Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Non-Toxic Baby and Kids Stain Remover for Clothing, Carpet, Fabric, and Upholstery. Kid Tested and Mom Approved (120ml, 4 oz Spray Bottles) 2 Pack

Product Information

To find the best stain removers, we tested 30 different stain removers at our lab in Des Moines, Iowa. Each product was covered during testing so the testers weren’t aware of the brand or price. While many other products on our list are sprays or brushes that you can apply directly to the stain, note that this is a powder so you will need a container or basin to soak your garment in.

The Hex Performance Stain & Stink Remover performed well across all tested categories, removing most stains except red wine and makeup stains. The testers also appreciated that the product didn’t have a strong chemical smell—instead, it had a light lemon scent. Hate Stains Co. Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Remover Brandi Fuller is a commerce editor for Better Homes & Gardens who writes about the best home and products. For this list, she researched important factors to look for in laundry stain removers and compared her findings with the insights provided by our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa. She also received expert insight from Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner, and Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids and a Mop. What Is BHG Recommends? Our testers noted that this product completely removed both fresh and set-in red wine stains from t-shirts. In addition to the stubborn red wine stains, the powder also removed fresh and set-in grass, olive oil, and marker stains. It received a perfect score for value and received high marks for effectiveness. The grass, marker, and syrup were all totally removed and no residue from the stain or cleaner remains,” says our tester. “I was worried about the stain transferring based on the sudsiness of the application process, but it all washed away cleanly.” Even though this laundry stain remover comes in a small bottle, our testers found that a little goes a long way. For best results, apply the product to a stain, gently scrub using the applicator brush, let sit for five minutes, and wash like normal.During testing, our testers applied grass, olive oil, marker, chocolate syrup, red wine, and makeup stains to t-shirts and circled each stain with a permanent marker. After waiting at least one minute, they followed the manufacturer’s instructions to attempt to remove each stain. First, treat soiled and stinky areas with Hex Performance deodorizing spray or SweatX Odor Spray, then let it sit for at least a few hours. Follow up by washing with your favorite high-quality laundry detergent. (For odor removal in particular, I like Tide Ultra Oxi with Odor Eliminators, Kirkland UltraClean, and Gain + Odor Defense.) . To use, spray directly on the stain and saturate well. Wash your fabric immediately or within 24 hours for the best results. It’s safe to use on colorfast washable fabrics, but you should avoid using the product on wool or silk. Mud and dirt stains are particulate stains that are most effectively removed with “builders,” which soften and neutralize hard water by raising its pH and allowing other cleaning ingredients to work better. When it comes to dirt and mud stains specifically, builders break up the metallic bonds between the textile and the stains. The most common examples of builders are Borax (sodium borate), Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (sodium carbonate), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and powdered oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate). Whether they’re fresh or set in, makeup stains—especially foundation—can be quite difficult to remove. For cases like these, we love Method’s Stain Remover. Our testers raved about this product, noting that it’s extremely easy to use (even for large stains) because of its built-in scrubbing brush. It performed well on the makeup stains compared to other stain removers we tested, with our testing noting that the set-in foundation was “significantly lightened” after treatment.

If you have a house full of budding athletes, you’ll want to keep the Defunkify Stain Remover Spray on hand at all times. This EPA Safer Choice Certified formula will help remove those stubborn grass stains from baseball practice and soccer games. It’s safe to use on all fabric types, and can even be used on couches and carpets, too. Some laundry stain removers have a subtle, chemically clean scent, while others might have no scent at all. It’s rare to find any type of cleaner that’s free of fragrance and dyes, yet still leaves a pleasant aroma, which is why we love the Hex Stain & Stink Remover. “The cleaner had a slight lemon scent that nicely covered up the normal chemical smell that cleaners typically have,” says one tester. Testers also evaluated stain removers against set-in stains that had been sitting on t-shirts for at least eight hours. The laundry stain removers were evaluated on their ease of use, effectiveness, scent, and value.Even though the pen stain remover is formulated specifically for common food stains, our testers were impressed by how well it removed non-food stains, too. It easily removed fresh chocolate syrup and olive oil stains and also, completely dissolved grass and marker stains. When testing the pen against a red wine stain, it significantly reduced the appearance of the stain but didn’t completely remove it. Our testers pointed out that the pen had a very light chemical scent, but it was hardly noticeable. To treat stains, the instructions recommend shaking the spray bottle and then spraying the affected area. For best results, allow the product to sit on the stain for 15 minutes, and then launder the fabric as usual. Our testers found that this laundry stain remover worked best on fresh food stains. After one treatment, the chocolate, olive oil, grass, and marker stains were completely removed from the stained t-shirts. The red wine stain showed improvement, but it was still visible. The testers also noted the spray bottle was simple to use, and there was no noticeable scent.

OxiClean is well-known for its effective cleaning power, so it’s no surprise that the brand’s Versatile Stain Remover Powder was able to completely get rid of red wine—one of the most stubborn stains—during our testing. Unlike other laundry stain removers, this oxygen-based, water-activated formula works on various types of fabrics and clothing as well as upholstery, carpet, grout, and other surfaces. Despite being safe for most clothing and your hands there are still some things that you need to be careful with: Natural laundry stain removers will usually contain ingredients such as enzymes, sodium citrate, glycerin, and sodium carbonate. They’ll also usually be free of synthetic fragrances and dyes.Unequivocally & indisputably” the best solution for removing fresh and old wine stains* from clothing, fabric & upholstery. To test if our formula is safe for your fabric, choose an inconspicuous corner of the material, (maybe a hem or other hidden area) and apply the formula. Leave for two to three minutes and then blot with a white paper towel. If the colors do not change, run, or come off on the paper towel, and if the item is definitely washable, you may safely use the all The Hate Stains Co. products. ►

For those everyday stains that occur anywhere from the office to a restaurant, we love Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover. This compact and portable stain remover pen is effective at removing small stains, both fresh and set-in, caused by food, grass, ink, and oil. While the red wine and foundation stains needed a bit more work, our tester says “the grass, marker, and syrup were all totally removed.” If you’re using dish soap, make a solution of one cup of warm water and a drop or two of soap. I’ve found that Dawn and Dawn Powerwash work best — just make sure not to overdo it because using too much will make too many suds in your washing machine and can cause a whole slew of issues. Gently work that solution into the stain and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before washing.The stain remover also almost completely lifted a tough makeup stain, and the testers were confident it would be removed after another treatment. It wasn’t able to completely remove a red wine stain, but it did improve the stain quite a bit. Because the Method Stain Remover received perfect scores for ease of use, effectiveness, scent, and value, it’s one of the best stain removers on our list. Another shopper wrote in her review, “This stain remover is the absolute best. I saw people post about it on the Internet and decided to try it since I have two young kids that make giant messes on their clothes. It literally removes the stain in front of your eyes. My kid got raspberries in my off-white cardigan and it came out within seconds of me spraying this on my cardigan. I’ve used it so many times after and it works every single time. I will definitely be purchasing more when I run out.”