Basically put, the things that cause stains are called staining agents. There are literally millions of things that can cause a stain to appear. Since there are so many different items out there that can act as a staining agent, it would be a good thing to know the best way to counteract them. Here are a few hints, tricks and helpful ideas that are going to get rid of those stains. You might just be surprised to find out what can actually help get rid of some of the nastiest stains.

Tips, Tricks, and Answers

The following articles are available for the 'Staining Agents' topic. Click the article''s title (shown in bold) to see the associated article.

   Ammonia Stains
How many times have you come across an ammonia stain? Instead of getting frustrated and wasting money on replacing the stained item, why not remove the stain? Here are a few simple methods for dealing with some of the more common ammonia stains that you might come across.

   Blood Stain Removal
Any bloodstain, even a dried-on stain, can be removed by treating it before you put it in the wash. Run water through the back of the stain, brush off any dried blood, and use hydrogen peroxide to lift the stain out of the fabric. Pre-treatment with laundry detergent or dish detergent can loosen up bloodstains before you put them in the wash.

   Chocolate Stain Removal
Chocolate is a messy treat that sticks to carpets and clothing alike. To remove chocolate, make sure to scrape off as much chocolate as possible before treating it with detergent or ammonia. Be sure to blot the stains carefully and dry your carpet thoroughly after treating it.

   Cleaning Crayon from Walls
It's nearly impossible to raise even one child without finding crayon marks on the wall. Crayon marks may be impossible to remove with regular cleaning fluids, but a little bit of innovation can turn items around your house into crayon-removal miracles. Baby wipes, lubricating oil, and the old standby, ammonia, can all help to remove crayon marks from walls.

   Cleaning Makeup Stains from Wool
Many people think that cleaning makeup stains from wool is going to be next to impossible. After all, while cleaning wool itself is normally tricky, it only makes sense that getting makeup out of it would be trickier, right? Wrong. It is actually easier to clean makeup stains from wool than you would think. All you need to do is follow these simple steps, and you can get your wool clean.

   Cleaning Mildew
Mildew is an obnoxious type of mold that is commonly found in damp areas in houses. If trying to prevent the mildew from growing isn't working, there are some cleaning methods to help you get rid of it.

   Cleaning Paint Off of Fiberglass
Cleaning paint off of fiberglass shouldn't be that difficult of a project, even though we commonly make it so. There is a relatively simple method that you can use to get rid of the mess. That being said, it can still take a bit of elbow grease.

   Cleaning Pet Urine
Did your pet have an "accident"? If so, you really need to get started on cleaning it up. While it may smell bad, it is possible to remove the odor and the stain when you begin cleaning.

   Cleaning Spilled Hair Products
When you have unruly or messy hair, then hair products are exactly what you need to help get everything under control again. But there are times when these things can create more of a problem then they may be worth; such as when they get spilled. Cleaning spilled hair products is actually pretty easy, if you know what to do.

   Coffee Stain Removal
Coffee easily stains both clothing and carpets. For clothing stains, pre-treat the stained area of your clothing with laundry detergent or a stain-removing product before you put your clothes in the wash. For carpet stains, use a vinegar solution followed by a detergent solution to rub the stain out.

   Dealing With Paint Stained Carpet
One of the problems with painting a room is that it is entirely too easy to get paint where you don't want it, such as on carpeting. Dealing with paint stained carpeting can be a little bit frustrating, but there are some methods that you can use. Luckily, these methods usually don't require a professional to do them.

   Getting Rid of Mold and Mildew
Eeeeew, mold! Not only is it gross, but it can be dangerous. Since no one really ever wants to have mold and mildew growing in their home, it only makes sense that people will want to learn what to do when getting rid of mold and mildew. Luckily, its not that hard to do.

   Grass Stain
Unfortunately, spending time outdoors can mean grass stains on your clothes. To remove this stain, you will need to try certain removal methods.

   Grease Stain Removal
Being faced with stains on your favorite clothes can be a major pain. No stain can be more difficult to remove than a grease stain. Luckily, there are ways that you can go about conducting a successful grease stain removal. Instead of throwing away and replacing your clothes, why not try these methods.

