I was looking at the ranking of oxygen-based bleaches, and it turns out that different products are better at removing different types of stains. Many are strong against wine stains and mud stains, but almost all of them fail when it comes to foundation stains—an odd result. Personally, I was interested in the number one product, Kurashi no Sanso-kei Biorachie (Miyoshi Soap). It’s a powder type that, when soaked, can significantly whiten wine, mud, and egg stains. It costs around 345 yen and is convenient because it can be used not only on clothes but also on dishes and cutting boards. The second-place product, Saraya’s Arau, features a scent made from 100% natural aroma oils and is suitable for baby products. It’s written that it can make wine stains completely white even without soaking. The third-place product, Kao’s Wide Haiter PRO Antibacterial Liquid, is a liquid type with four times the antibacterial ingredients. It’s said to also eliminate musty odors from damp laundry. It’s strong against wine and mud stains but appears to be weak against egg and foundation stains. Looking at the oxygen-based bleach rankings, it’s clear that whether you soak or not makes a big difference in the results. Since many stains can’t be removed with laundry alone, soaking stubborn stains for 30 minutes to an hour seems to be the key. Foundation stains are generally hard to remove, so people with many such stains might need to consider other methods.