# Best laundry detergent for stains that does not require pretreatment

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-laundry-detergent-for-stains-that-does-not-require-pretreatment/777625>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 20, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-laundry-detergent-for-stains-that-does-not-require-pretreatment/777625 "2017-01-20T14:22:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-laundry-detergent-for-stains-that-does-not-require-pretreatment/777625/1 "2017-01-20T14:22:45Z")

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Cheer just seems to lock the stains in, not remove them.

I do not always catch stains before the wash so I do not get to pretreat them.

What laundry detergent is best for getting out stains instead of just locking them in?

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-laundry-detergent-for-stains-that-does-not-require-pretreatment/777625/2 "2017-01-20T15:00:10Z")

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I like to throw some of that OxyClean powder in to my wash. It helps me look like less of a slob than I really am. (So, my answer is: any detergent, with OxyClean)

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**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-laundry-detergent-for-stains-that-does-not-require-pretreatment/777625/3 "2017-01-20T15:09:43Z")

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> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> I like to throw some of that OxyClean powder in to my wash. It helps me look like less of a slob than I really am. (So, my answer is: any detergent, with OxyClean)

Another for Oxy with one slight difference. I spray a little of the liquid version on the stain and then sprinkle some of the powder on that. Doing that has a great track record for me not just on normal food and house stuff/stains but really serious grass, clay and oil stains as well.

PS – used the same trick on things I missed – spots that got through the washer and the dryer. Call the success rate there about 90% or so.