Stains can ruin your new top or favorite pant, so you will want to keep the best laundry stain remover handy. These products get the stain out and keep your clothes looking fresh and clean. Check out some of the best stain removers for clothes on the market.
OxiClean Max Force
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.
Our review: “I like the way this cleaner cuts through a variety of stains, from grass to grease stains, on my teen son's clothing. For clothes with set stains, it's totally worth the price. ”
Our rating: 4.9/5
What We Like
▪ Works on a variety of stains
▪ Eradicates old stains
▪ Might color change some fabrics
What We Don’t
▪ Takes hours to work on old stains
▪ Cost
Shout Triple-Acting Spray
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.
Our review: “The thick formula of this cleaner works to get rid of most stains pretty easily without having to sit for a long time. However, Shout did struggle to remove turmeric stains, so you might need another option. ”
Our rating: 4.5/5
What We Like
▪ Good for colored clothing
▪ Fast-acting
▪ Easy to use
▪ Works with wool
What We Don’t
▪ Must wash clothes immediately
▪ Better for minor stains
Zout Laundry Stain Removal Spray
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.
Our review: “Zout is an easy to use formula that tackles food stains well. It also has a nice subtle smell. Most stain removers tend to be a bit more chemically, so that was a nice change. ”
Our rating: 4.4/5
What We Like
▪ Affordable
▪ Quick action
▪ Good for food stains
▪ Subtle smell
What We Don’t
▪ Ineffective on tough dirt stains
▪ Struggles with mustard stains
▪ Can lighten colored fabrics
Fels Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover
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.
Our review: “Fels Naptha Laundry & Stain Soap is a convenient and cheap stain bar you simply rub over the stain and throw it in the wash. I've found it highly effective in removing most stains. ”
Our rating: 4.7/5
What We Like
▪ Convenient
▪ Cost-effective
▪ Multipurpose
What We Don’t
▪ Strong scent
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
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.
Our review: “When I have large stains on clothing, OxiClean is my go to for getting rid of them. It takes a bit of time to get stains completely out, it will definitely refresh dingy laundry and brighten white if you have hard water. ”
Our rating: 4.8/5
What We Like
▪ Oxygen-based stain fighter
▪ Cleans multiple surfaces in home
▪ Effective stain removal
▪ Just throw in washer with laundry
What We Don’t
▪ Strong smell
▪ Pre-soak takes time
Tide To-Go Instant Stain Remover
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.
Our review: “When it comes to ease and treating stains immediately, Tide To-Go Instant Stain Remover is the way to go. It also works to start fading the stain on your clothing instantly. ”
Our rating: 4.6/5
What We Like
▪ Made for unexpected stains
▪ Safe on colorfast clothes
▪ Easy to apply and use
What We Don’t
▪ Does not work well on grease and blood
▪ Not great for large stains
Select the Best Stain Remover for Clothes
Doing laundry properly means treating stains properly. Pick the right treatment and your stains will come out like magic! And you can also try some different natural stain fighters you have around your house for old stains and removing set-in tomato sauce stains from your clothing.
