Expert Tips on Stain Removal and Laundry Mistakes

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

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Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast