Oxygen Stain Remover Directions for Old Fabric Stains
OxiClean Stain Remover, Vanish Oxi Action Powder and Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils: each maker's own amounts, soak times and fabrics-to-avoid for old stains, checked 2026-10-05.
Washable cotton/polyester fabric (garments and household textiles)
What do the manufacturers of OxiClean Stain Remover, Vanish Oxi Action and Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils state as their official directions for removing old, set-in fabric stains, and what do they say not to use them on?
| Surface | Soil | Method | Don'ts | Product | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| surface | soil | method | avoid | product_named | source |
| Washable cotton/polyester fabric | old/set-in stains (soak) | Fill scoop to line 4 per 1 gal (3.8 L) water, dissolve fully, soak 1-6 hours, then wash as normal with regular detergent | Wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, and fabrics labeled dry-clean only | OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder | OxiClean |
| Washable cotton/polyester fabric | spot/pre-wash stain | Shake bottle, spray stain until saturated, let stand 5 min up to 1 week depending on severity (max 5 min on color-sensitive fabric), then wash in the warmest water the garment allows | Silk, wool, leather, and fabrics labeled dry-clean only | OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray | OxiClean |
| Washable cotton/polyester fabric | tough/dried-in stain (in-wash) | Add 1 scoop of powder to the wash with regular detergent for tough, dried-in stains (1/2 scoop for normal stains); wash as usual | Garments or rugs made of wool, silk or leather | Vanish Oxi Action Stain Remover Powder | Vanish |
| Washable cotton/polyester fabric | localized stain (pre-treat) | Mix 10 g powder with an equal amount of water, apply to the stain, rub as needed, leave the paste on the stain 5 min maximum, then add a further scoop to the wash with regular detergent | Garments or rugs made of wool, silk or leather | Vanish Oxi Action Stain Remover Powder | Vanish |
| White or colored washable fabric | old stain (soak) | Add 1 scoop of powder to 4 L (1.06 gal) water, max 40°C (104°F); soak white garments up to 6 hours or colored garments up to 1 hour; then wash as usual or rinse thoroughly | Garments or rugs made of wool, silk or leather | Vanish Oxi Action Stain Remover Powder | Vanish |
| Washable fabric | fruit, wine, tea, coffee, juice, mold/mildew stains | Moisten stain with water, sprinkle powder onto the stain and work it in (rubber gloves optional), add more water to form a slurry; after 3 min brush off powder and dab with a clean damp cloth until stain and product are gone, before washing | Leather, suede, acetate/rayon, carpets, upholstery | Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils Fruit & Drink | Dr. Beckmann |
| Washable fabric | pen, ink, felt-tip, highlighter, watercolor stains | Moisten stain well with Stain Devils liquid, leave to work 10-15 min (longer for stubborn stains), dab with a dry cloth to absorb excess, then wash fabric as normal | Leather, suede, acetate/rayon, carpets, upholstery | Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils Pen & Ink | Dr. Beckmann |
FAQs
What are OxiClean Stain Remover's directions for old, set-in stains?
Fill the scoop to line 4 per 1 gal (3.8 L) water, dissolve, soak the fabric 1-6 hours, then wash as normal; do not use on wool, silk, leather or dry-clean-only fabric.
How does Vanish Oxi Action stain remover treat dried-in stains?
Vanish Oxi Action Powder lists three methods: 1 scoop in the wash for tough/dried-in stains, a pre-treat paste of 10 g powder with equal water left on the stain up to 5 min, or a soak of 1 scoop per 4 L water (max 40°C/104°F) for up to 6 hours (white) or 1 hour (colored).
How do Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils work on old stains?
The powder version (Fruit & Drink) is worked into a slurry on the moistened stain, left 3 min, brushed off and dabbed with a damp cloth; the liquid version (used for Pen & Ink) is left on the moistened stain 10-15 min then dabbed with a damp then dry cloth.
What fabrics do these makers say not to use their oxygen stain removers on?
OxiClean and Vanish both exclude wool, silk and leather (OxiClean also excludes dry-clean-only fabric); Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils excludes leather, suede, acetate/rayon, carpets and upholstery.
Should fabric be tested before treating an old stain?
Vanish and Dr. Beckmann both direct a colorfastness test on an inconspicuous area before treating the stain; OxiClean directs testing an inconspicuous area and following the garment's care label for water temperature.
Resources
- OxiClean - How to Remove Tough Set-in Stains
- OxiClean - MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray product page
- Vanish UK - Oxi Action Stain Remover Powder product page
- Dr. Beckmann UK - How to use Stain Devils Fruit and Drink
- Dr. Beckmann UK - How to use Stain Devils Liquids
- Dr. Beckmann UK - Stain Devils Pen and Ink product page