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    What’s the Difference Between a Stain Remover Spray and Laundry Detergent?

    You can use either to pretreat tough stains

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    Oxi Clean Max Force Spray Bottle and Tide Ulta Stain Release Laundry Detergent sitting on top of washing machine
    OxiClean MaxForce spray stain remover and Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release got high marks for stain removal in our tests.
    Photos: Consumer Reports

    Have you ever been faced with a tough laundry stain but didn’t have any spray stain remover handy? You can still get that stain out using just laundry detergent. Stain remover sprays are typically made with the same ingredients found in your regular liquid laundry detergent. These include surfactants, enzymes, and polymers, which are cleaning agents and compounds that help remove soil from clothing. But while stain removers are meant to be used in their concentrated form, regular detergents are made to be diluted with lots of water. In our tests, we’ve found that the very best liquid detergents in our ratings (such as Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release and Persil ProClean Stain Fighter) can rival the stain-removing power of many sprays. Just dab some of the detergent directly onto the stain, and let it soak for 5 minutes before washing.

    When you’re ready to replenish that bottle of stain spray, here are the best stain fighters from our tests:

    Here Are Some Top-Rated Detergents That Scored Well for Pre-Treating


    Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer has been a multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports since 2021, covering laundry, cleaning, small appliances, and home trends. Fascinated by interior design, architecture, technology, and all things mechanical, he translates CR’s testing engineers’ work into content that helps readers live better, smarter lives. Prior to CR, Keith covered luxury accessories and real estate, most recently at Forbes, with a focus on residential homes, interior design, home security, and pop culture trends.