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Outdoor rugs take a beating. Rain, dirt, pollen, foot traffic, leaves, pets, moisture, and everything else that comes with life outside can slowly turn a good-looking outdoor rug into something that looks like it is ready for the trash. That is exactly what happened to Tom’s rug. But instead of replacing it, Tom added Stain Solver to his annual outdoor cleaning routine, and the before-and-after difference speaks for itself. The dirt and discoloration lifted away, helping Tom save a lot of cleaning time and, more importantly, the cost of buying a new outdoor rug. Clean it. Refresh it. Keep it. Can You Clean an Outdoor Rug with Stain Solver? Yes, many water-washable outdoor rugs can be cleaned with Stain Solver. Always check the rug manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first, and test the solution in a small, inconspicuous area before treating the entire rug. Stain Solver is an oxygen-based powder cleaner that is mixed with warm or hot water before application. For many cleaning projects, it is allowed to work for 30 minutes or longer before the surface is thoroughly rinsed. Tom’s rug is a great example of how simple that process can be. Tom’s Outdoor Rug Before Cleaning Over time, Tom’s outdoor rug had developed significant dirt and greenish discoloration. The change happened gradually, which is common with outdoor surfaces. When you see something every day, you may not realize just how dirty it has become until you start cleaning it. The BEFORE photo makes the buildup easy to see. Rather than throw the rug away and buy another one, Tom decided to make it part of his annual outdoor cleaning. How Tom Cleaned His Outdoor Rug Tom kept the process pretty simple. He mixed Stain Solver with warm water, put the solution into a 1-gallon pump sprayer, sprayed the rug, and let Stain Solver work for approximately 30 minutes. Then he thoroughly rinsed the rug with a garden hose. That was it. In Tom’s case, the dirt and stains rinsed away without requiring a power washer or aggressive scrubbing. His experience demonstrates why allowing the cleaning solution enough time to work can be just as important as the application itself. And when the rug dried? Take another look at that AFTER photo. Instead of shopping for a replacement rug, Tom was able to put the one he already owned back into service. How to Clean an Outdoor Rug with Stain Solver If you have a washable outdoor rug that could use some attention, here is a straightforward process to try. 1. Check the Rug First Review the manufacturer’s care instructions to make sure the rug can be cleaned with water. It is also a good idea to test Stain Solver on a small, inconspicuous area before cleaning the entire rug. 2. Remove Loose Dirt and Debris Sweep, vacuum, or shake loose dirt, leaves, and other debris from the rug before applying your cleaning solution. This allows Stain Solver to concentrate on the dirt and discoloration that remains in the rug. 3. Mix Stain Solver with Warm or Hot Water Mix Stain Solver with warm or hot water until the powder is completely dissolved. For most general cleaning applications, our standard ratio is: 1 cup of Stain Solver per 1 gallon of water Smaller batches can be made using 1 tablespoon per 1 cup of water. 4. Apply the Solution Evenly A pump sprayer works especially well for a project like an outdoor rug because it allows you to apply the solution evenly instead of dumping too much liquid onto one area. Spray the rug thoroughly so the areas you want to clean are wet with the Stain Solver solution. 5. Give Stain Solver Time to Work This is important. Do not spray the rug and immediately rinse it. Tom allowed Stain Solver to work for approximately 30 minutes. If you are cleaning outside on a warm or sunny day, keep an eye on the rug. If the solution starts to dry, lightly mist it again. Keeping a cleaning project wet during the dwell period gives Stain Solver more opportunity to work on the dirt and discoloration. 6. Rinse Thoroughly When the dwell time is complete, thoroughly rinse the rug with clean water. Tom simply used a garden hose. You want the rinse water to carry away the loosened dirt along with the remaining cleaning solution. 7. Let the Rug Dry Completely Allow the rug to dry completely before returning furniture to it or putting it back into regular use. And then compare your own before-and-after photos. You may be surprised by just how much dirt had accumulated. Annual Cleaning Can Help You Keep What You Already Own Tom’s outdoor rug illustrates something we talk about frequently at Stain Solver: Sometimes the best cleaning project is the one that keeps you from having to replace something. Outdoor rugs, cushions, patio furniture, decks, patios, and other exterior surfaces are exposed to dirt and weather month after month. Periodic cleaning can help keep those areas looking their best instead of waiting until they look permanently stained or worn. Stain Solver is currently recommended for a range of outdoor cleaning applications, including decks, patios, outdoor furniture, siding, and other washable exterior surfaces. Making those projects part of an annual outdoor cleaning routine can make a big difference. Tom did. And instead of replacing his outdoor rug, he cleaned it. Clean it. Refresh it. Keep it. Have an outdoor rug, cushion, patio, deck, or piece of outdoor furniture that has seen better days? Give Stain Solver a chance to solve the stain before you replace it.   FAQs Can Stain Solver be used on outdoor rugs? Stain Solver can be used on many water-washable rugs and outdoor fabrics. Check the manufacturer’s care instructions first, and test a small, inconspicuous area before cleaning the entire rug. How long should Stain Solver sit on an outdoor rug? For Tom’s outdoor rug, he allowed Stain Solver to work for approximately 30 minutes before rinsing it. Many Stain Solver cleaning projects benefit from 30 minutes or more of dwell time. Keep the treated area wet while the solution is working. Do I need a pressure washer to clean an outdoor rug? Not necessarily. Tom cleaned his outdoor rug using a pump sprayer and rinsed it with a regular garden hose. A pressure washer was not necessary for his project. Should I scrub an outdoor rug after applying Stain Solver? It depends on the amount and type of buildup. Tom’s rug did not require aggressive scrubbing. Giving Stain Solver adequate dwell time before rinsing may reduce the amount of physical cleaning required. Can I apply Stain Solver with a pump sprayer? Yes. A quality pump sprayer can provide more even coverage, help prevent over-application, and make it easier to keep a large outdoor surface wet during the cleaning process. What else can I clean during my annual outdoor cleaning? Stain Solver can be used on many washable outdoor surfaces, including outdoor furniture, cushions, decks, patios, siding, rugs, and other exterior cleaning projects. Always check the surface manufacturer’s instructions and test first.

One of the simplest ways to get better results with Stain Solver is to put it in a quality sprayer. Whether you are cleaning a carpet stain indoors, freshening up outdoor furniture, tackling dirty siding, or working on a patio or deck, a sprayer can make applying Stain Solver easier, more even, and more controlled. The basic Stain Solver process is already simple: Mix. Spray. Wait. Rinse. Using a sprayer makes each part of that process even easier, as long as you use a quality sprayer that won't clog due to the dissolved Stain Solver material remaining in the hot water mixture. We have tried a few sizes and they are available for purchase from us, or you can use your favorite reliable brand. Using a high-quality sprayer is especially important with a powdered cleaning product like Stain Solver because the solution must be thoroughly dissolved and move freely through the sprayer without interruption. The dip tube plays a critical role because it draws the mixed solution from the bottom of the bottle and delivers it to the trigger mechanism and nozzle. Inferior sprayers often use narrow, poorly designed, or low-quality dip tubes and internal components that can become clogged by small amounts of undissolved product or residue. This becomes even more important at the nozzle, where the solution must pass through much smaller openings to create a proper spray pattern. Any undissolved particles or buildup can restrict those tiny passages, causing weak, uneven spraying, sputtering, or stopping the spray entirely. A well-made sprayer with a quality dip tube and nozzle helps maintain steady solution flow, produces a consistent spray pattern, and makes applying Stain Solver faster, easier, and far less frustrating. Shop ours here.  Watch as Luke and Josh briefly discuss why they use sprayers and which ones they prefer in this short video >> 1. Get More Even Coverage When you pour cleaning solution directly onto a surface, it is easy to soak one area while barely covering another. A sprayer gives you much more control. Instead of dumping solution onto a stain, carpet, cushion, deck, or patio, you can apply a consistent layer across the entire area you are trying to clean. That is especially helpful when you are working on larger surfaces. The goal is not necessarily to use as much Stain Solver solution as possible. It is to make sure the cleaning solution reaches all of the area that needs to be cleaned. A sprayer makes that much easier. 2. Keep the Surface Wet While Stain Solver Works This may be the biggest advantage of using a sprayer. Stain Solver needs time to work. For many cleaning jobs, we recommend allowing Stain Solver to remain on the stained area for at least 30 minutes, and some jobs can benefit from a longer dwell time. Stain Solver's oxygen-based cleaning action starts when the powder is mixed with warm or hot water, so giving that solution time to work is important. The challenge, especially outdoors, is evaporation. On a warm day, a deck, patio, siding, outdoor cushion, or piece of lawn furniture can begin drying before your 30 minutes are up. That is where the sprayer really comes in handy. If you notice an area beginning to dry, simply give it another light mist of Stain Solver solution. You do not need to completely re-saturate the surface. You are just keeping it wet so Stain Solver has more time to work. This technique is particularly useful on patios and other outdoor surfaces, where keeping the surface wet during the dwell period can improve the cleaning process. 