The Art of Stain Removal Part 2

In the final part of our stain series, we tackle trickier listener questions–from eliminating fishy odors to whether you can truly remove paint stains. 

Guest: Senior writer Andrea Barnes

 

Products we recommend:

A good stain remover for ink or sugary stains: Amodex Ink & Stain RemoverA good stain remover for cat odors: Nature's MiracleA good way to remove odors from clothes: Downy Rinse & RefreshFor acrylic paint stains, you might try: Dawn PowerwashFor oil paint stains, you can try mineral spiritsA good stain remover for old blood stains: Clorox 2 Stain Remover & Color BrightenerThe best liquid laundry detergent & a great product for pre-treating stains: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry DetergentThe best powdered laundry detergent (with oxygen bleach) for dirt and clay: Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent

 

Additional reading:

The Wirecutter Show Episode 32: The Art of Stain Removal Part 1So You Stained Your Shirt. Now What? The 6 Best Stain Removers of 2025Skip the Stain Removers. This Detergent Is All You Need.The 5 Best Laundry Detergents of 2025The Wirecutter Show Episode 1: The Secret to Better LaundryThe Best Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

 

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