strip single quotes

I'm trying to query the database using a string pulled out of the database and compare and get the id. I can do it to a certain point and what kills my query is single quotes. I CANNOT figure out how to escape it. I DID THIS: $address2 = str_replace("'", "", $address); that worked on some, but not all. $address = stripslashes($store['address']); $address = str_replace("'", "", $address); $address = htmlspecialchars($address); $address = addslashes($address); anyone Some errors I have gotten back "You have an error in your SQL syntax near 's Linen & Home'' at line 1" and "You have an error in your SQL syntax near 's 800 number.'' at line 1" _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus