10 Stain Removers That Anyone Who Spills A Lot Should Own

Reviewers are obsessed with these super effective cleaners for spotless results on clothing, carpets and everything in between.
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Amazon
The Pink Stuff's multi-purpose cleaning paste, a red wine stain remover and the Fels-Naptha laundry bar.

There are few experiences more universal than dealing with spills, stains and messes. Whether your pet had an accident on the carpet or your morning coffee ended up splashed across your white T-shirt, having an effective stain remover in your arsenal of cleaning supplies is a must.

 

“Effective” is the key word here, because not every product out there delivers, especially when it comes to more stubborn stains like blood, grease or red wine. In order to settle the matter once and for all, we turned to the reliable online testimonials from reviewers who swear by the upcoming selection of stain removers for all your mess-related needs.

 

Find products like an all-natural and multi-purpose stain stick, a pack of “stomp pads” that magically lift messes without any scrubbing or a no-rinse spray that extracts stubborn spots from upholstery. 

 
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
1
An insanely popular multi-purpose cleaning paste
As it turns out, the viral sensation that is The Pink Stuff actually lives up to the hype, according to the overwhelming number of positive ratings and testimonials. This non-toxic and multi-purpose cleaning paste can remove everything from that burnt-on mess on the bottom of your pots and pans to difficult rust stains left on stovetops. It can even work on removing permanent marker from walls. The non-abrasive and scratch-free formula works on virtually any surface like glass, porcelain, marble and wood.

Promising Amazon review: "Not only my stove, but I’ve been trying to hard to get my walk in shower doors clean… the way this stuff cleaned the shower doors SO quick… literally mad at myself for keeping this in my wishlist and not just buying sooner.. I’m not even kidding… cleaned my glass stove top and my shower better than actual specific cleaners for each.. wow wow wow." — Leah

"I can't tell you how amazing this product is!! I have white porcelain kitchen sinks. They were both stained pretty badly. I tried bleach, soap, vinegar and scratch pads. I could not get the stains out. So I went online to find something to get them white again. This is what everyone recommend and I can't tell you how easy it was the get my sinks looking brand new. 5 stars!!! This is the best product I've seen for cleaning all around. Even pots and pans that are dingy come out looking new." — Robert A. Rowland
2
A natural and multi-purpose stain stick
This multi-purpose stain stick can be used to hand-treat delicates, spot-clean carpets or address stains on the go. It's made with 100% biodegradable and natural ingredients like kaolin clay and sodium bicarbonate that are safe on all fabrics.

Promising Ethique review: "So effective on grease and ink stains! I've been really pleased with how this has performed so far, and I'm looking forward to trying it out on more stains!" — Rachel M.
3
An stain extractor for upholstery
Perfect for car interiors, upholstery and carpet, this concentrated spray penetrates and lifts stains, including grease, and emulsifies them to restore fabrics back to their former glory. The brand and reviewers both claim that the stain-extracting powers are also effective on odors.

Promising Amazon review: "The reviews speak for themselves. I bought a used car recently that had a lot of random stains. I was hoping for a miracle because who knows how long those stains were there. Looked like stains from coffee that splattered onto the roof of the car along with other colored stains as well. This took alllllll of the stains out from various fabrics in my car and I even used it to clean the plastic areas as well. It made everything like new and I mean that literally. I then went in my house and used it on my carpet and it did the job there too." — Rose V.
4
Bissell's "stomp n' go" stain lifting pads
No hands-and-knees scrubbing is required with these stain-lifting pads by Bissell that soak up and dissolve both old and fresh stains with just a stomp of the foot. Each individually wrapped pad has been treated with Oxy to penetrate tough stains and neutralize odors on carpets, area rugs and upholstery.

Promising Amazon reviews: "Technically [these are] for pets but two of these removed an entire bottle of red wine that spilled on our white carpet. Everyone was amazed at how easily and fast they worked. We were very impressed and will buy more. — Kelly

"There aren't enough words to express how much I LOVE THESE!! I've used them on everything from pet messes to spaghetti stains that I thought would never come out of my white carpet. They're so easy to use and they work even better than any of those spray cleaners and scrubbing by hand. The only way these could be better is if they came in double the size that they currently [are]." — Amanda Colalillo
5
An instant spot remover for carpet
This water-based and solvent-free carpet and upholstery cleaner claims to tackle everything from rust to grease, blood, pet messes and ink. Suitable for even colorfast fabrics, the Folex Instant carpet spot remover doesn't require any rinsing or vacuuming post-treatment.

