NYT Strands Hints and Answers for November 13, 2025: “Out, Damned Spot!” Explained

The New York Times Strands puzzle for November 13, 2025, themed “Out, damned spot!”, gave players a clean but clever challenge. Today’s puzzle centered around stain removal, making for a satisfying experience once the pattern clicked. If you struggled with the theme, here are all the hints, clues, and answers you need to solve Strands puzzle #620.

This puzzle wasn’t the hardest in recent memory, but its wordplay required players to think beyond simple cleaning terms. As always, finding three valid words of four letters or more unlocked the in-game hints — and those who spotted the right connections quickly noticed a laundry theme taking shape.

All Hints and Theme Details for NYT Strands #620

The official clue from The New York Times was “Out, damned spot!” — a reference to Lady Macbeth’s famous line from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The added hint, “Think Maytag or Whirlpool,” pointed directly toward household cleaning, specifically laundry appliances and stain removal.

To earn hints, players could form words like PRAY, RULE, STAIN, STEAL, and SPAR. Each trio of four-letter words uncovered one of the main theme terms related to washing and cleaning.

The list of correct answers that fit the theme included BLOT, SOAK, SCRUB, SPRAY, STEAM, LAUNDER, and BLEACH — all directly connected to getting rid of stains. These concise yet thematic words made the puzzle feel cohesive and logical once the theme clicked.

Today’s Strands Spangram and Solution Path

The spangram — the special word stretching across the grid — was STAINREMOVAL. It perfectly encapsulated the theme and tied all the smaller answers together. To locate it, solvers began with the “S” four letters down on the far-left column and traced a winding path upward and across the board.

When completed, every letter on the board was used, revealing the neat logic behind the day’s theme. Those who identified “STEAM” or “BLEACH” early likely found the puzzle easier to finish, as these strong thematic clues pointed directly toward laundry and cleaning solutions.

Player Impressions and Broader Puzzle Appeal

Fans described the November 13 puzzle as “refreshing” and “cleverly literal,” especially following a few tougher recent editions. Its everyday vocabulary and direct theme made it approachable for casual players while still offering enough twist to satisfy seasoned solvers.

As The New York Times continues to expand its daily puzzle offerings — from Wordle to Connections and the Mini Crossword — Strands has carved a niche for players who enjoy logic, pattern recognition, and word association. This particular puzzle exemplified the game’s appeal: simple concepts, layered execution.

With “STAINREMOVAL” as the final reveal, today’s NYT Strands left players with one of the cleanest — and most satisfying — grids of the week.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What was the theme for today’s NYT Strands puzzle?

The theme was “Out, damned spot!”, referring to stain removal and laundry-related actions.

Q2: What was the spangram for NYT Strands #620?

The spangram was STAINREMOVAL, connecting all other theme words on the grid.

Q3: What were the theme words in today’s puzzle?

The words were BLOT, SOAK, SCRUB, SPRAY, STEAM, LAUNDER, and BLEACH.

Q4: How difficult was today’s NYT Strands?

It was moderately easy, with familiar vocabulary and a straightforward theme centered on cleaning.

Q5: Where can I find hints for upcoming Strands puzzles?

Players can find daily hints through official New York Times Games updates and major entertainment outlets that cover word games.