Summer is officially here, and with it the joys of children playing outside, exploring and – inevitably – getting dirty. These outdoor activities are good for kids’ health and development, but they can also pose a challenge: stubborn clothes stains.
Choosing a stain remover from all the available options can be daunting. How can you make sure the product you choose is tough on grass, dirt and food stains, but not on your family’s health and the environment?
EWG is here to help. We’ve pulled together recommendations for top-rated stain removers in our Guide to Healthy Cleaning or those that have earned the EWG Verified® mark, ensuring they meet our strict standards for your health.
EWG Verified stain removers
These are a few of the products that can handle even the toughest stains without ingredients on our list of unacceptable chemicals.
- Root and Splendor Foaming Pre-Spotter. This laundry option is a standout choice for tackling tough stains.
- AspenClean Oxygen Bleach Stain Remover Zero Plastic. Not only does this laundry booster remove stubborn stains, it’s also free of plastic packaging.
- Branch Basics Oxygen Boost.You can use this oxygen booster to tackle multiple cleaning projects. It works on stains and laundry – and can even be used on carpet and bathroom tile and grout.
Highly rated stain removers
- Dapple Baby Stain Remover, Fragrance-Free.Use this cleaner to pretreat clothing. It’s formulated especially to handle baby stains like food and spit-up.
- Branch Basics Concentrate, Fragrance-Free. This all-purpose product is a versatile cleaner that can be diluted for use in various cleaning tasks, including stain removal.
- Attitude Nature + Little Ones Laundry Stain Remover, Unscented. Especially intended for clothing worn by people with delicate skin, this clothing stain remover is perfect for families with young children.
In addition to the options listed above, our Guide to Healthy Cleaning includes ratings for even more stain removers. You can also check out our complete list of EWG Verified cleaners.
When you choose a stain remover, consider the ingredients and their potential impact on your health and the planet. Buying highly rated or EWG Verified products not only reduces your family’s exposure to harmful chemicals but also supports companies committed to avoiding harmful ingredients.
Concerning legislation
To identify and choose safer cleaning products, shoppers need access to information about their ingredients. But a troubling bill now being considered in Congress threatens to strip consumers of their right to know what’s in their cleaners.
H.R. 5978, dubbed the DARK Act by advocates of ingredient transparency, would block state laws that increase ingredient transparency. It would also establish a convoluted regulatory process likely to weaken chemical disclosure standards. If enacted, the DARK Act would unquestionably lead to fewer disclosures of chemical ingredients, with the result being consumers who are much less informed about what’s in their products.
We urge you to contact your member of Congress and ask them to defend your right to know by opposing H.R. 5978.
