I used to lose the picric acid also, until I removed the section
from Van Giesons, and blotted it dry with bibulous or a very smooth
filter paper.  Wear gloves, place the stained slide between two sheets
of paper, gently, on a flat hard surface Don't move top paper or 
section will be damaged. Using the heel or fleshy part of your hand,
rub this gently across the filterpaper to blot excess dye. 
Air dry the section, dip in xylene or substitute, coverslip.  If you have dye
on the back side, edges or around section, just wipe away with a wet
kimwipe/tissue, but keep section dry.  This prevents getting fuchsin
on hands, etc.  JUST use GLOVES! 

Water, alcohols in dehydrations steps before coverslipping will REMOVE
the picric acid, some of the fuchsin.  Brilliant staining is maintained
IF you avoid dehydration.

Also, make sure your picric acid solution IS saturated, this can affect
the quality of staining, true of Bouins as a mordant and fixative also.

This technic can be used with the classic Verhoeffs Van Gieson method
found in any text.

Gayle Callis