How-To Videos

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.

If you have kids or pets in your home, there’s a good chance you’ve had this thought while cleaning: “I know I want this stain gone, but what exactly am I putting on the floor, carpet, furniture, or clothing my family comes in contact with every day?” It’s a fair question. A toddler crawling across a freshly cleaned floor, a dog stretching out on the carpet you just spot-cleaned, or a child grabbing the same patio cushion you cleaned earlier that afternoon can make you think differently about the products you use around your home. Cleaning power matters. But so does knowing what you’re using. That’s one of the reasons Stain Solver has always taken a different approach. Yes, Stain Solver Can Be Used Around Kids and Pets Stain Solver is an oxygen-based cleaner that can be used around children and pets when used as directed. Our formula contains just two environmentally friendly ingredients, both made in the USA, without fillers, fragrances, or a long list of unnecessary ingredients. That makes Stain Solver especially useful for the places where real family life happens: Carpets and rugs Washable clothing Kids' clothes and sports uniforms Upholstery and cushions Pet messes Tile and grout Outdoor furniture Patios and other washable outdoor surfaces Everyday laundry Bedding and towels In other words, many of the same places where stains happen are also the places where kids and pets spend their time. What Makes Stain Solver Different? Stain Solver doesn't clean by masking a mess with a strong fragrance. Its cleaning power comes from an oxygen-based chemical reaction. When Stain Solver is mixed with warm or hot water, the powder dissolves and begins releasing oxygen-powered cleaning action that helps loosen and lift stains, dirt, grime, and other organic material from washable surfaces. The active ingredient is sodium percarbonate. When sodium percarbonate dissolves in water, it produces hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate. The hydrogen peroxide provides the oxygen-based stain-removing action. That's the science behind all those bubbles you see when Stain Solver goes to work. And it also explains why Stain Solver can tackle some surprisingly difficult messes without relying on traditional chlorine bleach. Safe Around Kids and Pets Does Not Mean "Use It On Kids and Pets" Stain Solver is a cleaning product. It is not shampoo, pet wash, hand soap, or something designed to be applied directly to a person or animal. If your dog gets a stain on the carpet, absolutely reach for Stain Solver. If your dog gets something on the dog, don't. The same common-sense rules that apply to other household cleaners still apply here. Don't eat Stain Solver, don't intentionally get it in your eyes, follow the mixing and application instructions, and store the powder appropriately. Our own How-To guide specifically reinforces those precautions while noting that Stain Solver can be used around pets, vegetation, and small children. A Great Choice for the Messes Pets Leave Behind Anyone with a dog or cat knows that pets have an almost supernatural ability to create stains in exactly the wrong place. Carpet. Rugs. Cushions. Bedding. And, of course, that one spot that's nearly impossible to reach. We've previously demonstrated how Stain Solver can be used to tackle pet-related organic stains on rugs and carpets. The process is similar to many other Stain Solver cleaning jobs: remove as much of the original mess as possible, apply properly mixed Stain Solver, give it time to work, then blot or rinse the area as appropriate. The important part is that you're cleaning the surface affected by the pet mess. Kids Create a Different Category of "Real-Life Testing" Parents don't need us to explain this one. Juice. Chocolate. Ketchup. Grass. Mud. Mystery stains that nobody in the house admits knowing anything about. Stain Solver is made for exactly these kinds of everyday cleaning challenges. It can be used on many washable fabrics, carpets, rugs, upholstery and other household surfaces, and it is color- and fabric-safe for many common applications when used according to the directions. That versatility matters because you don't necessarily need a separate specialty product every time the next mess happens. No Added Fragrance Is a Bigger Deal Than You Might Think Sometimes we associate a strong smell with a strong cleaner. But a powerful fragrance doesn't mean something is cleaner. Stain Solver's current formula contains no added fragrance, which means we're not trying to cover one smell with another. The formula is focused on doing the actual cleaning work. For homes filled with kids, pets, laundry, bedding, cushions and everyday fabrics, that simplicity can be a welcome change. Using Stain Solver Correctly Matters Like any cleaning product, getting the best results means following the directions. For many general cleaning jobs, our standard starting ratio is: 1 tablespoon of Stain Solver per 1 cup of warm or hot water. That scales to: 1/4 cup per quart 1/2 cup per 1/2 gallon 1 cup per gallon Stir until the powder is completely dissolved, apply the solution or soak the item, and then give the oxygen action time to work. Many jobs benefit from approximately 30 minutes to 2 hours of dwell time, depending on the stain and surface. One of the biggest mistakes people make with Stain Solver is trying to rush it. Mix it. Apply it. Then let it work. The rinse it. There Are Still Some Things You Shouldn't Clean with Stain Solver Being versatile doesn't mean being appropriate for every material. Stain Solver should not be used on wool, silk, or aluminum, and it isn't an effective solution for rust stains. When you're unsure about a fabric or surface, testing an inconspicuous area first is always a smart idea. Cleaning Power You Can Feel Better About Bringing Into Your Home People shouldn't have to choose between getting something truly clean and feeling comfortable with the product they're using to do it. That matters even more when little hands touch everything, dogs sleep wherever they please, cats climb wherever they're definitely not supposed to be, and freshly cleaned surfaces quickly become part of everyday life again. Stain Solver gives you powerful oxygen-based cleaning with a remarkably simple formula. Two ingredients. No added fragrance. Oxygen-powered cleaning. Made in the USA. And safe for everyday household use around kids and pets when used as directed. Because sometimes the question isn't just: “Will it get the stain out?” It's also: “Do I feel good about using this in my home?” With Stain Solver, we think you should be able to answer yes to both. Frequently Asked Questions Is Stain Solver safe to use around dogs and cats? Yes. Stain Solver can be used for household cleaning around pets when used as directed. It should not, however, be applied directly to your pet. Can I use Stain Solver to clean pet stains on carpet? Yes. Stain Solver is well suited for many organic pet messes on compatible carpets and rugs. Remove the solid or excess material first, then treat the remaining stain according to the directions. Is Stain Solver safe around children? Stain Solver can be used for household cleaning around children when used as directed. As with any cleaning product, the powder should be stored appropriately and should not be eaten or intentionally put in the eyes. Does Stain Solver contain fragrance? No added fragrance is used in the current Stain Solver formula. What is the active ingredient in Stain Solver? The active ingredient is sodium percarbonate. When it is dissolved in hot water, it produces hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate, creating the oxygen-based cleaning action that helps remove stains. Can Stain Solver be used directly on a pet? No. Stain Solver is a surface and fabric cleaner. It is not a pet shampoo or grooming product and should not be applied directly to an animal. Are there materials I should avoid? Yes. Do not use Stain Solver on wool, silk, or aluminum. It also is not recommended as a solution for rust stains.

