7 Best Laundry Stain Removers for Spotless Results

OxiClean Max Force takes the top spot due to its versatility when removing blood and grass stains to pop and coffee. It comes in a gel and spray formula. Spray the stain and let it sit for at least five minutes prior to washing. However, for old stains or deep stains, 5 minutes isn't enough. You need to let this sit on the stain overnight, at least.

You can also leave it on longer if overnight doesn't make the stain fade. I've left this on a washed and dried grease stain on my son's favorite shirt for about a week. And, it lifted the stain for the most part. The only real downside to this cleaner is it's a bit more expensive at over 9 bucks for a 12 oz bottle.

Earning "Excellent" ratings from Consumer Reports when it comes to removing body oil stains, grease, grass, and blood in just a few minutes, the Shout Triple-Acting Spray in the 22 oz bottle is also called out for its affordability. Shout offers a thick formula spray I found works on most stains on white and colored clothes in about 5 minutes. It even helps remove hair dye stains on clothing. It's essential to wash the clothing immediately in the warmest setting it can tolerate.

Random food stains and a bit of Italian dressing came out with ease, even on stains that had sat in a hamper. However, Shout did leave a faint trace of an old mustard stain on a white shirt. All in all, it's a pretty effective fast-acting stain cleaner.

Overall, Zout is easy to use. You just spray, rub, and wash. And, you only have to wait five minutes for it to work. It also worked great on all the food stains that I applied it to. The formula seems to really target those food starches and proteins. It even removed a bit of butter drippings from corn on the cob. However, it did struggle on mustard stains. It also doesn't appear to work as effectively for mud and dirt stains.

The Laundress Stain Solution is a pricier option at around $19 for a 12 oz bottle, but it is a natural stain fighter that does work. You have two different ways you can apply this fighter to the stain; you can rub it on the stain or use it as an all-over soak in the tub before washing. The formula is unscented.

Laundress is a gentle formula that uses natural ingredients, and it's surprisingly effective on most stains. However, it seems it does better on food stains, and it varies based on the type of fabric. For example, it didn't completely remove a ketchup stain from a white shirt, but it effectively got all the stains out of my son's jersey. I also found applying the solution directly to the stain was a lot more effective than the soak.

Fels Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover is an easy-to-use bar for scrubbing away stains. With a simple swipe, you can scrub out most food stains on your clothing. In addition, you can use this bar to create natural laundry soaps. But how does it handle stains? Pretty well.

I use Fels Naptha to make my own laundry detergent and love how it works without leaving a residue on the clothes. I also keep a bar in my laundry room for stains. I've tried rubbing it on everything from ink to mustard stains with success. While it didn't completely get the mustard and ketchup catastrophe out the first time, it did remove it on the second wash. I just rub it across the clothing and throw it in the washer. You can also create a pre-soak by shaving a bit and dissolving it in hot water. This has worked to clean most stains in my home.

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder in a 5 lb. container is just the thing for consumers who like to toss a bit extra stain-removing help into their load. In addition to a top stain remover, it is suitable for whites, colors, and safe for nearly any fabric. Rather than treat the individual stain, you toss the powder into your load (measuring based on the load size per package instructions) to give your regular laundry detergent a helping hand.

However, what truly makes this cleaner make the best stain remover list is its use as a pre-soak. It works exceptionally well for removing large stains. My son spilled Coke down a brand new white shirt, and OxiClean completely removed all the stain after soaking overnight. And it's fantastic on grass stains on uniforms. The only downside is it's not quick. Complete stain removal takes time.

One of the big things about stains is they rarely happen at home. Well, now you've got Tide To-Go Instant Stain Remover to keep you covered. Coming in a 3 pack, you can throw one in your office desk, purse, and laundry room. So when you have a spill at work or on your way to work, you can instantly get it out. It's not just easy, it actually works well to instantly fight stains.

To use the pen, you pop off the top and press down on the stain. Then, you move it around the stain once the liquid comes out. It's kind of like coloring with a marker or highlighter. The Tide formula instantly starts working to lighten the stain. I tried it on a sauce stain on a dress shirt, and it started to lighten the stain immediately. After the wash, it was completely gone. My only complaint would be that it's not going to be easy to use on a larger stain.