My mom is a diehard OxiClean fan. I thought about her while watching the Discovery Channel’s documentary series “PitchMen,” which features OxiClean’s former spokesman Billy Mays. Mays, who was born William Darrell Mays, Jr. in 1958, died last year after serving as the face of OxiClean and Orange Glo for years.
Mays’ hyper personality helped sell a ton of OxiClean, and while his impassioned sales pitch may have generated a lot of attention to the cleaning product, its ability to erase stains on its own is what keeps it a bestseller.
From organic stains, such as ketchup, ink and mud to tougher grease and grime marks, OxiClean is quite good at erasing stains and getting laundry whiter and brighter. The success of the product is illustrated by the number of knockoffs there are. These days the market is flooded with various cleaners with the word “oxy” or “oxi” in them. Oxy Clean, Oxyclean, Oxi Clean or Oxiclean, all contain the same basic ingredients that help eliminate stains and odors from a number of household objects.
According to the back of the container, OxiClean is most effective in removing stains from carpets and upholstery; eliminating pet urine stains and odors; treating blood, juice, wine and coffee stains on clothing; deodorizing laundry; and getting rid of mold, mildew and other organic stains from cotton-based fabrics.
The secret to the product’s success is in the chemical make-up. According to OxiClean’s website, the main ingredients in the popular home cleaner are:
Sodium percarbonate: Basically a mixture of eco-friendly sodium carbonate (a white powder) and hydrogen peroxide.
Soda ash: Also known as sodium carbonate, soda ash or washing soda, the ingredient is commonly used in cleaning products. It’s derived from plant ashes and can also be produced from traditional table salt. It’s highly effective in removing grease, oil, and alcohol stains.
Detergents: Standard detergents that flush dirt and grime from an item once they are loosened by the aforementioned ingredients.
According to the folks at OxiClean, since the product’s ingredients are natural, they are safe for the environment, septic systems, and delicate fabrics.