OxiClean vs. Tide: Which Detergent and Stain Remover Is the Best?

When it comes to laundry detergent, Tide is the biggest brand on the block. They’ve been in business since the 1940s, and today they own about 30% of the U.S. laundry detergent market.

Although Tide is dominating the detergent category, several new brands have emerged over the past few decades, creating a competitive market that demands constant innovation.

One of Tide’s competitors, OxiClean, has been disrupting the household cleaner category since it launched in 1997. You’ve likely seen their commercials featuring a convincing pitchman demonstrating the seemingly magical stain-removing power of OxiClean.

Although OxiClean is best known for its multi-purpose stain removing powder, they’ve expanded into all sorts of cleaning products, including liquid laundry detergent, detergent packs/pods, sprays, and carpet cleaners.

Tide and OxiClean are trusted brands that have mastered the science of cleaning clothes and removing stains. So what makes them different?

In the following sections of this article, I provide an in-depth comparison of OxiClean vs. Tide and break down all of the similarities, differences, pros, and cons between their laundry detergents and stain removing products. By the end, you’ll have all the important information you need to decide which brand is right for your household.

Let’s get right into it!

Use the links below to skip to a specific section.

• Quick Summary of the Differences Between OxiClean and Tide
• Overview of OxiClean
• Overview of Tide
• OxiClean vs. Tide: Laundry Detergent
• OxiClean vs. Tide: Stain Removers
• Bottom Line: Which Brand Should You Choose?

Differences Between OxiClean and Tide

If you only have a minute, here’s a quick rundown of the differences between OxiClean and Tide.

Primary Focus

• Tide focuses on cleaning clothes, and their product portfolio consists primarily of laundry detergents.
• OxiClean’s core product is their Versatile Stain Remover, which can be used on almost any surface and is designed to remove major stubborn stains. You can use it as a pre-treater or a laundry booster. It’s designed to work in conjunction with detergent, not to replace it.

Selection of Detergent

• Tide invented the first heavy-duty laundry detergent in 1946. Today they offer a variety of 14 liquid detergents for standard machines, 16 liquid detergents designed specifically for high-efficiency machines, and 10 detergent packs.
• OxiClean entered the detergent market in 2014 and offers a limited selection of 3 liquid detergents and 1 type of detergent pack (pod). All four of their detergents are designed to work in high-efficiency machines.

Stain Removing Products

• OxiClean offers a wide range of 15 different stain removing products, including their signature Versatile Stain Remover, laundry sprays, foam pre-treaters, and gel sticks.
• Tide discontinued Tide OXI, which was their answer to OxiClean’s Versatile Stain Remover, and instead are focusing their efforts in the stain removing category on their Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen.
• The Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen only works on minor stains from food or drinks and is most effective when it’s used immediately.

Marketing Strategy

• OxiClean uses direct response TV commercials and infomercials to convince consumers to buy their products on the spot.
• Tide’s marketing strategy is to build awareness through brand advertising and sponsorships, so Tide will be top-of-mind when the shopping moment happens.

Price

• Tide is a premium detergent brand and is typically more expensive than other brands like OxiClean.
• Compare the current prices of OxiClean and Tide detergent on Amazon.

Now that you know the basic differences between OxiClean and Tide, let’s get into more detail.

Overview of OxiClean

OxiClean first came on the scene in 1997 with their breakthrough Versatile Stain Remover that harnesses the power of oxygen and water to magically remove almost any stain from clothing, carpet, upholstery, and hard surfaces.

Orange Glo International initially launched OxiClean, but the brand has since been acquired by Church and Dwight (who also owns Arm & Hammer) after a merger in 2006.

Since its launch in 1997, Oxiclean has expanded its product suite beyond its stain remover to several other cleaning products, including liquid laundry detergent, detergent packs/pods, sprays, and carpet cleaners.

Although their exact formulas are a trade secret, almost all of their products, including their most popular Versatile Stain Remover, contain sodium percarbonate, which is a chemical compound that becomes activated when mixed with water. Once activated, oxygen releases, creating a bubbling effect that loosens and separates dirt and stains from fabrics.

OxiClean alludes to this chemical reaction not only in their name but also in their tagline:

“Powered by the air you breathe, activated by the water you drink.”

Since the launch of the brand, OxiClean has marketed itself through commercials and infomercials featuring the late pitchman Billy Mays. In the ads, the fast-talking pitchman shows you exactly how the product works and how effective it is on tough stains. Since Mays’ passing in 2009, his friend and business partner Anthony Sullivan has taken over the duties and currently serves as the face of OxiClean.

If you haven’t seen one in a while, here’s one of the first OxiClean commercials to refresh your memory.

Overview of Tide

Tide’s story is a bit different from OxiClean’s. Tide launched over 70 years ago in 1946 as the first heavy-duty detergent. A Procter and Gamble scientist named David “Dick” Bryerly invented the original formula and, today, Tide remains one of P&G’s top-selling brands.

When it comes to laundry detergent, Tide is the number one selling brand. Tide completely dominates the market owning about 30% of total laundry detergent sales in the U.S. despite being priced higher than the competition. Over 40 million households in America use Tide, and they’ve won numerous awards recognizing their excellence in the category including Product of the Year in 2018 for their Tide PODS Plus Downy.

Unlike OxiClean, whose products are designed to remove stains from many different surfaces, Tide is wholly focused on laundry. This laser-focus on one type of product has helped them become the dominant player they are today.

Tide has spent the past 70 years advancing their products to meet evolving customer needs.

In 2005 they introduced Tide Cold Water, which is designed to save you money by giving you the same powerful clean without using hot water. That same year, they also introduced the Tide to Go Stain Releaser Pen, which has been a wildly successful product due to its convenience and ability to save people from embarrassing stains on the go.

Their latest innovation came in 2012 with Tide PODS. These convenient pre-portioned packs of detergent eliminate the need to measure and pour, making life a little easier in the laundry room.

Although many other brands, including OxiClean, are just as effective at cleaning clothes, people choose Tide because they are a tried-and-true brand that they can trust. It doesn’t hurt that Tide is part of one of the best marketing organizations in the world, Procter and Gamble. The marketing folks at P&G are experts at getting people to know and love their brands, and they’ve built up a strong loyalty over the years through their marketing of Tide.

OxiClean and Tide both spend their fair share on marketing, but Tide takes a different approach. Instead of sales-y ads that prompt the audience to “Call this number and purchase now,” Tide ads tell a story to build their brand and ensure people think of them when they’re shopping the store aisles for detergent.

Here’s one of their recent ads so you can see the contrast between the two brands.

OxiClean vs. Tide: Laundry Detergent

The laundry detergent market is fiercely competitive. Tide has figured out a way to climb to the top, but OxiClean and others are constantly innovating in attempts to gain market share. In this section, I explore the similarities and differences between OxiClean and Tide laundry detergent products.

Laundry Detergent Products

OxiClean is best known for its Versatile Stain Remover (more on this in the next section); however, in 2014, OxiClean expanded its product portfolio into laundry detergents.

Today OxiClean offers four different detergent products that all harness the stain-removing power of oxygen so you can, as OxiClean puts it, “Reveal vibrant colors, restore radiant whites, and remove dried-on stains.”

Here’s a quick breakdown of all four OxiClean laundry detergents.

OxiClean™ High Def Liquid Laundry Detergent

OxiClean offers three different liquid laundry detergents, Sparkling Fresh Scent, Lavender & Lily Scent, and Free & Clear.

The Sparkling Fresh Scent and Lavender & Lily Scent detergents are the same besides their fragrance. The Sparkling Fresh Scent detergent smells like “flowers and citrus” while the Lavender and Lily smells like fresh spring flowers.

The Free & Clear detergent does not contain any perfumes or dyes for those with sensitive skin or if you don’t care for the strong odor that scented detergents leave behind.

All three of their liquid detergents use three color-safe stain fighters to attack stains, remove dirt, and dissolve odors. OxiClean claims that their detergents deliver three levels of clean: “remove dried-on stains, reveal vibrant colors, and restore radiant whites.”

