What is a Laundry Booster?
A laundry booster is an additive that helps to boost the performance of your regular laundry detergent and assist in stain and odor removal. In that way, laundry boosters can help to more effectively tackle laundry stains and odors on the first wash.
Laundry boosters come in all different formats. There are powders, liquids, and laundry power paks that you can add to the wash along with your laundry detergent. Moreover, some laundry pretreatment sprays work as laundry boosters by effectively loosening stains and making them easier to fully remove in the wash.
Why Do You Need a Laundry Booster?
You need a laundry booster to help get out the toughest stains. While your usual laundry detergent probably does a solid job of cleaning clothes, there are some stains it may not be able to remove on the first wash. A laundry booster can help enhance the stain-fighting power of your detergent to help you get rid of those stains the first time around.
Is a Laundry Booster the Same as Laundry Detergent?
No, a laundry booster is not the same as laundry detergent. You use them in tandem with laundry detergent to help optimize laundry performance.
This is an important distinction since laundry detergents, like laundry boosters, also come in liquid, powder, and laundry power pak formats. That’s why it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying and read product labels so you know how to pair your laundry detergent with any given laundry booster.
What Are Laundry Boosters Made Of?
Laundry boosters are made of different ingredients largely depending on the format. For example, some in-wash laundry scent boosters may contain salt, essential oils, and other added fragrances. Others may contain polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000.
Some detergent booster powders, like OxiClean™ powders, contain sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, surfactants, enzymes and polymers.
Are Laundry Boosters Safe for All Fabrics?
Although most laundry boosters are safe for almost any fabric, you should read product labels and garment care labels before using them on delicate or luxurious fabrics such as wool, silk, and leather. Laundry booster powders, liquids, power paks, and pretreatment sprays may not be safe for use on these items.
Can I Use Laundry Boosters in All Washing Machines?
All laundry boosters work in standard washing machines, and some also work in HE washing machines or combo washer/dryers. Check the product label to verify you can use your laundry additive of choice in your washer, particularly if you have an HE or combo washing machine.
How to Use Laundry Booster Powders in the Wash
OxiClean™ boasts multiple laundry booster powders that can help you accomplish different laundry goals. OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover has over 101 uses for all sorts of pesky laundry stains, while OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover Free helps remove stains without any dyes or perfumes.
OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover can also help eliminate tough sweat stains and body odors, while OxiClean™ Baby Stain Remover works to remove baby stains from formula, leaky diapers, and more. Lastly, OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover can help revive dingy whites and remove tough stains. Plus, the oxygen bleach, chlorine-free formula has 40 percent more whitening power than chlorine bleach per load. Additionally, OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover is color safe!
OxiClean™ laundry booster powders are easy to use in the wash.
1. Scoop
For OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover, OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover Free, and OxiClean™ Baby Stain Remover, fill scoop to Line 1 for regular loads. Use more for heavily-soiled items. For OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover, fill scoop to Line 2 or use more for heavily-soiled loads. For OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover, fill scoop to Line A or use more for heavily-soiled loads.
2. Wash
Wash as normal with laundry detergent. For top loaders, add OxiClean™ laundry booster powder with laundry detergent to the wash before adding laundry items. For HE washers, add OxiClean™ powder to the drum before adding laundry. Do not mix OxiClean™ powder with detergent in the dispenser.
Simple enough, right? OxiClean™ powders can help boost the stain-fighting power of your everyday detergent for cleaner laundry. Plus, you can also pre-soak items in a solution containing water and OxiClean™ powder.
For example, using OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover in a pre-soak can help eliminate sweat stains and body odors from smelly workout gear and refresh musty towels. Meanwhile, a pre-soak including OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover can help you revive dingy whites.
Make sure to read the back of the product label for pre-soak instructions. Do not use OxiClean™ laundry booster powders on wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, or fabrics labeled “dry clean only.”
How to Use Liquid Laundry Boosters in the Wash
Do you prefer a liquid laundry booster to a powder? OxiClean™ is here to help! You can use OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover Liquid Laundry Booster to help your detergent take on tough stains. Or, try OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover Liquid Laundry Booster to help keep white items looking white. Additionally, White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover is safe for colors, so you can use it on any of your brightly-colored laundry items!
