Cleaning Explained

Stain removal, smells and cleaning, with the reason each method works

Find your stain, surface or smell

Stain finder: the right method for any stain and surface

Pick the stain and where it landed. You'll get its stain type, the first thing to do and a link to the complete guide. Every stain and surface is also listed below.

Find your stain

Every stain and surface

StainTypeSurfaces with their own guide
Berries and juiceTanninSee the stain guide
BloodProteinCarpet, Clothes, Couch, Mattress, Sheets, Shoes, White clothes
Cat urineProteinCarpet, Clothes, Couch, Mattress, Wood
CaulkGlue, paint and polymersSee the stain guide
ChalkDirt and particlesSee the stain guide
ChocolateCombinationCarpet, Clothes, Couch, White clothes
CoffeeTanninCarpet, Clothes, White clothes
CrayonWax, gum and resinCarpet, Clothes
DeodorantMineral and rustSee the stain guide
Dog urineProteinCarpet, Couch, Mattress, Wood
Dry erase markerDyeClothes, Couch
GlueGlue, paint and polymersCarpet, Clothes, Hair
GrassCombinationClothes, Shoes
Grease and oilOil and greaseCarpet, Clothes, Concrete, Hair, Leather, Suede
GumWax, gum and resinCarpet, Clothes, Hair, Sheets
Hair dyeDyeCarpet, Clothes, Sink, Skin, Tub
InkCombinationCarpet, Clothes, Couch, Leather
LipstickCombinationSee the stain guide
MakeupCombinationCarpet, Clothes, White clothes
MarkerDyeCarpet, Clothes, Couch
Mildew and moldMold, mildew and biologicalCar, Carpet, Clothes, Washing machine, Wood
MilkProteinCarpet
MudDirt and particlesCarpet, Clothes
MustardDyeSee the stain guide
Nail polishGlue, paint and polymersCarpet, Clothes, Couch
PaintGlue, paint and polymersCarpet, Clothes, Hair
Permanent markerDyeCarpet, Clothes
Petroleum jellyOil and greaseClothes, Hair
Play-Doh-style modeling doughDirt and particlesCarpet, Clothes
PollenDirt and particlesSee the stain guide
Poop (feces)ProteinBaby clothes, Carpet, Clothes
PuttyGlue, paint and polymersCarpet, Clothes, Hair
Red wineTanninCarpet, Clothes, Couch, White clothes
RustMineral and rustCarpet, Cast iron, Clothes
ScorchScorch and heat damageSee the stain guide
SemenProteinSee the stain guide
SlimeGlue, paint and polymersCarpet, Clothes, Couch, Hair, Sheets
Soy sauceDyeSee the stain guide
SunscreenOil and greaseSee the stain guide
SweatProteinClothes, Hat, Mattress, Sheets, White clothes
TarWax, gum and resinSee the stain guide
TeaTanninSee the stain guide
Tomato sauce and ketchupCombinationCarpet, Clothes
Tree sapWax, gum and resinClothes, Hair
TurmericDyeSee the stain guide
UrineProteinCar, Carpet, Clothes, Couch, Mattress
VomitProteinCar, Carpet, Couch
WaxWax, gum and resinCarpet, Clothes, Hair