OxiClean is a line of stain removers built around oxygen bleach, which is why people reach for it on everything from wine and coffee to grass and pet messes. The maker's own directions cover laundry, carpets, upholstery, tile, and several other surfaces, but each product in the line has different limits. Knowing which version you have, and where it stops, matters more than the brand name on the bottle.
Start with the powder for laundry and hard surfaces, and use the presoak method for tough stains. Always check the do-not-use list before you start, especially for silk, wool, leather, and dry-clean-only fabrics. Never mix it with chlorine bleach or other household chemicals.
What it is
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover is an oxygen bleach powder, built on sodium carbonate peroxide along with sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, and C10-16 alcohol ethoxylate surfactants. Its maker also sells OxiClean Max Force, a spray with enzymes that is meant to pre-treat laundry stains. The line includes other versions as well, including a stain remover spray, a gel stick, and a laundry whitener.
According to the maker
What to use it on
Laundry presoak
A presoak is the maker's main method for washable clothes with stains. Dissolve 2-4 scoops of the powder, filled to the marked line, in each gallon of warm water.
Submerge the items and let them soak for 1 to 6 hours, with the longer end for tough stains. Then wash as normal.
Drum booster for regular loads
If you would rather skip the presoak, the maker says to add one scoop to the drum with detergent before the clothes go in. This works for washable, colorfast laundry. Test an inconspicuous area first, since not every item is colorfast.
Carpets, rugs and upholstery
The powder is listed for carpets, water-washable rugs, and water-washable upholstery. Test an inconspicuous area first and do not let the solution dry on the fabric.
The maker's presoak directions do not cover carpet, so check the label for carpet amounts before you start. For small stains on water-washable upholstery, the Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray is the version the maker names.
Hard surfaces and tile
The powder is listed for indoor and outdoor hard surfaces, tile, unfinished wood decks, and the inside of a dishwasher. The Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray covers grout, countertop, and shower stains.
Spray the stain, wipe it clean, and rinse if necessary. Keep both products off painted surfaces.
Whites with White Revive
OxiClean White Revive is the version the maker positions for whitening and brightening white laundry. Its presoak uses 1 scoop per gallon of the warmest water the garment allows, dissolved completely, with a 6-hour soak.
You can also add it to every load as a non-chlorine bleach alternative. Not all clothing is colorfast, so test first.
5 steps
How to use it
- 1
Test an inconspicuous area first
Try the solution on a hidden spot of the fabric or surface before a full treatment. Do not let the solution dry on the fabric at any stage.
- 2
Dissolve the powder in warm water
Measure 2-4 scoops of the powder, filled to the marked line, for each gallon of warm water. Let the powder dissolve fully before adding anything.
- 3
Submerge the items and soak
Place the items fully under the solution. Let them soak for 1 to 6 hours, with the longer end for tough stains.
- 4
Wash as usual after soaking
After soaking, wash the items as you normally would. You can also skip the presoak and add one scoop to the drum with detergent before the clothes.
- 5
Pre-treat spots with the gel stick
For a single stain, press the Max Force Gel Stick onto it and gently rub the gel into the fabric. Let it stand for 5 minutes, or up to a week depending on the stain, then wash in the warmest water the garment allows.
Where not to use it
The maker says not to use the powder on painted surfaces, jewelry, coffeemakers, or non-water-washable fabrics. It also says not to use it as a chlorine substitute in pools or hot tubs, and to check with the maker before using it on rubber.
For Max Force spray, the do-not-use list is silk, wool, leather, dry-clean-only fabrics, carpet, upholstery, and hard surfaces. For small stains on water-washable upholstery, the maker points to the Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray instead.
Safety
Never mix OxiClean with chlorine bleach or other household chemicals. Do not store the solution in a tightly closed container, because the oxygen it releases can burst it. Do not use boiling water, and do not let the solution dry on fabric.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acids, ammonia or rubbing alcohol. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Versions the maker sells
Where to buy
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick
OxiClean Baby Stain Remover
OxiClean White Revive Laundry Whitener + Stain Remover Powder
Sponsored links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product facts come from the maker's own instructions and labels.
Questions
Can you use OxiClean as a regular laundry detergent?
The maker's directions pair it with detergent rather than replace it. You can presoak with it or add one scoop to the drum with detergent before the clothes go in.
Is OxiClean a bleach?
OxiClean is an oxygen bleach, built on sodium carbonate peroxide. It is not chlorine bleach, and the maker says never to mix the two. The White Revive version is described as a non-chlorine bleach alternative.
Can you use OxiClean on colored clothes?
The powder is labeled for washable, colorfast laundry, so check that the item is colorfast first. Max Force spray is for washable whites and colors only. White Revive warns that not all clothing is colorfast, and the gel stick should not stand longer than 5 minutes on denim or other fabrics prone to color change.
Is OxiClean safe for carpets?
The powder is listed for carpets, water-washable rugs, and water-washable upholstery. The maker's presoak directions do not cover carpet, so check the label for carpet amounts before you use it. Test an inconspicuous area first, and keep Max Force spray off carpet.
Does OxiClean remove wine, coffee and grass stains?
The maker says the powder targets organic stains such as wine, juice, coffee, food, pet messes, blood, and grass. Max Force spray adds grease, oil, soil, and clay to that list. The powder is not designed for dye-transfer stains.
Can you use OxiClean on wool, silk or leather?
Avoid it. Four of the five versions list wool, silk, leather, and dry-clean-only fabrics as do-not-use items. The powder lists non-water-washable fabrics as off-limits.
Can you use OxiClean in the dishwasher?
The powder is listed for the interior of a dishwasher. The maker's directions do not give a dishwasher amount, so check the label before using it there.
Are OxiClean reviews a reliable guide to what it does?
Opinions from other users don't change what the maker says, so start with the maker's own claims. The maker says the powder works on organic stains such as wine, coffee and grass on washable laundry and water-washable surfaces. The surfaces and fabrics it lists as off-limits matter more than any opinion about the product.
Where it shows up in our guides
More product guides
How we know this
Every use, amount and warning here comes from the maker's product pages, labels and safety data sheets.