OxiClean and Shout are two of the biggest names in the stain removing business.
Shout is part of the S.C. Johnson portfolio of brands, including household names such as Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Drano, and many others.
OxiClean is owned by Church & Dwight, the company behind several big-name brands, including Arm & Hammer, Orange Glo, and Kaboom, to name a few.
So, what’s the difference between these two brands? Which brand of stain removers performs better?
In this comparison of OxiClean vs. Shout, I explain how their stain removers compare in terms of ingredients, usage instructions, performance, price, and much more.
Plus, I share the results of the test I conducted to see which brand is more effective at removing five common stains: grass, coffee, red wine, ketchup, and ink.
Let’s get into it.
Use the links below to navigate the comparison:
- OxiClean vs. Shout: One-Minute Summary
- Product Offerings
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Test Results
- What Others Are Saying
- Price
- Bottom Line: Should You Buy OxiClean or Shout?
OxiClean vs. Shout: One-Minute Summary
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick summary of the differences between OxiClean and Shout.
Product Offerings: The key difference between OxiClean and Shout is that OxiClean offers a broader range of stain removing products, including sprays, powders, gel sticks, and laundry detergent. Shout focuses primarily on spot treating smaller stains with sprays, aerosols, and gels.
Ingredients: The main ingredient in OxiClean is sodium percarbonate (oxygen-bleach). When mixed with water, sodium percarbonate creates tiny bubbles that loosen stains from fabrics. Shout uses a mix of surfactants and enzymes as their stain-fighting ingredients.
Instructions: OxiClean and Shout are both easy to use, but the instructions vary by product type. In most cases, the first step is to apply the stain remover directly to the stain, then rub it into the fabric, and leave it for 10 minutes before washing the article of clothing as usual.
Test Results: I tested OxiClean and Shout on five different stains: grass/dirt, coffee, red wine, ketchup, and ink. Both performed exceptionally well, completely removing all stains except the ink.
What Others Are Saying: Consumer Reports tested several stain removers and praised both brands. Experts claim that OxiClean MaxForce removed most stains within five minutes, and Shout Triple-Acting Spray is excellent for eliminating body oil, grease, and grass stains. Your Best Digs also tested these two brands and named OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder the Best Overall Stain Remover and Shout Advanced Gel the Gentlest on Fabric.
Price: Price should not be a factor when deciding between OxiClean and Shout as both are relatively cheap and widely available. You can compare both brands’ current prices on Amazon and Walmart.com at the links below.
- OxiClean on Amazon and Walmart.com
- Shout on Amazon and Walmart.com
Bottom Line: OxiClean and Shout are both highly effective stain removers, and you really can’t go wrong with either. OxiClean has a broader range of products that can treat stains large and small, while Shout offers sprays and gels with the focus on spot-treating more minor stains. If you’re still on the fence, pick up a bottle of each and try them out. You have nothing to lose.
Product Offerings
Before I get into the details about OxiClean and Shout, it’s important to understand the different types of stain removing products each brand offers.
The key takeaway is that OxiClean offers a broader range of stain removing products, including sprays, powders, gel sticks, and even laundry detergent. Shout has a much smaller product line, focusing primarily on spot treating more minor stains with sprays, aerosols, and gels.
Here’s a quick rundown of each brand’s top stain removing products.
One of Shout’s most popular products is the Advanced Trigger Action Gel. It has 70% more stain fighting power than their Triple-Acting Stain Remover Spray. Equipped in a convenient spray bottle, you can use this at home or on the go.
The Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam is great for grease and oil stains. Three powerful stain removing ingredients join forces to lift and remove stains from your clothes.
Shout Free is the preferred stain remover for baby laundry. It’s dermatologically tested and has no added dyes or fragrances. It uses plant-based and biodegradable cleaners that are gentle on your baby’s clothes but effective on baby formula, food, and any other stains your baby might produce.
Then we have the Shout Triple-Acting Stain Remover Spray, which removes food, grass, and other stains quickly. It clings to and penetrates the fabric before lifting the stain off.
If you’re on the go a lot, you might love the Shout Wipe and Go towelettes. These are perfect for keeping in your bag or briefcase for when you get an unfortunate stain. Simply wipe over stains—including juice and red wine—to eliminate them.