Instructions that call for “one scoop” may sound simple, but a scoop is not a standardized unit of measurement. Depending on the product, one scoop could hold a tablespoon, a quarter cup, a half cup, or almost any other amount. That can create unnecessary confusion when mixing a cleaning solution—especially when customers use a scoop from another product or replace a misplaced scoop with one from the kitchen. Every Stain Solver container includes an appropriately sized scoop, but not every container uses the same scoop. The 2 lb and 9 lb containers include our regular scoop, which holds approximately:                               1 regular scoop = 1/8 cup = 2 tablespoons Our standard mixing guidance using the regular scoop is: 1 cup of hot water: ¼ regular scoop 1 quart of hot water: 1 regular scoop 1 gallon of hot water: 4 regular scoops When using the 45 lb container, follow the mixing instructions printed on its label, which account for the larger scoop. The 45 lb container includes a larger scoop designed for commercial and high-volume use:                                1 large scoop = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons That means one large scoop is equal to approximately four regular scoops. This distinction is important when following mixing directions. A recommendation calling for four regular scoops per gallon should not be interpreted as four of the larger scoops included with the 45 lb container. We created the accompanying Stain Solver Measuring Conversions Guide to make these differences easier to understand. It provides the scoop capacities in cups and tablespoons, along with estimated scoop counts for each container size. The most important takeaway is simple: “scoop” describes a tool, not a universal measurement. For the most consistent results, use the scoop supplied with your Stain Solver container or measure the product using cups or tablespoons based on the conversions provided.

One minute your player is sprinting down the baseline, and the next they are sliding hard into the dirt with a big brown stain across a bright white jersey or pair of pants. The good news is that this kind of mess does not have to be permanent. With the right soak method, Stain Solver can help lift fresh dirt stains from washable baseball uniforms and make cleanup much easier.

It may not be the most fun project around the house, but cleaning your home’s siding is an important part of keeping it looking good and helping protect it over time. The good news is that with Stain Solver, this chore can be much easier and less time-consuming than you might expect. Why You Need To Clean Your Vinyl Siding There are several good reasons to make vinyl siding cleaning part of your regular home maintenance routine. The first is appearance. Your home is a big investment, and naturally you want it to look its best. Dirt, streaks, and stains on siding can really take away from your home’s curb appeal, whether you are relaxing outside, hosting guests, or simply pulling into the driveway at the end of the day. Beyond appearance, vinyl siding can also collect mold, mildew, and other unwanted buildup. When these contaminants are left alone, they can continue spreading across the surface and create an unpleasant exterior environment. Cleaning away grime and organic growth helps keep your home’s outside surfaces cleaner, healthier, and more inviting. Regular cleaning is also a smart part of basic home upkeep. Small maintenance tasks done consistently can help you avoid tougher cleaning jobs and more stubborn staining later. In other words, staying ahead of the problem can help preserve your siding and reduce the chance of long-term discoloration. Stain Solver Makes It Easy Stain Solver is a great environmentally friendly choice for cleaning vinyl siding. It works well on dirt, stains, mold, and mildew, while still being safe to use around landscaping and plants when used as directed. Because it is an oxygen bleach, it creates a cleaning reaction that releases oxygen from the powder and helps lift grime from the siding surface. It is also a strong all-purpose cleaner for many other jobs around the home. One of the biggest advantages Stain Solver has over chlorine bleach is safety. Chlorine bleach is much harsher and should only be used with a lot of caution. Around the outside of a home, it can harm plants, damage surrounding areas, and create risks for people and animals. It can also be rough on surfaces when improperly used. For those reasons, we do not recommend chlorine bleach as the cleaning solution for vinyl siding. How To Clean Siding Without a Pressure Washer A lot of people assume a pressure washer is required to clean siding properly, but that is not the case with Stain Solver. One of the benefits of using it is that you can get great results without relying on a pressure washer or harsh abrasive tools. If you already have a pressure washer and want to use one, that is your choice, but it is definitely not required for most jobs. How To Use Stain Solver to Clean Your Vinyl Siding Stain Solver makes cleaning vinyl siding simple and manageable. Just take a look at how it was used to clean a very dirty house in the video above. Here’s how you can use Stain Solver to get results:    - Mix one cup Stain Solver with one gallon of hot water, and stir until completely dissolved.   - Use a pole and brush, or garden sprayer, to apply the Stain Solver solution to your vinyl siding.   - Let sit for an hour.   - Use a soft bristled brush to scrub off the solution.   - Rinse.