Promising Amazon review: "I have no idea what surfactant is in this spray, but it's amazing. It immediately lifted some years-old hairball stains my dearly departed feline friend left on the carpet. It erased a paint stain on the same carpet. It even significantly lightened the stain from a nail polish spill! There is absolutely no scent, which I appreciate, because seemingly every scent bothers my nose. It didn't even irritate my skin. Love it." — Ashleigh M.
6
A cost-effective laundry bar
You might have seen this versatile laundry bar making the rounds on TikTok. The fresh linen-scented Fels-Naptha bar by Purex is a pre-wash treatment capable of removing difficult grease and oil stains, blood, grass and stubborn perspiration marks from clothing. You just wet the stain and rub the bar into the affected area before tossing it into the wash. It can also be used to make your own budget-friendly detergent that’s safe for all clothing at a fraction of the cost of traditional liquid detergents.

Promising Amazon review: “I was highly skeptical. I live in Georgia and nothing, I mean nothing, has worked to get Georgia red clay out of clothes until now!! I have no idea how I have never heard of this magic bar before but it works!! Never thought I would be able to clean his baseball pants and get the dirt out yet it worked like a dream! My son spilled salad dressing down the front of his brand new Polo shirt and it was covered in oil stains. I pretreated it with the bar and then washed as usual. VIOLA! No more oil stains!! It’s AMAZING!!!” ― American Girl
7
A stain-removing laundry powder
OxyClean’s oxygen-based and water-activated powder has 62,562 five-star ratings on Amazon and works with regular detergent to get rid of persistent spots and set-in stains. This three-pound container can last for 65 loads of laundry and also works for spot treatments on carpets and upholstery.

Promising Amazon review: “Holy moly this stuff is amazing!!!!! My child’s infant clothing had breast milk spit up stains all over them from 3 years ago and this product removed all of the stains. The stains were from so long ago and a really bad yellow that I soaked them overnight in this and BOOM, all stains gone in the morning. Threw them in the wash and they are perfect for the next baby. I am just amazed by how well this worked!!!” – SNA
8
A remover made just for red wine spills
Effective on both fresh and dried stains, this stain-removing spray works without the use of bleach or phosphates. Although it’s designed specifically for red wine, Wine Away can also be effective on stains such as coffee, blood and ink or even used as a degreaser. Use this citrus-scented spray on carpets, clothing and upholstery.

Promising Amazon review: “Awesome product! I had an unfortunate accident where a guest knocked over a glass of port wine from an end table which splashed on white window shades, white window sills, while baseboards, taupe-colored painted walls and white carpeting. I left it that way for a few days in order to research the best way to hopefully clean it up without negative results. I used it today, after days of doing nothing, mostly because I was afraid to make it worse. Lo and behold! I completely cleaned the window sills, the window shades, the baseboards, the walls and the carpeting! You cannot even tell it happened. No stains or color change to the carpet or the walls or the white painted surfaces. Before you try or use anything, buy this. It cannot be beat! I was afraid I might have to hire a professional to clean the carpet and that I might have to completely repaint walls, but no. I cannot recommend this product more highly! You will not be disappointed, I guarantee it.” – Sharon Hamilton
9
An enzyme-based stain remover
Although this best-selling cleaner is geared toward pet-related stains and odors, it’s also great at eliminating any old stubborn stains that you had long lost hope of getting rid of. It has an impressive 71,645 five-star ratings on Amazon and uses natural enzymes to target everything from pet urine to wine and food. It’s also chlorine- and hazardous repellent-free, which means it’s safe for colorfast carpets, tile, laminate flooring and for use around the whole family.

Promising Amazon review: “Oh my gosh!! ONE application of this product COMPLETELY removed a pet stain on carpet that had practically been cemented in from all of my other attempts to remove it. TOTALLY GONE! So was the smell! Since I didn't have anything to lose, I used this product across a whole variety of flooring. Carpet, Cement, Vinyl and Wood. Yep, even my expensive wood floors. On the carpet, I used the product as directed. It removed every single stain. ALL OF THEM and it also removed that lingering faint smell of pee. For the cement and vinyl flooring, I sprayed on the product and bye bye odors.” – V
10
Tide Pens for stain removing on the go
If you've given up wearing white because you always manage to spill on yourself, this handy pack of Tide Pens can be great to have in your car, purse or desk for stain removal on the go. Each pen is preloaded with a powerful solution that breaks down stains, and the microfiber tip helps to lift and absorb them. The solution is bleach-free, making it compatible with colorfast clothing, and no water is required.

