Stain Guides by Type
Every stain behaves differently depending on its chemical makeup. Wine pigments, curry oils, berry acids, and protein-based food stains each require a distinct removal strategy. Browse our 109 guides organized by the substance that caused the stain.
🔥 Most Common Stain Types
Browse by Stain Category
🍷 Wine & Red Wine
Tannin-based stains that require immediate cold-water treatment
🍛 Curry & Turmeric
Curcumin pigment stains — never use hot water or heat
🫐 Berry & Fruit
Acidic fruit pigments that respond well to cold treatment
🥙 Hummus & Tahini
Protein-and-oil combination stains needing a multi-step approach
☀️ Sunscreen & Oil
Oil-based stains that can yellow in the wash without proper pre-treatment
🧪 Chemical & Bleaching
Chemical damage, bleaching, and pigment binding issues
All Guides by Type
🍷 Wine & Red Wine (54 guides)
- What to Do Immediately for Red Wine on Carpet — First steps for carpet spills
- Immediate Actions for Red Wine on Cotton Blouses — Quick response guide for cotton
- Is Baking Soda Safe on Red Wine Stains? — Evaluating common home remedies
- Immediate Actions for Red Wine on Cotton Napkins — Dinner party emergency response
- Immediate Actions for Red Wine on Cotton Shirts — Save your favourite shirt
- Immediate Actions for Red Wine on Cotton Tablecloth — Quick tablecloth rescue
- Immediate Actions for Red Wine on Cotton T-Shirts — Casual clothing quick fix
- Immediate Steps for Red Wine on Dark Carpets — Dark carpet-specific treatment
- Stabilizing Red Wine on a Decorative Rug — Protecting delicate rugs
- Red Wine on Sofa Cushion Covers — Cushion-specific treatment steps
- When Is a Red Wine Stain Set on Fabric? — Identifying permanent damage
- Best First Move for Red Wine on Rugs — Rug emergency protocol
- Does Club Soda Make Red Wine Stains Worse? — Myth-busting common advice
- Storing a Damp Wine-Stained Tablecloth — When you can't treat immediately
- When to Stop Treating Red Wine on Fabrics — Knowing when to quit
- Returned Red Wine Stains on Upholstery — Why stains reappear after treatment
- Red Wine on High-Pile Rugs — Deep pile treatment challenges
- Safe Mindset for Red Wine on Textiles — Avoiding panic-driven mistakes
- Red Wine on a Linen Dress — Immediate linen dress rescue
- Does Waiting Make Wine on Linen Worse? — Time sensitivity for linen
- Blot or Rinse First for Wine on Linen Napkins? — Best first action debate
- Red Wine on Linen Shirt — Step-by-step linen shirt treatment
- Containing Red Wine on Linen Tablecloth — Preventing spread on linen
- Red Wine on Linen Table Runners — Table runner emergency treatment
- Red Wine on Low-Pile Rugs — Low pile treatment advantages
- Red Wine on Polyester Dresses — Synthetic fabric treatment steps
- Red Wine on Polyester — Easier or Harder? — Polyester-specific considerations
- Red Wine on Polyester Garments — General polyester wine treatment
- Red Wine on Rental Carpet — Protecting your deposit
- Red Wine on Shag Rugs — Shag rug deep-cleaning approach
- Red Wine on Silk Blouse — Delicate silk emergency treatment
- Red Wine on Silk Garments — Gentle silk rescue techniques
- Red Wine on Silk Scarf — Scarf-specific silk care
- Red Wine on Sofa Arm — Preventing spread on furniture
- DIY vs Professional for Sofa Cushion Wine Stains — When to call for help
- Red Wine on Carpet — Blot or Wait? — Best initial carpet approach
- Why Red Wine Stains Darken After Drying — Understanding oxidation effects
- Residue vs Remaining Pigment from Red Wine — Diagnosing what's left
- Red Wine on Upholstery Cushions — Cushion emergency treatment
- Red Wine on Upholstery — Immediate Steps — Furniture rescue protocol
- Red Wine on Wool Sweaters — Wool-safe wine treatment
- Does Over-Treating a Wine Stain Cause Harm? — When less is more
- Wine on Carpet vs Upholstery — Understanding different fabric behaviour
- Common Mistakes with Wine on Cotton — Errors to avoid on cotton
- Why Wine Stains Form Rings on Fabric — Understanding ring patterns
- Preventing Halo from Dried Wine on Table Runners — Avoiding halo effect
- Does Water Spread Wine on Upholstery? — Water treatment debate
- When Wine on Linen Won't Come Out — Recognizing permanent stains
- Reappearing Wine Stains on Polyester — Why polyester stains return
- Should You Photograph Wine Stains Before Dry Cleaning? — Documenting for professionals
- How to Tell if a Wine Stain is Removable — Assessing removal chances
- Transporting a Wine-Stained Cushion — Getting it to a cleaner safely
- Why Wine on Wool is Challenging — Wool-specific complications
- Wine Stains — Silk vs Cotton — Comparing fabric vulnerability
🍛 Curry & Turmeric (14 guides)
- How to Remove Curry Stains from Cotton — Step-by-step cotton treatment
- Identifying a Heat-Set Curry Stain — Has heat made it permanent?