3. Avoid Over-Applying the Solution More cleaning solution does not automatically mean better cleaning. Pouring Stain Solver onto a surface can make it easy to use far more than you actually need. On carpet and upholstery, for example, you may put significantly more liquid into the material than necessary. A sprayer lets you control exactly where the solution goes and how much you apply. You can wet the entire stained area without unnecessarily flooding it. That means: More controlled application Less wasted cleaning solution Less unnecessary saturation Easier coverage of vertical surfaces Easier reapplication when an area starts drying We have seen the same advantage when using Stain Solver on carpet. Spraying helps distribute the solution across the stained area while reducing the chance of dumping too much liquid into one spot. 4. Mix Stain Solver Right in the Sprayer A sprayer can also eliminate another step. For many jobs, you can mix your Stain Solver solution directly in the sprayer. Stain Solver's standard starting ratio for most cleaning jobs is: 1 tablespoon of Stain Solver per 1 cup of warm or hot water That ratio scales easily: Water Stain Solver 1 cup 1 tablespoon 1 quart 1/4 cup 1/2 gallon 1/2 cup 1 gallon 1 cup These are the standard mixing ratios published in our Stain Solver usage instructions. For a one-gallon pump sprayer, for example, you can add the appropriate amount of warm or hot water and 1 cup of Stain Solver, then make sure the powder is completely dissolved before spraying. For a smaller hand sprayer, simply scale the recipe down. The important part is getting the Stain Solver thoroughly dissolved in the water before you begin spraying. 5. A Sprayer Is Especially Helpful Outdoors If you clean outside with Stain Solver, a pump sprayer may quickly become one of your favorite cleaning tools. Think about the surfaces around a typical home: Decks Patios Concrete Pavers Vinyl siding Railings Fences Outdoor furniture Patio cushions Hammocks Outdoor rugs A sprayer makes it much easier to cover large or irregularly shaped surfaces without continually dipping a brush into a bucket or trying to pour cleaning solution evenly. It is particularly helpful on vertical surfaces such as siding, railings, fencing, and outdoor furniture because you can direct the solution exactly where you need it. For outdoor fabrics, spraying also makes it easy to reapply Stain Solver as necessary to keep the material wet while the solution works. Don't Rush the Wait One of the most common mistakes when cleaning is wanting to scrub immediately. With Stain Solver, patience can actually save you work. Mix the solution, spray the surface thoroughly, and give the oxygen-powered cleaning action time to work on the stain. Check it after about 30 minutes. If you notice the surface beginning to dry, mist it again. Then scrub lightly if the particular job needs it, and rinse thoroughly with clean water. For many jobs, that simple process can reduce how much physical scrubbing you need to do. Mix. Spray. Wait. Rinse. You certainly do not need a sprayer for every Stain Solver job. Soaking is still a great option for clothing and smaller washable items, and some cleaning jobs are easier with a bucket. But when you need to apply Stain Solver across a surface, a sprayer is hard to beat. It gives you: Even application. Better control. Less waste. Easier reapplication. Longer wet contact time. And because you can mix Stain Solver with warm or hot water and get right to work, it keeps the entire process simple. Mix. Spray. Wait. Rinse. That is a pretty easy way to solve a stain. Shop our sprayers here >> FAQs Can you put Stain Solver in a sprayer?Yes. Stain Solver can be mixed with warm or hot water, dissolved thoroughly, and applied with a hand or pump sprayer. How much Stain Solver do I put in a one-gallon sprayer?For most general cleaning applications, the standard mixture is 1 cup of Stain Solver per 1 gallon of water. Why should I keep Stain Solver wet while it works?Keeping the treated area wet gives the mixed solution time to continue working on the stain. A sprayer makes it easy to lightly reapply solution if the surface begins drying. How long should Stain Solver sit before rinsing?Many Stain Solver cleaning applications benefit from about 30 minutes of dwell time, although some stains may benefit from longer treatment. The official guidance allows 30 minutes to 2 hours for many applications. Can I save leftover Stain Solver solution in my sprayer?It is better to mix what you expect to use for the job. Once Stain Solver is mixed with hot water, its effectiveness diminishes over a few hours.

