Disclosed are processes whereby stains on a variety of substrates may be removed by treating a stained area of a substrate with a solution of a sulfonamide compound. The sulfonamide-containing solutions are particularly useful as stain removal agents for stains which originate with body fluids such as blood, urine, vomit, feces etc. The stain removal solutions may be buffered to a predetermined pH. The stain removal solutions may further incorporate small percentages of low molecular weight alcohols and wetting agents.