A-Z Stain Removal Guide

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This stain removal guide is your one-stop source for removing stains of all types and varieties.

Just look at the alphabetical list below for help on how to remove stains from all types of sources, from avocado to zucchini and everything in between.


stain removal guide

You cannot remove all stains with the same technique. That is why it is of the utmost importance to identify the stain, if at all possible, prior to attempting to remove it.

If you cannot figure out what the stain is, then try these techniques for how to remove stains of unknown origin.

Also, there are different stain removal techniques for washable fabrics, upholstery and carpet. This stain removal guide gives you step by step instructions for each type of surface.

Please note that all of the instructions in this stain removal guide make some assumptions about stain removal as follows:

  • For fabrics, it assumes the fabric is washable, and not dry clean only.
  • For upholstery, it assumes the code on the tag is "WS" (click here is you don't know what this upholstery cleaning codes means for an explanation)
  • For carpets, it assumes the carpet can be shampooed at home, and that the carpet is not made of wool. (If the carpet is made of wool do not use ammonia as a stain remover.)

In addition, this stain removal guide suggest using the same type of basic stain removal equipment over and over, so you may want to review the types of tools you may need to remove your stain.

Check back in often, because more is added to this stain removal guide all the time. You may also want to bookmark this guide for removing stains as a quick and handy reference.

This is a pretty long page, so you can jump between various alphabetical groupings here:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

"A" Stains

remove alcohol stains

Remove alcohol stains


antiperspirant stain

Removing antiperspirant stains


apple stains

Apple stain removal


ash stains

Ashes stain removal


avocado stain removal

Avocado stain removal


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"B" Stains

baby food stain removal

Baby food stains


baby oil stain removal

Baby oil stains


baby stain removal

Baby stains


baked beans stain removal

Baked beans stain removal


pen stain removal

Ballpoint ink stain removal


banana stain removal

Removing banana stain


bbq stain

Barbecue stain


beer stain removal

Beer stains


beet stain removal

Beet and beet juice stains


bird dropping cleanup

Bird dropping stain removal


blackberry stains

Blackberry stain removal


blood stains

Blood stain removal


blue berry stain removal

Blueberry stains


butter stain

Butter stain removal


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"C" Stains

wax stain

Candle wax stain removal


canola oil stains

Canola oil stain removal


carrot stain removal

Carrot and carrot juice stains


celery juice stains

Celery juice stain removal


chalk stain removal

Chalk stain removal


chapstick stain

Chapstick stain removal


charcoal stain removal

Charcoal stains


cherry stains

Remove cherry stains


chocolate removal stain

Chocolate stain removal


coffee stain

Remove coffee stains


cranberry stain removal

Cranberry stains (including cranberry juice stains and cranberry sauce stains)


crayon stain

Crayon stain removal


cream stain

Cream stains


curry stain

Removing curry stains


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"D" Stains

deodorant stain removal

Deodorant stains


dirt stains

Dirt stain removal


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"E" Stains

egg stain removal

Egg stains


eye liner stain removal

Eye liner stain


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"F" Stains

fabric softener stains

Fabric softener stain


feces stains

Feces stain removal (and diarrhea stain removal)


baby formula stain

Formula stains


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"G" Stains

gasoline stain removal

Gasoline stains


glue stain

Glue stain removal


grapefruit juice stain

Grapefruit stain removal


grape juice stain

Grape juice stains


how to remove grass stains

Grass stains


gravy stain removal

Gravy stains


grease removal stain

Grease stain removal (motor oil and mechanical grease) (for cooking oil and grease see "oil stain removal" below)


gum removal stain

Gum stain removal


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"H" Stains

stain removal hair dye

Hair dye stain removal


honey stain removal

Honey stain removal


hot sauce stain removal

Remove hot sauce stains


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"I" Stains

ice cream stain removal

Ice cream stain removal


iodine stain removal

Iodine stain removal


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"J" Stains

jam stains

Jam stain removal


jelly stains

Jelly stain removal


juice stains

Juice stains (including vegetable and fruit juice stains)


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"K" Stains

ketchup stain

Ketchup stain removal


kiwi juice stains

Kiwi stain removal


Kool Aid stain

Removing Kool Aid stains


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"L" Stains

removing lemon stains

Lemon stain removal


lime stain removal

Removing lime stains


lipstick stain

Lipstick stain removal


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"M" Stains

mango stains

Mango stain removal


margarine stain removal

Margarine stain


mascara stains

Mascara stain removal


potato stains

Mashed potato stain removal


mayonnaise stain removal

Mayonnaise stain removal


stain removal mildew

Mildew stain removal


milk stain removal

Milk stains


mud stains

Remove mud stains


mustard stain

Mustard stain removal


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"N" Stains

stain removal of nail polish

Nail polish stain removal


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"O" Stains

oil stains

Oil stain removal (cooking oil and grease) (for motor oil and mechanical grease see "grease stain removal" above)

olive oil stain

Olive oil stain removal


onion stains

Onion stain removal


orange stain removal

Orange juice stain removal


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"P" Stains

peach stains

Peach and peach juice stain removal


peanut butter stains

Peanut butter stain removal


pear juice stains

Pear stain removal


perfume stain removal

Perfume stains


perspiration removal stain

Perspiration stain removal


pickle stains

Pickle juice stain removal


pineapple stain removal

Pineapple juice stain


pollen stain removal

Pollen stain removal


removing pomegranate stains

Removing pomegranate stains


prune stains

Prune juice stain removal


chocolate pudding stain

Pudding stain removal


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"Q" Stains

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"R" Stains

raspberry stain removal

Raspberry stain


stain wine

Red wine stain removal


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"S" Stains

oil dressing stain remove

Salad dressing stain removal


salsa stains

Salsa stain removal


shoe polish stain removal

Shoe polish stains


Coke stain removal

Soda stains


soot stains

Soot stain removal


soy sauce stain removal

Soy sauce stains


spaghetti sauce stain

Spaghetti stains


strawberry stains

Strawberry stain removal


sunscreen stain removal

Sunscreen stains


removal sweat stain

Sweat stain removal


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"T" Stains

Tabasco Sauce stains

Tabasco Sauce stain removal


remove black tea stain

Tea stain removal


tomato stain

Tomato stains


stains toothpaste

Toothpaste stains


removal sap stain tree

Tree sap stain removal


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"U" Stains

remove urine stains

Urine stain removal


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"V" Stains

vaseline stains

Vaseline stain removal


vegetable oil stain removal

Vegetable oil stains


removing vinegar stains

Vinegar stains (from balsamic, red wine, or apple cider vinegars)


stains vomit

Remove vomit stains


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"W" Stains

removing worcestershire sauce stains

Worcestershire sauce stain


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"X" Stains

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"Y" Stains

yogurt stain removal

Yogurt stains


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"Z" Stains

zucchini stain

Zucchini stain removal


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I hope you have found this stain removal guide useful. Please explore the rest of the site for more stain removal tips and techniques.

If you don't see what you need to help you, you can also ask me for some stain removal help here.

Related Links At Stain-Removal-101.com

A - Z Fabric Care Guide

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CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only, and Stain-Removal-101.com provides it as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some stain removal methods can harm your item, so if the stained item is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.