Skip to main content

Removing egg: pick your surface

Egg is a protein-based stain, usually from a dropped egg or a splash from mixing bowl to bin. The chemistry stays the same wherever it lands — but the safe way to treat it changes completely with the surface, which is why each pairing below has its own guide.

Water-soluble

Water-based cleaning can dissolve this stain — method and temperature are what matter.

Heat sets it

Keep hot water, steam and dryers away until the egg is fully out — heat fixes it permanently.

Fresh vs dried-in

Egg is nearly pure protein — the same stuff that turns solid in the pan turns solid in your carpet if anything warm touches it. Fresh egg lifts with cold water and patience; dried egg has glued itself to the fibre and needs rehydrating cold before an enzyme cleaner can work.