To think that "Vanish" contains no stain removing product/ properties whatsoever?

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

And yes, I'm following the instructions.

Was it always this bad? And how did our mothers (ok, or rarely, fathers) get the stains out of our clothes?

DH thinks it would be cheaper and easier to replace their clothes.

Yes, I'm boring. But there's a lot of laundry to do.

[slackcabbage]

Agree that you need to use the old-fashioned Vanish (bars of soap) cold water and plenty of elbow grease. Rarely fails! And in those isolated cases where it does, repeat and wash again. I live abroad so buy the bars in bulk from one of those expat supermarkets.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I love the pink Vanish capsules - got biro off my sofa covers!

[mousmous]

families try soaking over night in cold water + bio powder.

yellow shower curtain - I wash them every time (quick wash) I clean the bathroom on a cold wash, so it doesn't have a chance to fester.

[sleepyhead]

I've never found anything that will remove suncream stains from white clothes, so hoping there are some answers here.

Biological washing powder in a normal wash does the job for grass etc though.

Vinegar for anything to do with limescale.

[bigdeal]

the bars of vanish are really good .

[FamiliesShareGerms]

What do I use for:

1) cricket kit with grass, mud, red leather, sweat and sun cream stains?

2) blue jeans with grass stains?

3) white shower curtain with yellow bottom ( prob linescake induced)?

Thanks!

[MrsCakesPremonition]

I think vanish is brilliant. The powder even removed brunette hair dye from my cream carpet.

[ScrambledSmegs]

Napisan or Biotex for cold soaking. Washing up liquid for grease stains. Bar of plain soap for stubborn stuff. Shout spray for grimy shirt collars and cuffs.

That's pretty much it for me, Vanish is expensive and I've never found it any good.

[FidelineandFumblin]

Another vote for Ace bleach here

[kali110]

Vanish carpet mousse

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

m.tesco.com/mt/www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=252699380

[ChippyMinton]

I must be looking in the wrong place lol. I see it mentioned on MN but have never found it. What's the packaging like?

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

Chippy: all supermarkets stock Ace

[sleepyhead]

You don't need a Vanish stick. As pp have said, the cheapest bar of supermarket hand soap is basically the same thing and will do a good job.

[KoalaDownUnder]

YANBU, it is crap.

I have washed the same white shirt twice now, having sprayed the stain (chocolate, not blood or something FFS!) liberally with Vanish. Stain has barely faded.

[ibbydibby]

Agree with bochead's advice to soak in plain cold water first. Esp good for foody stains. Hot/warm water "sets" the stain, by denaturing the protein in it (or so my home ec flatmates told me) - meaning it is no longer possible to remove. When DCs were babies/toddlers, I used to keep bucket of cold water in bath for this purpose.

[magichandles]

I've just got a curry stain out of a cream top using the Vanish soap bar - I did soak it in cold water first over night though.

The bar Vanish generally works for me as long as I've got it into soak first. Whoever mentioned the old Vanish stick (that they discontinued) is right that it worked as well. The inwash powder is rubbish.

[WitchWay]

I like Vanish liquid - some rubbed in & some in with the wash. Washing-up liquid works as well, rubbed into the stain.

[SaucyJack]

Soaking in Vanish definitely works on newborn baby poo.

[ChippyMinton]

Where can I buy ace bleach please?


Agree about vanish. I find Asda stain remover spray (in a blue bottle) does the job on grass / mud stained sports kit.

[hoppingmad]

Vanish is rubbish. I just dry on the line, keep the item wet until the stain is gone

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

I'd be too embarrassed to leave my period pants on the line though, I'll stick with ace bleach

[pineapplecrush]

I ordered some zeosoft household laundry soap from Lakeland when I was buying a few bits - just to take the amount up to get the free postage - and it's fab. I used it on a white top last week with an old stain and it shifted it, I lather the item up with cold water and wash in machine and not been disappointed yet. Never used a laundry soap before, my Mum always did, Fairy I think?? Been a great discovery, laundry soap.

[mousmous]

even when it's rainng the sun is strong enough to fade stains ime.
you might have to rewash, but just hang it out for a day or two in the rain will make a difference.

[bochead]

Get thee a bucket and learn to soak overnight in COLD water before stains set. Napisan is great for soaking out all kinds of stains from grass to poo.

For pre-wash spot scrubbing & grubby collars
Stardrops from asda - is my go to product
fairy household soap - green bar is what my Mum swears by.
smart price white soap - will do at a pinch.

In the washing machine I like Lidls own brand biological washing detergent. Ariel Gel detergent is good too on stubborn spots

Vanish is utterly useless and a rip off imho.

DS lives in primark joggers and cheap Asda school polos that I dye nice non-schooly colours for him as he's a born again Grot monster. Clothes with a high cotton/natural fibre content are always best as they can be dyed in the machine to cover really bad stains, always worth considering when making expensive purchases.

When doing natural fabric dyeing I use stuff like beetroot and onions with HOT water - the hotter the better. the golden rule is that HOT water sets, and cold water dissipates stains. Never put a badly stained item on a boil wash.