Need Help Finding Products for Clothes Stains That Actually Work

I spilt Grape pop on my white pants and used cascade! It got it out after only 2 washes! I dont know how safe it is to use on kid clothes. HOpe this maybe helps you :)

C.
Laundry syains are the most frustrating thing for me to have to get out too. Through trial and error I have foung things that work for me. If you have pen on a peice of clothing spray it with hairspray before you wash it. The ink dissoles and comes out in t he wash, you may nees to do it more than once. For foods that have proteins in them like tomatoes, bananas, some soups, I like to use ERA. I squirt some on the stain, scrub and a lot of times that helps. for grass stains you should take something like PineSol and scrub it in the area. For some stains you can use a bar soap called Fels-Naptha. Its usually on the bottom shelf somewhere in the laundry soap isle. For chocolate cold water and soap works. Any kind of grease can be removed with shampoo. It doesn't have to be brand name. For an item, one kind works just as well as another.There are a lot of cheap tricks, but you just have to work on each stain and see what works best for you. I have decided that instead of buying a lot of new chemicals I am going to try to use what I have and when the stuff is gone buy things that would be more environmentally friendly. Lots of stains come out with vinegar or baking soda or things around the house too. Good luck P.

I LOVE oxy clean. There is a liquid spray (in a blue bottle) of it in the laundry section and it gets EVERYTHING out!! I've even used it on orange stains in my shower and it took that out too!! It's great, and not very expensive.

No one has mentioned it yet and I am amazed! The Dreft Stain Remover Spray is AWESOME. Obviously since it is from Dreft it is gentle and good to use on baby clothes and it WORKS. I use it on all of our stains, even the adult ones and it has yet to fail me. It is about $2.99 a bottle and I have found it at Target and Walmart.

One of my favorites for stains is GOOP - you know, the stuff your husband probably keeps in the garage to clean the grease off his hands after working on the car. It's sold in the automotive department and is cheap (about $1.00 a container). Works especially well on oil/grease type stains but I try it on all stains. I keep a container next to my washer/dryer and love it! Good luck!

I have heard white vinegar and/or lemon juice works well on stains. I have not done this myself but try putting fresh lemon juice on the stain or soaking the stained area with vinegar, for about 1/2 hour then wash regularly.

quixtar.com for SA8 prewash in a squeeze bottle. The stuff changed my life in the laundry department. It seems expensive but a bottle of it will last almost a year in our house. It has removed stains that have been washed several times already. If it is a tough stain, treat it and let it sit before washing. You will be amazed!

OxyClean!!! It's my favorite!!! also Zout is good for stains. As for carpet... Stanley steamer does a great job!

Oxi-clean is heavenly!

Hi C. -

I use a great product called SA8 Solutions PreWash Spray Spot Treatment. It's from the Amway company (I know, Amway right). Anyway it is FABULOUS!! I can't live w/o it as I have 2 very active and messy boys ages 2 and 4. I gets out everything. You can leave the laundry in the hamper for a week and then spray it right before you wash and everything comes out. It's the best and easiest thing I've ever found.

I like the Spray-n-wash stick. Especially for baby poop stains. I wash the poop out first. Apply stick and scrub and rinse. Then I put it on again and hang it up to dry until I do the laundry -- that's the part I like because I don't always have time to do laundry before the stain remover dries.

Dawn dishwashing soap works too.

Here is my best advice:
For *ahem* bodily fluid type stains, use hydrogen peroxide in your wash. Use about 1/4 bottle for a large load & let it soak for as long as you can. Works really well for me.
For other types of stains, have you tried the new Shout Advanced stuff? It works really well if you leave it on the spot for a while (read the directions - but I think you can leave it on up to a week) then wash as usual.
I've also had pretty good luck with OxyClean added to clothes, but I also do a 2nd rinse when I add that.
Good luck!

I may be just lazy but I use Shout. I spray it on and them wash the clothes in as hot water as the fabric can take and if it dosen't come clean then it is forevermore camping or play clothes. The thing is even grass stains and mud come out all the time. Maybe it is the 1/2 cup of baking soda I throw in the washer? My Grandma always did it and now so do I. (Laughing) Watch it will have been the baking soda all along and not the Shout I have been buying by the gallon at sams for years. lol

Okay here is something I can say for sure though. A good Carpet guy is John Spears. He was rated one of Northern Utahs Best last year and Gauruntees his work.

http://www.mylocalchoice.com/profile/signaturecarpetcare....

