Anyone that has done laundry knows just how big of a problem stained clothes can be. If you don’t catch the stain before it gets to the dryer, then it could set for life. However, treating it isn’t a guarantee that the stain will be eliminated, if you don’t treat it in the correct way or use the wrong stain removal product on it before you wash it.
On the other hand, we firmly believe that if you use the right stain removal product in the right way, then you’ll never have to worry about stains that have setup ever again. That’s why we’ve decided to list ten of the best stain removers that we’ve found and we have also written a handy, dandy stain removal guide. Now no one has to worry about laundry stains.
The 10 Best Stain Removers
#10 Dreft Baby Laundry Instant Stain Removal Spray
If a person has a baby or a young toddler in their home, then they’re not only going to need a stain remover that can get out tough stains, but they also need one that’s gentle on the skin. Fortunately, this formula is capable of handling both of these things at the same time. This product from Dreft can handle hard to clean food and vomit stains but is also gentle on children’s sensitive skin. It’s designed to never produce strong fumes when it’s used, and it will never reduce the flame retardance of children’s sleepwear. All of which means this is probably the best stain remover for parents of young children.
#9 Grandma’s Secret Laundry Spray
This laundry spray finally solves the problem of how grandmothers are capable of removing a variety of stains from their laundry. This formula is aptly named Grandma’s Secret, and it’s a product that comes in a 16-ounce spray bottle for ease of use. This non-toxic formula is designed to tackle tough stains before they even have a chance of setting up in the washer or the dryer. It’s capable of handling even stubborn stains including ones caused by makeup, motor oil, paints, grass, ink, and grease. And if that isn’t tough enough, then it’s also capable of handling pet stains, coffee stains, and even blood.
#8 Tide-To-Go Instant Stain Removal Liquid Pen
If you believe that the stain removal product with the highest annual sales is the best one, then you’d probably think that this liquid pen from Tide To Go is the best overall product available. This product is extremely popular and there’s a good reason for all of its popularity. It’s because this product is not only easy to use but is also capable of handling tough stains. When used as a pen, this product is capable of treating the toughest food and drink stains out there. And it can also be used on a variety of different materials including not only cotton and polyester but wool and other sensitive fabrics, too.
#7 Shout Advanced Stain Removal Gel
Surfactants are the ingredients found in stain removers that are capable of dissolving tough stains in clothing, so it shouldn’t be any surprise that this product from Shout does such a good job removing stains because it has 70% more surfactants than the leading stain fighter. This product is in an easy-to-use bottle with a squeeze trigger that makes it extremely convenient. When used properly on laundry, this product is safe for all colorfast clothing and will do its job in any water temperature. All of this makes this concentrated gel one that’s good for day-to-day laundry stains.
#6 Puracy Natural Stain Removal Cleaner
Puracy knows that a stain remover doesn’t need to be filled with a variety of harsh chemicals to be able to get rid of tough stains. They know because they’ve created a high-quality spot cleaner that’s made with natural ingredients. This product is non-toxic and won’t bleach out clothing. It’s also biodegradable, certified cruelty-free and is completely hypoallergenic. When used properly on dirt and stains, this product is able to treat even the toughest laundry problems. Problems that include grass, mud, pet accidents, red wine, coffee, tomato sauce, and even blood. This makes this Free & Clear formula ideal for many homes.
#5 OxiClean Stain Removal Powder
Some people may be wary to use this product because it’s a powder, and people may only be familiar with gel or spray-based stain removal formulas. However, people who are in need of a tough stain fighting product don’t have to look elsewhere. That’s because this product is more than capable of handling the job. When water is added to this product, the oxygen within it is activated and it’s that element that’s capable of removing set-in stains and tough dirt stains. This product is designed to work with all regular detergents, and can not only be used on laundry but can be used on upholstery or carpets as well. And since it’s chlorine-free, it is safe for all color garments.
#4 Shout Advanced Ultra Gel Brush
This product from Shout is not just a stain remover, but it’s also a tool used to apply that product. What we mean, is that this formula has its own built-in brush that can be used to work this gel-based concentrate into tough stains. And once this gel is worked into stains, it gets right to work getting rid of it. This product can handle the toughest of stains but is gentle enough to be used on colorfast washables. It’s also safe to sit on the laundry for extended periods of time. A person can use this product to treat a tough stain and can then wait for up to a week to wash it.
#3 Campanelli Professional Aerosol Stain Remover
It doesn’t matter what type of stains a person has on their laundry because this product is capable of treating them. This formula is in aerosol form, so it’s easy to use by just about anyone and is capable of removing even the toughest of laundry stains. This product can remove makeup, dirt, mud, pets stains, soft drink stains and stains from oil or grease. It can even remove tough stains such as red wine, coffee, or tea. And it’s especially useful for pet owners because this formula is especially good at dealing with feces and urine stains from dogs and cats, all while eliminating odors.
#2 Zout Triple Enzyme Laundry Spray
Although many stain removers rely solely on surfactants to remove stains, Zout has a little bit more of a nuanced response to the process of stain removal. Sure, it uses some of the same surfactants that other laundry sprays may use, but it then takes it a step further by adding specialized enzymes to their formula. These enzymes can break down ordinary stains such as ground-in dirt, coffee, and/or grass, but it’s also capable of eliminating tough proteins such as blood. To use this product effectively, all the user has to do is to thoroughly saturate the product, allow it to sit for 5-minutes, and then wash it as usual. This spray will then do the rest and eliminate those tough stains.
#1 Soil Love Laundry Soil Stain Remover
Anyone afflicted with the curse of hard-to-remove laundry stains may want to try out this product. That’s because it’s capable of handling a variety of different stains. This product can remove stains caused by perspiration, grease, ink, grass, and even blood. It can be applied to stains directly, or it can be added to the water so the article of clothing can be soaked in it. Either way, this product will remove stains and do it without harming clothing. This product is made in the U.S., is safe for colorfast articles of clothing, and it removes stains like a champ. All good reasons for a person to buy one, two, or more bottles of this stain remover.
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Laundry Stain Remover Guide
Having just covered some of the best stain removers that consumers can currently buy, we thought it would be appropriate to write a more comprehensive guide on the subject of stain removal products and their application. Below we’ll discuss some of the more common stains that stain removers have to remove, as well as how to use them for the best results.
The Most Common Types Of Stains
Although it may seem like there’s an endless number of different laundry stains, in reality, there are only about 5 different types of stains. Let’s take a closer look at each of these stain types so that we can understand the mechanisms that stain removers use to deal with these problems.
Enzymatic Stains
Enzymatic stains include grass and blood stains. In order to treat these stains, the user should use a liquid stain remover and pour it right on the stain. When that’s been done, the user can then gently rub the stain remover into the stain by either folding the fabric and rubbing it together or using a laundry brush. When using a laundry brush, or a toothbrush if a laundry brush isn’t available, it’s important to use gentle circular motions to work the product into the stain. The stain treater should then be left on the stain for approximately 30-minutes to ensure that it works.
Grease Or Oil Stains
Examples of grease and oil stains include lard, butter, cooking oils, and motor oils. These can be extremely tough stains to treat, so it’s important to take the proper measure when pretreating the fabric. To treat these stains, a person can apply a liquid stain remover directly to the stain or presoak the garment in a solution of detergent and warm water. For extremely oily stains, sometimes it may be necessary to pretreat the stain with a grease-fighting dish detergent such as Dawn before using a laundry spot cleaner on the article. Garments can then be washed as usual.
Body Soil Stains
These stains include perspiration stains that may form on collars or in the armpit areas of a shirt. It may also include urine stains. These stains can be treated by first washing the garment under cold water. Once that’s been done, then apply stain remover directly to the stains and allow them to sit for at least 15-minutes. After the 15-minutes has elapsed, the garment can then be rinsed in cold water again and then laundered as usual.
Coffee And Tea Stains
More than likely, coffee and tea stains are not only going to have to be pretreated, but they also have to be bleached. Begin by washing any wet coffee or tea off of the garment using only cold water. Once that’s been done, then apply stain remover directly to the stains and allow it to sit for at least 20-minutes. The article of clothing should then be washed immediately using a powder detergent and bleach if it’s safe to bleach the clothing.
Dirt, Soil And/Or Clay Stains
The final stains that we are going to talk about are the stains caused by soil, dirt, or clay. These can be tough stains to treat, so the clothing should be handled with care. Begin by presoaking the affected clothing in cold water with liquid detergent for at least 30-minutes to an hour. Once that’s been done, rinse the garment in cold water and apply stain remover directly to the stains. Repeat the process for extremely tough stains. After that’s been done, the clothing can then be laundered as usual.
Stain Removal Tips
Okay, now that we all know how to fight the most common stains, we’d like to end this article with a few additional tips. Although the following tips won’t replace the use of a good stain remover, the following steps can make it easier to remove extremely tough stains.
- Treat stains as soon as possible.
- Spot-test stain removers on clothing before using them.
- Bleach should only be used as a last resort.
- Repeat stain removal procedure if the first try is unsuccessful.
- Don’t try to remove stains from silk. Take silk items to a dry cleaner.
- Gum stains can usually be removed by placing an ice cube on the stain.
- Adding a 1/2-cup of hydrogen peroxide to laundry can help brighten clothing.
- When pretreating stains, don’t scrub them. Use gentle motions instead.
- Avoid exposing stains to heat.
- Treat each stain according to type and fabric type.
- Be careful pretreating wool or other sensitive fabrics.
- Never use vinegar to treat stains on wool.
