soilove laundry stain remover

Soilove: The Best Budget-Friendly Stain Remover for Clothes

/Updated /46 Comments/in , , , /by Mary Hunt

Finding the best stain remover for clothes can be a game-changer for your laundry routine. Enter Soilove, a budget-friendly and highly effective solution. Though I first discovered it in 1982, Soilove was already a hidden gem in the cleaning world, saving clothes from stubborn stains.

soilove laundry stain remover

For years I thought I was the only person who knew about something called Soilove. I first discovered it back in 1982 while searching for a laundry stain product that could beat the outrageously high price of the name brands. Those were easy to spot because they were always shelved at eye level.

Discovering the Best Stain Remover for Clothes

When I reached the top shelf and found a lowly mint-green bottle of an off-brand stain treatment called Soilove (pronounced “soil-love”), I was suspicious that anything so cheap could be any good. Still, I decided to give it a try.

Believe me, I love to find a bargain. But when the bargain brand outperforms its pricey competitors, that really revs my engine.

Why Soilove is a Laundry Essential

Soilove is such an amazing product. It removes stains from laundry like you can’t believe. I’ve used Soilove to get out new stains, old stains, red stains, grass stains, baby stains, food stains, blood stains, makeup stains, pet stains, and every other kind of stain imaginable—except for yellow mustard. For some reason, yellow mustard remains undefeated.

Soilove has rescued so many things for me, I cannot imagine my life without it.

While its main job is tackling laundry stains, I’ve discovered countless other uses for Soilove over the years. But just a heads-up: Frank Kagarakis, the owner of America’s Finest Products, Inc. in Santa Monica, Calif., and manufacturer of Soilove (yes, it’s made in the USA), tells me that the only approved use for Soilove is to apply it to washable fabrics to remove stains. (And NEVER to remove a yellow mustard stain!) That’s all. He doesn’t endorse, acknowledge, or promote any other uses, and neither do I officially. But between us, it’s pretty amazing stuff!

Unconventional Uses for Soilove Beyond Clothes

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let me share some creative ways I use Soilove—completely unofficial but totally effective and without any negative results.

Jewelry

Want your fine jewelry to sparkle like new? Soak it in Soilove, then gently brush it with an old toothbrush. A quick note of caution: Never use this on pearls, opals, or other soft stones. Stick to the sturdy gems and metals for this hack.

Bathtub

Fiberglass and porcelain tubs can be a pain to clean, but Soilove makes it a breeze. Just spray it on, let it sit for a bit, then scrub away the grime. You’ll be left with a sparkling clean tub that looks brand new.

Sticky label removed

Is there anything more annoying than those stubborn labels that won’t come off? Spray Soilove on the label, let it sit for a few minutes, and watch it peel right off without a struggle.

Hubcaps and chrome

For shiny, spotless hubcaps and chrome, spray on Soilove, scrub gently with a cloth or soft brush, and rinse. Your car will look like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

Patio furniture

Outdoor furniture can get grimy fast, but Soilove melts away dirt and grime like magic. Spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, scrub if necessary, and rinse. Your patio will be ready for summer barbecues in no time.

Where to Buy Soilove

Product Image - SOILOVE 1 Gallon Laundry Soil-Stain Remover Liquid for Clothes

Soilove 1 Gallon Laundry Soil-Stain Remover Liquid for Clothes

Back in the day, I snagged a 16-oz bottle of Soilove for just $0.79 at my local supermarket. Soilove is still available today if you know where to look. It remains a staple at 99 Cents Only stores in California and Arizona. These days, readers have spotted it at their local dollar stores and Walmart.

GOOD NEWS UPDATE: Soilove is now available pretty much nationwide. America’s Finest Products Inc., based in California, manufacturer of Soilove, has been acquired by Awesome Products Inc., also based in California (Does that ring a bell? Yes! That’s the same company that manufacturers our top pick for cleaning grout—LA’s Totally Awesome Cleaner still just $1.25 at retail stores.)

According to Awesome Products, Soilove is now available at these retailers: Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Superior Grocers, Food4Less, 99 Cents Only, El Tapatio Markets, Northgate Markets, Unified Grocers, Deal$, Four Seasons General Merch, KVmartco, and JC Sales.

For those who love the convenience of online shopping, Amazon offers a variety of options: You can get Soilove by the gallon, in packs of bottles, and even in handy spray bottles. If you’re particularly frugal, a case of Soilove can last you a couple of years, making it a true domestic miracle worker. So, keep an eye out and stock up—you won’t regret it!