- Curry on Linen vs Cotton — Why linen is harder to treat
- Curry Stains on Synthetic Fabric — Polyester and nylon treatment
- Curry on Upholstery vs Clothing — Different approaches needed
- Curry in Carpet Padding — Diagnosing deep carpet stains
- Professional Cleaning for Curry Stains — When DIY won't cut it
- When to Stop Treating Curry on Fiber Fabric — Avoiding over-treatment
- What to Avoid After a Curry Spill — Critical first-minute mistakes
- Stopping a Curry Oil Halo — Preventing oil rings from spreading
- Why Curry Stains Form Rings — Understanding ring patterns
- Fresh Turmeric on Cotton — Safest First Action — Immediate turmeric response
- Heat Effects on Turmeric vs Other Pigments — Why heat is the enemy
- Turmeric on Dyed Fabric — Colorfastness Testing — Test before you treat
🫐 Berry & Fruit (9 guides)
- How to Safely Blot Berry Stains — Correct blotting technique
- Why Berry Stains Reappear on Clothing — Understanding stain recurrence
- Sugar vs Pigment in Berry Stains — Identifying the stain components
- Berry Stains on Dark Fabrics — What to avoid on dark colours
- Berry Stains Wicking into Carpet Padding — Preventing deep carpet damage
- When to Stop DIY for Berry on Upholstery — Knowing your limits
- Berry Smoothie Stains Darken After Drying — Why smoothie stains change colour
- Açaí Stains on Activewear — Triage guide for açaí spills
- How Sunlight Affects Berry Pigments — UV and berry stain interaction
🥙 Hummus & Tahini (8 guides)
- Oil vs Protein in Hummus Stains — Identifying the two stain components
- Why Hummus Stains Feel Stiff After Drying — Understanding dried hummus behaviour
- Hummus After Dish Soap Treatment — Fixing incomplete treatment
- Hummus on Wool or Silk — Delicate fabric approach
- Safest Blotting for Hummus on Upholstery — Furniture-safe technique
- Hummus Stain Migration on Upholstery — Preventing spread through fabric
- When DIY Risks Damage for Hummus Stains — Knowing when to stop
- Preventing Rings from Tahini on Upholstery — Avoiding halo marks
☀️ Sunscreen & Oil (4 guides)
- Preventing Sunscreen Stains in the Wash — Stop stains from spreading
- Why Sunscreen Stains Turn Yellow — Chemical reaction with detergent
- Professional Cleaning for Sunscreen Stains — When to seek expert help
- Stopping a Curry Oil Halo from Spreading — Containing oil ring stains
🧪 Chemical & Bleaching (4 guides)
- Hydrogen Peroxide Lightened Your Cotton Blouse — Treating chemical damage
- Is My Cotton Shirt Bleaching from Dish Soap? — Identifying accidental bleaching
- Pigment Binding on Cotton vs Linen — How different fabrics hold colour
- Stain Residue vs Remaining Pigment — Diagnosing what's left on fabric
🍽️ Exotic Food (2 guides)
- Common Irreversible Mistakes with Exotic Food Stains — Errors that cause permanent damage
- Judging Success with Exotic Food Stains — Setting realistic expectations
📋 General Stain Care (15 guides)
- DIY Treatment vs Professional Help — When to call an expert
- Managing Panic When Dealing with Stains — Stay calm for better results
- When to Stop Stain Removal Efforts — Preventing further damage
- When a Stain is No Longer Safe to Treat at Home — Safety boundaries for DIY
- Factors Influencing Stain Removal — Why results vary
- Stain Removal on Borrowed or Valuable Fabric — High-stakes treatment approach
- Key Questions Before Using a Stronger Cleaner — Escalation decision guide
- When to Stop Stain Treatment — Recognizing diminishing returns
- Stabilizing a Stain When You Can't Treat Immediately — Buying time safely
- How to Document a Stain Before Recovery — Evidence for professional cleaners
- Prioritizing Fabric Preservation Over Removal — Protecting the fabric first
- How to Decide Stain Type on Clothing — Identifying unknown stains
- Why Stains Look Different Wet vs Dry — Understanding visual changes
- Reducing Stain Visibility on Clothing — Minimizing appearance
- Safely Pausing Stain Treatment on Upholstery — Taking a break without damage
🔗 Other Ways to Browse
- All Stain Guides — Complete collection of 109 guides