diff --git a/code/game/objects/effects/decals/Cleanable/tracks.dm b/code/game/objects/effects/decals/Cleanable/tracks.dm
index 0ad5ac13f81..934068f25bb 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/effects/decals/Cleanable/tracks.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/effects/decals/Cleanable/tracks.dm
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ var/global/list/image/fluidtrack_cache=list()
 	var/coming_state="blood1"
 	var/going_state="blood2"
 	var/updatedtracks=0
+	persistent = TRUE
+	generic_filth = FALSE
 
 	// dir = id in stack
 	var/list/setdirs=list(
diff --git a/code/game/objects/effects/decals/cleanable.dm b/code/game/objects/effects/decals/cleanable.dm
index 179b996df91..2ef6582553f 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/effects/decals/cleanable.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/effects/decals/cleanable.dm
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+/*
+USAGE NOTE
+For decals, the var Persistent = 'has already been saved', and is primarily used to prevent duplicate savings of generic filth (filth.dm).
+This also means 'TRUE' can be used to define a decal as "Do not save at all, even as a generic replacement." if a dirt decal is considered 'too common' to save.
+generic_filth = TRUE means when the decal is saved, it will be switched out for a generic green 'filth' decal.
+*/
+
 /obj/effect/decal/cleanable
 	plane = DIRTY_PLANE
 	var/persistent = FALSE