“Everybody is trying to multitask — eating while they commute or having their kids eat on the way to day care. It creates a bunch of interesting problems,” says Harold Baker, a.k.a. Dr. Laundry, a senior scientist with Clorox. As a result, you’re all but guaranteed a ketchup squirt down your shirt.

To put nine of the most popular and portable instant stain removers to the test, Real Simple sullied white cotton T-shirts with the stains mentioned on these pages. While there was no miracle fixer, two standouts did eradicate or noticeably fade a variety of stains.*

Carbona Stain Roller ($5, www.carbona.com) has a convenient, easy-to-use roller head that dispenses an all-natural cleaner. Vigorous rubbing in a circular motion successfully pulled out blood and grass stains.

Shout Wipes Plus ($2.70 at drugstores) are individually wrapped, moist towelettes that give control and prevent oversoaking as you dab at smaller stains.

*With both these products, a paper towel was used underneath each stain, to help absorb it.