This is the literal dirt, soot, or grime that soils a surface. Think of a muddy smudge on your clean white trousers or a blemish made by dirt on a pristine wall.
(verb): To make something dirty, stained, or discoloured. Smirch (noun): A stain, blot, or blemish on someone's reputation or character. smirch
If your reputation has been sullied , the best "bleach" is a long-term pattern of good behavior. One mistake is a smirch; a hundred good deeds are a shield. Show the world that the blemish was an outlier, not the whole story. This is the literal dirt, soot, or grime
The word carries two distinct meanings, both of which can cause plenty of headaches: This is the literal dirt