Clay stabilizers

Various embodiments disclosed relate to clay stabilizers. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation, including obtaining or providing a composition including a clay stabilizer having the structure Y-R1-(O-R2)x-Y. The variable R1 can be a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C20)hydrocarbylene. At each occurrence, R2 can independently be a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C20)hydrocarbylene. At each occurrence, Y can be independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium group, a nitro group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine oxide group, and a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C20)hydrocarbyloxy group, wherein at least one terminal group Y is a substituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine oxide group, or a nitro group. The variable x can be an integer between 1 and 200,000. The method also includes placing the composition in a subterranean formation.