Stain Removers Reviews

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Stain Removers Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Stain Removers Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Slate.com >> Details/Subscribe	Will It All Come Out in the Wash? Dan Crane June 2007		Dan Crane tests seven stain removers, including Ecover, Tide to Go, Shout Wipes, OxiClean, Spray n' Wash, Shout and Zout. As a control, Crane also washes his stained white T-shirt in plain water, and tries out club soda on stains. Zout performs the best, followed by Shout and Spray n' Wash. Methodology is clearly spelled out and the author tested these cleaners with coffee, salad dressing, mustard, lipstick, barbecue sauce and blood. We like that Crane included more stain removers in his test than did Consumer Reports, but the only fabric he used was the cotton T-shirt.
2. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Seeing Spots? Don't Rely on Quick Stain Removers Editors of Consumer Reports Aug. 2006		Consumer Reports tests three spot removers against 48 fabric swatches stained with tomato juice, clam chowder, mustard, grape juice and more. According to editors, none of the products give you much of a fighting chance to remove stains on the go. Most did not come close to living up to their product claims. Although editors tested stain removers with the widest variety of stains, we wish more brands had been included.
3. Good Housekeeping.com >> Details/Subscribe	GH on TV Editors of Good Housekeeping Not Dated		Good Housekeeping has a vested interest in stains; the Institute publishes an entire book on removing them in addition to an online guide that lists stains and removal solutions alphabetically. Editors also test commercial stain removers in a series of short videos. Oxygen cleaners, kid's stain removers and carpet cleaners are all reviewed in separate videos, and related how-to guides are available. We even saw some tests of stain-resistant tablecloths and kid's clothing. The downside is that the videos aren't dated, so many of the tested products are no longer on the market. This is a good place to check for articles on removing stains from carpet and furniture in addition to clothing.

Stain Removers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Stain Removers Ratings Comments on Reviews