Years of Kids, Spills, and Everyday Life Left Their Mark Furniture in a busy family home gets used. A lot. For Gia B., one living room chair had the stains to prove it. After years of use by her kids, the light-colored upholstered chair had accumulated spots, spills, discoloration, and the general evidence of everyday family life. Instead of giving up on the chair, Gia decided to see what Stain Solver could do. The before-and-after photos tell the story. In the before photo, the chair cushions and arm show numerous visible stains, including darker spots scattered across the light fabric. After cleaning with Stain Solver, the fabric looks dramatically cleaner and brighter, with the vast majority of those years of accumulated stains no longer visible. Her Upholstery-Cleaning Method Was Surprisingly Simple Gia didn't use a complicated upholstery-cleaning machine. She applied her Stain Solver solution with a sprayer, making it easy to distribute the solution over the areas that needed attention. She then followed one of the most important parts of the cleaning process: giving Stain Solver time to work. Gia allowed the solution to remain on the fabric for approximately 30 minutes. That dwell time gave the cleaning solution an opportunity to work on the accumulated stains rather than immediately wiping or rinsing it away. After about 30 minutes, she thoroughly rinsed the treated areas. That final step matters. When cleaning upholstery, you don't want to simply spray a cleaning solution onto the fabric and leave the residue behind. Thorough rinsing helps remove the loosened soils along with the cleaning solution. Before and After: A Big Difference on Light Upholstery Light-colored furniture can be beautiful, but it doesn't hide much. Small spills, dirty hands, snacks, drinks, pets, and ordinary household use can gradually leave an upholstered chair looking much older than it actually is. That's what makes Gia's results particularly impressive. Her before photo doesn't show one isolated stain. It shows years of accumulated use across several areas of the chair. The after photo shows just how much of that buildup she was able to remove. Rather than replacing an otherwise usable piece of furniture, Gia gave the chair a serious refresh using Stain Solver, some patience, and a thorough rinse. How Gia Used Stain Solver on Her Upholstered Chair Her process can be summarized in four basic steps: Prepare the Stain Solver solution according to the product directions. Apply it with a sprayer to the stained upholstery. Allow it to sit for approximately 30 minutes so the solution has time to work. Thoroughly rinse the fabric to remove the solution and the soils it has loosened. When cleaning any upholstered furniture, always check the furniture manufacturer's cleaning instructions and test your cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area first. Don't Assume a Stained Chair Is a Lost Cause When furniture has been subjected to years of kids, food, drinks, and everyday life, it's easy to look at all those stains and think replacement is the only realistic option. Gia's chair is a good reminder that it may be worth trying to clean it first. Her results came from a straightforward process: spray, allow time to work, and rinse thoroughly. And in this case, the difference between the before and after photos is hard to miss. Have a chair, sofa, cushion, or other washable surface that has seen better days? Before giving up on it, give Stain Solver a chance to solve the stains.