The Shout Color Catcher isn’t a stain remover so much as it is a stain preventer. It absorbs and traps loose dyes in the washing cycle so that color bleeds don’t stain your other clothes.
Finally, the Shout Advanced Ultra Concentrated Gel uses enzymes amongst its thick formula to tackle tough stains with little effort. It can even get rid of set-in stains, while still being gentle on your clothes. This is my favorite Shout stain remover due to its compact bottle and convenient built-in brush.
On the other hand, OxiClean has a broader collection of products. They have over 16 stain removing products that come in a variety of forms.
With OxiClean, you can find stain removers as sprays, liquid, powders, gel sticks, paks, and detergent. With this range of options, OxiClean caters to stains of all sizes, not just small ones.
One of their most popular stain fighters is the OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover Spray. This spray works as a pre-treater for tough stains, including wine, juice, oil, and even set-in stains. It’s chlorine-free and color-safe.
The next leading stain remover from OxiClean is the Versatile Stain Remover: an excellent option for the toughest stains on both clothes and surfaces in the home. It uses oxygen to remove dirt and grime from clothes, carpets, and any surface in your house. It’s color-safe and comes fragrance-free, which is best for people with sensitive skin.
Another popular OxiClean product is the White Revive™ Liquid, which works to remove stains, brighten whites, and is safe on colors. You can use it as a pre-soak, or you can use it in every wash. It works more than 40% better than chlorine bleach (OxiClean claims).
Safety Tip: Never mix OxiClean with bleach (learn why).
OxiClean also makes the White Revive product as a powder. Some people prefer this over a liquid because it’s less messy. It works as a stain remover and brightener for whites but is also color-safe.
The OxiClean Max Force™ Gel Stick is also a popular and practical choice. This product is packed with five types of stain removers. It can tackle food, grease, oil, dirt, and grass stains, so it’s a great product to have nearby.
OxiClean also has a new Liquid Laundry Detergent that has built-in stain-removing properties. It comes in a refreshing lavender and lily scent and works to brighten whites, intensify colors and remove tough stains.
Another top product is the OxiClean Laundry Detergent Paks. Pre-measured in a pod form to provide you ultimate convenience, these use oxygen power to penetrate fabric fibers and remove stains. They also brighten whites and colors and are safe in all wash temperatures.
Ingredients
Stain removers are usually equipped with oxidizers, surfactants, and enzymes to help break down and remove stains.
Each active ingredient has different stain removing abilities. I recommend always checking what type of stain each product can remove.
The main ingredient in OxiClean is “oxygen-bleach,” which is also known as sodium percarbonate. According to OxiClean, sodium percarbonate has 40% more cleaning power than chlorine bleach, without the toxicity.
When mixed with water, sodium percarbonate creates a chemical reaction that produces oxygen, and these bubbles help to loosen stains from fabrics.
OxiClean also uses other ingredients to remove stains. Their Laundry Stain Remover Spray uses a mix of surfactants to break down stains, and the OxiClean Gel Stick uses a blend of surfactants and enzymes.
You can see the full ingredient list for all OxiClean products on Church & Dwight’s website.
Shout uses a mix of surfactants and enzymes as their stain-fighting ingredients.
For example, the Shout Advanced Ultra-Concentrated Gel Brush includes Isotridecanol, Ethoxylated, and Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate, which are cleaning agents (surfactants), and Subtilisin and Pectate Lyase, which are enzymes.
You can see the full ingredient list for all Shout products on S.C. Johnson’s website.
If you get a food stain, a surfactant-based product is excellent—in fact, it’s an ingredient used in dish soap. Surfactants are especially useful for dirt and oil stains.
How does it work?
A surfactant forms micelles around an oil or dirt stain. The oil-soluble part of the surfactant dissolves into the stain, while the water-soluble part sticks outwards. The micelles are then able to dissolve in the water, and the stain can be washed away.
Enzymes help to speed up the stain removing process as well as attacking and breaking down the stain.
Bottom line—OxiClean and Shout both have unique formulas designed to wipe out stains quickly and safely.
