How to get any stain out of anything.

StainLookup is a free interactive stain-removal reference. Pick a stain, pick the material, and get step-by-step treatment instructions for fresh and dried stains — plus what not to do.

Stain removal lookup

Stain

Material

How old is the stain?

Fresh Dried / set

Show treatment

Pick a stain and material above, then press “Show treatment”.

Popular stain & material combos

Browse all stains

All stains

• Baby Food
• Baby Formula
• Ballpoint Ink
• Berry Stains
• Blood
• Butter
• Candle Wax
• Chewing Gum
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Cola And Soda
• Crayon
• Curry And Turmeric
• Deodorant And Antiperspirant
• Dye Transfer
• Egg
• Feces
• Foundation And Makeup
• Fruit Juice
• Grass Stains
• Gravy
• Grease And Cooking Oil
• Hard-Water Spots
• Ketchup And Tomato Sauce
• Latex Paint
• Lipstick
• Mascara
• Mildew
• Milk
• Mud
• Mustard
• Nail Polish
• Oil-Based Paint
• Permanent Marker
• Pet Stains
• Pollen
• Red Wine
• Rust
• Self-Tanner
• Shoe Polish
• Soot
• Soy Sauce
• Sunscreen
• Super Glue
• Sweat And Yellowing
• Tar
• Tea
• Tree Sap
• Urine
• Vomit
• White Glue (Pva)
• White Wine

Golden rules of stain removal

• Test every treatment in an inconspicuous area first — some treatments can fade dyes or damage finishes.
• Blot a wet stain; never rub it. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into fibers.
• Check the garment's care label and follow it — skip any step the label prohibits.
• Never put the item in the dryer until the stain is completely gone; heat sets most stains.
• Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach — the fumes are toxic and dangerous.
• Never use chlorine bleach on rust — it can intensify the stain.
• Rubbing alcohol is flammable and can fade some dyes; spot-test first and ventilate the area.
• Acetone dissolves acetate, triacetate, and modacrylic fabrics — check the fabric label first.
• Use cold water first on blood and other protein stains; hot water sets them.
• When in doubt — a valuable, vintage, or delicate item — take it to a professional cleaner instead.