Promising Amazon review: “These were lifesavers. I was walking to the bus and decided it was a great decision to drink coffee while walking. Like a scene from an infomercial, I spilled coffee all over my white shirt. Yes, the classic coffee on the white shirt. Luckily I had one of these in my bag (I put one in each of my most-used purses in anticipation of my clumsiness). I went into a store bathroom and quickly scrubbed the Tide To Go on my shirt. All of the coffee blobs went away and once the awkward wet splotches dried up, my shirt was perfectly white again. You've got yourself a big fan, Tide.” – NAD

Before You Go

The Best Tools For Removing Pet Hair, According To Reviews
A pet hair-grabbing rubber rake(01 of10)
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This rubberized broom with telescoping handle captures deeply embedded hair and debris from carpets and hardwood floors so well that many reviewers were shocked at how much their vacuums were leaving behind. It also features a built-in squeegee that's great for cleaning shower walls, windows and tile.

Promising Amazon review: "Used on my low pile rug for pet hair and it not only pulled up hair but dirt that my vacuum missed as well. Used on my hard flooring surfaces and loved how all the swept items/debris stayed together. Love love love! I’d highly recommend it to anyone but especially pet owners!" — Kindle customer

Promising Amazon review: "Picks up damn near everything on almost any surface and pulls more hair and fuzz off carpets than ANY vacuum. Nothing sticks and no fuzzy broom bottoms. The squeegee blade on the back side opens up all kinds of uses in large cleaning situations and cleanups. Cleaning it off is as simple as rinsing it off. We use it on hardwood, carpets/rugs, tile and even the dog beds." — Dannielle Price
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A cordless pet hair buster(02 of10)
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The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is specially designed to tackle a variety of pet messes, especially hair, using triple-level filtration to help boost suction performance. This cord-free vacuum also comes with a set of attachments like a crevice tool and a no-tangle motorized brush tool meant for removing embedded pet hair and dirt.

Promising Amazon review: "I have a Lab Retriever that sheds a lot. This vacuum has been a great tool for the house. I used to drag the big vacuum up and down the stairs. Having this vacuum has been a great time saver and not having to drag the big vacuum out every time I need to get up a small amount of something has been so great. If you have steps in your home that you have carpet on or step runners this is the tool you need. The vacuum has great suction power and with the power brush the pet hair comes right up. Also great on the furniture." — VA
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A pet hair-grabbing stone(03 of10)
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Made from 90% post-consumer recycled materials, this hypoallergenic and uniquely textured stone picks up hair from a variety of fabrics like clothing and carpets, all with very little time and effort.

Promising Amazon review: "This stone works like magic! It looks and feels like it would be hard on fabric but it was completely fine on my white woven fabric couch. It pulled all of the little dogs hairs out with ease, hair rollers and other dog hair removal devices - even professional cleaning could not get out. I’m amazed! Highly recommend it!!" — Betsy
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A viral reusable lint roller(04 of10)
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The internet-famous Chom Chom, which has even made it into my own arsenal of favorite pet hair busters, uses a roller that features both a microfiber surface and a rubberized blade to attract and capture hair in the convenient receptacle. You just run it across furniture like you would a regular lint roller, then empty the bin once it's full.

Promising Amazon review: "I do not leave many reviews, because honestly who has time for that lol. That being said, this is the best dog hair removal product that I have ever tried and I have tried SO many. Other rollers, scrapers, vacuums and vacuum attachments... They've worked to a point but either not worked super well or been frustrating and time consuming to use. I was pretty skeptical of this but decided to try it anyway and it works like a dream. I have a shepherd mix and another short haired dog and the amount of hair that gets on our furniture shortly after cleaning it has always been so frustrating. I got this in the mail today and tried it out and I only had to roll over the sofa cushions a couple of times before this thing picked up all of the hair. I am so excited to have this as it's going to make cleaning super fast and easy. I would definitely recommend for probably any kind of pet hair." — Jenrae93
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An extra-sticky disposable lint roller(05 of10)
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When you want something disposable, grab this classic lint roller by Scotch Brite that features 95 extra-sticky tearaway sheets that are perfect for picking up hair, crumbs and lint without damaging fabrics.

