favorite pre-treater

[vacuumfreeeke]

Forgive me if this has been discussed before... I don't remember seeing it!

What is your favorite laundry pre-treater? I'm not a laundry buff, but I'm still amazed at the amount of "stuff" that will not come out in a regular wash cycle that a pre-treater can get out even after drying. I usually use Sray N Wash stick, but I also have bottle of Shout gel on hand... I don't like the mess of it though. And the plastic scrub brush on the end of the lid is a joke. I've used Zout before, but it's been so long ago I don't remember if it was good. I've also used Oxiclean, but it usually bleaches the color and leaves the stain!

So, what's your favorite (what brand and form), or do you make your own?

 

[frigilux]

Here's my arsenal:

1) Quixtar Pretreat Spray---This one is for greasy stains. It's excellent at removing grease-based stains, but quite expensive.

2) Lestoil---Also excellent for greasy stains, and it's inexpensive, but it leaves a heavy-duty PineSol-like scent on the load.

3) Spray 'n' Wash Stain Stick---Pretty good at a wide range of stains, including greasy ones, and easy to find on grocery store shelves. It's the most effective product from the the Spray 'n' Wash product line.

4) Quixtar Pretreat Liquid With Enzymes---This one is for non-greasy stains. Does a fantastic job, but it's expensive.

 

[jeffg]

Shout Advanced aerosols and gels are excellent, if you match the product (they make a few) with the particular stain you're trying to remove.

 

[qsd-dan]

In the 90's, I experimented with both Shout and Spray and Wash. I always had better luck with Shout over Spray and Wash, so I've stuck with Shout ever since.

 

[rinso]

My favorite is K2R Spot remover. I cook a lot and get oil splatters on my shirt. ( I hate aprons!) For those of you that don't know what K2R does, it is a spray-on spot remover that uses some kind of petroleum cleaning fluid that drys into a powder. Usually, you just brush it off, but when I'm sure it has completely dried into the powder and no longer flamable, I toss the stained item into the wash. Seems to work very well.

 

[mattl]

Rinso, interesting idea, I'll try that some time.

My favorite is Spray and Wash in the pressurized can, that is no longer available. I bought about half a dozen cans on eBay a couple of years ago and am down to my last can or two, so I'm looking for a replacement.

Is the Quixtar product similar? Is it an Amway product? My cousin is an Exec there so I could have her pick me up a few cans if it works as well as my old standby.

 

[frigilux]

Amway is now known as Quixtar in the US. I buy the products online to avoid the whole "become an associate" routine. They are doing a lot of advertising in high-volume magazines (Newsweek, etc.) in an effort to re-tool their image.

Their two pre-treat products are different. The aerosol spray is designed for greasy stains, and the liquid, with its enzymes is great for coffee, blueberry, etc. stains. It doesn't do as well as the aerosol on greasy stains, which, by the smell, is a petroleum-based product.

 

[polkanut]

Wisk Stain Stick which is NLA was/is the one that has worked best for me. Also, Fels-Naptha in bar form works very well, just dampen the stain, rub bar on stain and leave it sit for a couple mins. If anyone has some Wisk Stain Stick that they would like to get rid of, let me know.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

For grease, oil, or ring-around-the-collar & cuffs, it's hard to beat Goop hand cleaner. Just rub a little in.

Ken