Instructions
Both brands have a carefully formulated stain removing recipe. But how do you use these products?
OxiClean and Shout require a different approach that varies by product.
First, let’s look at the OxiClean spray stain removers.
Use the spray to saturate the stain. Next, rub it into the fabric and leave it for 10 minutes before washing as usual. Don’t use OxiClean spray stain removers on wool, silk, leather, or dry-clean only fabrics and do not let the spray dry into the garment.
Their liquid and powder stain removers can be used as a pre-soak (for heavily soiled garments) or in every wash along with your regular detergent.
For pre-soak, mix one capful of the liquid with a gallon of the warmest water possible per the fabric care label instructions. Submerge the garments in the solution for six hours before washing as usual.
When using OxiClean liquid or powder stain removers in your washing machine, follow the measuring instructions appropriate for your load size and machine type. Add it to the drum before adding your clothes. Add your detergent normally, then wash at the warmest water possible.
For OxiClean’s liquid laundry detergent, measure out the correct amount per load, and add to your drum or detergent dispenser. You can also pour a little directly onto the stain and rub it in—this works as a pre-treatment before laundering normally.
The OxiClean Gel Stick is safe on whites and colorfast fabrics. You can treat the stain now and wash later for maximum convenience. Simply rub the Gel Stick directly into the stain while pressing down. You can leave it for five minutes or up to a week, depending on the severity of the stain. Then wash the garment in the warmest water possible.
Lastly, the OxiClean stain removing paks can be used as a pre-soak or added to every load.
As a pre-soak, make sure to wear protective gloves since the formula is super concentrated. Add it to warm water to dissolve and soak the garments for anywhere between 1 and 6 hours. With washing machines, always add the paks before the clothes so the water can get to it first and fully dissolve it.
Shout designs its products for spot-treating, unlike OxiClean, whose products tackle more significant stains and come in detergent-form.
With Shout’s spray and gel products, simply spray the stain until it’s saturated. Then rub thoroughly into the fabric. Wait five minutes before laundering as usual at any temperature, but warm is recommended. You can also leave the spray or gel on the garment for up to a week. This can be beneficial for heavier stains, or if you’re just extra busy that week.
For Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam, shake the can before aiming it at a 45° degree angle, 6 inches away from the stain. Saturate the stain thoroughly then leave for five minutes. You must not let the foam dry into the fabric. Launder with a regular detergent at any temperature afterward.
To use the Shout Color Catcher sheets, place one in the drum before adding detergent and clothes. Use two sheets if you’re washing new, dark, or non-colorfast garments. The sheets are dryer safe and should be disposed of after use.
Lastly, the Shout Wipe and Go towelettes are great for on-the-go instant stain removal. Before using, blot away as much of the stain as possible. You can wet the wipes with water or use it straight from the pack. Wipe the stain from the outside, working into the center, lifting the stain from your clothes. Afterward, dispose of the towelette.
Test Results
It’s time to address the most important question on your mind:
Which stain remover is more effective, OxiClean or Shout?
To find out, I conducted a simple test.
I cut a white cotton shirt into ten pieces to test both stain removers across five different stains.
The stains I chose were grass/dirt, coffee, red wine, ketchup, and ink. I picked those five because they are common and represent a wide range of stain types (tannins, ink, oils, etc.).
To test both stain removers, I added each stain to two cloths and let the stains sink in for an hour.
I then tested each brand’s most popular stain removers, the OxiClean Laundry Stain Remover Spray and the Shout Advanced Ultra Concentrated Gel, according to each product’s instructions.
For OxiClean, that meant spraying each stain, letting it sit for 10 minutes, then washing it with hot water and detergent. For Shout, I squeezed the gel onto the stain, rubbed it with the built-in brush, let it sit for five minutes, then washed it with hot water and detergent.
As for the results, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that OxiClean and Shout both effectively removed 100% of the grass/dirt, coffee, red wine, and ketchup stains, and both removed about 85% of the ink stains.
The bad news, or anticlimactic news, is that there was no noticeable difference in performance. After all that, I can’t say with confidence that one performs better than the other.
Below are the before and after pictures for each stain; OxiClean on the left, and Shout on the right.
