You’ll have four major considerations:
✔️ Form: There are sprays, gels, powders, foams, solid sticks and liquid stain removers, plus portable options in wipe and pen form. What you choose depends on personal preference and where you are when you notice the stains. Sprays, gels and foams are the easiest to apply, but some must then go into the washing machine quickly and others can wait up to a week, so read the label. Powders and liquids can be best for presoaking before you run your load of laundry. Solid sticks (not on our list) often require a little extra muscle to apply evenly to garments but can be convenient for travel.
✔️ Type of stain: There are four types of common stains: protein (e.g., blood and eggs), tannin (e.g., tea and coffee), dyes (e.g., mustard and berries) and oil-based (e.g., makeup and cooking oil). In general, wash protein stains in cool water as heat can cause them to set. For all other kinds of stains, wash in the warmest water the garment can withstand. Since there are stain removers made for specific types of stains, and stain removers that work best in different water temperatures, you’ll want to check the stain remover label.
✔️ Fabric: A stain remover’s label usually states what kind of fabrics it is safe to use on. Some may contain bleach which shouldn’t be used on colored garments. Your garment labels should also be inspected before applying laundry pretreatment or soaking in hot water. Equally important is checking the fabric for colorfastness by applying the stain remover to a hidden spot of the garment, allowing it to sit for five minutes, then rinsing and allowing it to dry. If the fabric color is affected, do not use this stain remover anywhere else on the garment.
✔️ Time: For quick fixes out of the house, wipes and pens are your best bet. If you can wait overnight or whenever you’ve scheduled your next laundry day, opt for a spray, gel or liquid formula, checking to see how long it can be allowed to set. If you’ll use a powder for presoaking, factor that hour or more in on laundry day.