Safe for colors? Yes.

Safe to use in standard and High-efficiency washers? Yes, although the dosage may vary based on your machine.

Contains Fragrance and Dyes? Yes, except OxiClean™ High Def Liquid Laundry Detergent Free & Clear, which does not contain fragrance or dyes.

How do you use it? OxiClean recommends pre-treating or pre-soaking clothes with tough stains in a bath of warm water and either OxiClean liquid detergent or their Versatile Stain Remover before putting them into the washer.

Per the instructions on the back of the bottle, “Use a full cap for large or heavily soiled loads. Fill cap to bar 1 for medium loads. For cold water settings, fill to bar 3.”

OxiClean™ High Def Laundry Detergent Paks

Besides their three liquid laundry options, OxiClean also offers convenient Detergent Paks (a.k.a. packs, pods) that you can pop into your washer and avoid the hassle of pouring and measuring.

Each pack has an ultra-concentrated blend of liquid and powder to attack stains and odor from all angles. They claim to have two different liquids; however, after looking closer at the ingredient list, the only difference in the two liquids is the color of the dye. Regardless, just like their liquid detergents, OxiClean’s Detergent Paks use their unique formula of cleaning agents to remove stains and revive dirty clothes.

Safe for colors? Yes.

Safe to use in standard and High-efficiency washers? Yes, although the dosage may vary based on your machine.

Contains Fragrance and Dyes? Yes.

How do you use it? Detergent Paks make laundry simple and easy.  Step one is to put one pak (two for large loads) into the drum, then add your clothes, and then turn on the machine. Do not open the pak or puncture it before putting it in the drum. The pak will dissolve on its own.

Tide Standard Liquid Laundry Detergent

Unlike OxiClean, which has a broad range of cleaning products but a limited selection of detergents, Tide’s only focus is on laundry detergent. Since they don’t stray into other cleaning categories, they’re able to offer a wide range of detergents to satisfy every need.

Tide offers 14 standard liquid laundry detergents, 16 high-efficiency liquid laundry detergents,  5 powder detergents, and 10 detergent packs that they trademarked as PODS®.

Without getting into every single product, I’ll explain the core differences between their most popular detergent types.

Besides Tide Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent, which is the best seller, three of Tide’s most popular liquid detergents are Tide Free and Gentle, Tide Coldwater Clean, and Tide Simply Clean and Fresh.

Tide Free and Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent that, just like OxiClean’s Free & Clear, is hypoallergenic and doesn’t contain any dyes or perfumes.

Tide Coldwater Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent is designed specifically for washing clothes in cold water. With this detergent, they claim you get the same cleaning power while saving 50% more on energy.

Tide is considered a premium detergent brand and is one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive on the market. To combat lower than expected sales post-recession in 2014, they launched Tide Simply Clean and Fresh as a more economically priced alternative for budget-conscious consumers. Their tagline for this product is “Tough on odors and easy on your wallet.”

Safe for colors? Yes, all of Tide’s standard liquid detergents are safe for colors, including their Tide Plus Bleach Alternative Liquid Laundry Detergent.

Safe to use in standard and High-efficiency washers? No, Tide has detergents specifically designed for high-efficiency washers.

Contains Fragrance and Dyes? Yes, except Tide Free and Gentle, which does not contain fragrance or dyes.

How do you use it? Tide recommends filling the cap up to line 1 for medium loads, line 3 for large loads, and line 5 for full loads. Put the detergent in the washer before adding the laundry.

They also allude to pre-treating tough stains with Tide, but they don’t provide the detailed pre-treating instructions that OxiClean does.

Tide HE (High-Efficiency) Liquid Detergent

So what are high-efficiency washers, and why do companies like Tide make separate high-efficiency detergents?

Simply put, high-efficiency washers use up to 80% less water and approximately 65% less energy than standard washers. They are typically larger than standard washers with the ability to hold up to 40% more clothes.

High-efficiency detergent has unique formulas that produce fewer suds, so the machine doesn’t have to run as many rinse cycles. If you use regular detergent in a high-efficiency washer, you could end up wasting more water and energy because the system will start a new rinse cycle when it detects excess suds. To learn more about the importance of using the right type of detergent for your machine, check out this quick article on Tide.com.

