Why you'll love it: If you are looking for a reasonably-priced, effective stain remover that removes heavy mud, grass, and food stains and can be safely used for all washable fabrics,
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover is the best.
The reason I have named OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover as the best overall stain remover is that it is not only a stain remover, it also whitens and brightens fabrics and boosts the performance of any brand of detergent.
Since OxiClean is a gentle, slow-acting, oxygen-based bleach, the key to successful use as a stain remover is mixing the powdered solution correctly and having a bit of patience.
Follow the instructions on the package for the correct amount of powder to use per gallon of water for a presoak solution to get best results. Also, be sure that all of the powder is dissolved completely before adding the fabric. You'll have better results if the stained items are allowed to soak for at least an hour or even overnight before washing as usual.
On Walgreens' site, OxiClean scores 4.4 stars out of five. Reviewer Newf65 says, "I’ve been using this product for stain removal for a year or more now and find it’s the best I’ve used with no chlorine added."
While close to a perfect cleaner, OxiClean is not a miracle formula for every type of stain. It won't remove oily stains (the next product will!), dried oil paint, or chlorine bleach damage.
Pros: Safe to use on all washable fabrics, readily available in mass-market stores and online, available in a dye and scent-free formula, can be mixed in small batches or used for an entire laundry load (11 cents per load)
Cons: Does not remove heavy oil stains, slow-acting product requires time to presoak fabrics with set-in stains
Buy OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover at Walmart in a 3-pound tub for $7.92
Buy OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover on Amazon in a 3-pound tub for $7.71 (currently out of stock)