Grass/Dirt: Before
Grass/Dirt: After
Coffee: Before
Coffee: After
Red Wine: Before
Red Wine: After
Ketchup: Before
Ketchup: After
Ink: Before
Ink: After
What Others Are Saying
Although my tests didn’t reveal any differences in performance, several other independent companies conducted similar experiments with varying results.
Let’s take a look at how OxiClean and Shout have fared across other expert tests.
Consumer Reports recently conducted a test to determine the best stain remover, and, according to their research, OxiClean performed better than Shout.
They claim that OxiClean MaxForce was the only laundry stain remover that got rid of stains better than standard liquid detergent. They recommend this product for body oil, dirt, salad dressing, grease, gravy, and grass, noting that these stains were removed within 5 minutes of applying OxiClean.
In that same study, Consumer Reports ranked Shout Triple-Acting Spray third place. They claim it’s excellent for removing body oil, grease, and grass stains within five minutes, but they needed to soak garments overnight if they had dirt, salad dressing, and gravy stains.
OxiClean and Shout both made The Spruce’s best stain removers list.
Experts at The Spruce named OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Remover Spray the Best Overall, OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder the Best for Clothing, and OxiClean White Revive the Best for White Shirts.
They also named Shout Advanced Ultra Gel Brush the Best Gel and Shout Instant Stain Remover Wipes the Best Wipes.
Your Best Digs also tested several stain removers and named the OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder the Best Overall Stain Remover because it effectively removes all types of stains, it’s easy to use, it won’t damage fabric, and, as the name suggests, it’s incredibly versatile.
In that same study, Your Best Digs named Shout Advanced Gel the Gentlest on Fabric because you can leave it on fabrics overnight without cousin damage (unlike OxiClean, which you need to rinse out soon after applying). Despite this praise, they did mention that Shout didn’t work the best on chocolate.
The Good Housekeeping Institute tested 33 different stain removers and praised the Shout Advanced Ultra Gel Brush and the Shout Advanced Stain Lifting Foam for its powerhouse ability to remove grease stains. Surprisingly, OxiClean wasn’t included in the test.
Price
When choosing between OxiClean and Shout, price shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
Overall, both are great options whether you’re not a budget or not—and both brands will last several months, depending on how often you use it.
Use the links below check the current prices of each brand’s products on Amazon and Walmart.com:
- OxiClean on Amazon and Walmart.com
- Shout on Amazon and Walmart.com
Bottom Line: Should You Buy OxiClean or Shout?
When it comes to ease of use, performance, and price, OxiClean and Shout both have great reputations.
Choosing between the two comes down to your situation and what kind of stains you frequently experience.
For example, if you have pets, kids, or a dirty occupation, you might prefer OxiClean because it offers a broader range of stain removing products, including powders and detergents.
Shout has a more limited range of stain removing products, but it’s effective at spot-treating smaller stains very quickly.
Both brands have their pros and cons.
For OxiClean, pros include:
- Wide range of products, including powders and detergents
- 40% more power with their oxygen bleach than chlorine bleach
- Excellent for large stains
- Most products can be used as a pre-treatment or in a washing cycle
- Works on fresh and dried stains
- Safe on whites and colorfast fabrics
- Products don’t contain bleach
OxiClean’s cons include:
- Not safe on wool, silk, leather, or dry-clean-only fabrics
- Most products contain synthetic fragrances and dyes
- Not effective in cold washes
- You need to wash or rinse the stain soon after you apply OxiClean
For Shout, the pros include:
- Uses stain-fighting surfactants to tackle fresh and set-in stains
- Their range includes wipes for removing stains on the go
- Gentle on fabrics
- After applying Shout, you can let the stains sit overnight, or even for days before you have to rinse/wash
- Products don’t contain bleach
Shout’s cons include:
- Not suitable for wool or silk
- Fewer product options (no detergents or powders)
- Products aren’t easy to use on large stains
At the end of the day, OxiClean and Shout both get the job done and are relatively inexpensive. So why not try out both to find out which suits you best?
You can check out every stain remover from both brands at the links below:
- OxiClean on Amazon and Walmart.com
- Shout on Amazon and Walmart.com
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