I haven't written a review but he is the only one I would ever go with. Whips Stanley Steamer and Sears six ways from Sunday.

If the link didn't work his number is ###-###-#### and he is out of Kaysville. Good luck.

For the carpet cleaning, I love the company "Zero Rez" because they do not use the harmful chemicals and soaps that some of the others use. They use extremely hot ionized water and a very powerful vacuum system that leaves the carpet feeling almost dry. They've even gotten gum out of our travel trailer. For clothing I've found that mixing in a spray bottle 1/3 water, 1/3 ammonia, 1/3 liquid tide is wonderful. For blood, poor hyrogen peroxide and let it bubble out the blood. Do not rinse with cold water, just the peroxide. It has never dicolored anything that I have used it on. It just eats away protein, which is what blood is. I learned this from a nurse when my son ran into a door at the hospital cutting his head open.

OxyClean is great for all sorts of stains...on all sorts of surfaces. For carpet, do remember it can kind of bleach it if left to long.
SpotShot is also really good on carpet. I love Zout for clothes. For blood in clothes or fabric, spray on Hydrogen Peroxide and then a stain remover. It works GREAT. Shout -- leave on is great for those fresh stains. Keep it by your hampers and put it right when it goes on.

If you have specific issues: google it and typically there are great ideas for stain removal.

I also have a book called the Queen of Clean which has various solutions to specific needs.

Good luck

It depends on the stain. If it is protien (food) then Sout advanced works well. You might have to treat a couple of times for set in. Never dry a stain... it oly makes it harder to get out. Try to rinse asap to get out most of it. For blood... use peroxide. For odd stains like ink, paint, gum, tar ect use Krud Kutter. You can find it in most stores like Wal-Mart or Lowes. I love the stuff.

Ass for carpets... I can't help you there.. I am also hunting for the solution.

Happy cleaning!

I just started using Spray & Wash Max with Resolve power...you spray it on, leave it for 5 minutes (maybe more for a set in stain) and then throw it in the wash. Don't let it dry (it can cause a sort of bleaching of the fabric...I know because my kids sprayed it on my comforter and now I have a light spot where it dried). So far it has gotten everything out except a lipstick stain.

For greese stains there is this stuff called Goop...it is supposed to be for mechanics hands to get the greese off...but I think you can find it in the laundry asile or the auto motive asile. It is white with blue lettering. Just smear it on the stain and leave it over night. Wash the next day and it will take the greese out. It even works on stains that have been washed and dried. I could not live without this stuff...my husband works in a factory and he is constantly coming home with greese stains on his clothes! I find it a Wal-Mart, and I have found it at Menards...no where else so far! I have tried other mechanic greese removers and none have worked as well!

As for carpet cleaning...Chem Dry. We always use them, you don't have to wait hours for your carpet to dry. They are expensive, I am sure you could find a wet wash place that is a third of the price, but if you don't have to wait for your carpets to be dry when they are done. Because you have an infant you specifically want to ask if they use toxic chemicals when you call because some places do and you don't want your baby crawling around on a toxic waste dump when they are done. Who ever you use make sure your children avoid playing on it for a day or so (which might mean you want to have it done in stages so you don't have to keep them off it all together for a whole day).

Good luck!

Here is my (almost) no-fail spot remover routine:

*I keep a bucket in the laundry sink with a scoop of Oxi in it. I fill it with cold water.
*Spray spot(s) with Shout as soon as possible.
*Soak stained clothes in the bucket until next laundry cycle. I try to soak for at least a day.
*Wash with the other clothes. Check the spot before you throw it in the dryer. If it's still there, throw it back into the bucket. I have soaked clothes up to a week, but almost every spot we've ever gotten has come out, and I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old, so things get pretty messy around here.

Best of luck,
S.

C.,

I product that I use for stain removal is the Blue Dawn Dish soap, I haven't had many stains that won't come out if I use this when the stain is fresh (wi/ 24 hours). Place a little on the stain and scrub the stain together under cold running water and then place in laundry and wash whenever you do your next loads.

Hope this helps!!

I like Oxy-clean. Also hairspray and any stain remover works for choclate and ink. Good luck!

The stuff I used on my daughters clothing and bedding for stains even ones I couldn't get to right away was the stuff in the baby section at Wal-Mart. I don't remember the name right off but it was something to do with nursery and stain remover or something. It comes in a spay and then you can also get it larger as a refill.

Hi C.. I have had very good results with using Zout. You can get it at Walmart.
As for carpet cleaning...try DC carpet cleaning. They are a family owned business and are very nice.
Good luck!

oxiclean has worked wonders for me - they have a spot spray or the powder you add to laundry. you can soak your laundry for a little while in the powder as well. it's safe with colors

Try Zout, you can get it at any store. I just spray it on and don't scrub at all. It has taken pretty much all stain out. It has been the best stain remover I have ever used.

A friend told me about using dishwashing liquid soap (like "Dawn") on stains as quickly as you can after the clothing gets stained. Scrub it in and rinse it out (it's amazing what it'll take out), then launder. It's helped me. Good luck!

Hello C.,

When it comes to cleaning carpets in my home, especially having 1 dog and now 4 cats (got a kitten for Mother's Day from my youngest daughter). We use the Rug Doctor Carpet Cleaner. We also use their recommendation pet stain cleaner. I have not had any problems with this system when cleaning my carpets. The rental is normally 24 hours, but worth the time and effort. One last note, we usually go over our carpet at least twice. When the water in the tank stays fairly clear, you will know your carpet is as clean as it will get.

Best of luck to you.

When I have stains, I just spray them all with Shout, let them sit a few minutes, and wash the clothes with Tide. It helps to wash the clothes soon after they get soiled, as opposed to waiting ten days. I never "rub" stains. They almost all come out with Shout and Tide. Could it be your cleaning products? good luck!

Hi C.,
Oxyclean works for both. Use oxyclean powder with your regular detergent, gets out stains, especially protein based ones and completely gets rid of smells without leaving any after odor. For the carpet I rent a carpet cleaner, our local grocery store has one, home depot usually carry them, buy the detergent but also add oxyclean to the water, gets rid of animal scent and again no nasty after scent from cleaners. I have kids, a big dog, and 2 cats that continually bring in mice and eat them on the carpets and have found the oxyclean the only solution that works everytime!
Good luck,
SarahMM

C.,

I am a professional seamstress and textile person. The hands-down BEST stain removal products I have ever found are the line of stain removers put out by Carbona. They have a variety of products targeted at specific types of stains - grease and oil, fruit stains, sauce and ketchup, etc. I have watched the fruit stain remover literally eat grape stains of table cloths before my eyes. You can find these excellent products at Jo Ann Fabric Stores.

Note: I have no financial interest in either Carbona or Jo Ann.

Linda

Cyrstal,
The best laundry products (SA8) can be found through my business!
Send me an email and I will send you to the website (they won't let do this here).

Looking forward to your email.
M.
____@____.com

I've had good luck with Oxo Brite, an Earth Friendly Products powder from Vitamin Cottage (it comes in a bucket). I soak a few items at a time in a wash bin for a day or two and then throw them in with laundry. For tough stains I make a paste and let it sit on the stain for a few hours. Sometimes I still have to scrub though...

A.

My mom just told me about amonia for even set-in stains. It's safe for colors too. Who would have thought? 1/2 c. in the washing machine. Good luck!

I also use the Oxyclean spray. Sometimes I have to do two treatments in a row, and I try not to put stained clothes in the dryer until the stains are out. As a last resort, I like soaking the clothes in the Baby Oxyclean. It has been the best! Always gets out stains from food, baby poop, etc. Good luck!

BioKleen Bac Out is the best thing I've found for laundry stains. Blueberries, blood, grass...

http://www.modernmommygear.com/biokleen_Bac_Out_32_oz_p/b...

Hi C.,
I understand your frustration..I have five kids and spent many years looking for a really good stain remover. Unfortunately there aren't any in the stores...however I found one through a friend that works AWESOME and works on everything including blood and grass stains. It is called Prespot and it is sold by a company called Melaleuca,Inc. Have you heard of them? Anyway, their laundry products are fabulous and are very affordable. I think they are cheaper then the store brands especially if you are a preferred customer. Here is the phone number and web address if you are interested 1-800-282-300 or www.melaleuca.com By the way, Prespot works great on carpet stains too!!!

