How to Remove Egg Stains

Fernie asked, “Anyone have any tips on getting a 3-year old egg yolk stain off of my shoe?”

You Will Need:

• A spoon
• Salt
• Water
• A bowl
• Dish liquid
• Ammonia
• Enzyme detergent

Steps to Remove the Stain:

1. Gently scoop off as much egg as possible.¹
2. Mix some salt with cold water in a bowl and soak the stain in the bowl.² For older egg stains, soak the stain for several hours.¹
3. Squirt some dish liquid into a cup of water, mix it well to make suds, then sponge the solution onto the stain.¹
4. If the stain persists, mix about 6 drops of ammonia into the cup of water with dish liquid. Test the solution on a small, hidden area first to look for any adverse reaction and, if safe, blot the solution on the stain. Rinse the area well with water.¹
5. For stubborn stains, use an enzyme detergent. Mix a powdered detergent with some water and apply the paste to the stain, or apply a liquid detergent directly onto the stain.³
6. If enzyme detergent is not available, use meat tenderizer. Mix the meat tenderizer with some water to make a paste, put the paste on the stain, and let it sit for about half an hour. Then, brush the paste off and rinse the area²

• Do not use any heat on the garment, such as hot water or drying the shirt in the dryer, until you are sure that the stain is gone. Heat can cause egg stains to set.³
• If the egg stain is not easily removed or is on a delicate garment, have the item dry cleaned.¹
• Always ventilate the area and use caution when working with ammonia. For more ammonia safety information, see Wikipedia.

1. Clean if Fast, Clean it RIGHT by Jeff Bredenberg
2. Natural Stain Removal Secrets by Deborah L. Martin
3. Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia