May 29, 2024 5:00 PM
-
nytdirect@nytimes.com
Clean Everything: The best stain removers
An overview of the best stain removers tested by NYT Wirecutter, detailing their effectiveness on various stains.
Back to brilliance View in browser The very best stain removers Photo: Connie Park The right stain remover is your laundry superhero, swooping in to save the day by eliminating stains and soils that a regular wash can’t handle. We tested more than 2
May 29, 2024 5:00 PM
-
nytdirect@nytimes.com
Clean Everything: The best stain removers
An overview of the best stain removers tested by NYT Wirecutter, detailing their effectiveness on various stains.
Back to brilliance View in browser The very best stain removers Photo: Connie Park The right stain remover is your laundry superhero, swooping in to save the day by eliminating stains and soils that a regular wash can’t handle. We tested more than 2
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We tested more than 20 options to see how they fared against a wide variety of both fresh and set-in stains on washable fabrics. And we came away with a handful of recommendations to help you fight the good fight. We’ll walk you through a few of our favorites below, along with when it makes sense to use each.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">Our brand-new guide to stain removers→</a></p><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="css-1ux4czy" style="padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr><tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span style="font-style:italic">We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. </span><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-style:italic">Learn more ›</a></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>The best all-around stain remover</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="400" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/05/28/smarter-living/wce-pic-amodex-stain/wce-pic-amodex-stain-jumbo.jpg" alt="Our pick for best all-around stain remover, Amodex Ink & Stain Remover on a green background." style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Photo: Connie Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>In our tests,</span><span style="font-weight:700"> </span><span>this creamy stain remover stood out for its ability to remove two stains that most laundry detergents struggle with: permanent ink and foundation makeup. It’s easy to work into stains, is safe for most fabrics, and handles a wide variety of common stains well—but isn’t as strong on food stains like mustard and gravy. Still, between this and </span><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline">a good laundry detergent</a><span>, we think there are few stains you can’t tackle effectively.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">One of the few stain removers that can eradicate ink→</a></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>For banishing stains on the go</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="400" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/05/28/smarter-living/wce-pic-pen-stain/wce-pic-pen-stain-jumbo.jpg" alt="Our pick for best to-go stain remover, OxiClean On the Go Pen Stain Remover, on a green background." style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Photo: Connie Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>This pen-style stain remover wipes away fresh stains quickly with a nubby applicator tip. It’s lightweight enough to toss into a bag or stash in a desk drawer, and it’s especially well suited for new stains that you might encounter out in the wild. In our tests, it struggled with greasy soilage and seriously set-in stains—but it worked like a charm on fresh coffee and lipstick.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">Throw this one in your bag→</a></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>For seriously set-in stains</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="400" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/05/28/smarter-living/wce-pic-set-in-stains/wce-pic-set-in-stains-jumbo.jpg" alt="Our pick for best stain remover for soaking stubborn stains, Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent." style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Photo: Connie Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>Yes, it’s technically a detergent. But our favorite laundry detergent powder contains stain-busting enzymes and sodium percarbonate (an oxygen bleach), which makes it great for dye- and pigment-based stains. Our testing indicated that most stains will lift after soaking for an hour, but you can leave especially stubborn stains overnight or longer.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">Soak away stubborn stains→</a></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>For oily, greasy stains</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="400" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/05/28/smarter-living/wce-pic-grease-stain/wce-pic-grease-stain-jumbo.jpg" alt="Our pick for best grease fighting stain remover, the Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent." style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Photo: Connie Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>Of the many stain removers we tested, nothing worked as well on stubborn oily stains as soaking garments in a solution of warm water and our favorite liquid laundry detergent. Time and time again, this method returned seemingly unsalvageable items to their previous pristine state. Staff writer Andrea Barnes was even able to successfully remove dreaded pizza-grease stains from a dress that had already been put through the wash multiple times.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">For when pizza night gets a little messy→</a></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>One last thing: Pit stains on your white tee? Here’s how to tackle them.</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="300" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/05/28/smarter-living/wce-pic-pit-stain/wce-pic-pit-stain-jumbo.jpg" alt="An illustration of a yellow stain on someone's white t-shirt." style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Illustration: Dana Davis</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>Though a great white T-shirt is a wardrobe staple, keeping it looking fresh over the long haul isn’t always easy. But with a little know-how and the right arsenal of cleaning products, we’ve found it’s possible to revive even the dingiest shirts in your drawer.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">Bring back your shirts’ original brilliance→</a></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><br></p><div style="margin:0 auto; max-width:600px; width:100%"><table width="100%" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr style="width:100%"><td height="0"></td></tr><tr style="width:100%"><td height="17" style="border-top:1px solid #dcdcdc; font-size:0"></td></tr><tr style="width:100%"><td align="left"><table><tbody><tr style="width:100%"><td width="62" height="66" valign="top" style="vertical-align:top; margin:0; padding:0; width:62px; height:66px"><img src="https://static.nytimes.com/email-images/Karnak_Headers/NYT-Newsletters-Wirecutter-Icon.jpg" alt="Independent reviews, expert advice, and intensively researched deals from Wirecutter experts." width="62" height="62" style="padding-top:4px; width:62px; height:62px"></td><td class="css-1ujlque" valign="top" style="vertical-align:top; margin:0; padding:1px 0 0 16px"><p class="css-1vh79tv" style="font-style:italic; font-weight:700; font-family:georgia,serif; color:#000; padding:0 0 2px 0; margin:0; font-size:16px; line-height:20px"><span>Sign up for The Recommendation.</span></p><p style="font-style:italic; font-weight:300; font-family:georgia,serif; color:#000; padding:0 0 2px 0; margin:0; display:block; font-size:16px; line-height:20px"><span>Independent reviews, expert advice, and intensively researched deals from Wirecutter experts.</span></p><a href="#" class="css-159ahx5" style="font-style:italic; font-weight:300; font-family:georgia,serif; color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; padding:0; margin:0; font-size:16px; line-height:20px">Get it in your inbox</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr style="width:100%"><td height="24"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="css-1ux4czy" style="padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr><tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span style="font-style:italic">Thanks for reading.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span style="font-style:italic">You can reach the Wirecutter newsletters team at </span><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-style:italic">newsletters@wirecutter.com</a><span style="font-style:italic">. 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