   Identifying and Dealing with Unknown Stains
Identifying and dealing with unknown stains can be a real trick sometimes. After all, how do you go about removing something, when you don't know what it is? The answer is actually much simpler than you would believe.

   Mold Cleaning
Mold is a problem for many people. The key is to remove it using the proper tools and eliminate the source of the mold.

   Mold Cleaning Strategies
With just the slightest bit of moisture, and a little bit of darkness, you can easily find yourself faced with a mold problem. In such a situation it is of paramount importance that you use the proper mold cleaning strategies to get the job done. Here are some strategies that you can use to help ensure that you are doing just that.

   Mold Removal
Mold can be a pain to have, but it doesn't have to be hard to remove. Just make up one or two of these cleaners and you'll be able to kill and clean it right away.

   Mold Testing
Everyone has heard the horror stories floating around about toxic mold infestations "suddenly" appearing in the home and making everyone get sick. These types of stories can (and should) scare the Dickens out of you. But before anyone becomes too concerned, there are things you can do to make your home safe, the first step of which is mold testing.

   Mustard Stain Removal
Mustard contains a yellow dye that stains clothing, often permanently. If possible, use bleach or a stain-removing product to remove the bleach stains. Dry cleaning solvents and enzyme solutions are also effective at removing these stains, and with repeated treatments, mustard stains can be removed.

   Pet Stain Removal
The smell of pet stains is usually worse than the mark. Start cleaning it by wiping up what you can with some water mixed with dish soap. Then spray the area with a mixture of vinegar, water, and rubbing alcohol. Cover the stain with paper towels and soak it up. Get rid of any remaining odor by sprinkling baking soda or club soda on the area.

   Preventing Mold from Growing on Siding
Mold and mildew are some fairly nasty things that can grow just about anywhere if the proper steps aren't taken. One of the places that they like to grow is the siding of houses. Luckily, preventing mold from growing on siding isn't all that difficult of a task.

   Remove Food Stains and Old Stains
Food stains happen and sometimes those food stains are difficult to remove from your clothes and that's even harder when you allow the stain the set into the fabric. Avoid laundering frustration by following these simple tips!

   Remove Grease Stains
Grease stains happen easily and may go unnoticed for some time. To treat an old grease stain, spray on WD-40 and then treat it as you would a fresh stain. Grease stains can be removed with many kinds of soaps and detergents, including dish detergent, household cleaners, and shampoo. Ammonia also works to remove grease stains.

   Remove Lipstick Stains
Lipstick has a nasty habit of making its way onto shirts. To remove lipstick stains, you can treat them with normal stain-removing products. For a less expensive solution, rub the stain with alternating treatments of dish detergent and rubbing alcohol. Hairspray and water work for stains you catch immediately.

   Remove Mud and Soil Stains with a Potato
Mud and soil are gross and unfortunately just happen sometimes. Sometimes those stains seem impossible to remove and you find yourself at a laundry dead end. Don't lose hope, because you still have options.

   Remove Rust Stains
Small rust stains can be treated on clothing by boiling the clothing with cream of tartar. Garments that cannot tolerate heat can be treated with a mixture of lemon juice and salt. Carpet rust spots are best cleaned with oxalic acid. For any big stain, a professional cleaner will be needed.

   Remove Soil or Mud Stains with Vinegar
Mud and soil are gross and unfortunately just happen sometimes. Sometimes those stains however are impossible to remove and you find yourself at a laundry dead end. Don't lose hope however because you still have options.

   Remove Tea Stains Yourself
Tea has got to be one of the most popular beverages around the world. What aren't so popular are the stains that they leave behind. Instead of dealing with the stains, or having to pay someone else to remove them for you, why not do it yourself? Here's how you can remove tea stains yourself from just about anything.

   Removing Barbeque Sauce Stains
Foods with barbecue sauce are often messy and leave stains on your clothing. These sauce stains can be easily removed with detergent, a stain-remover, and water. Make sure not to put stained clothing into the dryer since drying the stain will set it into your clothing.

