Stain removers for tomato and ball-point pen

[PlumSykes]

I seem to spend about 30% of my time, and 70% of our income trying to get either tomato or ink stains out of clothing. Anything that I should be trying?

I use a scoop of old fashioned washing soda as a prewash in the machine before a 60 degree wash. 99p from co-op and works a treat on DS's clothes that are all cotton. I've never tried it on anything else.

Dont think you can remove tomato once its dried its sort of set into the fabric and unless its bleachable then I have no hope.

All I have learnt recently is to soak asap.

A lot of people swear by white vinegar, soda crystals, amonia.

Hang things in the sun (OK not a great tip for the Winter but it works a treat in the Summer) The UV bleaches the stain out 9 times out of 10.

agree with poster,i even make my boys take school shirts of if having spag bol

trying that ace bleach this week as seem to have loads of biro on shirts

what hacks me of is these washing powder adverts telling us they remove these stains then a year later say they have improved formula,thought they were sooooooooooo good before why improve,i have yet to find one that really works

they should be done with trades description

you can tell im PMT

Hate to recommend anything from TESCO but their handwash powder is very good on stains if you leave soiled items in a bucket of hot water to soak.It comes in a pink box with red writing.

Tomato stains come out in the sunlight/uv.

I had great success with a Stain Devil after dd1 drew all over the cream sofa in biro (she denied it, but seeing as she had signed her name next to all the stick men I figure I had identified the right culprit).