Promising Amazon review: "I have 2 dogs (golden retriever and German shepherd) and 3 cats… as you can imagine I’m always covered in pet hair. I bought this to keep at my desk at work and it’s honestly one of the best lint rollers for pet hair I’ve tried. Even when it doesn’t feel that sticky anymore it still gets hair off. I’ve been us." — Jessie
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A 6-pack of hair-catching laundry balls(06 of10)
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Removing pet hair from clothes is a notoriously difficult task, and these reusable, static-reducing and all-natural wool dryer balls are meant to attract fur from clothes while also helping to speed up drying time. They claim to work on all kinds of fabrics including linen and cotton and won't irritate sensitive skin, unlike some fragranced dryer sheets.

Promising Amazon review: "I have three Persians cats. Everything in my life is covered in cat hair!!! I wear a lot of gray and blacks or I did before the cats!! These balls are amazing..I could not believe my black pants are wearable again. I would recommend this product." — Charee Lorraine Lord
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A detailing tool(07 of10)
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This detailing tool is made with a flexible, grippy-textured blade that gathers hair as it's scraped along surfaces — especially the stubborn hair that clings to cushion seams and couch crevices.

Promising Amazon review: "This is my dog’s favorite item I’ve ever ordered off of Amazon. She loves it because she’s now allowed back onto the couches. She had been banned from them because she sheds so much and the hair was impossible to get out of the cushions. I spent HOURS with the vacuum trying to get the hair out, with marginal success. This product had the entire couch done in 5 minutes and with amazing results!!! The tool is sturdy enough to get the job done but doesn’t harm the fabric. Don’t wait to buy this, you won’t regret it!" — pearotthd
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A carpet and fabric scraper(08 of10)
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Infinitely reusable, this scraper tool features a multi-fabric edge that grabs even deeply embedded hairs from surfaces. While this works on a variety of materials, knitted fabrics is not one of them.

Promising Amazon review: "We have 3 cats. One is a long hair, one is a short hair, and the other is a beast of a Maine Coon. We also have two dense pile area rugs that no vacuum I've ever used can pull his angel hair out of. Well, let me tell you, this little tool is amazing. These rugs look like they're brand new again. The giant wads of fur that came out could build a bear. I could hardly believe my eyes but I'm very happy with the results! It's also fantastic on the cat trees and their beds. Simply amazing. I highly recommend this product." — BlackHeartNY
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A pair of pet hair-erasing grooming gloves(09 of10)
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Prevent or minimize shedding messes with these grooming mitts that can groom your pet and pick up hair from surfaces. Each rubber palm has flexible, massaging nodules that are great for capturing pet dander, loose hair and shedding undercoats so less fur ends up on your sofa.

Promising Amazon review: "I have a Siamese cat that sheds like crazy. I received these today and immediately tried them. They pulled so much loose hair. My cat loves them because the nubby parts get down to get skin and scratch really well. You can select different sizes so they fit your hands really well, and the nitrile surface is flexible and comfortable. They aren't bulky or clumsy. They even worked for pulling the hair off my couch. And it's easy to pull the shed off the gloves. I will be using these daily!" — Fenry
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An extremely popular portable carpet and upholstery cleaner(10 of10)
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Possibly one of the most adored Bissell products on the market, this portable and multi-purpose carpet and upholstery cleaner has over 40,400 five-star-ratings on Amazon and effectively removes tough stains through a combination of suction and spraying power. While it doesn't handle pet hair removal like the products above, it can help you get rid of that sticky grossness sometimes left by hairballs (and it definitely addresses so many other pet messes — you know the ones). The scrubbing stain tool has a self-cleaning function to save you time and effort.

Promising Amazon review: "Works great! I have two cats and wanted this to spot clean my carpeted rooms after hairball situations. I used a black light flashlight to find the spots and to verify that this thing did it’s job." — LisaDreams

Promising Amazon review: "My 1st one like this lasted about 13 years. I used it to pretty regularly to clean up pet accidents on carpet, especially when my little dog was much younger and accidents were more frequent. It also is great for cleaning up the residue from the cats fur balls/vomit on furniture; or, cleaning up occasional accidents from visiting pets and sticky fingers and spills made by kids. It is light weight and easy to carry and small enough to store just about anywhere. It does a great job pulling out excess water and cleaning products so the carpet dries quickly. I clean out my machine after every use, which is a very easy and quick process. After many years of use, it eventually wore out. I went online to see what else was out there but ended up buying another green machine. I was excited because the new machine has an attachment that allows me to flush the hose after each use, great feature." — Donna Jill Sowers
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