Skip to content   Skip to footer navigation 

Laundry detergents

Stain remover reviews

Buy smarter with CHOICE membership

Join CHOICE

Or Learn more

Last updated: 20 November 2020
Fact-checked

Fact-checked

Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers and verifiers. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE.

When you spill your lunch down your top (it's bound to happen one day), you'll need a trusty stain remover in your arsenal. We lab test and compare the latest products to help you find the best stain remover for you. Read how we test stain removers to see how we get the results. 

Note: All products in this test have been tested as pre-wash treatment stain removers.

  • Did you know CHOICE tests more than just stain removers? Check out our top 50 reviews.
  • Be the first to know about more free test results like these: sign up for our newsletter.
  • We've partnered with Shop Ethical on this update to show the ratings the Ethical Consumer Group give to each company.
Read more

Our test covers spray, powder and gel stain removers (testing them as pre-treaters) and compares them to washing with:

  • water only
  • water and a mid-tier laundry detergent.

Our expert testers give every stain remover a thorough trial to find the products that:

  • perform the best for stain removal
  • work well on 10 common and difficult-to-remove stains
  • are best for specific stains.

Our interactive comparison tool helps you easily see which stain removers claim to be septic safe, biodegradable and antibacterial, as well as how they compare to washing with a mid-tier laundry detergent only. 

Just like our washing machine reviews, our Recommended list will help you see quickly which products come out on top.

Matthew Steen
By Rebecca Ciaramidaro
Show less
Filter

Brand

Expand to view more details.

List of brands we tested in this review.

    Price

    Expand to view more details.

    The price we paid for stain removers. The laundry detergent is used as a comparison only so no price paid is shown.

    enter value/s in increments of 1 between 0 and 13

    Recommended products

    Remove product

    Member only

    This test score is for members only. Join now to unlock our expert results.

    Already a member?

    Type

    Expand to view more details.

    We've tested a range of popular spray, spray can (aerosol), powder, gel and liquid stain removers. All products have been tested as pre-wash treaters.

      Cost per 100mL

      Expand to view more details.

      How much does the product cost, per 100mL.

      enter value/s in increments of i between 0 and 4.5

      Origin

      Expand to view more details.

      Where the product is made, according to the packaging.

        Shop Ethical Rating

        Expand to view more details.

        Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score.

          Included in this review

          Members-only access
          • Recommended
          • Overall score
          • Perspiration
          • Grass/mud
          • Olive oil (cooking oil)
          • Blood
          • Tomato
          • Mineral oil
          • Chocolate ice cream
          • Baby food
          • Make up
          • Ground nut oil (simulates collar grime)
          • Colour safe
          • Active ingredient listed
          • Brand
          • Model
          • Price ($)
          • Status
          • Shop Ethical Rating
          • Company
          • Cost per 100mL
          • Type
          • Size of pack tested
          • Claims to be septic safe
          • Claims to be biodegradable
          • Claims to be antibacterial
          • Origin
          • Contact
          Close

          Results

          Your filters

          Clear all filters

          Product selected for a detailed comparison

          Clear all
          Compare shortlist