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Jun 19, 2023

14 best stain removers for clothes in 2023, per experts

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When the inevitable inevitably happens — you know, spilling something on your bright white T-shirt or linen dress — you have to be prepared.

Nobody wants these things to happen, especially if you’re out to dinner or not at arm's reach of your washer dryer combo. Not to mention, you don't have to have all of your natural laundry detergents lined up on your shelf to treat a sudden stain.

"The primary stain remover options are pre-wash spot remover, bleach and color-safe bleach, as well as the stain removing properties of laundry detergents," Jessica Ek, senior director of digital communications at the American Cleaning Institute with five years of experience, told the New York Post. "Dish detergent is very good at removing oil or grease stains. There are also some things that can be used on specific stains, like paint or rust remover."

Ahead, Ek shares her expertise in our in-depth FAQ section — highlighting how to properly use stain removers and what ingredients to look for (and avoid) — while New York Post Shopping highlights the best ones on the market.

More, we put together an expert-backed guide on how to remove every type of clothing stain — from your glass of California Napa Valley cabernet to your cinnamon-topped cappuccino — following our product picks, too.

For more on cleaning, check out our guide to the best carpet cleaners.

Why we recommend it: Puracy's Free & Clear Stain Remover Spray is affordable, contains the smartest blend of ingredients to combat a variety of stains, is well-acclaimed and is both bleach- and dye-free.

If we had to crown a particular clothing stain remover as the best overall, it would be Puracy's Free & Clear Stain Remover Spray. Not only is is budget-friendly at just $10, but it contains cellulase, pectinase, amylase and lipase — four expert-backed ingredients (as explained in our FAQ section) that can help remove stains in the following groups: pasta, potato, baby food, fats, oils, fruits, vegetables, dirt and soil — among others.

Why we recommend it: OxiClean's Max Force Foam Laundry Pre-Treater Stain Remover is affordable, simple to use before laundering and is said to be gentle on clothes while serving as an agent to remove caked-in stains.

As one of the strongest names in the biz, OxiClean has a wonderful pre-treater stain remover. In par with Ek's intel, pre-treaters are one of the most common formulation groups to hep remove stains. It's backed by more than 5,000 rave reviews on Amazon, too. Be sure to check your garment's care label and our stain cheat sheet to see if using a pre-treatment is recommended.

Why we recommend it: Biokleen's Bac-Out Stain + Odor Remover is readily available in both traditional and buy-in-bulk sizing options, isn't as harsh as bleach and also contains a hint of lime essence to help beat odors, too — killing two birds with one stone.

Available on a bounty of online retailers, Biokleen's Bac-Out Stain + Odor Remover not only helps remove stains and combat odors but it's safe to use on both laundry items and carpets. Plus, its unique blend of enzyme cultures is what we look for, especially with our cleaning expert recommending enzyme-loaded ingredients for certain stains.

Why we recommend it: OxiClean's White Revive Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover is our top choice for helping to remove stains for white clothes and colors as well.

For less than $15, the OxiClean White Revive Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover is the quintessential stain remover to have on hand, covering your bases (and removing stains, most importantly) for both white and colored garments. It's chlorine-free and is said to provide 40% more whitening powder than chlorine bleach.

Why we recommend it: Grab Green's Bleach Alternative Powder Detergent Pods are ideal if you’re looking for a gentle, fragrance-free bleach alternative that helps brighten both whites and colors and naturalize odors.

A hidden gem on the market? Grab Green's Bleach Alternative Powder Detergent Pods come in a variety of size options, depending on your budget and how much you’d like to spend, and is an all-encompassing clothing stain remover that features an easy toss-in-the-laundry-machine design, is plant-based and hypoallergenic — the latter a green checkmark for sensitive skin, specifically.

Why we recommend it: Molly's Suds Baby Laundry Powder has answered our prayers for helping to rid nasty formula, poop and spit-up stains, ranking as a No.1 Amazon best-seller with nearly 14,000 rave reviews, and safe for all washing machines.

Molly's Suds is a top choice if you’re looking for an option that’ll (1) help remove baby clothing stains and (2) can tackle off baby-derived stains off your clothing as well. Formulated with stain-fighting enzymes and an all-around newborn-skin-conscious design, it's both hypoallergenic and comes with a measuring scoop for easy use.

Why we recommend it: The Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray not only is offered at a great value on Amazon (thanks, three-pack!) but it's the best travel-friendly option that can help treat baby stains and a good amount of common adult-caused stains as well.

For parents and caregivers on the go, add this trio to your Amazon cart that's applauded by a whopping 40,000 rave reviews — and counting. This near-instant, fragrance-free and easy-to-use clothing stain remover is a diaper bag essential, too, and is said to be effective on both fresh and set-in stains.

Why we recommend it: The Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover is a fan-favorite (and one we personally have in tow; it lives in our work totes) and is one of the most affordable, yet effective on the market.

This edit would be incomplete without a mention of the Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover. Conveniently offered in a three-pack bundle, you’ll appreciate its quick-action formulation (note: a little goes a long way, especially for light stains) and its bleach-free make. Be sure to read our stain cheat sheet to ensure this product is recommended for the particular stain you’d like to treat.