Good Luck,
C. C.

I like Shout and Oxy Clean, for crayon pen and other random stains I LOVE Goo Gone. I was afraid to use it on textiles at first because it seemed so greasy I was sure it was going to leave a grease stain even if it did take the stain out, but it doesn't it is great.

Hi C.,

I love the OxyClean spray stain treater!! It always worked great on baby poop! The only thing I found for that. It's great on berry or watermelon stains, avacado, mustard, kechup, mud, grass... I've even gotten black dye from a new shirt out of a black and yellow stiped shirt! It works best on fresh stains (of course) but it always surprised me when I find something while sorting laundry and just spray it on and hope it comes out! I usually spray it after taking if off and let it sit for 5-10 min then soak it in cold water over night. Usually the stain is gone by morning if not throwing it in the wash usually does the trick. I love it and won't buy anything else!!

Totally Toddler is awesome!

I use products that I absolutely Love and they do all the hard work for me.

I used to have to do a load of laundry several times to get the stink out of my husband's gym clothes or the stains out of my son's bibs, etc. but NOT ANYMORE! now it's like there's magic in my laundry room. LOL!

for more info on the store that i shop at and the products that save me time and money...you can visit my personal website at www.saferisbetter.com/jmej7 and request info. i'll be happy to share the details with you in person!

you can't get the products in your local stores-only online or via catalog which i love b/c it saves me time and money and it's so much easier! the best part is that they are safer for your health. no toxic fumes or harsh chemicals. so i can clean even though i'm 8 months pregnant! LOL

hope this helps.
J.

Krud Kutter at Home Depot is great for carpets and other tough to clean things. I wonder if it is safe for laundry. I use Shout and Clorox II free and clear. It works for me. Also if you treat the stain right away, it is easier to get it out. I spray it on my clothes while I am waring them if I don't have time to change.
C. B

Hello C.,
I have used grease lightening... I don't like to have to scrub either, its less expensive than shout, and it works way better! You can find it at walmart and kingsoopers. My sister's husband swears by 409, sounds strange but he has used it for years. Stanley steamer does a nice job as far as carpet cleaning goes.
Good Luck!
:)T.

Oxiclean, or for a safer/non-toxic alternative, Shaklee Laundry Booster (online only). The stuff works magic. Hope this helps.

OxyClean Spray works great if you spray as soon as you take the clothes off. Then when you wash I find it gets everything out 90% of the time. Sometime I have to try again, but that is usually when I forget to spray until I do the laundry. And my 2 year old is very messy! Also, the grocery store has it but its cheaper at Target.

This stuff is MAGIC!!! StainSolver http://www.stainsolver.com/

I bought it to see how it would clean my grout and it made my dirty brown grout look almost brand new...cream colored again! Hardly any work at all. Just pour it on, let it sit for about 4-6 hours and then wipe/clean it up. Magic, I say!

Then recently, we tried the mixture on little stains on the carpet...we thought we'd give it a try instead of paying a company to clean the entire carpet which means moving furniture and all that (blech!). Cleaning the spots on our carpets worked and no scrubbing! Just pour the solution on and let it sit for a few minutes and then take a dry towel to soak up the excess water and the stains are gone!

It is non-toxic, it doesn't smell, and it can be used in the wash. It's like the power of OxyClean times 100. I've been telling all of my friends about it because it really does work.

My realtor said that some carpet cleaning companies have special products for pet stains and that you have to request that they use it.

Amway Prewash (spray spot treatment)works wonders on clothes. I used it on clothes that I had given up on and it worked, juice stains on white cotton, grease on black cotton etc. It doesn't smell good and I'm not sure about the chemical content but I am willing to use it on those occasional stubborn stains. You can do a google search for a distributor in your area. There other laundry products are great too. As for the carpet I'm not sure I have hard floors and no pets inside.

Good Luck

C.,
I found that it is not so much the product, but when it is applied. And with small ones it is so inconvient to always run the the laundry room to treat a stain. I hang a bottle of spray and wash from each laundry hamper(even my husband's) That way I can spray the stain immediatly before it can set. I really haven't ever had to scrub laundry if I treat it right away.

