In part one of our stain series, we tackle your toughest questions–from reviving dingy whites to rescuing clothes from stubborn oils and baked-on gummy bears.

Guest: Wirecutter senior writer Andrea Barnes

Products we recommend:

The best liquid laundry detergent & a great product for pre-treating stains: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
The best powdered laundry detergent (with oxygen bleach) :Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent
Another great laundry detergent: Persil Original Liquid Detergent Everyday Clean
If you want an “eco-friendly” detergent or to support a smaller brand, we like: Dirty Labs Free & Clear Bio Laundry Detergent
A good stain remover for most starch or protein food stains: Zout
A good stain remover for ink or sugary stains: Amodex Ink & Stain Remover

Additional reading:

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

Spring Cleaning: The Art of Stain Removal Part 1

The Wirecutter Show

Spring Cleaning: The Art of Stain Removal Part 1