Why we recommend it: Shout's Advanced Action Gel Spray & Wash Laundry Stain Remover is safe for color-treated clothes and is one we recommend if you’re seeking a versatile, effective treatment.

Spray it, remove it. That's the name of the game for this Shout product — a household name (much like saying ‘Purell’ instead of ‘hand sanitizer’). What's great about this top-rated clothing stain remover is how it allows you to treat stains whenever they occur, but offers the flexibility to wash your garment(s) up to a week later — especially useful to help conserve water and only toss in your hamper's load once full.

Why we recommend it: Carbona's Laundry Stain Scrubber is one of the best-valued clothing stain removers that conveniently comes with a scrubbing brush on top, no sponge or brush required.

For less than $25, this trio is (1) an all-in-one cleaner that doesn't require the use of any tools and (2) is travel-friendly, so as long as you’re en route to a location with a washing machine. Another green flag? It contains naturally derived bio-enzymes, an ingredient class recommended by our cleaning expert for helping to remove most stains.

Why we recommend it: Dirty Lab's Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster is the perfect option if you want something that has effective yet sustainable ingredients. It doubles as an odor-remover, too.

Clad in biodegradable packaging, the Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster is well-priced for a sustainable cleaning product (trust us, we’ve seen ones that cost a pretty penny) and contain a well-formulated enzyme mix to help carve out most stains from clothing. Even better, it comes with a scoop for easy handling and also helps make colors and whites a bit brighter.

Why we recommend it: Grove Co.'s Stain Remover Spray is just $6 but is a titan in the clothing stain removal space, thanks to its ability to help remove a bounty of stains. It's also a wonderful way to support a direct-to-consumer brand and snag an aesthetically pleasing spray bottle.

We can't believe the Grove Co. Stain Remover Spray is less than $10, either. Powered by natural cleaning enzymes, it's a New York Post Shopping-recommended pick that contains amylase and pectinase, expert-advised ingredients that work best for blood, egg, grass, fruits and vegetables stains.

Why we recommend it: While the Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbana Liquid Dish Soap is one to use on your dinnerware sets, our cleaning expert recommends using a dish detergent for grease, specifically, allowing you to save money on cleaning products with this two-in-one agent.

Believe it or not, you can use liquid dish soap or detergent to combat grease stains (key word: liquid; do not toss dishwasher detergent pods in your washing machine). With a fresh lemon scent and an expert-adored cleaning product, it's worth the buy.

Be sure to keep in mind, based on our stain cheat sheet, that heavier grease stains may take a further approach to completely eradicate.

Why we recommend it: Zout's Triple Enzyme Formula Laundry Stain Remover Foam impressed us with its ability to tackle a fair amount of stains at an affordable price point, with the option to buy in bulk as well.

After a careful read of Zout's ingredients, we were pleased to take note of its formulation, of which includes amylase, protease and lipase — a trio that helps combat pasta, potato, baby food, grass, blood, egg, fats and oils. Oh, and we couldn't resist naming an easy-spray bottle as a favorite.

Ahead, Ek gives us the 411 on stain removers for clothing — including ingredients to look for, tips for removing old stains and how they differ from traditional stain removers on the market.

Above all else, look for a stain remover with enzymes, as these will do a good job of breaking apart stains of organic material, like protein and fat.

"Stain removers for clothes are meant to break up stains to get ready for removal during the washing process, through water, detergent and friction," Ek tells The Post. "This is different from something like a rug or upholstery stain remover that needs to break up the stain and bring it to the surface so that it can be blotted up and the product must be formulated differently."

The primary stain remover options are pre wash spot remover, bleach and color-safe bleach, as well as the stain removing properties of laundry detergents.

"Dish detergent is very good at removing oil or grease stains," Ek tips off. "There are also some things that can be used on specific stains, like paint or rust remover."

First things first: always read and follow the directions on the product label. "This will usually involve applying the product to cover the stain and leaving it for some time before washing according to the fabric care label information," Ek says.

According to Ek, there are different types of stain removers, but many are used as a pretreatment before washing.

"On-the-go spot removers are usually designed for stain removal without the need for washing," she adds. "Dish detergent and a little water can also be used to spot treat instead of washing, depending on the stain."

Perhaps there's a garment that has been passed down from generation-to-generation (think: grandma's old yet now-on-trend sweater). Ek answers one of the most common questions that others have about removing clothing stains.

"When treating old stains, proceed as you normally would with a pretreatment followed by washing," she notes. "If that doesn't work, bleach or color safe bleach can be an effective next step."

The key with old stains? Be sure to check the fabric after washing and do not put it in the dryer until the stain has been fully removed.

According to Ek, these products work best on small spills, immediately after they happen, which is what they are designed for. Plus, they’re a relatively affordable option you can buy in bulk.

"Look for products designed to remove the types of stains you tend to have," Ek recommends. "Different enzymes are better at breaking down particular stains."

Ahead, Ek lists some key ingredients to look for in a clothing stain remover to help combat popular stains:

Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.