Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW TO USE

FIND THE AMOUNT NEEDED

CLEANING CARPETS & CLOTHES

Stain Solver

CLEANING DECKS

CLEANING FENCES & SIDING

CLEANING CONCRETE & PATIOS

CLEANING ROOFS

SEPTIC SYSTEMS

MISCELLANEOUS

What is the chemical makeup of Stain Solver?

The actual chemical name for Stain Solver is - peroxyhydrated carbonate of soda. That's a fancy name for a special dried hydrogen peroxide and soda ash. The raw materials used in the active ingredient of Stain Solver are so pure, they're registered with the FDA as food-grade quality. That's just about as pure as you can get. What's more, we put in the maximum amount of active ingredient as allowed by the Federal Department of Transportation.

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How do I mix Stain Solver?

Use warm to mildly hot water. Add product to water and stir. It can take 2-3 minutes for all of the powder to dissolve.

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How do you measure Stain Solver?

Use a regular measuring cup that you have in your kitchen. The units of measure on the label are VOLUME not weight. Kitchen measuring cups measure by volume.

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How much should I mix at one time?

Only mix as much liquid as you can use in 1 to 2 hours. Once mixed with water, Stain Solver only has a "pot life" of about 4 - 6 hours. After that time, it no longer produces the stain fighting oxygen ion!

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I used your Stain Solver and there is a white film on my tile. What is wrong?

You have to change the rinse water frequently! The white film is soda ash. Here is a test. Take a wet paper towel and wipe ONE tile only. Then immediately, take a dry paper towel and dry it WITHOUT touching adjacent tiles. The dried tile will shine. Proof that soda ash is being left with using fouled rinse water. 

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There is a white residue after the product has dried. What is it and how do I remove it?

The white residue could be small undissolved pellets of Stain Solver and/or dried soda ash. In many cases, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove it. If that doesn't work, use generous amounts of fresh rinse water to remove the residue. If the rinse water is not changed frequently, you will continue to see residue once the rinse water dries. 

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How do you make a paste using Stain Solver?

You mix small amounts of warm water with Stain Solver to make a paste.

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Why can't I get all the Stain Solver to dissolve in water?

You probably used cold water or you added too much powder to the volume of water. Always use warm water with the Stain Solver unless you're trying to get out a blood or grass stain. Use cold water for these stains. You can always mix the solution with warm water to get the powder to dissolve, then add ice cubes to chill the water.

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How do I apply Stain Solver to wall tile?

Unfortunately with a little difficulty. Once mixed, Stain Solver has the consistency of water. I use an old Windex bottle with the spray handle. Spray the solution onto the wall. You have to keep the tile WET with the Stain Solver solution for up to 30 minutes. 

Be aware that hard-water deposits WILL interfere with cleaning. I TEST for this by taking one paper towel and saturating it with white vinegar. Apply it to the tile and grout like a piece of wallpaper. Pour a little more vinegar on it and let it sit for 30 minutes. Come back after the wait period, take off the towel and SCRUB the area where the towel was with a stiff brush and some cleanser. Rinse and let dry. See if that looks better. If so, then you must do this to all the tile before using my stuff.

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Will Stain Solver harm ceramic tile glaze?

Dear Tim: Some of my Stain Solver got on my floor tiles rather than just on the grout. The tiles effected have a lighter color than the rest of the tile.  Is there some way this can be repaired to look like the rest of the tile? Thanks. - Carol W., Auburn, AL

Dear Carol: I had this issue with another woman about two months ago. We traced it to her using floor cleaning products in the past that didn't actually clean the floor and left thin layers of the cleaning product with residual dirt. She had multiple thin layers of dirts on her floor, but she actually though the floor was clean.

It's "impossible" for my Stain Solver to remove the glaze or pigments from floor tile. Ceramic tile is one of the most durable flooring materials made. That's why you see them in restaurants and other commercial buildings.

That being said, here's what I want you to do:

Get a 12 oz regular glass and fill it with hot water. Take one tablespoon of my Stain Solver and dissolve it in this water. Stir till completely dissolved.

Take two clean dry paper towels and fold them over on each other so they completely cover a floor tile about 8 x 8. Pour half the glass of solution onto the paper towels while they are on a tile making sure the towels are completely saturated. Let sit for an hour.

At the end of the hour, remove the paper towels and add more solution to the tile. Take a stiff scrub brush and scrub the tile. Immediately rinse the tile with clear water and dry with paper towels.  

The tile you worked on should look like new.

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How much do I need?

Deck Cleaning: 2 lbs. of Stain Solver will clean 300 to 500 +/- square feet of deck surface. Dirty horizontal deck surfaces sometimes need a second quick cleaning. Don't forget railings! Each lineal foot of average railing has 4 square feet of surface area.

We find that the average deck - 15x15 - requires a minimum of 4 lbs. of Stain Solver. This does not include the railings. If you have railings on 3 sides, you would need another 2 lbs. of Stain Solver. Order 8 lbs. for the average deck.

It is best to order an extra container in case of spills or extra dirty conditions. The product has an indefinite shelf life, so it will not go bad if the lid is kept tightly sealed.

Laundry Use: 2 lbs. is enough to salvage and restore 20 or more T-shirts.

General Purpose Cleaning: Keep 4 lbs. on hand for carpet or fabric emergencies.

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How do you use Stain Solver with a carpet shampoo machine?

It's best to make up a solution of Stain Solver and apply it with a hand-pump sprayer to the entire carpet before you turn on the shampoo machine. Allow the Stain Solver solution to soak into the carpet fibers for 20 minutes before starting the machine. Instead of putting clear water and shampoo in the machine, use the Stain Solver solution in place of water. When carpet dries after the shampoo solution dries, vacuum up the white powder residue.

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Will Stain Solver remove color?

Stain Solver is almost always color safe. It will not harm colored grout, regular dyes in clothes and carpets and will never discolor or bleach wood.

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How do I apply Stain Solver to a wood deck?

I prefer to use a large brush or a mop. You want to get large amounts of Stain Solver liquid on the deck surface. Hand pump sprayers often apply too little solution to the surface. If you must use a sprayer, make sure the product has dissolved completely or you will clog the nozzle! Also, be sure you spray on lots of liquid. 

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Why do you say to work in the shade or on an overcast day?

Hot deck surfaces and sunlight can evaporate the Stain Solver solution before it has a chance to work.

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Do you have to scrub wood decks or will Stain Solver do all the work?

After the product sits for 15 - 20 minutes, I like to lightly scrub the wood with a scrub brush on a pole. You do not need to scrub hard. The brush removes the sun damaged wood fibers and completely loosens the dirt, mildew, and algae. Always scrub before rinsing with a garden hose.

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Should the Stain-Solver solution be applied to a wet or dry deck?

Always apply the solution to a DRY deck. This allows the solution to soak deeply into the wood fibers. A wet deck prevents this from happening making it very hard for the Stain Solver to deep clean the wood.

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Is Stain Solver safe to use on all wood?

NO! Stain Solver can darken redwood. Redwood that has not aged is the most vulnerable. Always test Stain Solver on a small remote part of the redwood to see what happens. The darkening happens rapidly and can make the redwood appear almost black. Use Oxalic Acid to clean and brighten redwood if you want to be completely safe.

Stain Solver is safe to use on all other woods, including cedar.

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Will Stain Solver remove my applied stain?

Stain Solver is strong enough to remove your applied color stain from your deck. If the Stain Solver can get under your deck sealer, or if you don't have a deck sealer, it will remove the stain and let you with bare wood.  Always test Stain Solver on a small remote part of the deck to see what happens.

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Can I apply Stain Solver using a pressure washer?

No. You will dilute the solution too much using the suction tank on a pressure washer. Apply the Stain Solver solution with a mop or hand-pump sprayer applying generous amounts of the solution.

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Can you clean cedar shakes/siding and vinyl siding with Stain Solver?

Stain Solver easily cleans cedar shakes/siding and vinyl siding. It will remove sun-damaged stain and sealers, algae, dirt and grime. You apply the Stain Solver solution with a hand-pump sprayer. Allow it to soak well for 10 minutes, lightly scrub and rinse with clear water.

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Can you clean aluminum siding with Stain Solver?

Stain Solver will clean aluminum siding. However, the paint used on aluminum siding can oxidize and suffer UV degradation over time. Stain Solver can remove this damaged paint. Test in a small area of siding that gets direct sunlight to see what happens. You can repaint aluminum siding with urethane-acrylic paints to make it look brand new. 

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Will Stain Solver hurt my Trex decking?

Absolutely not. It will make the Trex, or any other composite decking look like new. There are no harmful byproducts that will hurt the decking.

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Why did my wood fence and deck develop black spots after cleaning with Stain Solver?