Unlike OxiClean, who only offers high-efficiency detergents, Tide designs its standard detergents for standard washers and a separate line of products for use in high-efficiency washers.

Almost all of their standard liquid detergents have a High-Efficiency version, including the Original Scent, Coldwater Clean, and Free and Gentle detergents that I mentioned above.

Although OxiClean brought more attention to the use of sodium percarbonate and the chemical reactive it creates to remove stains, they’re not the only brand to leverage the power of oxygen. Tide’s Simply Plus OXI and Ultra OXI High Efficiency both contain similar ingredients as OxiClean to help remove stains that are deeply embedded in fabrics.

Safe for colors? Yes, all of Tide’s standard liquid detergents are safe for colors, including their Tide Plus Bleach Alternative High-Efficiency Liquid Laundry Detergent.

Safe to use in standard and High-efficiency washers? Tide high-efficiency detergents are designed specifically for high-efficiency machines. If you have a standard machine, use Tide’s standard detergent. High-efficiency detergents have special low-sud producing formulas and are typically more expensive than regular detergents.

Contains Fragrance and Dyes? Yes, except Tide Free and Gentle High-Efficiency, which does not contain fragrance or dyes.

How do you use it? Tide recommends filling the cap up to line 1 for medium loads, line 3 for large loads, and line 5 for full loads. Put the detergent in and then add the clothes.

Tide PODS®

Tide introduced their Tide PODS to the market in 2012, and they became an instant hit.

Although they’ve been in the news for the wrong reasons lately, Tide PODS were the first laundry detergent pod (or pack) on the market, and several brands (including OxiClean) have copied them and created their version.

Similar to OxiClean’s Detergent Paks, Tide PODS are an easy and convenient pre-packaged dosage of detergent that eliminates the mess of pouring and measuring regular liquid detergent.

Tide PODS are a “3-in-1” laundry solution with the three components being: concentrated detergent, stain remover, and color protector.

Unlike OxiClean, who only has one detergent pod/pack, Tide has 10 different versions of their PODS. Their PODS collection includes ones with difference fragrances, Free and Gentle with no fragrance or dye, two that include Febreze, and even Tide PODS Ultra OXI that includes a built-in pre-treater.

Safe for colors? Yes.

Safe to use in standard and High-efficiency washers? Yes

Contains Fragrance and Dyes? Yes, except Tide PODS® Free and Gentle Laundry Detergent, which does not contain fragrance or dyes.

How do you use it? Place one Tide PODS pack in the drum, then add your clothes, then start the machine.

Laundry Detergent Ingredients

OxiClean and Tide keep their exact formulas a secret; however, both are transparent about the ingredients within their formulas. In fact, both companies provide a full list of the ingredients in every single product and encourage you to contact them if you have questions or concerns.

OxiClean and Tide detergents both contain similar types of ingredients such as surfactants, enzymes, builders, brighteners, preservatives, PH adjusters, dyes, and fragrances. It’s difficult to understand the core differences in the chemical makeup of OxiClean versus Tide detergent, and neither company clearly explains their difference.

My advice is to check out the ingredient lists below, and if you have any concerns, contact OxiClean and Tide. They will be able to explain exactly what each ingredient is used for as well as their risks.

• OxiClean™ Liquid Laundry Detergent Sparkling Fresh Scent ingredient list.
• Tide’s Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent ingredient list.

Laundry Detergent Awards and Recognition

Tide is not only the number one selling detergent, but they’ve also have received several awards in recent years.

In 2015, their Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid Detergent won Product of the Year by the research company TNS.

Tide PODS Plus Febreze won Best New Product by Better Homes and Gardens magazine based on a survey completed by over 38K consumers. That same product was voted Product of the Year in the laundry pack category in 2017 by TNS.

Tide’s Original HE Turbo Clean Liquid was also voted Product of the Year in 2016 by TNS.

Lastly, Tide is the official detergent of the NFL and is used to clean the uniforms of all 32 teams.