1. Fill
For OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover Liquid Laundry Booster, fill cap to bar A. Use more for larger loads. For OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover Liquid Laundry Booster, fill cap to bar B. Use more for large loads or added whitening power.
2. Wash
Wash as normal with laundry detergent. In front load washers, add OxiClean™ liquid laundry booster and laundry detergent to the drum before adding laundry. For HE washers, add OxiClean™ along with laundry detergent in the dispenser for every load.
You can also use OxiClean™ liquid laundry boosters to pre-treat laundry items. Pour directly onto the stain and wait 5-10 minutes before washing following the instructions above. Alternatively, you can also use OxiClean™ liquid to pre-soak items. Follow the pre-soaking instructions on the back of the package. Do not use OxiClean™ liquid laundry boosters on wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, or fabrics labeled “dry clean only.”
How to Use Laundry Booster Power Paks in the Wash
Laundry power paks are laundry additives that work a little differently than powders and liquids. The outer layer of a laundry power pak dissolves in the wash when it gets wet, releasing the ingredients and helping to improve the performance of your laundry detergent. However, like powders and liquids, power paks are easy to use! Try OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover Power Paks or OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover Power Paks.
Wash as normal with laundry detergent. For regular or lightly soiled loads, add 1 Pak of OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover Power Paks or OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover Power Paks and laundry detergent before adding laundry into the washing machine. For large, heavily soiled loads, add 2 Paks OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover Power Paks or OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover Power Paks. For HE Washer, add laundry detergent as you normally would then place 1 Pak OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Odor & Stain Remover Power Paks or OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover Power Paks for regular or lightly soiled loads and 2 Paks for heavily soiled directly into drum. Then add laundry. Do not open Pak. Read your HE owner’s manual for instructions. Safe for all colors.
As is the case with laundry booster powders and liquid laundry boosters, you can use power paks in a pre-soak. Unlike in-wash, however, you should only pre-soak colorfast items in a solution with power paks. Do not use OxiClean™ power paks on wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, or fabrics labeled “dry clean only.”
How to Use Laundry Stain Remover Sprays to Prolong the Life of Your Items
Laundry stain remover sprays might not necessarily fit the category of “laundry additive” as well as powders, liquids, and power paks. Still, they do effectively boost your laundry detergent’s performance by attacking stains and making them easier to remove in the wash. OxiClean™ Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray can help you with some of the toughest stains, including set-in stains.
Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray is the resource you need to flush out that annoying spill of wine on your favorite shirt. Or help you treat and wash away the smudges of makeup on your blouse. It can also remove those dried-in chocolate stains you picked up after having a s’mores night with your kids! Plus, you can treat stains as soon as they happen and wash up to seven days later. Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray also comes in a 2 FL OZ. spray that lets you address stains on the go!
1. Spray
Shake before use. Spray directly onto the stain or spot until saturated.
2. Wait
Let stand for 5 minutes or up to a week, depending on the severity of the stain. For fabrics prone to color change, do not let the spray stand longer than 5 minutes. For dried or set-in stains, allow spray to penetrate overnight or for up to a week.
3. Wash
Wash with detergent in the warmest water the fabric will accept.
OxiClean™ Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray can also provide a quick fix to get rid of stains in a jiffy! It also works to remove spots on water-washable upholstery and can be used in the kitchen and bathroom. So once you address your laundry items, you can clean the rest of the house, too!
1. Spray
Spray directly onto the stain or spot until saturated.
2. Wait
Rub into the fabric and let stand for up to 10 minutes depending on the severity of the stain.
3. Wash
Wash as normal with detergent.
Test OxiClean™ Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray and OxiClean™ Laundry + Home Stain Remover Spray on an inconspicuous area prior to use. Do not use on silk, silk blends, wool, wool blends, leather and fabrics labeled dry clean only.
Find the OxiClean™ Laundry Booster or Additive You Need to Be a Laundry Pro!
We know life can be hard, and you shouldn’t have added stress over stains. Fortunately for you, OxiClean™ laundry boosters and sprays can help you remove tough dried-in stains, keep your white clothes looking white, and ultimately help your clothes look fresh again so you can feel good about what’s in your closet!