About & methodology

What this is

StainSorted is a stain-removal decision engine and reference library. Tell it what caused the stain, what the stained item is made of, and what has already happened, and it shows the safest sourced next step — with the origin of every claim labeled.

How content is made

Every method is compiled from published sources — chiefly university extension services, government safety guidance, industry bodies, and manufacturer instructions. Each step cites its sources inline, with the publisher and access date listed on the page, and an automated check blocks publication of any step, caution, or safety rule without a citation.

Where sources disagree, we show the disagreement instead of silently picking a side. Where no reliable source covers a stain-and-surface combination, the page says so and recommends conservative containment or professional help — we do not fill gaps with guesses.

What we deliberately do not claim

• No invented statistics. No "worked for 82%" numbers — we have no verified outcome data yet, so we publish none.
• No fake tests. We have no laboratory. Hands-on tests we cite are clearly labeled as other publishers' work.
• No fictional experts. Content is compiled from the cited sources and has not been independently verified by a named textile professional. If that changes, reviewers will be named.
• Community reports are anecdotes. Linked, dated, labeled — never blended into scores, never used for safety claims.

Limits

This site is general reference information, not professional advice for your specific item. The garment care label identifies a safe cleaning method and warns against harmful steps. If it says do not bleach, do not use bleach. [1] Very old, fragile, or valuable textiles and dry-clean-only garments should be taken to an appropriate professional cleaner or textile conservator. [1][2]

Contact & corrections

See the corrections policy for how errors are handled. A public contact channel is being set up; until then, every page shows its complete sources so claims can be checked directly.