Stiftung Warentest tested a total of 20 stain removers in the 7/2021 issue. The surprising result: Many stains can be removed better with a simple household remedy trick than with expensive sprays and the like – read more about this in the text. You can see more household hacks for cleaning in the video.
Stiftung Warentest tested 20 stain removers and examined their effectiveness on 41 different types of stains on cotton and polyester fabrics.
Conclusion in the current “test” magazine (7/2021): The testers advise against many universal stain removers. Grease, oil and pigment stains caused many problems.
Only two agents got the grade “good”: the stain spray from dm “Denk mit” for 1.45 euros and a stain remover from Sil “1 for everything” for 2.49 euros – the price is valid for 500 milliliters. According to the testers, however, Sil has now changed the recipe.
The testers also examined three ultrasonic stain sticks. However, these could hardly convince the testers. Some of the spots looked worse than before. Only gravy could remove all of the pins – hence they got a “poor” rating in the test.
Home remedies beat branded products: This is how you get rid of stains easily
As an alternative, you can use a heavy-duty detergent – but not only stains but also colors could fade.
Or you can choose a home remedy: Treat the fresh stain directly with hand soap – dab the area, soap well, then allow the soap to take effect. According to “test”, red wine and grass stains have almost completely disappeared after washing. With home remedies such as salt, lemon or baking soda, however, the pre-treated stains were still clearly visible after washing.
Important for stains containing protein such as blood or cocoa: First, only clean with cold water so that the protein does not coagulate.
Coffee, pepper, vinegar & Co.: More exciting tricks
In addition to the detergent trick, there are other exciting home remedies: Black clothing quickly looks unkempt if it fades from frequent washing. You can refresh black by using two cups of coffee or black tea put directly into the drum with the laundry. Grease stains are also annoying, and you can get them on your shirt or trousers particularly quickly during the barbecue season. One trick is to pre-treat grease stains with gall soap and then put them in the wash. Ketchup stains, on the other hand, should be washed out immediately with cold water before they dry up.
It is also best to remove stains directly from seat cushions. Tip: Add a dash of mild detergent to warm water and wash off with a sponge or soft brush. Before doing so, however, you should test on an inconspicuous area of the upholstery to see whether the fabric may rub off. After cleaning, the foam must be removed with clear water.
You can read more tips and tricks in the detailed article.