OxiClean is still a relatively new player in the detergent market (launched 2014) and is yet to win any notable awards.

Laundry Detergent Price

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly detergent, you might want to go with OxiClean.

Tide is known to be a premium detergent brand, and with that reputation comes a higher price tag. In general, Tide detergent costs about 2X more than the average detergent, but the exact price depends on which product you buy.

If you’re set on Tide but don’t want to pay the high price, they created a lower cost option in 2014 called Tide Simply Clean and Fresh (link to Amazon) to appeal to the value-minded consumer. It’s still not cheap, but it’s more affordable than other Tide detergents and is comparable to OxiClean in terms of price.

To compare the price of OxiClean and Tide laundry detergent, check them both out on Amazon through the links below.

OxiClean laundry detergent on Amazon.

Tide laundry detergent on Amazon.

OxiClean vs. Tide: Stain Removers

When it comes to laundry detergent, Tide is King, but it’s a different story when it comes to stain removers.

First of all, what is a stain remover?

A stain remover is a substance designed to remove stains out of clothes, carpets, and other fabrics. Unlike laundry detergent, which is intended to clean moderate stains and remove odor, stain removers are designed to treat a specific affected area. Stain removers can be used on their own, as a laundry pre-treater, or as a laundry booster.

Stain Remover Products

OxiClean’s Versatile Stain Remover is the original product that launched the brand in ‘97 and is America’s #1 selling stain remover today. Its key ingredient is sodium percarbonate, which activates when mixed with water to create a chemical reaction that produces oxygen, which then loosens stains from fabrics. OxiClean refers to this ingredient as “oxygen bleach” because it has similar cleaning strength as bleach without the toxicity. 

Safety Tip: Never mix OxiClean with bleach (learn why).

In addition to their Versatile Stain Remover, OxiClean has 14 other products in the stain remover category, including powders specifically designed for brightening whites and blasting away odors, sprays, foams, gels, and liquid laundry boosters. When it comes to fighting stains, OxiClean has you completely covered.

Tide launched a multi-purpose stain remover called Tide OXI in 2014, which was very similar to OxiClean, but Tide confirmed via Twitter that it had discontinued this product.

Instead of competing with OxiClean in the multi-purpose stain remover category, Tide is focusing strictly on laundry detergent and continues to dominate that category.

The one product that Tide offers that is similar in purpose to OxiClean’s Versatile Stain Remover is the Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen. The Tide to Go Pen is the size of a marker and is designed to be carried in your bag, purse, or pocket and used to remove minor spills while they’re still fresh.

The following is a comparison of OxiClean’s Versatile Stain Remover vs. the Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen.

The Purpose of Stain Removers

The primary purpose of both OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover and the Tide to Go Pen is to remove stains; however, the scope of their use is different.

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover comes in a powder form that’s meant to be mixed with water. It can be used on clothes, carpets, upholstery, and even hard surfaces like grout and patio furniture. It can handle all types of stains, large and small, including food, drink, grease, ink, and grass.

The Tide to Go Pen is considered an instant stain remover, which means its most useful when you use it immediately after a spill. Once stains set in, the Tide to Go Pen loses its effectiveness.

It’s meant to be used only on clothing, not other fabrics like carpet or upholstery. It works best on food and drink spills and won’t be as effective on non-food stains like ink. It’s meant for minor stains, so if you spill an entire glass of red wine on your white shirt, I’d recommend another solution (like OxiClean).

How to Use Stain Removers

The way you use OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover depends on what you’re cleaning. Here’s a quick rundown:

Using OxiClean for Minor Stains on Clothes:

•  Fill the washer with water.
• Add OxiClean and detergent (the detergent does not have to be OxiClean). Fill the scoop to line 1 for regular loads or add more for larger or heavily soiled loads. Use less of the product for high-efficiency washers.
• Add laundry.
• Turn on the machine.

Using OxiClean for Major Stains on Clothes:

• Mix OxiClean (fill between lines 2 and 4 per 1 gallon of water) with warm water in a tub or bucket.
• Submerge heavily stained clothing.
• Soak for 1 to 6 hours (for best results, 6 hours).
• After soaking, wash in the washing machine as you normally would.