I cant say enough about Melaleuca's products for laundry and carpet. They are environmentally friendly and non-toxic. No worries that the little ones could be harmed. Take a look at www.melaleuca.com and click on a guided tour. If you'd like to try the prod, I can help you get them at wholesale. Also some really great info can be found on www.saferforyourhome.com

PamJ

Borax. It is the main ingredient in most stain removing products. You buy a box on the laundry aisle. I always throw some in with my soap now, with 2 yr dd it keeps my clothes and her clothes looking good. I am just not good at taking time to pretreat fabrics. I do this now, and it works great! I haven't had to throw stuff out for stains for a long time.
it's also great if you leave your wash in and it gets that sour smell...use borax in the load and put white distilled vinegar in the fabric softener slot. smells like vinegar when it comes out but when it comes out of the dryer it is just soft and smells yummy clean.

For clothes stains, I use Shout or a vegetable based detergent like Ecos or 7th Generation or Mountain Green. For some reason stains haven't been sticking around with these detergents like they did when I used traditional detergents. But I should say that I don't have children yet (am adopting and they haven't moved in yet) so I haven't experienced "children stains" yet.

As for pet dander in the carpet, I had a terrible pet smell/dander problem in my condo when I moved in. Bissell makes a "Pet Odor Formula" carpet cleaning shampoo that was amazing. Prior to using that formula, I had tried regular and allergen reducing formulas of carpet cleaner with no success. The Pet Odor formula neutralized the smell and it hasn't been a problem for any of my friends who are allergic to cats or dogs.

Hydrogen Peroxide is awesome for blood - just pour some on and wipe off, and continue until all of it has been "pulled out" I have heard white vinegar is great as well for other stains.
As far as carpet cleaning - I use Good Hands Carpet Cleaning at ###-###-####, and I believe you can get a referral discount - tell them H. from Jubilee! They do a great job and you can tell them about the pet smell to have something else put into things - they also sell or give some kind of cleaner that they use to their customers to help with stains that is great!

I order this product called protek, for almost all my cleaning. It is earth friendly and you get a tax write off. I use it for carpet cleaning, stains, windows etc etc. The website is protekchemicals.com. I hope this helps and good luck.

Hi There C.,

You need to be careful with many of the over-the-counter cleaning products. Many of them have toxic chemicals that are associated with cancer, asthma, learning disorders, etc. These chemicals are not regulated by the government, because they are not ingested orally by humans. (Your animals can even have reactions to some of them.)
Products offerred on my website are non-toxic, biodegradable, etc. Check out this link and look at the regular laundry concentrate which can be used as a prespotter and then the Nature Bright works like magic, taking out stains, it uses natural enzymes. All the products are 100% guaranteed. Here's the link and feel free to email or call me if you have any questions.
Take care and God bless,
L.
http://www.shaklee.net/sowing4health/product/GetCleanLaundry

i use spray and wash with resolve- i have found that it takes out almost anything( I have three kids, ages almost 7,5 and 5 1/2 months), even stains that I didnt know existed! I also put oxi clean in with my wash- it certainly brightens the clothes as well- my sister in law uses the dreft stain remover for my 14 month old nephew- its expensive, but she swears by it!

We have always used chem dry to clean our carpets.....they do a great job and the pet dander is gone( we have dogs) Good luck!

I love OXI Clean! I buy a big tub of it at Sam's Club. I put really hot water into a plastic tub, and add a scoop of Oxi as the water is going in, and when it is all dissolved I put in the clothes, and let them soak. Sometimes I repeat this several times. I have hardly had anything that hasn't come out. You do have to be careful if you have something that might bleed...it may transfer color onto another item. One time my son had just started a new job, and I had bought him all new shirts. He left a pen in the pocket of one of the shirts, and so there was ink all over all of his new shirts as well as other white things in that load. I kept soaking them in batches of the OKI and hot water, and all of it came out except for one small area down at the hem of one shirt. One of the shirts I took to the cleaners, and they were not able to get the ink out. I wish that I had had this when my kids were small, and there were food stains on their bibs and clothes. I use it on blood stained clothes(my 15 year old when she has her period) ...everything. The othewr day I bought a tablecloth and 12 napkins at a garage sale. There were yellow stains all over everything, and three batches of the OXI took all of the stains out. It was wight with dark blue border, and it did not affect the dark colors.

