Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Stain Remover Rumble: Oxi Clean vs Shout

For those of you who read the post about DIY windowsill planters, you may remember that I recommended turning the planter upside down to let the lower rim dry properly before setting it down anywhere. Well, I got impatient with a recent batch and wound up getting sky blue craft paint on my carpet. Three rounds of Shout stain remover later, it still refused to budge. After two rounds of Oxi Clean, however, the paint was gone and my security deposit rescued from the clutches of my apartment complex. Hurray!

Now, these products were purchased in the laundry aisle, not whichever section is dedicated to carpet cleaning. In terms of fresh stains, both seem to work quite well. I've managed to remove greasy Chinese takeout from a pair of white pants with two rounds of Shout in the past. On a recent conference, however, I had a minor mishap and was unable to wash the pants until I came home half a week later. (Yes, the klutziness is sort of a persistent trait.) What's a woman to do?

Since I hate throwing things away, I decided to give Shout a shot instead of tossing that bottle out. After three rounds, however, the bloodstain faded but still refused to go away. A round of Oxi Clean later, I managed to rescue my white pants from the donation bin. The blue circle indicates the area that was stained but now is not.

I suppose the conclusion to be drawn from this wholly unscientific process is that Shout is fine for fresh, "easy" stains, but for stubborn ones that have had time to settle in...Oxi Clean it is. On an unrelated note, I've found Tide pens to be more or less useless. Has anyone had a better result with that product?

4 comments:

  1. The tide pens saved me countless times when I was behind the counter ;)
    My white coat seemed to be a magnet for whatever I managed to find time to eat - I think it even removed Indian food a couple times.

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  4. For what it's worth:

    Yes. Except for mild, fresh stains, I find "Shout" useless. Shout AT the product ... Shout this! (as she throws it out ... 'Lol ...' )

    Good-for Earth, biodegradeable dishwashing liquid + a lil' hydrogen peroxide works best, I find.
    Thx, though, Amanda, for your cool tip re Tide pens.

    Oxiclean's fine, but it does break down fibers; causes wear n' tear damage.

    Thanks, all,

    Virginia Hammer &
    Midlantic Theatre Co.
    Newark NJ
    Theater in Newark + Schools, Homeless, Prisons & Vets
    A NJ 501(c)3 nonprofit corp.

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