How-To Videos

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.

A magic marker stain on a pillow can feel like game over. Bright ink on fabric usually looks permanent, especially when the stain is fresh and bold. But in this case, the villain was a red magic marker and the hero was Stain Solver. A newly made red marker stain on a pillow was treated right away, and the result was a clean-looking fabric surface again.

If your washing machine soap tray is starting to look grimy, you're not alone. Over time, detergent drawers and dispenser trays can collect a messy mix of soap residue, fabric softener buildup, mildew, and dark grime in the corners and channels. Even if the rest of the washer looks clean, that tray can become one of the dirtiest parts of the machine. The good news is that it is usually easy to clean. In this video, a stained washing machine soap tray is removed, treated with a Stain Solver solution, allowed to soak, then rinsed clean. The before-and-after difference is dramatic. Why Washing Machine Soap Trays Get So Dirty Your washer’s detergent drawer handles a lot more than just soap. It is constantly exposed to: Laundry detergent Fabric softener residue Standing moisture Drips and splashes Mildew-prone buildup in tight spaces Because the tray stays damp and has small corners, grooves, and compartments, residue can build up quickly and become hard to remove with a simple wipe. How to Clean a Washing Machine Soap Tray with Stain Solver This is a simple soak-and-rinse cleaning job. For a small part like a washer soap tray, use the same standard small-batch mix we’ve used throughout this series: 1 tablespoon of Stain Solver (1/2 scoop) 1 cup of warm or hot water If you need more solution for the job size, just scale it up using that same ratio. Then follow these steps: Remove the soap tray or detergent drawer from the washing machine Mix Stain Solver with warm or hot water until fully dissolved Either spray the solution on or submerge the tray in the solution Make sure the stained areas are thoroughly wet Let it soak for about 15 minutes Rinse with clean water Scrub lightly if needed in corners or tight spots Let it dry, then reinstall the tray Spray It or Soak It One nice thing about this job is that you have two easy options. If you have a sink, bowl, or basin large enough, soaking the tray is a great choice. If not, you can spray the solution directly onto the tray and keep it wet while it works. Why Hot Water Helps Hot water helps the powder dissolve quickly and get to work faster. That matters because the goal is to let the Stain Solver solution soak into the detergent residue and grime so it can loosen it before you rinse or scrub. Just like with many other Stain Solver cleaning jobs, giving the solution a little time to work first makes the whole process much easier. Don’t Forget the Tight Corners Washing machine trays usually get dirtiest in the hardest-to-reach places. That includes: The back corners Narrow channels Divider walls between compartments Around caps, inserts, or removable pieces The detergent and softener sections If any residue remains after soaking, a small brush can help you finish the job without much effort. Great for Front-Load Washer Detergent Drawers This cleaning method is especially useful for: Front-load washer detergent drawers Pull-out soap trays Bleach compartments Fabric softener sections Other removable plastic laundry dispenser parts If the part is removable and water washable, this is an easy way to restore a cleaner, fresher look. A Cleaner Tray Helps Your Washer Feel Cleaner Too A dirty detergent drawer can make the whole laundry area feel less clean. But this is one of those quick maintenance jobs that can make a washer look much better fast. Once the tray is cleaned up, the machine is instantly fresher and better cared for. And because this is such a simple soak-and-rinse job, it is easy to repeat as part of a regular laundry room cleaning routine. Keep It Cleaner Longer Once you have the tray cleaned, a few small habits can help slow future buildup: Remove and rinse the tray periodically Let it dry before sliding it fully back in when possible Wipe out extra detergent or softener residue Do not let thick product buildup sit too long A little routine maintenance can help keep the tray from getting heavily stained again. The Stain Solver Solution A dirty washing machine soap tray may look annoying, but it is usually a very easy fix. With a simple Stain Solver solution, a short soak, and a quick rinse, you can lift away built-up residue and restore the tray to a much cleaner condition. It is one of the easiest ways to freshen up your washer without taking on a major cleaning project. Sometimes the dirtiest part of the washer is the easiest part to clean.  

Some cleaners are made for one very specific job. Stain Solver is different. It's the kind of cleaner you can keep on hand for all kinds of everyday messes—inside the house, at the office, outside around the yard, and even on some of the toughest stains you thought were impossible to fix. If you're looking for one product that can handle laundry stains, kitchen buildup, pet messes, dirty grout, outdoor furniture, deck grime, and more, this is exactly why so many people think of Stain Solver as an everyday everything cleaner.

Dirty grout can make an otherwise clean tile floor look old, dull, and impossible to restore. Even when your ceramic tile still looks good, the grout lines can trap dirt, grime, and buildup that gradually turn them brown, gray, or almost black. The good news is that you don't have to live with dingy grout. With Stain Solver and some warm water, a little soak time, and a stiff scrub brush, you can dramatically improve the look of dirty grout and bring your tile floor back to life.