vital to both plant life and human life on earth.

feeding baby spoonful of food

Feeding My Baby

When is the right time to introduce complementary foods?