The Art of Stain Removal Part 1
03/19/25 • 36 min
In part one of our stain series, we tackle your toughest questions–from reviving dingy whites to rescuing clothes from stubborn oils and baked-on gummy bears.
Guest: Wirecutter senior writer Andrea Barnes
Products we recommend:
- The best liquid laundry detergent & a great product for pre-treating stains: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
- The best powdered laundry detergent (with oxygen bleach) :Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent
- Another great laundry detergent: Persil Original Liquid Detergent Everyday Clean
- If you want an “eco-friendly” detergent or to support a smaller brand, we like: Dirty Labs Free & Clear Bio Laundry Detergent
- A good stain remover for most starch or protein food stains: Zout
- A good stain remover for ink or sugary stains: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover
Additional reading:
- So You Stained Your Shirt. Now What?
- The 6 Best Stain Removers of 2025
- Skip the Stain Removers. This Detergent Is All You Need.
- The 5 Best Laundry Detergents of 2025
- The Wirecutter Show Episode 1: The Secret to Better Laundry
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
Follow us on instagram @wirecutter
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast
In part one of our stain series, we tackle your toughest questions–from reviving dingy whites to rescuing clothes from stubborn oils and baked-on gummy bears.
Guest: Wirecutter senior writer Andrea Barnes
Products we recommend:
- The best liquid laundry detergent & a great product for pre-treating stains: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
- The best powdered laundry detergent (with oxygen bleach) :Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent
- Another great laundry detergent: Persil Original Liquid Detergent Everyday Clean
- If you want an “eco-friendly” detergent or to support a smaller brand, we like: Dirty Labs Free & Clear Bio Laundry Detergent
- A good stain remover for most starch or protein food stains: Zout
- A good stain remover for ink or sugary stains: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover
Additional reading:
- So You Stained Your Shirt. Now What?
- The 6 Best Stain Removers of 2025
- Skip the Stain Removers. This Detergent Is All You Need.
- The 5 Best Laundry Detergents of 2025
- The Wirecutter Show Episode 1: The Secret to Better Laundry
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
Follow us on instagram @wirecutter
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast
Previous Episode
Don't Be A Digital Hoarder
Digital hygiene rarely tops spring cleaning lists—but it should. Our tech editor shares how to declutter your phone, and why you need a password manager.
Guest: Wirecutter Senior Tech Editor, Caitlin McGarry
Products we recommend:
- The best Password Manager: 1Password
- The best free Password Manager: Bitwarden
- Two-Factor Authenticator Apps: Duo Mobile and Google Authenticator
- The best bluetooth tracker: Apple AirTag
Additional Reading:
- How to Organize and Store Your Phone’s Camera Roll Photos
- The Best External Hard Drive
- You Don’t Need a New Phone. Here’s How to Make the One You Have Last Longer.
- How to Clean Your Phone
- The 2 Best Password Managers
- Step 1 to Simple Online Security: Always Use Strong Passwords
- The 2 Best Two-Factor Authentication Apps
- The 2 Best Bluetooth Trackers
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
Follow us on instagram @wirecutter
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast
Next Episode
The Art of Stain Removal Part 2
In the final part of our stain series, we tackle trickier listener questions–from eliminating fishy odors to whether you can truly remove paint stains.
Guest: Senior writer Andrea Barnes
Products we recommend:
- A good stain remover for ink or sugary stains: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover
- A good stain remover for cat odors: Nature's Miracle
- A good way to remove odors from clothes: Downy Rinse & Refresh
- For acrylic paint stains, you might try: Dawn Powerwash
- For oil paint stains, you can try mineral spirits
- A good stain remover for old blood stains: Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Brightener
- The best liquid laundry detergent & a great product for pre-treating stains: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
- The best powdered laundry detergent (with oxygen bleach) for dirt and clay: Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent
Additional reading:
- The Wirecutter Show Episode 32: The Art of Stain Removal Part 1
- So You Stained Your Shirt. Now What?
- The 6 Best Stain Removers of 2025
- Skip the Stain Removers. This Detergent Is All You Need.
- The 5 Best Laundry Detergents of 2025
- The Wirecutter Show Episode 1: The Secret to Better Laundry
- The Best Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›
Follow us on instagram @wirecutter
Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast
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