Stain Guide A–Z
Find your stain and get step-by-step instructions
Beer
Beer stains.
Berries
Berries contain anthocyanins — the same pigment group as red wine, but with even more varied chemical composition depending on the berry type. Blueberries are hardest, lingonberries easier.
Blood
Blood contains hemoglobin and other proteins that coagulate — just like an egg — when exposed to heat. This makes the blood stain permanent if you choose the wrong water temperature.
Candle Wax
Candle wax that has dripped onto textiles.
Chewing Gum
Stuck chewing gum on textiles.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a lot of fat — perfect for super-fatted soap.
Coffee
Coffee contains tannins — polyphenols that bind to textile fibers and oxidize as they dry. A fresh coffee stain is simple; a dried one is chemically bonded to the fabric.
Coffee (carpet)
Coffee stains on carpets.
Curry
Turmeric in curry causes yellow stains that are difficult to remove.
Deodorant
White deodorant marks on dark garments are aluminum salts that have left the fabric. Yellow stains under the arms are a chemical reaction between aluminum chloride in antiperspirant and sweat proteins.
Egg
Egg is protein-based — never use hot water.
Feces
Fecal stains, common on children's clothing.
Fruit / Juice
Stains from fruit and fruit juice.
Glue
Glue and adhesive stains of various types.
Grass
Green grass stains, common on children's clothes.
Grease / Cooking Oil
Fat and oil are hydrophobic — they repel water and bind to textile fibers. The 'like dissolves like' principle is key: fat dissolves fat, and a fatty acid-based soap emulsifies the grease away.
Honey
Sticky honey stains.
Ice Cream
Ice cream contains both fat and protein.
Ink
Ballpoint pen and ink stains.
Ketchup
Tomato-based stains with strong color.
Lipstick
Lipstick is fat-based with strong pigments.
Makeup / Foundation
Foundation is fat-based and settles into textile fibers.
Mascara
Mascara is fat-based makeup.
Mold
Mold stains on textiles.
Mustard
Mustard contains oil and turmeric that cause yellow stains.
Nicotine Stains
Yellow-brown stains from nicotine/tobacco.
Oil (motor)
Motor and bicycle oil. Concentrated grease stains.
Paint (acrylic)
Acrylic paint that hasn't dried yet.
Pollen
Strong yellow pigment from flowers.
Red Wine
Red wine contains anthocyanins — strong pigment molecules that bind to textile fibers and oxidize to a permanent brown/purple within minutes. Speed is critical.
Red Wine (carpet)
Red wine on carpet requires careful treatment.
Resin / Sap
Tree resin and sap that sticks to clothes.
Rust
Rust stains on clothes and surfaces.
Soy Sauce
Dark soy sauce stains.
Sweat
Yellow sweat stains are not caused by sweat itself but by the reaction between sweat proteins and the aluminum salts in antiperspirant. This forms a yellow-brown chemical compound that binds to the fabric.
Tea
Tannin-based tea stains.
Urine
Urine stains and odor.
Vomit
Stains and odor from vomit.