Poop, whether in children’s clothes, adult innerwear, or pets, can create pesky stains. The reason is feces contain complex compounds that are hard to break down with ordinary detergents.
Cleaning these stubborn stains requires a strong detergent formulation that contains active ingredients with the ability to dissolve the stubborn compounds.
The best detergent to fight fecal stains contains a sturdy formulation that fights organic compounds, mainly proteins, fats, and gut secretions. The formulation with this capability normally contains surfactants, soluble alkalis, and powerful enzymes.
Read on to find seven of the best detergents with poop stain-cleaning functionality.
Steps to Removing Poop Stains
Before we delve into the best detergent for removing poop stains, it is essential to know how to do it effectively. It is only observing certain steps that can guarantee stain removal.
If you just soiled yourself, check out this article for what to do right away.
Brush Off Excess Poop
Scrape off the excess poop stains on the garment before rinsing it under running water to avoid making it messier and spreading to other parts of the garment. You can use higher-pressure water to make the removal even easier.
Pre-cleaning
Using a bottle cap, put a small amount of the strong detergents we discuss below on the stain to loosen it. With gloves on for skin protection, you can spread the detergent over the stain to ensure it sufficiently permeates the clothes fiber.
Load the Washing Machine
After the pre-treating, you can now load the garment into the washing machine with other clothes. Avoid wringing off the pre-cleaning detergent to boost the stain-removing power during washing.
Add Washing Detergent
Add the correct amount of detergent into the washing machine, either directly into the drum for the standard washing machine or in the detergent dispenser for High-Efficiency ones.
Washing the Garment
Wash the garment with the usual load cycles. But for the best results, use the hottest temperatures allowed by the garment manufacturer to loosen the garment fiber and release the stain.
Unloading
You can remove the garment immediately after the washing is done and observe if the stain has been removed yet. If not, you can try again with a much stronger detergent or soak for much longer.
Alternatively, you can add some bleach if the garment is bleach friendly. But it is important to note ironing or machine drying should be avoided. Doing so will only set the stain in the fabric, making it more stubborn.
Recommended Detergents for Feces Stain Removal
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1. 9 Element Natural Laundry Detergent
- Hard water? No problem: removes residue buildup caused by hard water from your clothes by harnessing the power of gentle low pH cleansing to deliver a powerful deep clean
- Vinegar-powered: Strips away trapped residues and odors with the purifying power of vinegar with no Vinegar odor left behind
- Never more than 9 ingredients: we use only the necessary ingredients. Our formula has no Artificial preservatives, dyes, Thickeners, or brighteners and is gentle on sensitive skin
Like all quality products from 9 elements, this is a superb detergent for cleaning poop stains. Not only that, it is fantastic in removing odors, making it perfect for getting rid of feces smells.
This is all courtesy of the main element in its formulation, which is vinegar-based. Vinegar aside, the formulation prides its stain-cleaning powers on an array of other, “not more than 9 ingredients,” according to its makers.
This formulation equips the detergent with a powerful combination that makes it multiple times more powerful than ordinary detergents. Above all, it is EPA’s safer choice for maximum protection of the entire family.
Both I and some of my subscribers over on YouTube can strongly recommend this option. Frankly, it will work great for most of your laundry detergent needs.
2. Persil Proclean Odor and Stain Fighter
Here is another detergent with a winning combination of stain removing+odor fighting capability. Clearly, this is a much-sought combo in most marketplaces.
One user on Amazon had this to say about it, “I love my boy, but he’s a special needs child who occasionally poops his pants. It was frustrating washing his clothes with other detergents. Then I met the Persil Proclean Odor fighter…”
And we couldn’t agree more with her, for one reason. Feces is not only stinky, but its stains are stubborn. So, getting a detergent with a formulation that eliminates both problems is a fantastic combination.
And to crown it all, it is designed for maximum performance, whether on the standard or the HE washers.
3. Kirkland’s Signature Ultra Clean
Among all the detergents in this review, this is one of the most budget-friendly. No wonder the Consumer Reports classified it as Best Value for affordability in their review.
But the low price shouldn’t mislead anyone about its quality.
Its quality rivals some of the most expensive products on the market. Kirkland’s signature knocks off all types of stains with just one wash cycle. Be it grass stains, blood, makeup, or poop, it clears them all.
But its effectiveness is best showcased in its poop cleaning. Because according to our tests and research results, it not only clears poop stains but any remains of pungent smells.
4. Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid
If Tide bills this detergent to fight 99% of the stains, you better believe it. We cannot possibly claim to have tested all the stains that exist out there. But if we were to judge by our results on its ability to fight feces stains, we would agree.
Not only did it blot out stubborn pet poop, but it tremendously cleaned diapers leaving them squeaky clean. This comes from its supercharge of active ingredients that it claims to give it sixfold stain-removing power.
And to add to its accolades is its recommendation by leading washing machine manufacturers. Part of the reason is it’s a versatile detergent that can be used in both the standard and the HE machines.
5. Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent
The power of this detergent is its eco-friendly stain-removing power. And that is all courtesy of its formulation that is entirely based on plant extracts. Plus, all its ingredients are hypoallergenic, which is essential for baby clothes.
While allergens can affect adults, children are especially vulnerable since their immune system is not fully developed. That is what makes this detergent perfect for diapers, baby shawls, and other baby clothes.
Furthermore, it leaves a whiff of natural scents that musks out any poop smell. And when it comes to affordability, few detergents come even close.
That is underlined by its economic packing of 75oz bottles that deliver 57 loads.
6. Tide Febreze Fresh Odor
- Fights odors + stains in one wash
- 6x the cleaning power in half the time (Stain removal of 1 dose of Tide HE in Quick cycle vs. 6 doses of the next leading liquid HE-compatible detergent in Normal cycle)
- Cleans, freshens, whitens, and brightens
- Measure with cap. For medium loads, fill to bar 1. For large loads, fill to bar 3. For HE full loads, fill to bar 5. Add clothes, pour into dispenser, start washer.
- Part of the Sport Odor Defense Collection
Trust the Tide Febreze fresh odor to clean out stains that also combine odors from any source. Be it in sports clothes or ordinary wear, this detergent packs a punch. That is why it is the perfect choice for any buyer keen on not only blotting out poop stains but also the smell.
All this is thanks to the innovative HE Turbo Clean Technology for multiple times cleaning power in half the time taken by ordinary detergents. And when it comes to suds, Tide Febreze Fresh odor collapses them while wiping out the stubborn stains in no time.
If you’re looking for a detergent that removes all types of stains, whether from feces, clears odors, or preserves all colors look no further. This detergent will do all that surprisingly well.
7. Tide Hygiene Clean Heavy 10x Duty
This detergent is not branded heavy-duty in vain. It is due to the power of its concentrated formula, which contains ten times the cleaning power found in ordinary detergents. These stain-fighting agents penetrate within the clothes fiber and obliterate the toughest of stains.
As per their description and users’ reviews, the formula is quite incisive, not only in targeting visible but invisible stains. And we merely don’t take them for their word. We have researched and found their claims to be correct.
One user on Amazon, for instance, found it phenomenal in clearing poop stains. They even gave it a five-star review for its effectiveness. This is what they had to say,” got the poop stains out of my underwear. A+++.”
As for its cost-effectiveness, it ranks among some of the most economical detergents. This is all due to its higher than the usual concentration formulation compared to other detergents.
That means you use only a small amount per load, making it last longer.
I’ve also written a guide on how to remove baby poop stains, and made a list of all the best detergents to use on urine odor that may interest you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Wash Poop Stains Will Cold or Hot Water?
How the stain will interact with the garment will depend, among other things, on the type of fabric. But in general, when pre-treating with cleaning agents, it is recommended to use cold water.
Using hot water during the pre-treatment stage will only set the stain deeper into the fabric. Wash with hot water only after pre-treating with stain-removing detergent.
What Removes Poop Stains?
To remove poop stains, you can mix ingredients readily available in your house or from the nearest convenience store. Dissolve one tablespoon of dish-washing powder in two cups of cool water.
Using a clean piece of cloth, wipe out the stain with the solution until the stain is softened. Wait for thirty minutes and wash normally with a stain-removing detergent.
Can Baking Soda Remove Poop Stains?
Baking soda is excellent for poop stain removal. Baking soda reacts with the protein-based chemicals in poop stains, easily breaking them down. If properly used, it is quite an effective poop stain removal agent.
To use baking soda, dissolve five tablespoons of baking soda with a ½ cup of water and use it to soften the stain. Wait for thirty minutes before loading the normal wash cycles.
Check out my article on what you can mix with laundry detergent here for more information.