What is the best stain remover to get stains out of clothes?

Author: Miss Haven Kihn  |  Last update: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

For our best overall pick, we love Shout's Advanced Grease Busting Foam, which is simple to use and formulated to remove tricky oil and grease stains. We were impressed that it can pretty much tackle just about any stain you throw at it.

What stain remover works best on old stains?

Oxyclean's stain remover seems to be the best.

How do you get extreme stains out of clothes?

Fully submerge the stained garment in warm water. Dab gentle laundry detergent or a diluted white vinegar mixture (a quarter-cup of white vinegar to one cup of water) onto the stain. Machine wash on the hottest setting your garment will allow.

What is best to get stains out of clothes?

Baking soda

Try using it to create a stain-removing paste by mixing a tablespoon with water, or alternatively mix it with hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar. As well as spot-cleaning, you can also add baking soda to a regular wash or soaking clothes in water with baking soda overnight.

What is a strong stain remover for fabric?

Here are the top three scorers from our stain remover powder test:
  • Sard Whiter & Brighter Stain Remover Major Stain Types Antibacterial Soaker.
  • Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action Gold Pro Advanced Crystal White Stain Remover.
  • Sard Power Stain Remover Major Stain Types Antibacterial Soaker.

How to Remove Stains From Clothes At Home Better Than The Dry Cleaner

How do you get stains out of clothes that have been dried?

If the stain is already dry, apply liquid laundry detergent or stain remover and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. If the stain persists, apply a paste of vinegar and baking soda for 30 minutes. Rinse again with cold water before laundering.

Does hydrogen peroxide remove stains?

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful stain remover, natural disinfectant, and whitening agent – all without leaving harmful residues behind. It's safe for most washable, dye-stable fabrics and works effectively when added to your regular wash cycle or as a pre-treatment solution.

How do you get stains out of clothes that have already been washed?

Douse the stain with white vinegar, then apply a paste made of equal parts baking soda and vinegar. If this doesn't work, immerse the item overnight in a bucket of water containing a few tablespoons of detergent and vinegar. Rinse and wash the following morning.

Is vinegar or baking soda better for stains?

Vinegar, an acid, tackles hard water stains, mineral deposits, and rust, making it an ideal solution for various surfaces in your home. Baking soda, on the other hand, is a mild alkaline that dissolves organic matter, making it an excellent abrasive cleaner without causing scratches.

Can you get really old stains out of clothes?

For those persistent stains that refuse to budge, a baking soda paste is your secret weapon: Mix baking soda with water to form a thick paste. Apply the paste generously onto the stubborn stain, ensuring complete coverage. Let the paste dry on the fabric for approximately 30 minutes.

How to remove a set-in stain?

If it's a food or beverage stain, soak in white vinegar and dawn dish soap for about a half hour. Rinse and wash as normal in the machine. If it's a blood stain, you may have luck with hydrogen peroxide. If it's a grease stain, rub in Dawn dish soap, then, soak in hot water.

What is the hardest stain to remove from clothes?

Key Takeaways. Some of the toughest food stains to remove include coffee, tea, gum, peanut butter, mustard, berry juice, tomato-based sauces, baby food, red wine, chocolate, cooking grease and butter.

Which is the best cleaning agent for removing stains?

We recommend wearing gloves when working with them.
  • Our pick: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover. ...
  • Our pick: OxiClean On the Go Pen Stain Remover. ...
  • Our pick: Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Our pick: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Also great: Zout. ...
  • Also great: Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Brightener.

What is a powerful homemade stain remover?

DIY Stain remover recipe ➡️One part Dawn dish-washing liquid soap (approx 1 tablespoon) ➡️Two parts hydrogen peroxide (approx 2 tablespoons) ➡️One part baking soda (approx 1 tablespoon) ➡️ Let sit for about an hour the launder like normal - it's ok to let sit for longer or shorter.

What is better than OxiClean?

Your best bet, though, is to buy pure sodium percarbonate (which you can easily find on Amazon for less than $20). Not only does sodium percarbonate not contain any unnecessary additives as do some store-bought products, but Richardson says it's also much stronger than true OxiClean (which means you need less of it).

What is the best stain remover for mechanics clothes?

One effective trick and the best soap for mechanics to combat grease stains is dish soap. Having a quality degreaser on hand can be a game-changer.

What happens if you use vinegar and laundry detergent together?

Adding vinegar directly to the wash with your laundry detergent may compromise its cleaning performance. Laundry detergents are formulated for specific pH levels, which may be disrupted by the acidity of vinegar, leading to less effective cleaning. It's best to avoid mixing them to ensure optimal results.

Should I use straight vinegar or distilled vinegar to remove stains?

We prefer distilled white vinegar as our cleaning condiment of choice because it doesn't have any coloring agents that might stain surfaces (Stay away from balsamic or red vinegar). We also like white vinegar because it only has about 5 percent acidity, so it's on-par with other common cleaning products.

What is the best stain remover for clothes that have been dried?

With OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover powder, you can remove old stains from clothes even after they have dried, grease and oil stains included. Plus, VSR is color safe, so you can use it to restore the life of old clothes and avoid having to buy new ones!

Does Dawn work as a stain remover?

Dish soap can be applied to stains before you run the wash, to better prevent them from settling into the fabric. Handwashing small loads: Dawn® Platinum can help remove stubborn oil and food stains, making it an ideal option for handwashing small loads of laundry.

Does OxiClean work on old stains?

Don't worry if an item is stained or looks dingy because it's really simple to get used items looking like new with OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover. Plus, by giving new life to old clothes, you're not only helping the planet, you're saving money too.

Is vinegar or peroxide better for stains?

Is vinegar or hydrogen peroxide better for stains? Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work differently to remove stains. Vinegar is more of a general stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide may have a slight bleaching effect on fabric so it's best to use it on white or light-colored items.

How much Dawn and peroxide does it take to remove stains?

mix one part Dawn dish soap. to 2 parts hydrogen peroxide and agitate. soak the stain in it. a little bit bigger than what the stain is actually. and then put baking soda on top and rub.

Can hydrogen peroxide remove old blood stains?

Are Dried-in-Blood Stains Harder to Remove? Yes, unfortunately they are, and this task often needs something stronger than soap and water. The most effective method is to use hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizing agent that removes old blood stains via a chemical reaction, breaking it down.

Previous article
When can you safely put plants outside?
Next article
How wide should footings be for a wall?