by Jennifer Moore

Created on: August 08, 2009

With the vast array of laundry detergents and spot treatments on the shelves all claiming to be the best available, it's incredibly difficult to know which is the best for removing spots and stubborn stains. While the internet has hundreds of websites and blogs with additional information, the amount of information overload can be more distracting and confusing than helpful. Luckily I have acquired a few tricks and have tested many of the so called tried and true suggestions and products available. I have tried products and suggestions that have simply not worked and tried others that have worked a little too well (removed not only the stain but also the fabric surrounding the stain). Here are the lessons I've learned along the way including what has worked and what has not worked for me.

Detergents - I have tried just about every laundry detergent on the market. For spot treatment, I have to honestly say that I have not found a single one that would remove a stain without leaving the fabric discolored. The closest I came to this was a laundry detergent that I used which did in fact remove the stain out of my favorite shirt. Unfortunately, when I went to the club the next weekend everyone who saw me could also see the spot that I pre-treated because with the black lights, the pre-treated spot was glowing much brighter than the rest of the shirt. For spot treating stains

Spot Removers - I have found only one thing that has removed every stain I confronted it with, including baby spit up, which, believe it or not is one of the most difficult stains I have ever come across. That product is the Spray n Wash stain stick. If you think you're surprised now, wait until you see the price tag! Averaging $2.00 to $3.00, I have to admit that not only did I not discover this, but I actually yelled at my husband for spending the money on it. Foolishly, I was sure that because of the low price, it would not be able to remove the stain out of my husband's favorite shirt or any other stains for that matter! Especially since all of the detergents and spot treatments costing two, three and four times that price couldn't touch the stain. I was wrong, very wrong. Now our laundry room has a Spray n Wash stain stick in it at all times. As if the price and effectiveness weren't enough, the stick doesn't smell and one of my favorite features about this product is that you can actually spot treat the stain and throw the garment right into the laundry pileeven if it won't be washed for a week, the stick will not ruin or stain the garment.

Other Options Prior to my husband's brilliant discovery of the Spray n Wash stain stick, I tried just about every home remedy I could find on the internet or heard about from friends and family. My absolute favorite is baking soda. It's non-bleaching, non-irritating, non-scented and it washes out without leaving any residue. The down side to using only baking soda is that it is best for the easier to remove stains. On the opposite end of the spectrum is dishwashing detergent which can have a bleaching effect so caution should be used when using on colors. If it's a bleaching effect you're seeking for a spot, you could just use straight bleach or a bleach pen which both work great but you also run the risk of putting a hole in your garment. Peroxide also has this bleaching effect but there's less of a chance that your garment will come out of the laundry three washes later with a hole in it.

As with any advice you obtain online or on the back of a product container, always test a spot in an inconspicuous area before blobbing it on the front of your favorite garment.

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