4. Los Angeles Times >> Details/Subscribe	4 Handy Spot Removers Take the Stain Test Catharine Hamm Jan. 2008		In this hands-on test, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times stains khaki slacks with coffee and raspberry pecan salad dressing. She tries four spot removers: Tide to Go, OxiClean Spray-A-Way, StainEraser and Janie. She ranks Tide to Go as the "best overall." It completely removes the coffee and does the best job at removing the salad dressing. OxiClean "left an oily-looking ring around the coffee stain and didn't begin to get the color out of the dressing." The StainEraser and Janie remove the coffee, but leave the salad dressing.
5. The Ohio State University Information Extension	Quick ‘n Easy Stain Removal Janis Stone Not Dated		Janis Stone, a Textiles and Clothing Specialist at Iowa State University, provides a comprehensive general discussion of stain removal. Although the discussion does not mention specific products, it does provide information on basically everything you need to know about stain removal, including how to approach certain fabrics, stains that require unique treatment and home remedies. The author notes that a few common remedies should be avoided. She states that dishwasher detergents should not be used on clothing because they are too alkaline and can fade colors or damage fabric.
6. BMJ (British Medical Journal)	Streptokinase Versus Alteplase and Other Treatments for Acute and Delayed Thrombolysis of Blood Stains in Clothing C.K. Pager Dec. 2000		The author is a resident medical officer in a hospital in Australia. Blood stains on white pillowcases are pretreated with one of three drugs intended to dissolve blood clots or with one commercial stain remover (unnamed) before being laundered. A control set of stained pillowcases is laundered without any pretreatment to the blood stain. None of the pretreatments work better than washing alone. The author finds that washing sooner (within five hours) gives better results than washing later (at nine hours). Washing in hot water is better than washing in cold water. However, the stain should be kept wet until laundering and it may be better to use cold water for this purpose. While not a comparison test of laundry detergents, we find this report fascinating and useful.
7. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	We Scour the Claims for "Miracle" Cleaners Editors of Consumer Reports June 2004		Consumer Reports tests three household spot and stain cleaners, finding that "each was good at something, but no single cleaner eliminated our stains and grime." While not comprehensive, this report is interesting.
8. WTNH (Branford, CT)	Testing OxiClean Sonia Baghdady July 2003		OxiClean is a product added to laundry detergent to help remove stains. In this television news story, OxiClean is tested against stains made by make-up, grape juice, spaghetti sauce, dirt and grass in two separate tests. In the first test, OxiClean removes most of the make-up and grape juice, but it doesn't make much of a difference with the spaghetti sauce. The second test uses grape juice and spaghetti sauce, plus dirt and grass. OxiClean removes the grape juice completely and removes most of the dirt. Again, the spaghetti sauce is left. Although no other laundry detergents are tested or rated, this is a well done single-product test.
9. KCBD (Lubbock, TX)	Which Oxygen Based Cleaner Works the Best? No author listed Jan. 2003		This test, conducted by a television station news team, evaluates four stain removers that are added to the wash with regular laundry detergent. Clorox's Oxygen Action (discontinued), All's OxiActive (discontinued), OxiClean and Shout's Oxy Power (discontinued) are tested against four stains: grass, mustard, sherry wine and ketchup. The tester reports that none of the stain removers completely removes all of the stains, but OxiClean works the best.
10. KFVS (Cape Girardeau, MO)	Oxi-Clean Amy Jacquin May 2001		In this television news report, OxiClean products are tested on stains provided by Dawn Wilson, a mother of four. The product improves a carpet stain that had resisted dozens of other clean-up attempts. When added to the laundry, OxiClean whitens better than bleach. Ms. Wilson is so pleased with the improvement in her carpet that she pre-treats the entire carpet with OxiClean and then shampoos it. According to the reporter, "You can see quite a difference." No other cleaning products are tested.
11. Redandblack.com	OxiClean May Work Too Well Darrell Kinsey Jan. 2003		Darrell Kinsey tests OxiClean Powder on several food stains on the carpet in his apartment. Other stain removers had failed to remove the stains. OxiClean removes the stains but leaves noticeably cleaner patches in the carpet. No other stain removers are tested.
12. Retro-Housewife.com	OxiClean Versatile, Rating: Very Good Editors of Retro-Housewife.com June 2006		The unidentified writer adds OxiClean Versatile powder to her carpet cleaner and tries it against some stains. It completely removes an ink stain and about 80% of a couch foot varnish stain. It does not remove a cola stain. No other stain removers are tested here.
13. KidsOutandAbout.com	Review of Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Debra Ross Oct. 2005		Debra Ross tests Tide to Go on ten fresh food stains. The product works best on ketchup, Spaghetti-Os, chocolate syrup and V8 Splash. The product does not work well on the mustard and vegetable oil. The writer tries some other old V8 stains against Zout, which does not work. No other stain removers are tested.
14. KLTV (Jacksonville, FL)	Tide To Go: Does It Work? Joe Terrell Aug. 2007		In this television news report, Tide to Go is tested against ketchup, grape juice and coffee. In the first round of testing, stains are worked on one at a time so that some of them have a chance to set. The results are "not great." The stains fade, but "appeared to just spread out to the edges," leaving a faint circle of stain. In the second round of tests, a stain is made and then immediately treated. This time, stains are completely removed. No other stain removers are tested other than Tide to Go.
15. WRAL (Raleigh, NC)	Does It Work: Tide To Go Monica Laliberte Nov. 2005		In this television news report, Tide to Go is tested against ketchup, BBQ sauce, grape juice and coffee stains. The reporter finds that the "stains did go away for the most part," but cautions that the product should be used as soon as the stain is made, confirming results from other tests that say Tide to Go seems to work better on fresh stains. No other products are tested.
16. CBS13 (Sacramento, CA)	Buy It and Try It: Tide to Go Stick Kurtis Ming July 2006		The reporter tests Tide to Go against food stains. The product completely removes three-day-old chocolate stains, ketchup and barbecue sauce. It also reduces stains from strawberries. The writer concludes that Tide to Go works on most stains and lightens others enough to avoid embarrassment. No other stain removers are tested, however.
17. KWCH (Wichita, KS)	Does It Work: Tide to Go Kim Setty Not Dated		Tide to Go is tested against three different stains on a white T-shirt: ketchup, grape jelly and mustard. Tests are conducted by three teenage boys who "see the stain fade, though not disappear." In addition, the product leaves behind a noticeable wet spot, which the testers think is as bad as the original stain.
18. Housekeeping Channel.com	Tide to Go Sarah Aguirre Not Dated		Sarah Aguirre scores Tide to Go as an 8.7 out of a possible ten. She states that it is "amazingly effective on fresh food and drink stains, but that it "may not work as effectively on stains that are greasy or have dried on clothing." No other stain removers are mentioned or tested.
19. Housekeeping Channel.com	Tide Buzz Editors of the Housekeeping Channel Not Dated		The unidentified author tests the Black & Decker Tide Buzz Ultrasonic Stain Remover against a variety of stains including chocolate, coffee, ink, grape juice, dirt, blood, grass and snacks. All of the stains are removed, although the ink requires repeated attempts and washing. No other stain removers are discussed.
20. Housekeeping Channel.com	If Your (Dirty) Walls Could Talk Editors of the Housekeeping Channel Not Dated		This article features advice from Don Aslett, "one of America's most diverse cleaning experts and the author of more than 40 books on the subject." Aslett's professional cleaners use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove marks from walls. It is noted that this tool is slightly abrasive.

