Lifestyle | The Guardian

The best stain removers for clothing (and the worst)

Jenny McGrath — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:19:33 GMT

We tested OxiClean, Tide pens, Zout and 11 other stain removers against blotches of oil, wine, turmeric and many other tough stains – here’s what to stock in your laundry room

After a particularly lively night, you might find your favorite shirt covered in splashes of wine, coffee or mustard – or if you’re really unlucky, all three. These can all be stubborn stains, and their chemical makeup is different. Is there a single stain remover that can combat them all?

To find out, I tested more than a dozen popular stain removers on all those messes plus several more, including grass, lipstick and ink. They aren’t all recommended, but I tried many home options, like OxiClean, Zout, Shout and Seventh Generation, along with Tide pens and Miss Mouth’s wipes that are easy to take on the go. Since we’re not always at home when a laundry disaster strikes, I also tried pens and wipes that are easy to stow in a bag or purse.

Lifestyle | The Guardian

The best stain removers for clothing (and the worst)

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