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 …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

Always follow care and product labels. Never mix cleaning products — especially anything containing chlorine bleach with ammonia or acids. If swallowed or splashed in eyes, contact Poison Control (US: 1-800-222-1222 or poison.org).