I’m what you call a donut lover, and this passion for jam has passed on to my kids.. We've made a tradition that on 'special days' donuts are served for dessert, which usually means that we're left with a bunch of sticky fingers and sparkling eyes..

You can't expect kids to stay clean when eating a donut with jam oozing out of it, but I've learnt not to sweat over it, and have developed a method of getting rid of of the jam stains that have become part and parcel of our birthday parties..

For fresh stains on fabric:
1. Treat the stain as soon as possible. Use a dull knife or spoon to remove as much as possible. If you cannot treat the stain immediately, sprinkle it with salt.
2. Rinse any remaining stain with cold water.
3. Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain. Do not use a bar or natural soap of any kind on the fabric, or the stain will set.
4. Let stand several minutes, then rinse the back of the stain well in hot water, letting the water pass quickly through the fabric.
5. If the stain remains, stretch the stained fabric, stain side down over the basin. Boil three or more cups of water in a pot or tea kettle and carefully pour over the stain from a height of 1 to 2 feet. (This may require two people: one to hold the fabric taut and the other to pour the water.) The procedure will force the stain through the fabric. If you’re the only one on stain duty, run the faucet water as hot as possible and carefully hold the stain under it.
6. If the stain remains, apply a laundry pre-soak (spot stain remover) and launder with liquid enzyme detergent.
7. If the stain remains, sponge the stain with a light bleach solution, such as equal parts white vinegar and water. Rinse well and let dry in sunlight. Repeat as needed until no more stain can be removed.
8. Apply laundry pre-soak and re-launder with enzyme detergent.
9. If the stain remains, rub enzyme detergent into the stain and soak in water up to one hour or until the stain is removed. Rinse well and launder.

For dried stains on fabric:
1. Make a paste of borax and water (at a ratio of approximately 3 to 1) and spread onto the stain.
2. Let stand 15 minutes, then rinse. If borax is not available, rub glycerine into the stain and let stand for 1 hour. Rinse.
3. See steps 3 through 9 for fresh stains, above.

Good luck & Enjoy!