Using OxiClean on Carpets:

• Make sure the carpet fabric is water-washable.
• Remove excess stains by blotting with water.
• Mix OxiClean with warm water in a bucket or bowl (fill scoop to line 1 for every 16 ounces of water).
• Apply enough of the solution to saturate the stain.
• Let it sit for 1 to 5 minutes, but don’t allow it to dry.
• Blot with a white towel.
• If the stain is still present, repeat the previous steps.
• Once the stain is removed, rinse the area with clean water and blot dry.

Using OxiClean on Upholstery:

• Make sure the upholstery fabric is water-washable.
• Remove excess stains by blotting with water.
• Mix OxiClean with warm water (fill scoop to line 1 for every 16 ounces of water).
• Apply solution with a clean white towel and blot until the stain is gone.
• Once the stain is gone, dampen a clean white towel with water and blot until the area to rinse.

Using OxiClean on Hard Surfaces:

• Mix OxiClean and warm water. Fill the scoop up to line 4 for every gallon of water.
• Apply the solution with a cloth, sponge, spray, or pour it if you’re cleaning a large area.
• Let it sit for 5 to 30 minutes, but do not allow it to dry.
• Scrub the stain with a brush.
• Rinse with cool water.

Since the Tide to Go Pen has only one purpose, to clean minor stains from food and drinks from clothes, the instructions are much more straightforward.

Here’s how to use the Tide to Go Pen:

• First, ensure the fabric of your clothing doesn’t react negatively to the chemicals in the Tide to Go Pen before using it. To test, remove the cap and press the tip onto the fabric in a non-visible area. Allow a small amount of the solution to release onto the clothing. If the color doesn’t fade after a few minutes, you’re good to go. Note: According to Tide.com, “Tide to Go is safe for all colorfast washable and dry cleanable fabrics.”
• Once you’ve confirmed that your fabric is compatible, it’s onto the real stain.
• Remove excess residue and by blotting with an absorbent paper towel or cloth. Avoid rubbing the stain as that could spread it and make the situation worse.
• Remove the cap and press the tip of the pen onto the stain a few times for a brief second each time. Allow the pen to release a small amount of its solution. The solution should completely cover the stained area.
• Once the solution covers the stain, gently scrub the stain with the tip of the brush. The tip contains microfibers that help absorb and pull out the stain.
• Wait for the fabric to dry.
• If the stain is still visible, repeat the process.

Keep in mind that the Tide to Go Pen is designed to treat stains as they happen and is meant to be used in conjunction with standard laundering. Until you run the stained item through the wash, expect the stain to be slightly visible, the colors in your fabric to be somewhat faded, and a chemical odor to linger.

How Stain Removers Work

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover and the Tide to Go Pen both effectively remove stains; however, they do it differently.

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover is made up of only 5 ingredients: sodium carbonate (builder), sodium carbonate peroxide (Oxygen Bleach), C12-15 alcohols ethoxylated (Surfactant), fragrance, and dye.

When the sodium carbonate peroxide (a.k.a. sodium percarbonate) is mixed with water, it becomes activated and creates a chemical reaction that releases oxygen. Those oxygen bubbles loosen the stain and separate it from the fabric.

The C12-15 alcohols ethoxylated acts as a surfactant which cuts the surface tension of water and helps remove oils and grease. The sodium carbonate neutralizes the acids that are produced in the cleaning process, which makes it easier to rinse away the stains.

The Tide to Go Pen has a few more ingredients than OxiClean. Here’s the full ingredient list and an explanation about what they do.

• Dipropylene Glycol Butyl Ether: A solvent that allows the active cleaning ingredients to reach the stain.
• Hydrogen Peroxide: A color-safe bleach that whitens whites and brightens colors.
• Sodium Alcohol Sulfate: A surfactant that emulsifies stains and pulls them away from the fabric.
• Ethanol: Another solvent that keeps all the ingredients liquid, so they don’t clunk up in the pen.
• Citric Acid Sodium Salt: Balances the pH to make it easier to rinse away the stain and to protect your skin from irritation.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Also known as Epsom salt, helps the solution dry faster.
• Lauramine Oxide: Another cleaning agent.
• Trimethoxybenzoic Acid: Acts as a stabilizer to focus the cleaning agents on the stain.
• Sodium Hydroxide: Helps surfactants be more effective by balancing pH levels.
• Fragrance: Adds a fresh scent.

