(verb): To make something dirty, stained, or discoloured. Smirch (noun): A stain, blot, or blemish on someone's reputation or character.
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. smirch
The word carries two distinct meanings, both of which can cause plenty of headaches: (verb): To make something dirty, stained, or discoloured