A POWERFUL stain remover is a household essential – especially with kids in the mix.
From tomato sauce to mystery smudges of make-up, keeping your whites crisp can feel like a constant battle.
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Stain removers have come a long way in recent years, with some not even needing a washing machine any more. And they are going viral on TikTok.
But which ones actually work – and which are just hype?
Yasmin Harisha sees if the most popular online picks have what it takes.
Here, she puts them to the test versus grass stains, foundation, red wine, coffee, oil, sunscreen, tomato sauce and even marker pen.
Tide To Go stain pen, £12.49 for three, Amazon
PERFECT for your handbag or toiletry kit, this stain remover pen is a lifesaver for quick clean-ups before stains set.
Just shake, uncap, press on to the mark and rub back and forth — and the stain disappears fast.
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It worked brilliantly on every stain I tested, but it is definitely best for smaller spots.
Larger stains are trickier, you will either spend a lot of time scrubbing or end up using multiple pens, which is not exactly budget-friendly.
Still, for everyday mishaps such as make-up smudges or food splashes, it is a handy, travel-friendly option that delivers quick results when you need them.
Best at banishing: Coffee. As long as it is a small amount.
Worst at tackling: Foundation. It ended up smudging the stain into the fabric.
Rating: 2.5/5
Bicarbonate soda, fairy liquid & hydrogen peroxide, £1, any supermarket
WHEN it comes to viral DIY hacks, this one is a classic — and it actually works.
Bicarbonate of soda has been a cleaning staple for years. If you are on a budget and don’t mind a little DIY, it is just as effective as shop-bought options.
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I mixed 1 tbsp of bicarb, 1 tbsp of washing-up liquid and 2 tbsp of hydrogen peroxide into a smooth paste. I applied to the stain then let it sit for 15 minutes (longer for tougher stains), then gently scrubbed with a soft brush, rinsed, and washed.
It works but I prefer something ready-made and less labour intensive.
Best at banishing: Sunscreen. You could see it working instantly.
Worst at tackling: Marker pen. It needed to be soaked still.
Rating: 3.5/5
Stain-removing wipes, £1.25, Marks & Spencer
IF you need a quick, on-the-go fix, this stain remover is a game-changer.
The wipes come in a compact, sleek packet that slips easily into your handbag, perfect for tackling fresh stains in a pinch.
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From tomato sauce and oil to a splash of red wine or a smudge of blusher, it is your go-to solution.
Parents who usually reach for baby wipes might find this a serious upgrade — and it is affordable, too.
However, there is one caveat.
For larger or older stains that have set in, you will likely need something a bit more heavy duty.
Best at banishing: Oil but you need to act quickly.
Worst at tackling: Grass stains. This took some elbow grease.
Napisan non bio stain remover powder, £4.50, Morrisons
A LONG-TIME parenting staple, this germ-killing powder (99.9 per cent of germs, to be exact) has recently become a hit for stains on socks and trainers.
It works best when you soak laundry in warm water mixed with the powder before tossing it in the washing machine.
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Personally, I wasn’t impressed.
It didn’t do much for foundation stains while other marks left behind faint traces. Grass stains were barely touched.
It has a lovely, fresh scent but its stain-fighting power felt average.
Great for general freshness, just don’t expect miracles on tougher stains.
Best at banishing: Oil, but be sure to soak it.
Worst at tackling: Grass stains.
WINNER: Wipe Out stain remover spray £5.50, Homecare Essentials
THIS spray is the gold standard of stain removers. It doesn’t just lift stains from clothes, it doubles as a powerful multi-surface cleaner.
While it didn’t completely erase an extra-dark foundation mark, it made serious progress and I’m sure a second go would do the trick.
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The best part? It is super affordable.
Just a few spritzes, wait 30 seconds and you are set. It tackles everything from grease and grime to biro, coffee and even blood.
Plus, it works on almost anything — fabric, wood, metal, glass, stone, vinyl, ceramics, you name it.
Best at banishing: Marker pen — one of the toughest stains to remove!
Worst at tackling: Wine. It needed to be put in the washing machine for it to vanish completely.
Rating: 4.5/5
Scrubology stain remover soap, £7.99, scrubology.co.uk
I HAD high hopes for this stain remover after TikTok kept serving it up, with cleaning fans calling it the “best ever”.
You are meant to wet the stain, wet the bar, scrub until it foams, then soak the item by hand or pop it in the wash.
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But for me, it wasn’t that simple.
Despite plenty of elbow grease, it barely foamed.
It felt like nothing was really happening.
Honestly, I think a regular bar of soap might have done a better job.
This one just did not live up to the hype.
Best at banishing: Tomato sauce but only if it was a tiny splatter.
Worst at tackling: Foundation. It was the toughest stain across the board, but this soap didn’t even make a dent.
Rating: 1/5
Can a mini washing machine save you cash?
OFTEN spotted on social media, the intriguing Taylor & Brown portable washing machine (£29.99, Amazon/B&Q) was a bit of a puzzle to figure out.
Mums online are praising it as the perfect solution for family holidays and the convenience of quickly cleaning the kids’ clothes without needing to run a full load.
It uses just one-twentieth of the water required by a standard washing machine and, according to Precision Appliance Leasing, a portable washing machine typically uses between 0.2 to 1 kWh per load, whereas traditional machines can consume 1 to 2 kWh or more. With energy costs soaring, this machine sounds a smart, choice.
That said, the instructions left a lot to be desired as they were poorly translated and missing key details. You fill it with water, though there’s no clear fill line so it is a bit of guessing game, then add detergent and clothes. It doesn’t heat the water, so best to add warm water from the tap.
Its compact size limits it to one or two tops or smaller items such as underwear – I found overfilling causes spillage and bouncing.
It has a touch screen and offers a ten-minute cycle, a two-minute cycle, or just a spin option. But clothes come out soaking wet and could take days to dry. Plus I found it frustrating that the clothes don’t come out properly washed and I often put them into a regular washing machine afterwards, which defeats the purpose entirely.
It could be handy for washing underwear while camping. But, for me, it wasn’t worth the money saved.
