Last Updated: December 29, 2022

6 best laundry & carpet stain removers.

WRITTEN BY Grove Collaborative • 11 min read

A good laundry stain remover can really lighten the load when it comes to your household’s dirty clothes. For anyone who’s busy (or even a bit clumsy), a stain remover can keep yours and your family’s (or housemate’s) clothing looking its best. There’s nothing worse than spilling a drop of spaghetti sauce or a splash of red wine on your favorite shirt and not being able to get it out. Make sure you’re looking out for your most favorable items by having the best laundry stain remover on standby in your laundry room.


If you’re not sure what to look for in a stain remover, don’t worry, we’ve done the work for you to make things easy. Check out our list of the best laundry stain removers, and shop great picks like this Grove Co. Stain Remover Spray that’s powered by natural cleaning enzymes and comes in a convenient spray bottle you're sure to love.


This list of products was determined by ratings and reviews from Grove members.

1. Grove Co. Carpet & Upholstery Stain Remover

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Don’t skip out on wine nights because of your fear of tipsy hand — this Grove Co. Carpet & Upholstery Stain Remover has got you covered. With plant-based cleaning powers, this carpet stain remover can lift stains from most fabrics and remove them, so you don’t have reminders sticking around on your carpet or furniture. This Grove Co. Carpet & …

(522)
1 x 20 Oz Stain Remover - Lavender & Thyme
$6.49
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2. Pure Sense Stain & Odor Remover

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Carpet catastrophes can make you go into panic mode in three seconds flat. Avoid the stress of sweating it with this Pure Sense Clean Stain and Odor Remover. From wine tumbles to pet accidents and even "I’m sorry mommy"–paint spills, this Real Simple cleaning formula has your back when it comes to some of the toughest-to-get-out stains and odors. …

(303)
24 Oz
$10.99
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3. Paw Sense Pet Stain & Odor Remover

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Having pets is so enjoyable and rewarding, except when accidents or messes happen. Stay on top of pet stains and odors with help from this Paw Sense Pet Stain & Odor Remover. This Grove Collaborative exclusive product is sulfate-free, paraben-free, made in the US, and never tested on our furry friends. It’s also made with 100-percent natural, …

(309)
16 oz
$12.99
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4. Grove Co. Stain Remover Spray

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This Grove Co. Stain Remover Spray is powered by natural cleaning enzymes to eliminate grease and other everyday stains from laundry. Its formula attacks a wide variety of stains to powerfully lift tough dirt and grime out of clothes. Plastic-free and crafted to be sustainably powerful for a healthy home and planet.

This Grove stain remover is …

(602)
1 x 8oz Stain Spray
$5.99
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5. Seventh Generation Laundry Stain Remover

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Spray now, wash later. This Seventh Generation Stain Remover treats stains when they happen, so that when you get to actually washing your items, even if that’s a week (or two) later, you won’t have to worry about stains ruining your favorite shirt, sweater, or vintage pair of jeans. From baby spit up to full-on coffees spills, Seventh Generation …

(301)
16 oz
$4.99
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6. Meliora Stain Remover Stick

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Simple, plastic-free way to remove stubborn stains from your linens and clothes! This product is known to be effective enough to save full loads of toddler laundry and get mildew out of shower curtains.
(56)
4 oz
$5.49
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FAQs

How does stain remover work?

When we get a stain on our clothing, we usually turn to our trusted, best laundry stain remover, but not many of us think about the science behind how a stain remover works — we’re just thankful it does. Stain removers use enzymes, as well as other proteins, to help break down stain molecules. The enzymes digest protein that is found in stains. They also usually contain bleach which can help break down colors that lead to the appearance of a stain, too.


Ever wonder why most stain removers have to sit a set period of time before they start to work? The answer is because they’re getting to work — their enzymes and/or bleach are taking their time to do their magic. We mean, even Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?


How do you remove oil stains from clothes?

Oil stains could possibly be the worst stains ever to get out of clothes, and even if there’s something worse, we still dread the day our clothes, or anyone’s in our household, comes down to the laundry room with an oil stain. The good news is when this happens, there’s a trick you can do with baking soda and vinegar to lift oil stains that have set in.


Follow these simple steps below:

  • If there’s still oil on your clothing, use a paper towel to remove the extra oil lingering behind
  • Sprinkle baking soda on the stained area and let it sit for a whole day — 24 hours to be exact
  • After you’ve waited patiently for a full day, vacuum the baking soda away — we know it sounds weird but just trust us
  • Spray the oil stain with a bit of vinegar mixed with water
  • Now — stick with us here — scrub the stain with soap and a brush
  • Rinse the stain in running water
  • If you don’t notice the stain completely lifting, then try these steps a couple more times and your item of clothing should be good after that

Read more about removing oil stains from clothing in our in-depth Clean Team article.


How do you remove stains from carpet?

When you’ve noticed a stain on your carpet, it’s your best bet to tackle that sucker right away in order to get it out before it decides to call your carpet its new home. Sometimes, carpet stain removers or even a simple stain remover pen might work at removing carpet stains — it really depends on what the stain originated from and how big it is.


If stain removers alone aren’t doing the job, here’s what you can do to remove a nasty stain from your carpet:

  • Mix up ¼ cup of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon dish soap and water
  • Spray the area on your carpet or rug with quite a bit of your new concoction and let it soak there for about 10 minutes
  • After your ten minutes is up, use a clean, dry towel or washcloth to blot the area
  • Keep blotting until you see the stain has lifted

If you're looking to get dog poop (or human, we won't judge) out of your carpet or if you spilled that glass of red wine on your white rug, we've got more in-depth cleaning instructions to help you out there too.


What is Grove Collaborative?

At Grove, we take the guesswork out of which products are good for you and your home. Every product meets strict standards for being nontoxic, effective, sustainable, and cruelty-free. Once you find products you love, we ship to your home on a flexible, monthly schedule.


If you're ready to make the transition to natural cleaning, beauty, and household products, shop Grove Collaborative's natural products for the eco-friendly tools to tackle the job.

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