Stain removers Stain remover FAQs
Our red wine stain (before) proved to be hard work for Vanish Oxi Action spray (middle), but much easier for Ariel to tackle (right)
Do I really need a stain remover or is my usual washing detergent good enough?
There’s no doubt that washing detergents and washing machines claim to be better than ever at giving the best cleaning performance. But even the best detergents aren't good enough to vanquish the most trying stains, particularly fatty ones.
We tested a , alongside the stain removers. As you can see from the full test results, it only scored 47% - the lowest score of all. It particularly struggled against grease and make-up stains.
However, some stain removers were only a little bit better, and our Best Buy washing detergent did well on food (chocolate ice cream, tomato and carrot puree, mustard) and general soil (blood, grass and mud) stains, gaining four stars for both.
Can I use stain removers on delicate fabrics?
Sadly, most stain removers aren’t recommended for delicate fabrics such as wool or silk. Many stain removers leave this as something of a mystery - saying, for example, that they’re suitable for ‘most fabrics’ without specifying which.
Is one type of stain remover better than another?
Our Best Buys include an in-wash powder, a liquid and a pre-soak powder. Other stain remover formats on test were a spray, a sachet and a gel. We found the type did not determine performance.
Check our full test results and choose the products that work best for the stains you're trying to remove.
- Don't want to use chemicals? See how the two eco products did in our stain remover tests
- Find out which are the stain remover Best Buys
- For better washing use a Best Buy laundry detergent