Stain Removers Price

The OxiClean Versatile Stain Remove and the Tide to Go Pen are both very affordable. You can usually find a 5-pound tub of OxiClean for under $15 and a pack of Tide to Go Pens for around the same. Like most household items, when you buy a larger tub of OxiClean or pack of Tide pens, you can get even better prices per unit.

To check out the current prices, you can find OxiClean and Tide to Go Pens on Amazon.

Bottom Line: Which Brand Should You Choose?

OxiClean and Tide are two successful brands with innovation at their core. Both have been producing highly effective cleaning products for decades.

So which one should you choose?

When comparing OxiClean and Tide, there are several scenarios to consider.

First, which product do you need? A detergent or a stain remover?

For detergents, Tide gives you many more options than OxiClean. OxiClean only has three liquid laundry detergents and one detergent pack. All OxiClean detergents are designed for high-efficiency machines. The only differences between their detergents are in the dyes and fragrances, or lack thereof.

Tide has a vast selection of detergents, including 4 standard liquid laundry detergents, 16 high-efficiency liquid laundry detergents, 5 powder detergents, and 10 detergent packs.

If you have a standard washer, I’d recommend going with one of Tide’s standard detergents. Even though Tide is generally more expensive, I’ve found that Tide’s standard detergents are less costly than OxiClean because OxiClean detergents are specially formulated to work in standard and high-efficiency machines.

If you have a high-efficiency washer, both OxiClean and Tide have great options. Tide gives you more selection with 16 different options, but compared to Tide’s detergents that are specially formulated for high-efficiency machines, OxiClean detergent is generally much cheaper.

If you’re looking for a stain remover, I’d recommend buying both OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover and a Tide to Go pen. These products serve the same purpose but in different scenarios. OxiClean can handle the major stains on nearly any surface that require special attention while the Tide to Go Pen will save you from embarrassing food/drink stains while you’re at work or on a date. Both products are inexpensive and are worth every penny.

At the end of the day, cleaning products are a personal decision. Some people get used to a particular brand and stick to it for years. If you’re on the fence, I’d highly recommend testing OxiClean and Tide for a few months to find the one that’s best for you.

You can read hundreds of reviews and check the current price of all the products I covered in this article on Amazon at the links below:

• OxiClean High Def Liquid Laundry Detergent
• OxiClean High Def Laundry Detergent Paks
• OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
• Tide Original Scent Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Tide Simply Clean and Fresh
• Tide HE Turbo Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Tide PODS®
• Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen

Have you had a good or bad experience with OxiClean or Tide? Do you agree or disagree with my assessment? Please let me know in the comments below.

If you found this article helpful, you should also check out:

• Tide vs. Persil: Which Laundry Detergent Is Better?
• All vs. Tide: Which Laundry Detergent Is Better?
• Tide Original vs. Tide Simply: What’s the Difference?
• OxiClean vs. Bleach: 6 Key Differences
• Tide Hygienic Clean vs. Tide Original: What’s the Difference?
• OxiClean vs. Shout: Which Stain Remover Is Better?
• Does OxiClean Work? How Does OxiClean Work? An In-Depth Review
• Purex vs. Persil: Which Laundry Detergent Is Better?
• Purex vs. Tide: Which Laundry Detergent Is Better?
• Which Tide Detergent Is the Best? (Top 8 Compared)
• Borax vs. OxiClean: What’s the Difference?
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• Tide vs. Arm & Hammer: Which Laundry Detergent Is Better?
• Tide vs. Gain: Which Laundry Detergent Is the Best?
• Zout vs. Shout: Which Stain Remover Is Better?
• How to Make 4 Homemade Stain Removers That Actually Work