How to choose the best laundry stain removers (soakers)

Laundry stain remover types

Laundry soakers are good for soaking large stains before washing. Some are also used as an in-wash booster. For smaller stains, check our test results for spot treatment sprays and gels.

Most laundry soakers come in powder form, but some are liquid gels. There’s usually a scoop provided (often the lid) to measure a dose. The powder or gel is dissolved, typically in a bucket of very warm water and left to soak for 1–8 hours depending on the garment and stain – usually 2 hours.

Ingredients

You might be tempted to use household bleach on persistent stains, but we don’t recommend it. Household bleach contains chlorine (often listed as sodium hypochlorite), which can ruin fabrics.

If you want a laundry soaker that contains a bleaching agent, choose one with sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach). It won’t disinfect, but it is gentler than chlorine and can be used on most washable fabrics, including colourfast colours. It’s also less corrosive and environmentally harmful than chlorine bleach.

Alternatively, choose a stain remover containing hydrogen peroxide. These stain removers are usually colour safe because they only contain a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

Stain removers that contain enzymes are sometimes called “biologic” or “enzymatic”. Enzymes are effective on tough stains made of starches, proteins and fats.

But don’t use laundry soakers containing bleaching agents or enzymes on silk, wool or leather garments. Check garment labels for care information before using any stain remover.

Enzymes can cause skin irritation, as can optical brighteners, dyes, and fragrances, so avoid laundry products that contain these ingredients if you have sensitive skin.

Check our test results for information on each product’s ingredients and garment suitability. We also note whether each product is stated to be septic system safe, grey water safe, biodegradable, antibacterial, and we record any other label claims.

Costs

Dose sizes range from 30g to 208g, and the cost per dose varies widely too – some cost over six times more than others. We accurately measure the dose of each product and calculate the cost per dose. Check our test results to see which laundry soakers are most cost-effective.

General stain removal advice

Although the directions printed on laundry soakers usually advise using very warm water, cold water is better for certain stains, such as blood. Check our Stain Removal A–Z for advice on everything from beer to red wine stains, plus dry cleaning, garment care and carpet stains.

Safety

If someone ingests a cleaning product, immediately:

• wipe out their mouth
• retrieve the product’s original container so its name and ingredients can be identified
• phone the National Poisons Centre (0800 POISON) or your doctor.

Keep products in their original packaging for identification purposes.

Keep cleaning products well out of reach of children and pets – ideally in a high or locked cupboard.