Key takeaways
- Best stain remover for set in stains on clothes: 10 listings compared by format, stain type and size, from Shout gels to ink and grease specialists.
For a mixed bag of set-in food, drink and dirt stains, a gel-based option such as the Shout Advanced Set-In Stain Scrubber is the clearest fit among these ten listings, because its title names set-in stains and includes a built-in brush. For ink, grease or on-the-go emergencies you need a more specific product. We compare the listings by what their titles claim, by format, and by the stain they are aimed at. None of them is a magic eraser, and fabric type matters more than the brand.
Fast picks by problem
Our top picks
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- Coffee, wine, makeup and dirt in a gel: Shout Advanced Set-In Stain Scrubber
- Larger spray bottle for general laundry: Shout Advanced Gel Spray, 22 oz
- Ink, marker and crayon: Carbona Stain Devils #3 or Amodex
- Cooking oil and grease: Stain Fix
- Purse or glove box: Grandma’s Secret gel, OxiClean Max Force travel pack
Comparison table
| Model | Key point from title | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Shout Advanced Set-In Stain Scrubber, 8.7 oz | Dual enzyme gel, built-in brush | Coffee, wine, food, makeup |
| Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Gel, 2 oz | Travel size, bleach and chlorine free | Oil, paint, blood, pet stains on the go |
| Grandma’s Secret Spray, 16 oz and 2 oz combo | DuoPack | Home bottle plus travel bottle |
| The Pink Stuff Miracle Stain Remover Spray, 16.9 fl oz | Oxi formula, whites and colours | Everyday laundry |
| Carbona Stain Devils #3, 1.7 fl oz | Ink, marker and crayon | Pen and marker marks |
| Stain Fix Oil and Grease, 10.14 oz | Cooking, engine, dried oil | Greasy garments |
| Shout Advanced Gel Spray, 22 oz | Concentrated gel for set-in stains | Big bottle for the laundry room |
| Amodex Ink and Spot Remover, 4 oz | Clothes, leather and skin, set-in stains | Ballpoint, Sharpie, grease |
| OxiClean Max Force Treater Spray, 2 fl oz x 2 | Kids and baby stains, bleach-free | Travel and school bags |
| Puracy Stain Remover Spray, 12 fl oz | Travel and laundry, baby and kids stains | Oil and fabric spots |
Each stain remover, in detail
Shout Advanced Set-In Stain Scrubber, 8.7 oz gel with built-in brush
The title calls it an ultra concentrated dual enzyme gel with a built-in brush for tough, deep set-in stains from coffee, wine, food and makeup. The brush is the practical difference: it lets you work the gel into the fibres without a separate tool. Check the listing for which fabrics it is rated for before scrubbing delicate weaves, because a bristle head can rough up fine knits.
Pros
- Brush built into the container
- Title names set-in coffee, wine, food and makeup
Cons
- Bristles may be harsh on delicate fabrics
- Not aimed at ink or heavy grease
Who it’s for: people who want a gel they can scrub in with one tool.
Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Gel, 2 oz travel size
A 2 oz gel in a pocketable size. The title says it is free of chlorine, bleach and toxins, and lists oil, paint, blood and pet stains. It reads best as a bag-sized rescue product rather than a laundry-room workhorse, since two ounces will not cover many garments. As always, read the label for fabric limits and ventilation advice.
Pros
- Small enough for a purse or desk
- Wide stain list in the title
Cons
- Two ounces run out quickly
- Title does not mention set-in stains
Who it’s for: commuters and travellers who want an emergency stick-in-the-bag option.
Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Laundry Spray, 16 oz and 2 oz combo
This pairs a 16 oz bottle with a 2 oz one, so one purchase covers the laundry shelf and the bag. The title carries the same chlorine, bleach and toxin free wording and names oil, paint, blood and pet stains. The listing is a spray, so it covers wide patches, but it is less targeted than a gel on a single spot.