The black spots were probably there on the wood before you started cleaning. They were covered by existing dirt. Usually the black spots are concentrations of mildew that requires a second cleaning with additional scrubbing.

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Will Stain Solver clean concrete?

Stain Solver will clean concrete. Apply the solution to dry concrete in the shade and allow it to sit on the concrete for hours. Add more solution as it starts to evaporate. Scrub the concrete with a scrub brush on a pole every 30 minutes. 

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How do I mix Stain Solver for cleaning a roof?

Mix it the same way you do for a deck - 6 ounces of Stain solver per gallon of water. 8 ounces per gallon for tough stains. 

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What is the best way to clean the roof?

Brush off all loose debris and scrape off any large deposits of moss or algae. Apply the solution with a pump sprayer to cool shingles! If the shingles are in sunlight, the solution will evaporate before it can work. Keep the roof surface wet with the solution for at least 30 - 45 minutes. Scrub lightly with a broom or brush and rinse well with water. Try a test section first using just one quart of solution. If it is still stained, boost the concentration to 8 ounces per gallon of water. 

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Removing Algae Stains from Roof Shingles.


Removing Algae Stains From Roof Shingles
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Will Stain Solver kill roof moss?

No. Roof moss is a small plant that needs to be removed with a powerful stream of water aimed down the roof, or by brushing the moss with a street broom or some other stiff brush. Stain Solver can then be used to clean the roof after the moss is out of the way.

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How much and how often should I use Stain Solver in my septic system?

Pour 3 ounces of the powder into the toilet bowl just before bed. Immediately flush the toilet. Do NOT place the Stain Solver in the toilet tank! Do this treatment twice a week. A 2 lb. container should last about 5 weeks. 

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What is the shelf life of Stain Solver? What's the best way to store Stain Solver for a long period of time?

If you store Stain Solver in a freezer, it can last for up to two years. Heat and humidity degrade Stain Solver. A partially filled container of Stain Solver may start to cake and harden over time. If you want to store an opened container of Stain Solver, if possible, place the open container in a freezer for about 3 hours. While the container is still in the freezer, immediately place the lid tightly on the container. This process removes the humid air from inside the container that accelerates the caking. Stain Solver stores best for long times frozen.... or cold..... It's still good if it cakes, so long as not too much caking. But my freezer trick will eliminate the caking.

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Can I premix Stain Solver with water to have on hand for other stain removal?

NO! Remember, once mixed with water Stain Solver only "works" for 4 - 6 hours. 

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Will the Stain Solver liquid hurt my grass, plants and vegetation?

No. If you do notice that you spill some on a delicate plant, you can rinse it off just to be completely safe. If you spill some of the dry Stain Solver powder directly onto plants, the powder may burn the plants. Always mix Stain Solver away from plants. 

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Can Stain Solver remove old stains in clothing?

More often than not, YES! Let the stained item soak in a solution of Stain Solver liquid overnight. If the stain is still there, increase the concentration and try it again. Continue to increase the concentration until you succeed or fail. Remember, you have NOTHING to loose. Until such time as the stain is removed from the garment, it is headed for the rag pile. 

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How does Stain Solver remove stains?

Stains are simply different molecules. If you break apart a molecule you change its nature and it no longer produces color or a stain. The Stain Solver oxygen ion actually attacks and blasts apart stain molecules. Soaps simply try to "lift" stain molecules out of a fabric and transport them to your drainpipe. Most soaps can't lift all of the stain from a fabric. 

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Will Stain Solver remove odors?

Stain Solver is an incredible odor remover. The same oxygen ions that blast apart stains shatter odor molecules. Stain Solver is so powerful it will completely neutralize male cat-spray as well as skunk spray. Regular urine odors, perspiration odors, shoe odors, mildew odors, etc. are easy to eliminate with Stain Solver. 

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Can hardwood floors be cleaned with Stain Solver?

Yes, but you must mix the solution and apply LIGHTLY with a damp mop. Do NOT flood a hardwood floor with the solution. White residue that appears after it dries can be removed with clear rinse water and a damp mop rinsing frequently.

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Will Stain Solver remove rust?

Stain Solver can remove rust in certain situations, but generally the answer is no. Remove rust from concrete with oxalic acid and water.

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Do I need to use a wood brightener?

No. Stain Solver brightens the wood as well as using a brightener.

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Material Safety Data Sheet

Click on the link to download a copy of the Stain Solver Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) in PDF format. 

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