Blood, egg, milk and mustard-yellow stains on linen with a thermometer and lab tubes

Biological

Blood, milk, baby formula and vomit are protein stains: soak in cold water first and launder warm, not hot — hot water cooks the protein into the fibers. An enzyme presoak of 15–30 minutes helps, but not on silk or wool, and never together with chlorine bleach. [1]

Stains in this family

Baby formula & milkFormula and milk are protein stains: rinse or wipe off as much as possible while fresh,…BloodWork fast and keep everything cold: rinse fresh blood under cold running water and rub …EggEgg is a protein stain: scrape off the excess and soak in cold water first — hot water …Mildew & moldTake the item outdoors and brush or shake off the mildew, work heavy-duty liquid deterg…Sweat & deodorantFor perspiration, soak the garment 15–30 minutes in warm water with a sodium perborate …

All stains A–Z →

Sources

  1. Institutional University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service — Stain Removal for Washable Fabrics (FCS2-840 / H.E. 2-840) (accessed 2026-08-18)

Updated 2026-08-19. Compiled from the cited sources; not independently verified by this site.

Safety

Never mix cleaning products, especially chlorine bleach with ammonia, acids, or other cleaners. [1][2] If a cleaning or laundry product is swallowed or gets in the eyes or on skin, contact your local poison control service for case-specific advice. In the US, call 1-800-222-1222 or use webPOISONCONTROL. [1]