Maximize Your Soilove with This Simple Tip

Product Image - Plastic Spray Bottle (4 Pack, 24 Oz, All-Purpose) Heavy Duty Spraying Bottles

Heavy Duty 24 Oz Plastic Spray Bottles, 4 Pack

One last thing: transfer Soilove into your own spray bottle. Trust me, it will last much longer and you’ll use it more efficiently. The original product bottle doesn’t have a spray nozzle, so if you pour it directly onto stains, you’ll waste a lot of this precious product. You only need to saturate the stain, not the entire item, for Soilove to work its magic.

I use these heavy duty spray bottles, and they work perfectly.

Believe me, you’re going to love Soilove—still Made in the USA!

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Soilove Laundry Stain Remover Spray – 3 pack of 22oz bottles – Powerful Prewash for Blood, Grease, Ink, Grass, Food, & More – Powerful Spot Remover for Clothes
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Save $1.00 Uineko Plastic Spray Bottle (4 Pack, 24 Oz, All-Purpose) Heavy Duty Spraying Bottles Leak Proof Mist Empty Water Bottle for Cleaning Solution Planting Pet with Adjustable Nozzle and Measurements
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$13.97 $12.97
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Question: What’s the toughest stain you’ve ever had to get out of your clothes? Did you find a solution that worked? Share your tips and tricks.

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46 replies
  2. Sandra says:

    I bought a bottle several years ago and it did not get out any stains I tried it on. I was in the dollar store last week and thought I’d try it again. Still does not seem to do anything. I like OxyClean MaxForce. Gets out nearly every stain I’ve used it on.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Sorry to hear this Sandra. Make sure you are using it as instructed on the label! It is made for organic stains (ketchup, wine, grass stains, etc.) Never use it on mustard however! I think that warning is still on the label.

      Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      I hear you there, Colleen. Soilove is magical on organic stains. And you have to let it sit on that stain for awhile before laundering. Those who insist it does not work are simply not using it as intended!

      Reply
  4. Debra Bennett says:

    I’ve been using soilove since 1985. You say EXCEPT for yellow mustard. WRONG!! My friend a daughter dropped a hot dog full of mustard on here WHITE frilly skirt. I poured soilove on it in a bag and the next morning I went to clean it, thinking I would need bleach, but not a yellow stain was on there. I clean tubs, blinds, carpet, driveways, rims, and everything else you said. Trick is too pour full strength, let set, put way water on it, turn cloth inside out and scrub stain. Heck, it even kills head lice. I just wished I get gallons in Kentucky like I could back in Calf.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      I’ve been trying to reach the company as well. What I have learned is that the company was sold and no longer deals direct on a retail level. Soilove’s major distribution is to hospitals, restaurants, and hotels. I’ve had a couple reports from readers in California that Soilove is no longer available at my beloved 99 Cents Only store. Times are changing, for sure. Soilove continues to be available on Amazon. Hope that hel;ps.

      Reply
  7. Nancy A Gallegos says:

    Hi Mary,
    I am fairly new to your column but enjoying it tremendously. I was wondering if it could be used on a red stain on the carpet?
    Thanks for your answer.

    Reply
  10. Ruby Leigh says:

    So glad I saw this my mom use to use to get our stains out and for 1$ it crazy how good it works…going to 99 cent store today

    Reply
  11. Kenneth Kellogg says:

    Was just looking for another 1/2 dozen bottles of Soilove at our local .99 Cent store oday, but it’s gone. Does anyone know of another chain store (not Amazon) that sells it?

    Reply
    • Adrienne says:

      I’m another user of more than 30 years! Statner Bros Markets, in So. California, carry single bottles for current price of $1.99. I have only used it on a variety of laundry stains, saturating each stain (never rubbing) while filling the washing machine. For old stains, soak Soilove treated laundry overnight. (I use laundry soap, whiteners &/or washing powder for the soak.) Mary Hunt, thanks so much for this article! To Mary & the many commenters, thank you for the many new uses. Having just bought a new HE washing machine, I was on the “hunt” for a newer stain remover. I shall look no further…my decades-long opinion of stellar Soilove has been confirmed & I look forward to trying the many new uses!

      Reply
  13. Nicole Celli says:

    You should be embarrassed. If you are not going to read the articles in their entirety, then at least have the decency to not make accusations against people without having all facts.

