6 Travel-Friendly Stain Removers We Recommend, Tested and Reviewed

Pros: Quick acting and drying, effective on a wide range of stains, nothing to throw way
Cons: May spread stain in certain cases, less effective on older and tougher spots

With its compact design as a five-inch-long marker-like pen, the Tide to Go+ Oxi Stain Remover Pen is easy to tote around—the lightest of the pen designs we tested—whether it’s in a carry-on, fanny pack, or even a fancy clutch at a wedding. When a mess does occur, simply uncap the device, and apply firm pressure to the tip to release the formula onto the stain. The design keeps the control in your hands, giving you the ability to regulate how much of the liquid is needed for each particular situation. The angled tip with the sharp corner allows for targeted friction to be applied to tough spots. Along with its new formula with stain-fighting Cxi, I was able to zap out stains of all sorts, from red wine and coffee to ballpoint pen ink and lipstick. While it did appear to most quickly lighten my old sweaty makeup stain in my cap, especially on my dark navy Yankees one, after a night of drying out on my pale blue US Open cap, there was still residual left behind. The biggest downfall showed on a Sharpie stain. While the stain did start diluting the permanent marker, it also spread to a wider area, creating a purple-ish halo around the original black stain on a cotton bandana.

Pros: Effective on stubborn stains, textured surface, easy to stash
Cons: Single-use means it’s less eco-friendly, can dry out, hands get wet

Shout Wipe & Go’s single-use packets each contain one 4.7″ x 5.9″ wipe. While it definitely takes more elbow grease and effort to really get stains out, the textured surface of the cloth helps create friction to quickly get rid of problem areas. I was stunned by the wipe’s effectiveness on a well-settled, stubborn makeup stain. It visually got rid of any evidence as soon as I started scrubbing it. After completely drying out overnight, it was like there was never a stain in the first place! The same was true on an hours-old olive oil stain on cotton shorts. That said, both of those were newly-bought packets that were quite moist upon tearing open. I also had one stashed at the bottom of my carry-on for at least a year, and by the time I needed it, it was fairly dry and completely ineffective—so freshness matters.

Pros: Zaps away old stains, long-lasting results, non-toxic
Cons: Gel-like substance takes longer to dry, harder to use on the go, less effective on food stains, a slight odor

Though the family-run Amodex has a long history, invented in 1957 by an ink printer, this was a product I just learned about and was the most excited to try. Having worked for a decade as a teen magazine editor, I always carried Sharpies (to get celebrities to autograph prizes!), which also meant I often got the accidental mark on my clothes. Trusting that the markers were truly permanent, I was impressed to find Amodex’s non-toxic formula actually lifted the Sharpie marks off of a cotton bandana, and completely got rid of ball-point pen marks. It also cleared out my pesky hat rim makeup like a charm. While the more pasty, gel-like substance took longer to soak in and way longer to dry, its effectiveness was worth the wait. Interestingly—and disappointingly—it didn’t work so well on more basic stains, like tomato sauce, wine, and olive oil. Also, while the one-ounce travel-size I ordered off of Amazon was billed as having a built-in brush, the one I received was different from the photo with a twist opening. Since I was testing for travel usage, I simply used its own nozzle as a makeshift brush, but an actual one may have helped with the everyday stains.

Pro: Long-lasting formula that’s just as effective years later, works on most stains
Con: While there are immediate results, it take an actual washing to prove its power

It’s hard to resist anything with a homemade-like label and squeeze bottle. The two-ounce bottle is easy to stash on the go, though the directions are a bit contradictory. On the one hand, it says “just a drop is all it takes to remove…” with a list of items from oil and grease to makeup, grass, rust, and blood. But the actual step-by-step instructions say to let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then to wash by hand or in the machine, and then rinse thoroughly to get rid of stains. That all said, the same bottle I bought more than two years ago has become a staple for me when it comes to stains I simply think will never come out, from blood and sweat to food and wine. Even on white and light clothing, there’s no evidence the stain was even there! So apparently there is some truth to a grandmother’s formula.

Pros: Quick and easy to use, especially for everyday stains, mindful ingredients
Cons: Won’t completely get rid of stains
Whenever I visit my nieces and nephew, I’d been in the habit of wearing my oldest, still presentable(ish) clothes. After all, whether we’re spending the day at Legoland Discovery Center in Virginia, Planet Word in DC, or running between their sporting games, there’s bound to be a mess, from ice pops to grass stains. Enter: Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater pen. I had tested this line from the brand Hate Stains before, clearly marketed toward families with googly-eyes cartoons on it, but wasn’t impressed with its effectiveness. So I was intrigued that they now had a pen version—so much easier for spot treatments while chasing the little ones. While it won’t completely get rid of spots, it will lessen them a shade, so it’s not as obvious—and that’s all we can ask for when it comes to kids. There is a slight bit of irony as it’s billed as a “safer choice,” without added peroxides, chloride, phosphates, parabens, and fragrances, yet there’s still a warning label to “keep out of reach of children.”

Pros: Made for fabric, skin, and surfaces; powerful on stains
Cons: A slight scent, single-use
With my cavalcade of wipes for every purpose, this Amodex wipe could become the secret weapon I’d be searching for. Of all the on-the-go stain removers I tried this go-round, this earned the highest marks on those long-soiled makeup cap stains, acting truly like a white-out of stain treatments. It was also effective on all food, wine, and oil stains, as well as ballpoint pen ink. Though it claims it can take out Sharpie, it only lessened, but didn’t remove the mark completely. But the most fascinating aspect was that this isn’t just another stain-removing wipe. It’s also made to be used on soiled surfaces as well as skin and hands. Unsurprisingly, it was great at cleaning my post-lunch dining table, but it left both my hands and laptop a bit sticky. There’s also a slight scent which some may say is mildly floral, but may be a bit putrid to others.