Stain removers look alike on the shelf, but they are built for very different jobs. A pen that lifts a fresh food spot from a shirt will do little for a set-in pet accident on a rug, and a powder meant for washable fabrics can be wrong for delicate items. The label promise is only half the story, so the surface and the kind of stain matter more than the brand name.
Start with what you are cleaning: clothing, carpet, upholstery or a hard surface. Then match the stain type, since protein, tannin, oil and dye spots are not all handled the same way. Finally, read the maker's warnings on mixing, ventilation and test spots before you open the bottle.
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6 products
Our picks at a glance
- Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover PenBest overall for everyday spillsFresh spots on washable clothes · Dry-cleanable fabrics · Spots you can treat on the spotCheck price of Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen on Amazon
- Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain RemoverBest for laundry in any waterEveryday laundry stains · Colorfast washables · Any water temperatureCheck price of Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover on Amazon
- OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover PowderBest for soaking laundry loadsPresoaking laundry · Water-washable rugs · Tile and hard surfacesCheck price of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder on Amazon
- Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 FlBest for carpet and rug spotsCarpet and rug spots · Protein and oil stains on carpet · Spots after a hidden-area testCheck price of Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl on Amazon
- Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 ozBest for dog accidents and odorsDog accidents on carpet · Pet odors on fabric · Hard floors and furnitureCheck price of Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 oz on Amazon
- Lestoil Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose CleanerBest for heavy-duty household jobsHeavy-duty household jobs · Garage floors and patios · Laundry and clothingCheck price of Lestoil Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose Cleaner on Amazon
Best overall for everyday spills
1. Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen
Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen
Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen is a prewash stain remover from Tide, made by Procter & Gamble. The maker says it is for all colorfast washable and dry-cleanable fabrics, so it suits clothing spots you catch quickly. It works poorly on ink, grease, blood and grass, so pretreat those spots and launder them as usual.
Best for
- Fresh spots on washable clothes
- Dry-cleanable fabrics
- Spots you can treat on the spot
Best for laundry in any water
2. Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover is an enzyme pretreater from S.C. Johnson & Son.
The maker says it is for all colorfast washables and works in all water temperatures, which makes it a practical choice for everyday laundry. Use it on the stain before the wash rather than as a surface cleaner.
Best for
- Everyday laundry stains
- Colorfast washables
- Any water temperature
Best for soaking laundry loads
3. OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder is an oxygen bleach powder from Church & Dwight. The maker lists it for washable colorfast laundry, carpets, water-washable rugs and upholstery, and for indoor and outdoor hard surfaces such as tile. It fits a presoak for stubborn laundry better than a quick pen.
Best for
- Presoaking laundry
- Water-washable rugs
- Tile and hard surfaces
Best for carpet and rug spots
4. Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl
Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl
Resolve Carpet & Rug Spot & Stain Remover is a carpet spot cleaner from Vestacy. The maker says it is for carpets and rugs, but only after a colorfastness test on a hidden area. That makes it a targeted choice for spots on carpet rather than for clothing.
Best for
- Carpet and rug spots
- Protein and oil stains on carpet
- Spots after a hidden-area test
Best for dog accidents and odors
5. Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 oz
Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 oz
Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover for Dogs is a pet enzyme stain and odor remover from Spectrum Brands. The maker lists it for carpets, hard floors, furniture and fabrics, with a full fabric list on the label. It is aimed at accidents and odors rather than everyday spills.
Best for
- Dog accidents on carpet
- Pet odors on fabric
- Hard floors and furniture
Best for heavy-duty household jobs
6. Lestoil Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Lestoil Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Lestoil Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose Cleaner is a prewash spray and cleaner from The Clorox Company. The maker lists it for soft and hard surfaces, including laundry, shoes, carpet, garage floors, counters, tile and patios. It is the pick for tougher household jobs as well as clothing spots.