   Removing Beeswax from Fabric
Removing beeswax from fabric may actually be easier than removing paraffin wax, since it is more pliable and soft. The trick to removing beeswax from fabric is to harden it as much as possible, peel it from the fabric, and then reheat the remains and allow them to seep into paper toweling.

   Removing Blood Stains from Bedding
How many times have you had to run into the kids room due to someone screaming in pain? Getting into the room, you find yourself faced with a crimson mess from one of the kids having a bloody nose. Blood can leave a terrible stain. Luckily, it's usually possible to get out if you catch it fresh enough. And if not? There's still a chance!

   Removing Butter Stains
Butter and other grease stains can be removed easily with most any household cleaner. WD-40 and hairspray can also be helpful in loosening up grease. Even ammonia can remove stubborn grease marks from your clothing.

   Removing Calcium Stains
When you have hard water, calcium and magnesium can build up and create stains on your sinks, tiles, and other fixtures. While commercial cleaners can remove these stains easily, try lemon juice or vinegar and baking soda for a natural method. If you clean your fixtures weekly, you can stop hard water stains from sinking into the surface of your tiles and becoming permanent.

   Removing Coffee and Tea Stains from Cups
Tea and coffee often stain the cups and mugs you drink them in. To remove the stains, use some of the tips below. You can use these methods to clean your cups in a matter of minutes, or let your cups clean overnight with little effort on your part.

   Removing Coffee Stains
Stains from coffee are some of the easiest food stains to obtain and often are the hardest to remove. These four simple methods can take the coffee out of your furniture, carpet, and clothing. Three of these tips use natural ingredients to remove the stains.

   Removing Coffee Stains from Carpeting
It could be said that coffee is one of the world's most beloved drinks. After all, it can be found in the vast majority of every home, business, and restaurant in the world. As such, it only makes sense that where you have coffee, you have coffee stains. Here is a little information about removing coffee stains from carpeting that is sure to help out even the most die hard coffee junkie.

   Removing Deodorant and Antiperspirant Stains
If you happen to have a few white t-shirts, blouses, or button-up shirts, then chances are you know the pain of having to deal with deodorant stains. Removing deodorant stains is possible, if you simply are willing to spend a little time, effort, or possibly money, to deal with it.

   Removing Deodorant Stains
To remove pesky deodorant stains, first try a stain-removal product and liquid laundry detergent along with regular washing. Baby wipes can be a quick fix for deodorant stains on clothing you want to wear that day. To take care of fresh deodorant stains, use a vinegar solution and a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol.

   Removing Egg Stains
Eggs can get everywhere, but you can remove them with many of the same techniques you'd use to remove other stains. Scrape or sponge away any excess egg, then scrub the stain with dish or laundry detergent. You can also freeze the egg and smash it off with the blunt end of a knife.

   Removing Eyeliner Stains
A toothbrush is a handy scrubbing tool for getting rid of eyeliner marks. Use a toothbrush and dish soap, makeup remover, or bar soap to brush away stains. Baby wipes and other cleaners also work to break down eyeliner and other kinds of makeup stains.

   Removing Grass Stains
Most stain-removing products work well on grass stains, but it's good to have several methods to get these common stains out of your clothes. Try using alcohol, bleach, or even an enzyme treatment. Peroxide and Fels Naptha soap also work.

   Removing Hair Dye Stains
Hair dye can easily stain both skin and clothing. To prevent these stains, wear old clothing and spread petroleum jelly on your skin. To remove dye stains on your skin, rub toothpaste into the mark and rinse the stain away. To take hair dye out of clothing, treat the stains with alcohol followed by lighter fluid, turpentine, or hydrogen peroxide. If all else fails, use bleach.

   Removing Hard Water Stains from Fiberglass
Fiberglass is easily scratched and etched, so before attempting to clean it of hard water deposits, read the precautions of product labels. The best course of action is to not allow hard water deposits to linger, so clean your fiberglass frequently.

   Removing Hard Water Stains from Linoleum
Since linoleum is made from natural ingredients, it is a porous material and can absorb watery substances, forming stains. Removing hard water stains from linoleum can prove challenging, but with perseverance and a little elbow grease, you can restore the luster to your linoleum flooring.

