# Stain remover for tough stains

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/home/stain-remover/removes-tough-stains/
Category: Home > Laundry stain remover. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 329 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, May 2019 to Sep 2026.

**Question:** Which stain remover gets out tough stains?

**Short answer:** OxiClean Odor Blasters Stain Remover leads for tough stains: 22 of 22 shoppers said it got their stains out. It's a powder you add to the wash, and its record rests on fewer shoppers than the next two, Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Booster (34 of 37) and OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover Spray (33 of 36), so treat all three as strong picks.

**What stands out:** Faded or damaged fabric comes up across several of these products, including 15% of Tide Rescue reviews and 7% of Tide To Go reviews. That's a good reason to test on a hidden spot first.

## Ranking (shoppers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Stain came out | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OxiClean Odor Blasters Stain Remover | 22 of 22 | 100% | yes |
| 2 | Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Booster | 34 of 37 | 92% | yes |
| 3 | OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover Spray | 33 of 36 | 92% | yes |
| 4 | Seventh Generation Free & Clear Stain Remover | 30 of 35 | 86% | yes |
| 5 | Dreft Laundry Stain Remover | 33 of 39 | 85% | yes |
| 6 | Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen | 49 of 60 | 82% | yes |
| 7 | Tide Rescue Stain Remover | 26 of 34 | 76% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. OxiClean Odor Blasters Stain Remover

This is a powder you add to the wash, and every shopper who weighed in said their stains came out (22 of 22). 22% like the scent, while 7% say it faded or damaged a garment.

- Praised for: Nice or no scent (22%), Easy to use (7%)
- Complaints: Discolored or damaged fabric (7%)
- Reports counted: 27

### 2. Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Booster

Pour it in with the wash or put it right on the stain. 34 of 37 shoppers said it got their stains out, and 10% say their colors came through fine. 8% say a stain stayed.

- Praised for: Safe on fabric (10%), Easy to use (8%), Nice or no scent (5%)
- Complaints: Discolored or damaged fabric (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 3. OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover Spray

33 of 36 shoppers said this spray got their stains out, and 13% say a stain stayed anyway. Reviews copied from OxiClean's own site are far less happy at 1 of 5, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Nice or no scent (5%), Easy to use (5%)
- Reports counted: 39

### 4. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Stain Remover

Scent is a plus here: 21% like that it has little or no smell. 30 of 35 said it got their stains out and 8% say it lifted old stains, but 26% say some stain stayed.

- Praised for: Nice or no scent (21%), Safe on fabric (8%), Works on old stains (8%)
- Complaints: Discolored or damaged fabric (5%)
- Reports counted: 38

### 5. Dreft Laundry Stain Remover

Old, set-in stains come up as a strength: 12% of reviews say it lifted one. 33 of 39 said it got their stains out overall, though 12% find the smell strong.

- Praised for: Good value (13%), Works on old stains (13%), Nice or no scent (5%)
- Complaints: Strong smell (13%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 6. Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen

More shoppers weighed in on this pen than on any other product here (60), and 49 of 60 said it got the stain out. 9% like how easy it is to use away from home, but 23% say the stain stayed.

- Praised for: Easy to use (9%), Safe on fabric (4%), Works on old stains (4%)
- Complaints: Discolored or damaged fabric (7%)
- Reports counted: 69

### 7. Tide Rescue Stain Remover

This spray has the weakest record here at 26 of 34. 15% mention a strong smell and 15% say it faded or damaged fabric. Tide's own site is kinder at 10 of 10, which we show but don't count.

- Complaints: Strong smell (15%), Discolored or damaged fabric (15%)
- Reports counted: 40

## Questions

**Which stain remover works on tough stains?**

OxiClean Odor Blasters Stain Remover has the best record (22 of 22), followed by Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color Booster (34 of 37) and OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover Spray (33 of 36). All seven did well, and even the weakest record here, Tide Rescue Stain Remover, comes in at 26 of 34.

**Does the Tide To Go pen work?**

Usually. 49 of 60 shoppers said it got the stain out, and more shoppers weighed in on it than on any other product here. 23% of its reviews say the stain stayed, so think of it as a quick fix and wash the item when you can.

**Should I test a stain remover first?**

Yes. Try it on a hidden spot, like an inside seam or hem, before you use it on colored or delicate fabric. Faded or damaged fabric comes up in 15% of Tide Rescue Stain Remover reviews and 7% of Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen reviews. Follow the label, and never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners.

**Can a stain remover get out old stains?**

Sometimes. 12% of Dreft Laundry Stain Remover reviews and 8% of Seventh Generation Free & Clear Stain Remover reviews say it lifted an old or set-in stain. Fresh stains come out more easily, so treat a stain as soon as you can and check it before the item goes in the dryer.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/