Best for
- Heavy-duty household jobs
- Garage floors and patios
- Laundry and clothing
Match the product to the job
How to choose
Fabric stains on clothes
For clothing, start with a pen or pretreater that suits washable and colorfast fabrics. Tide To Go is the pen for fresh spots on washable and dry-cleanable clothes, and Shout works on colorfast washables in any water temperature. Test an inside seam first if you are unsure, and keep Lestoil away from wool and silk.
Soaking and laundry loads
When a stain has set into washable clothes, a presoak does more than a quick spray. OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder is built for that, with 1-6 hours of soaking in warm water. Lestoil works as a laundry treatment that sits 5-10 minutes before washing in the hottest water the label allows.
Carpets and rugs
For carpet and rug spots, Resolve is made for that job, but only after a colorfastness test on a hidden area. OxiClean powder also covers water-washable rugs and upholstery. Nature's Miracle suits pet accidents on carpet, and everything should be kept off the carpet until it is dry.
Pet accidents and odors
Nature's Miracle is the pick for dog accidents and odors, and its label gives a full fabric list. Test a hidden area for an hour first and use full strength before any other cleaner. Keep people and pets off treated areas until dry, and never apply it directly to a pet.
Hard surfaces and garage floors
For counters, linoleum, tile, garage floors and patios, Lestoil covers the widest range of hard surfaces in this list. OxiClean powder also lists tile and outdoor hard surfaces, but it must stay off painted surfaces. Nature's Miracle is not for untreated hardwood, so check the surface before you spray.
Use it safely
Test a hidden spot before you use any of these, since several makers ask for it. Never mix them with bleach or other household chemicals, which OxiClean and Resolve both warn against. Wear eye protection with Resolve and rubber gloves with Lestoil for sensitive skin or long use, and use Resolve only in well-ventilated rooms.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acids, ammonia or rubbing alcohol. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Would a home method do?
A home method can be enough for a fresh spot on a plain, colorfast washable fabric, but only if the fabric can take it. Patch test any home method on a hidden seam first, and do not assume it is safe on wool or silk. The step-by-step guides for each method are linked below.
How we chose
Every product here earned its place on fit, not on who pays: it is made for this job by its maker's own description, its maker doesn't warn against the surfaces this list covers, and its directions agree with the methods in our stain guides. We put the clearest, best-documented products first and limit each brand to two picks. Our editorial standards.
We compared each pick on its maker's product page, label and safety data sheet. Prices and photos come directly from Amazon and can change. Sources for each pick:
More product lists
Questions
Which stain remover is the best overall?
Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen is the top pick here because its maker says it works on all colorfast washable and dry-cleanable fabrics. It suits spots you catch early on clothing. It works poorly on ink, grease, blood and grass, so pretreat those.
Can I use a stain remover on carpet?
Yes, but only the products built for carpet should be used there: Resolve Carpet & Rug Spot & Stain Remover, or OxiClean powder for water-washable rugs. Test a hidden area for colorfastness first. Keep children and pets off the carpet until it is dry.
Are stain removers safe around pets?
Not all of them are. Nature's Miracle is made for dog accidents, but its label says to keep people and pets off treated areas until dry and not to apply it directly on pets. Keep every cleaner out of reach of children and pets and read the label first.
Can I mix stain removers?
No. OxiClean says not to mix its powder with chlorine bleach or other household chemicals, and Resolve gives the same warning about bleach and other household products. Keep these products separate from bleach and from each other.
Is a stain pen the same as a laundry pretreater?
Not quite. Tide To Go is a pen with a tip that releases the solution onto a spot, while Shout is a spray you rub in and let sit for 1-5 minutes before washing. Both suit colorfast washable fabrics, so choose the form that fits the spot.
Can I use OxiClean on delicate fabrics?
The powder is for washable, colorfast laundry only, so keep it off fabrics that are not water-washable, including dry-clean-only items. It is also not for painted surfaces. Check the label before you use it on anything delicate.