   Removing Ketchup Stains
The most important part about removing a ketchup stain is to get as much of it out as possible as soon as you can. To fully remove the stain, rub it with soap and alternate soap treatments with vinegar or peroxide treatments. If these methods don't work, attack the remnants of the stain with a stick or spray designed to remove stains.

   Removing Lipstick Stains
Lipstick can add a lot to your outfit—but not when it gets off your lips and onto your clothes. Keep reading for tips on how to remove lipstick stains.

   Removing Magic Marker Stains
Some permanent marker stains may never come out, but there are several methods you can use for marker stains that will come out. Hairspray, rubbing alcohol, and nail polish remover work on all kinds of ink stains. For marker stains, you may also try pushing toothpaste through the stain and rinsing thoroughly, or dabbing the stain with orange cleaner.

   Removing Mildew from Furniture
Whether it is the result of flooding, or you accidentally forgot to cover up some patio furniture, mildew and mold can be a major problem for all kinds of furniture. Mold and mildew isn't only a threat to your furniture, but to your health as well. Removing mildew from furniture isn't all that difficult if you take the proper precautions.

   Removing Mildew Stains
Mold and mildew build up and create unpleasant odors in moist areas of your home. Bleach is the best tool to remove mold and mildew, so you'll want to wash your surfaces with a bleach solution and add bleach to your wash cycle when cleaning mildew-covered linens. Let all of your mildew-plagued items dry thoroughly and, if possible, outside in the sunlight.

   Removing Newsprint Stains from Linoleum
While Grandma's advice for using newspaper to clean windows may be great, using newsprint against a linoleum floor can spell disaster. Here is a great method for removing newsprint stains from your linoleum floor.

   Removing Nicotine Stains
Nicotine stains can be difficult if not impossible to remove. If you have years of buildup, wash the walls with a mixture of water and trisodium phosphate. You can also use ammonia, either straight or mixed with vinegar and liquid detergent.

   Removing Oil Stains from Marble
Since marble is a porous stone, it can easily soak up oil, leaving a stain that is difficult to remove if not caught early. Follow these tips to remove oil stains from your marble countertops and floors.

   Removing Paint from Fiberglass
Fiberglass that has paint on it can be a little tricky to uncoat. It's possible, though, with some work. If you're interested in learning the best ways to remove paint from fiberglass, then you have come to the right place. No matter how tricky it may seem, removing paint from fiberglass is a task that you can do.

   Removing Paint from Tile
Removing paint from tile, while frustrating, is entirely possible. All you need to do is know how, and apply a little bit of elbow grease. While the elbow grease may be up to you, the how to part of that equation is provided here. Use one of these methods to begin removing that paint from the tile today.

   Removing Paint Stains
Paint stains are best treated while still wet. For watercolors and latex paints, just pre-treat the stain with stain remover or laundry detergent, then stick the clothing in the wash. For oil-based paint, try pre-treating the stain with turpentine. Rubbing alcohol, hairspray, and WD-40 are also options if the paint has already set.

   Removing Permanent Marker from Leather
Leather is a wonderfully versatile material that can be used in clothing, furniture, or even as an accessory. However, there are times when this wonderful material needs a little special care. One such time is when removing permanent marker from leather. Don't worry, it is possible to do. You just need to be willing to have patience and do a little bit of work.

   Removing Pet Odor
Anyone that has a pet can tell you that one of their major drawbacks is having to potty train them. Usually this entails a lot of frustration, work, and cleaning. If you find yourself faced with a situation where you need to start removing pet odor, then here's what you do.

   Removing Salsa Stains
Salsa, while a very tasty treat, has a nasty habit of staining things that it comes into contact with. One of the more common types of materials that it will stain is fabric. Learn how to remove salsa stains by following these directions.

   Removing Salt Stains
While the snow and ice of winter can be a beautiful sight, the salt that generally comes out at the same time can create some truly ugly sights. The salt that is used during the winter months can be truly helpful, but leave some really nasty stains everywhere. Removing salt stains can be a unique task that doesn't need to be particularly difficult.