A crisp white shirt can look great right up until you notice the collar. Collar stains, sometimes called “ring around the collar,” have a way of making an otherwise perfectly good shirt look worn, dingy, or ready for the discard pile. The good news is that a stained white collar does not necessarily mean the shirt is finished. We put Stain Solver to the test on a real white shirt with a noticeably stained collar. The process was simple, and after only a 30-minute soak, the difference was easy to see. Watch here >> Why Do Shirt Collars Get So Dirty? A shirt collar spends hours in direct contact with your neck. Over time, perspiration, natural skin oils, makeup, lotions, hair products, dirt, and everyday grime can accumulate in the fabric. Regular detergent may remove some of that buildup, but stubborn discoloration can remain behind, particularly after it has worked its way into the fibers. That is when giving the stain some extra time with an oxygen-powered cleaner can make a difference. Step 1: Mix Stain Solver with Hot Water For this shirt, we started by mixing Stain Solver with hot water. Stain Solver is an oxygen-based powder cleaner made with just two ingredients: sodium percarbonate and soda ash. When mixed with water, it releases active oxygen that helps lift and break down staining material. Make sure the Stain Solver is completely dissolved before soaking the garment. For general mixing guidance, Stain Solver recommends approximately: 1 tablespoon of Stain Solver per 1 cup of water That ratio can be scaled up depending on how much solution you need to completely soak the item. Step 2: Soak the Stained Shirt Next, the white shirt went into the Stain Solver solution. The important part is making sure the stained collar is fully submerged so the cleaning solution can work throughout the fabric instead of merely touching the surface. For this particular collar stain, we let the entire shirt soak for 30 minutes. Then we checked the collar. No stain. The visible discoloration that had been around the inside of the white collar was gone. Stain Solver generally recommends allowing 30 minutes to two hours of contact time depending on the severity of the stain, so tougher or older stains may need additional time. Step 3: Rinse the Shirt Thoroughly Once the collar stain had lifted, we thoroughly rinsed the shirt with clean water. Don't overlook this step. Rinsing helps remove the loosened staining material and remaining cleaning solution before the garment goes into the washing machine. And, yes, we checked the collar again after rinsing. Still no stain. Step 4: Wash Normally After rinsing, the shirt went into the washing machine for a normal wash. We also added one standard scoop of Stain Solver to the wash. That is one of the easiest ways to incorporate Stain Solver into your regular laundry routine. Keep using your normal laundry detergent, and add Stain Solver as an oxygen-powered laundry booster when your clothes need some additional cleaning power. The Result: A White Collar Worth Wearing Again After washing, we took another close look at the shirt. The collar was clean, white, and ready to wear again. No complicated stain-treatment routine. No aggressive scrubbing. And, most importantly, no reason to replace a perfectly good shirt because of one stubborn stained collar. That is exactly what we mean when we say: Solve your stains. Save your stuff. Before giving up on a stained shirt, towel, uniform, or other washable fabric, give the stain a chance to come out. Stain Solver is designed for far more than laundry, but clothing is a great example of why removing a stain can also mean extending the useful life of something you already own. Can I Use This Method on Other Shirts? For washable fabrics, the same basic process can be used for many common laundry stains: Mix Stain Solver completely with warm or hot water. Submerge the stained area. Allow it to soak. Check the stain after about 30 minutes. Continue soaking if necessary. Rinse thoroughly. Wash normally with your regular detergent and add a scoop of Stain Solver. Always check the garment's care instructions first, and test an inconspicuous area when appropriate. Stain Solver should not be used on wool or silk. Don't Toss the Shirt Until You Try to Solve the Stain Collar stains are frustrating because they can make the whole shirt look dirty even when the rest of it is perfectly fine. Before replacing that white shirt, try treating the stain instead. In our test, 30 minutes with hot water and Stain Solver was enough to remove the visible collar stain, followed by a thorough rinse and normal wash. One stain solved. One shirt saved. Ready to tackle your own tough laundry stains? Visit StainSolver.com and put oxygen-powered cleaning to work. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ FAQs How do you remove stains from a white shirt collar? Mix Stain Solver completely with warm or hot water, submerge the stained collar, and allow it to soak. In the demonstration shown here, the collar stain was gone after 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, and then wash the shirt normally. How long should I soak a stained shirt in Stain Solver? Stain Solver generally recommends between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on the severity of the stain. Check the garment periodically, and continue soaking if needed. Can I add Stain Solver to my washing machine? Yes. Stain Solver can be added to your regular laundry routine along with your normal detergent to provide additional oxygen-powered cleaning. Does Stain Solver replace laundry detergent? No. For routine laundry, keep using your normal detergent, and use Stain Solver as an additional cleaning booster. Can Stain Solver be used on all fabrics? No. Always check the garment care label first. Stain Solver specifically advises against using the product on wool or silk. What causes ring around the collar? Collar discoloration can develop from a combination of perspiration, natural skin oils, personal-care products, dirt, and other buildup transferred to the fabric during normal wear.

Learn how to clean dirty white tennis shoes with Stain Solver. See how oxygen-powered cleaning helps lift stains and grime and can help save shoes you thought were ruined.

Stain Solver is made in the USA with just two U.S.-made ingredients. Learn what’s inside this oxygen-based cleaner, how it works, and what it can clean.