I use Shout spray all the time, and 90% of the time the stains are gone after they come out of the wash. I make sure to take my kids' clothes off right when they stain them, put cold water on the stain and then cover the stain with Shout spray. Sometimes I let it sit, other times I just throw it in the wash right then with other clothes. I am always amazed that the stuff comes out so well. If we're out and I can't take my kids' clothes off, I just make sure to blot the stain with cold water and keep it damp until I get home--and then I can use the Shout. The few times the stains haven't come out are when I didn't get water on the stain right after it happened. Then the stain set in and there wasn't too much I could do. I have a messy two year old and a five month old who spits up ALL THE TIME, so I really have practice with the Shout!!! :) I suppose you could carry one of those Shout pens or the Shout wipes with you, for on-the-go stains--use those after you wet the stain. Hope it works for you!

What seems to work well for me is:

Use cheap stain spray on the clothes right after you take them off the kids...keep it in their room so you spray and then toss in the laundry basket in their room.

When you are ready to wash the clothes, use Zout gel or spray (i prefer gel) on the stain, then rub on Fels Naptha soap bar (use gloves and rub on until you see yellow tint) and let it sit while you fill the washer with water and detergent and other clothing that is not stained. (cold water tide works wonders) If it is a pretty bad stain, let it sit over night...try to keep it moist with water or zout if you can...
Wash in cold water for sure!

After the wash is done, check to see if the stains are out before putting in the dryer...if there are still stains, repeat the process and for sure leave the item out over night with all the stain remover stuff on them.

C. - I have eight children and suffered the same frustrations as you for years. I only have four children left at home now and I FINALLY found something that works and you can use it on anything - not just clothes (I also use it on my carpets, etc.) It is the Melaleuca Pre-Spot!!! Absolutely fabulous. My husband had a favorite white shirt (Arizona Wildcats shirt)- with a stain on it for years (literally). I had tried everything possible on it - but the stain was still there. When I switched to Melaleuca products I tried it right away on this particular shirt. After the first wash - the stain was barely visible anymore. The second time - it was gone. I was totally impressed. THe nice thing is that you can use it on all clothes - let me know if you need help getting some. Maybe you could use mine first to see if you like it. ____@____.com Sincerely, Debbie

We carry both the Tide pen and the Oxy Clean to go with us. Usually I start with the Oxy Clean. I can't think of anything we haven't got out with one or the other. The only exception is that someone told me the Tide pen can ruin khaki colored clothes. I never had a problem with it until my infant's vitamins spilled on a khaki skirt. Sure enough, I ended up with a white circle with lime green trim. I think it was a reaction between the cleaner and the vitamins. I don't think it had anything to do with the skirt as I had used the pen on it many times before. Since finding the Oxy Clean spray to go, I don't think I've used the Tide pen. I also through some Oxy Clean in my wash. Since starting that, I think I've only had one stain not come out. I also didn't try hard. My toddler had himself covered in chocolate milk and red jello. I had a broken ankle and didn't even try with the shirt since it was too small anyway.

I like oxi clean free. It s baby safe and it gets out everything I've tried it on. You can presoak clothes or just add a scoop to your wash. It keeps whites brighter too without bleach. I have also heard that Melaluca products wrok very well.

I use OxiBaby, which is OxiClean's stain spray for baby clothes. It takes out everything, and comes in a spray bottle that looks like windex. I REALLY love this product!! I've found it at Babies R Us a couple times (not in the grocery stores) and have also ordered it online at www.oxicleanbaby.com

I have three kids and I just don't have the time or patience to check all of their clothes. I live and die by Oxyclean. I put a scoop in with every load and it is very rare that something doesn't come out. If there is a particularly bad stain (like red Kook-Aid all down the front of a shirt) I am usually aware of it before I do laundry and I soak it in Oxyclean (more concentrated than the box says) for a few days and then just wash the item with the soaking water. I check to see if the stain is still there before drying and if it is I start soaking again. My kids got into mulberries last weekend and the juice spots came out in the regular wash with Oxyclean. Also, washing right after they get the stains really helps. The sooner you wash the more likely it is to come out.