Pros
- Combo covers home and travel
- Same free-of claims as the gel
Cons
- Spray is less precise than a gel
- No set-in claim in the title
Who it’s for: households that want one brand for the bottle and the bag.
Stardrops The Pink Stuff Miracle Laundry Stain Remover Spray, 16.9 fl oz
The title says Oxi stain remover, tough on stains and gentle on fabrics, for whites and colours. At 16.9 fl oz it is the standard bottle size. It does not name any particular stain, so it is a general-purpose laundry spray rather than a specialist. Check the page for the stains and fabrics the manufacturer lists, and try a hidden seam first on coloured garments.
Pros
- Titled for both whites and colours
- Standard-size bottle for repeated use
Cons
- No stain type named in the title
- Not aimed at ink or heavy oil
Who it’s for: general laundry use where stains are of mixed types.
Carbona Stain Devils #3, 1.7 fl oz, for ink, marker and crayon
This is one of the specialist listings: a spot cleaner aimed at ink, marker and crayon, described as professional strength and safe on washable fabrics. The title says apply directly and do not dilute. The number three in the name matters, because the numbered name suggests a range of variants, so confirm on the page that this one matches your stain.
Pros
- Aimed squarely at ink, marker and crayon
- Application instructions in the title
Cons
- Not meant for food or oil stains
- Small bottle for the job
Who it’s for: parents of young artists and anyone who has pen marks to remove.
Stain Fix Oil and Grease Stain Remover, 10.14 oz
The title lists cooking, engine and dried oil and grease, and says it is safe for all fabric types. The title also shows a replacement character where punctuation should be, so confirm the exact product name on the page. A product targeted at oil is a better choice than a general spray for cooking splatter on shirts or garage grime on work clothes.
Pros
- Oil and grease are named directly
- Title claims all fabric types
Cons
- Title text has a garbled character
- Not intended for ink or wine
Who it’s for: cooks, mechanics and anyone with greasy cuffs.
Shout Advanced Gel Laundry Stain Remover Spray, 22 oz
The larger Shout option: a 22 oz concentrated gel in a spray bottle for dried-in and set-in stains, with wine, blood, dirt and makeup listed. It combines the staying power of a gel with the reach of a spray. The bottle size suits a laundry room shelf, and the title does not mention an enzyme blend, so compare the ingredient list with the scrubber version if that matters to you.
Pros
- Large 22 oz bottle
- Titled for dried-in and set-in stains
Cons
- No built-in brush
- Bulky for travel
Who it’s for: families that go through stain remover regularly.
Amodex Ink and Spot Remover, 4 oz
The title lists clothes, leather and skin and calls out ink, ballpoint, Sharpie and grease, including set-in stains. That multi-surface claim is unusual in this group, but the title does not explain how to use it on each surface, so follow the label. Leather in particular needs separate care, so try a hidden spot before treating a visible one.
Pros
- Names ballpoint, Sharpie and grease
- Mentions set-in stains
Cons
- Multi-surface use needs label reading
- Small 4 oz bottle
Who it’s for: people who deal with ink on a mix of clothes and accessories.
OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Treater Spray, 2 fl oz (2 pack)
Two 2 fl oz sprays aimed at kids and baby stains, travel, and playtime and mealtime marks. The title also says color-safe and bleach-free. At this size it is a purse or diaper-bag product, not a laundry-room one, and two ounces will treat only a handful of spots. Check the page for the fabrics the maker lists.
Pros
- Two travel bottles in a pack
- Color-safe and bleach-free wording
Cons
- Small volume per bottle
- No set-in claim in the title
Who it’s for: parents who want a quick-response spray for meals out.
Puracy Stain Remover Spray, 12 fl oz
The title lists travel and laundry use, baby essentials, kids stains, oil and fabric spots. It is a 12 fl oz spray, between the travel bottles and the 22 oz Shout. Like the Pink Stuff, it is more of a general spray than a specialist. The title says nothing about set-in stains, so use it as a first-line treatment before escalating.