   Removing Shower Mildew
It often seems like no matter what you try to do, over time you will find yourself faced with some mildew in your shower. After all, the shower is the perfect place for it. It is usually moist, and often dark in the bathroom. Well, instead of worrying about how to get the mildew out, why not spend a little time actually removing shower mildew. It's surprisingly easy.

   Removing Soft Drink Stains
You can remove soft drinks stains on the carpet by blotting them with a white cloth and a couple drops of liquid detergent. Spray ammonia on the stain, and then rinse it with water. An alternative is to let salt sit on the stain, and the vacuum the salt up. For clothing, try either salt or liquid detergent on the stain.

   Removing Soot Stains
Soot stains are best removed by first vacuuming off the excess soot. Next, dab the area with stain remover or liquid detergent. Let it dry, then blot the area again with a wet sponge or cloth. You can also rub some rubbing alcohol on the area. As an alternative, you can rent a steamer and steam the stain clean.

   Removing Soy Sauce Stains
If you enjoy having oriental food, then chances are you have come across a soy sauce stain every so often. Removing soy sauce stains can be fairly tricky, particularly if you have never done it before. That being said, if you follow these directions you won't have a very difficult time getting your fabric items clean.

   Removing Stains from Marble
Marble is a porous stone that attracts stains from all manner of liquids, including water. Make sure while cleaning marble to use neutral cleaning agents to not damage it. Examples of neutral agents to use are baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and cornstarch. Always blot at the stain rather than wiping it. If you want to make life easier in the future, use a sealant to keep the marble clean.

   Removing Stains Left By Moving Blankets
When it comes to moving, one of the biggest problems is protecting your furniture from getting damaged. That's where moving blankets come in. Unfortunately though, there are times when these blankets can actually be the cause of some problems, such as stains. Here's what you need to do to remove these kinds of stains.

   Removing Superglue from Polyester
Anyone that has ever used superglue before understands just how sticky this stuff is. At the same time, anyone who has kids knows just how easy it is to have those kids make a mess out of sticky things. If you have ever experienced this kind of frustration, then you might be interested in learning the proper way to remove superglue from one of the most common types of cloth, polyester.

   Removing Superglue from Porcelain
Superglue, while an extremely helpful substance, also has the potential to become a huge mess. One such example is when some superglue falls or is spilled onto some porcelain. Removing superglue from porcelain is not as easy as wiping up some spilled milk. However, it is possible to remove the glue, and still have a great looking area.

   Removing Sweat Stains
When you discover a sweat stain on your shirt, turn the shirt inside out and rub plain white vinegar into the stain. You can also try baking soda, dish detergent, or hydrogen peroxide. If the stain has set, try rubbing in shampoo made for oily hair before washing out the stain.

   Removing Tea Stains
Start removing a tea stain by blotting off any excess tea. Then treat the stain with either a spot remover or some laundry detergent. Wash the garment, and then let it air dry. If the stain persists, mix water with ammonia and dab the stain. Lemon juice can also work. If you spill tea on the carpet, cover with either lemon juice mix or salt, let it sit, then vacuum the stain away.

   Removing Toner Stains from Carpeting
If you work at an office, or simply have one in your home, then chances are good that you have a copy machine and some carpeted floors. Unfortunately if you have these two items, then you more than likely have a few stains from the toner on the carpeting. Good thing removing toner stains from carpeting doesn't have to be all that difficult.

   Removing Watermelon Stains from Carpet
While watermelon may be mostly water, they can leave pretty nasty stains. Here are some ways you can go about removing watermelon stains from your carpet.

   Removing Wax Stains
Most wax stains will have to be removed by freezing the wax then scraping it off. If you cannot remove some of the wax, try using a hair dryer set to high or placing a cloth over the wax and ironing the cloth. If all that is left is a residue, clean it up with some rubbing alcohol. Finally, if you have crayon marks on the wall, try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

   Urine Stain Removal
Urine stains on clothing are best treated by rubbing a paste of baking soda and water on the stain, then soaking the garment in a mixture of vinegar and water. For urine on the carpet, blot the stain with a mixture of water, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol. Then soak up the stain with paper towels.