Stain Removers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Stain Removers Ratings Comments on Reviews

21. About.com	Oxiclean Free Sarah Aguirre Not Dated		OxiClean Free contains no dyes, fragrances or chlorine to trigger reactions in sensitive skin. The writer adds OxiClean Free to a load of her son's laundry to remove grass, mud and popsicle stains. The stains are removed and her son's skin is not irritated. This product can also be used on upholstery. The writer states that "it performed well in other areas of my home." No other stain removers are mentioned or tested, however.
22. Surrender, Dorothy	OxiClean Rita Arens Oct. 2007		Rita Arens adds OxiClean to her laundry and finds that it does help remove stains made by foods such as cheese, juice and pizza sauce. The writer does not conduct a formal test. She also wonders whether the results can be attributed to her new expensive washing machine. She does conclude that she will continue to use OxiClean.
23. About.com	Oxiclean Carpet Stain Remover Sarah Aguirre Not Dated		In this brief review, the author states that "OxiClean carpet does a great job on fresh stains, and a good job on set in stains." Testing is not described, and no other products are reviewed, so context is a problem in this review.
24. Real Simple	Instant Stain Removers Elisa Huang July 2006		In this very short article, Elisa Huang reports on the results of tests using nine stain removers. However, Huang only identifies the two winners, doesn't tell readers what other products were tested and says only that a T-shirt with blood and grass stains was used. For those reasons, we don't put much credence in her recommendations of Carbona Stain Roller and Shout Wipes Plus.
25. CP24 (Toronto, Ontario)	4 Stain Removers Are Put to the Test and the Results May Surprise You! Editors at CP24 Oct. 2007		This television news report tests four stain removers: Tide to Go, Spray 'n Wash Stain Stick, Wal-Mart's Oxi Stain Remover and Shout. The tested stains are from coffee, pen, grass and red wine on a white T-shirt. The reporter states that with all of the products, the stains are lightened but not removed. Editors ask manufacturers for a response on why their products didn't work.

Stain Removers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Stain Removers Ratings Comments on Reviews

26. Infomercial Ratings.com	Oxiclean Contributors to InfomercialRatings.com As of Mar. 2008		This site invites readers to submit reviews of OxiClean products, which are all included on this page. The 30 reviewers give OxiClean products generally high scores. According to one reviewer, it works best on food, blood and grass. It works less well on petroleum-based stains like motor oil or many types of cosmetics.
27. Amazon.com	Household Supplies Contributors to Amazon.com As of Mar. 2008		Amazon.com doesn't have a category specifically for stain removers, but you can find some products if you search for them. About 30 contributors give Tide to Go high scores. A few caution that the product can lighten a stain but can also make it spread. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser also gets high ratings.
28. Drugstore.com	Wine Away Contributors to Drugstore.com As of Mar. 2008		A handful of reviewers on Drugstore.com give Wine Away a perfect score. While not comprehensive, we didn't see many other reviews of this product, so the comments have some value.