Pros
- Mid-size spray bottle
- Covers kids and oil spots in the title
Cons
- Not described as set-in focused
- Less specialised than the ink or grease listings
Who it’s for: households that want a middle-sized everyday spray.
How we picked these
We gathered ten stain removers that appeared for this search and kept all of them, from the pocket sizes to the 22 oz bottle. Our basis is published specifications, manufacturer documentation and buyer reviews, read through the titles. Nobody on the team used or measured these units. Where a title is vague, we say so, and we do not guess about fabric safety or results. Always check the label.
What to look for when stains are already set
Match the product to the stain
The biggest difference in this group is not brand but target. A triage table helps: ink and marker point to Carbona or Amodex, cooking oil points to Stain Fix, and coffee, wine and makeup point to a Shout gel. Mixed or unknown stains suit the general sprays. Treating by type usually saves repeated rounds.
Gel versus spray
Gels stay in place and work well on thick, dried marks. Sprays cover wide patches and are quicker for larger areas. The brush scrubber format gives you a tool as well as a treatment.
Fabric safety and the care label
Read the garment care label before anything else. Silk, wool, leather and delicate knits need extra care, and a bristle brush can scuff some fabrics. Try the product on a hidden seam first, and keep it away from children and pets.
Bottle size and how often you do laundry
A 2 oz bottle may cover one or two garments, while a 22 oz bottle will last a household for months. Buy a travel size for a bag and a large bottle for home, not one to do both jobs.
A simple order of operations
- Blot, do not rub, the fresh part of the stain
- Apply the product and let it sit as the label directs
- Rinse or launder as instructed
- Check the stain while the garment is still wet
- Only machine-dry once the stain is gone, since heat can fix what is left
Mistakes buyers make
The most common mistake is using the wrong product for the stain: a general spray on ink, or an ink remover on a food stain. Others are drying the garment before the stain is gone, mixing stain removers with bleach, and skipping the care label. A travel bottle will not rescue a large patch, and a big bottle will not fit in a bag.
Verdict
For general set-in stains, the Shout Advanced Set-In Stain Scrubber and the 22 oz Shout gel spray are the closest matches to the keyword. Add Carbona or Amodex for ink and Stain Fix for grease. Keep a travel pack in your bag for emergencies, and check each label for fabric limits before you treat.
Questions people ask
Can any stain remover truly lift a stain that has already been through the dryer?
Sometimes, but no title here can promise it. Several listings say set-in or dried-in in their wording, which is the claim to look for. Heat bonds many stains to the fibres, so results vary by stain, fabric and age. Soak, treat, rewash and check before drying again, and follow the garment’s care label.
Do you need a different product for ink than for grease?
Often yes. Two listings, Carbona Stain Devils #3 and Amodex, are written for ink, marker and crayon, while Stain Fix is written for oil and grease. General sprays and gels cover mixed food and drink stains. Matching the product to the stain type is usually more useful than buying the biggest bottle.
Are these safe for every fabric?
No listing should be treated as safe for every fabric. Stain Fix says safe for all fabric types in its title, and others say color-safe or safe on washable fabrics. Delicates, silk, wool and leather need extra care. Read the care label, then try the product on a hidden seam before treating a visible area.
What is the difference between the gel and spray formats?
A gel stays where you put it, so the Shout scrubber and gel formulas suit thick, dried-in marks. A spray covers a wider area quickly, which suits larger or unknown patches. The travel sizes in this group are small enough for a bag, but they run out fast if you treat more than a few spots.
How should you store and use these products safely?
Keep them in their original containers, away from children and pets, and follow the label. Do not mix stain removers with bleach or other cleaners, and use them in a ventilated space. Rinse your hands after applying, and wipe up spills promptly. If a product gets in the eyes or on skin, follow the first aid instructions on the label.
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