    Reply
    • Kayloni Wong says:

      The way my mom taught me is to get the stained item (that is washable) and put the soil love onto the stain and scrub it together then once your ready throw it into the washer and u should be good

      Reply
    • Sam says:

      You’re right, there is a huge benefit to including soil ĺove with a load of laundry. For us, it literally preserves the vibrance of color and actually appears to restore colors, even, of your already dimmed colored clothes. It is recommended that a half bottle be used in each load of laundry. It really does work miracles similar to the stain fighting.

      Reply
    • Gary Moore says:

      It will take two year old Ink stains out of your carpet !!! Without discoloring Your carpet color … I also have a barbecue next to my stucco wall which had eight years of smoking build up on it .. a completely blackend wall !!!! and it took it right off After soaking it for 10 minutes!!! I tried gasoline and a push broom and gasoline would not even budge it !! This stuff works on everything !!! Best stuff on the planet by far!!!

      Reply
  19. LasVegasNative says:

    I agree with this post. Been using it since the 1980s. Had a hard time finding it in recent years, then found it on Amazon. Bought bottles for all my friends. I told my friends to find something with an old stain and to try it out. Both reported old stain GONE! Not sure why it is not on every shelf in every store…it is the best stain remover out there. My dog recently vomited on my white comforter. I took 50% bleach and 50% water in a spray bottle, and nothing happened. I sprayed Oxy Clean on it, rubbed it and rubbed it, nothing. I received the Soil Love in the mail and put it directly on the stain. I rubbed the material together, thinking that would help it until I got to Laundry Mat to wash over sized bedding. Days later when making the bed, I realized the stain was no were to be found! I have loved his stuff for over 30 years.

    Reply
  21. pennynibbelin says:

    Should I use it full strength or half water in my spray bottle? I did use it full strength on a stain on my husband’s yellow t-shirt, and it took alot of the yellow out. I hope he doesn’t notice.
    Suggestions?

    Reply
    • Susie says:

      Never soak in soilove just pour it on and toss in washer. I’ve even poured a whole bottle in dirty truck driver clothes!

      Reply
  22. Andrea C. Wirt says:

    I want to order Soilove but am discouraged by the comments about leakage in shipping and not receiving the correct number of bottles. Has this improved any?

    Reply
  23. ABC says:

    All I got when I clicked on the link was some kind of search page about bathroom remodeling. I even typed the url in by hand and got the same thing!

    Reply
    • Raqs says:

      I was able to get to the website and they were even thanking Mary about that.
      Best unofficial uses for Soilove as shown on www.cheapskatemonthly.com.

      Thanks to Mary Hunt of Debt Proof Living for these great unofficial uses of Soilove.

      Reply
  24. Annamarie says:

    Mary, I have been trying to locate the product Soilove. Dollar store does not sell it. On line the cost is $14 and up. Cannot locate a retailer and cost of .99??
    HELP!

    Reply
  27. PH says:

    I started using Soilove quite a few years ago (~8) when I read about on your column. Fortunately, I don’t have to use it very often so the 6 bottles I bought from a former source (I think Soaps Gone Buy) have lasted me this long. However, I now need it again and am glad to know it’s available on Amazon, even if it’s in a quantity that will likely last a decade for me 🙂

    Reply
  28. Deb says:

    So you are here now, in Colorado? Remember you have an open invitation to come to Fort Collins for coffee!!

    I do have a question though. Have you found Soilove at any of the stores here?

    Reply
  30. Mary says:

    I also use this as my first line of defense to remove stains. I just put a pin hole in the cover that come over the spout. I make sure that it alines with the small hole in the cap.

    Reply
  31. Kate Glover says:

    I have used Soilove joyfully ever since I first read about it here. I collect a lot of great stuffed animals from Goodwill for our local hospice. They always go through the washer and dryer before I take them to hospice. A lot of them have stains of mysterious origins. Before they go in the washer, regardless of their material make-up, they get a good brushing with Soillove. I’ve taken out old coffee stains, marker names, grease, tire tracks, and literally everything I tried it on has been removed beautifully, usually in one washing. It is such a thrill to be able to donate a beautiful clean high-price stuffed animal, such as Gund or Build-a-Bear, to hospice. I’ve told everyone I know about Soilove, I’ve given away bottles to people who really need it, like young mothers. I wish there was a store close to me that carried it, but I don’t mind paying the shipping for such a great product. I cannot imagine being without it.

    Reply

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