I Tried 8 Different Stain Removers, and the Winner Was Unexpected
When it gets hot, I like to wear lighter clothing (including white and light colors) to match the season and stay cool, but I inevitably end up getting the worst stains on them. I’ve grown tired of ruining white T-shirts with stains from mustard and chocolate ice cream, so I knew that it was time to find the best stain remover for clothes to ensure mine stayed clean and fresh.
But there are so many stain removing methods and products out there. I decided to put eight stain removers to the test (five popular products and three different methods) on a pair of old workout white T-shirts. The overall winner ended up being something I didn’t need to spend any extra money on, but there were a few other options that are still just as good.
The Best Way to Remove Stains from Clothes
The best way to remove stains from clothes is by pretreating it with detergent. Simply add a small amount of detergent onto the stain and let it sit for an hour before putting it through a regular washing cycle.
For store-bought dedicated stain removers, OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray is a great option, as well as Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Laundry Spray and Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray, which are ideal for on-the-go messes.
How I Tested the Methods
To test all eight methods, I got two T-shirts (T-Shirt A and T-Shirt B) and applied three stains: ketchup, foundation, and pen ink. I blotted them lightly and let it sit for one hour. I also placed paper towels under the stains for both T-shirts before applying the stain remover to prevent transfer onto the back of the T-shirt.
For T-Shirt A, I tested the five stain remover products by applying each and letting them sit for 15 minutes before washing normally with detergent. For the one soap bar product, I followed the directions on the box and let it sit for an hour instead of 15 minutes. For T-shirt B, I tested the three stain remover methods by applying each and letting it sit for an hour (longer due to the household ingredients and/or DIY methodology) before washing normally with detergent.
The ratings: I used a rating scale of one to five, with one being the least effective and five the most effective. I determined each rating based on overall effectiveness, convenience, and time spent implementing the method. I also included information on which stain remover was the best overall, the best product, the best method, and any other notes on what it would be great at cleaning.
Method 1: Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover
Rating: 4/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Method: I applied one pump of this spray onto each stain and let the product sit for 15 minutes (the label recommends 5 to 10 minutes). I then washed it on a normal cycle with detergent.
How it went: I had never heard of Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Laundry Spray, until I stumbled upon this list of editor-favorite stain removers, where it won the spot of best overall stain remover. It did a decent job at lightening the ink and foundation stains, and effectively removed the ketchup stain. I think this product would work best on other types of food stains, including turmeric.
Method 2: Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray
Method 3: Amodex Products Inc 104 Liquid Ink & Stain Remover
Rating: 2/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Method: I applied one blob of this product onto each stain, rubbed the product into the stain with a fabric brush (as recommended by the instructions), and let it sit for 15 minutes (the label doesn’t have a specific wait time). I then washed it on a normal cycle with detergent.
How it went: After some research, I learned that Amodex Products Inc 104 Liquid Ink & Stain Remover is quite a popular choice, specifically for ink stains. However, this did not perform in the way I thought it would. It lightened the ink and foundation stains, but it surprisingly removed the ketchup stain. Because the bottle is small and travel-sized, I still think it’s great to take on the go and use it to pretreat stains such as wine, oil, and crayon.
Method 4: Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap Bar & Stain Remover
Rating: 3/5
Ease of Use: 3/5
Method: I followed the instructions on the box. I poured three cups of water into a bowl to ensure the stained part of the T-shirt was fully submerged. I rubbed the soap for about a minute on the stained section and let the T-shirt sit in the soapy water for an hour. I then washed it on a normal cycle using detergent.
How it went: I’ve long been acquainted with laundry soaps (my go-to is Zote), but this was my first time trying Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap Bar & Stain Remover. Created in 1894 (that makes this a 131-year old stain remover!), this soap bar is great for hand-washing delicates and even makeup brushes. Because of this, I was hopeful it’d work on the foundation stain, but it only lightened it slightly. Additionally, the ink stain did not vanish and there was a very light stain left behind from the ketchup.
Method 5: OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Remover Spray
Rating: 4/5
Ease of Use: 5/5
Method: I applied one pump of this spray onto each stain and let it sit for 15 minutes (the label recommends waiting between five minutes and seven days, depending on the severity of the stain). I then washed it on a normal cycle with detergent.
How it went: OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray is the only stain remover I’ve relied on for years now, so naturally I had high hopes (it’s also a clear favorite among cleaning professionals). Although I was disappointed that it didn’t mostly remove the ink and foundation stains, it performed well at fading them and of course removed the ketchup stain with ease. I normally apply this stain remover to stains and let it sit overnight, which results in stain-free clothes.
Method 6: Pretreat with Detergent
Rating: 5/5
Ease of Use: 4/5
Method: I used the top end of a chopstick to apply a small amount of detergent onto each stain (I did spill a few drops of detergent onto my counter) and let it sit for an hour. I then washed it on a normal cycle using the same product.
How it went: Although I had never tried this stain remover trick, I felt it would be too good or too obvious to be true. Turns out, I was wrong! The method of pretreating these stains with detergent was the most effective — it significantly faded the ink and foundation stains and completely removed the ketchup stain. I suspect that a second round of this method might almost get rid of the lightly faded stains left behind. I do recommend investing in a squeeze bottle, liquid dropper, or syringe for liquids to accurately apply the detergent.
Method 7: Dish Soap with Degreaser and Hydrogen Peroxide
Rating: 3/5
Ease of Use: 3/5
Method: I mixed two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part Dawn dish soap in a bowl, applied the mixture onto each stain with a fabric brush, and worked the mixture into each stain. I let the mixture sit for an hour, and then I washed it on a normal cycle using Tide detergent.
How it went: This DIY stain remover is a reliable and popular method, as it only requires two household ingredients. I don’t normally like DIY mixtures for stain removals, as they can be quite hit or miss, and this one worked mostly as I expected. This method faded the ink stain the best, but left behind a light mark from the ketchup — the seemingly easiest stain to remove thus far. I would only recommend this method for stains that aren’t in a noticeable area or for items that you don’t mind staying lightly stained.
Method 8: Pretreat with Washing Soda
Rating: 1/5
Ease of Use: 3/5
Method: I poured 3 cups of water into a bowl to ensure the stained section of the T-shirt was fully submerged. I added two teaspoons and mixed it lightly (for stains, the label recommends soaking the item with two tablespoons per gallon of water), and let the T-shirt soak for an hour. I then washed it on a normal cycle using detergent.
How it went: Despite being a baking soda fanatic, I had never tried washing soda (Borax is also a popular alternative). Washing soda, however, is extremely alkaline which makes it an essential laundry booster. As a stain remover, however, the washing soda method let me down the most.
Conclusion
I would have never guessed that the best stain remover was just using detergent. This pretreatment worked just as well as (better than, in this experiment) my favorite retail stain remover, OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray.
I would still recommend a few other products as reliable stain removers, such as Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Laundry Spray and Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray for on-the-go messes.
While I wouldn’t use washing soda as a stain remover again, I do think it’s effective and efficient as a laundry booster, particularly for sheets and towels. However, for tough, set-in stains, pretreating them with the detergent you already have might be your best bet.