Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Laundry Detergents? Which ones truly get rid of tomato stains.

21 replies

temmy99 · 29/08/2007 23:24

Nothing I use tend to get rid of tomato stains or any food stains for that matter off my children's clothes, I pre-treat with Vanish but its still there. Persil non-bio? fairy non-bio? I give up, are you having better luck out there? Please let me in on your secret to 'clean' washing.

This thread is a bit old now, so if you have landed here looking for recommendations, we have recently updated our best laundry detergents round-up, featuring products tried, tested and recommended by Mumsnetters.
We hope you find this useful.
MNHQ Flowers

OP posts:
battlestar · 29/08/2007 23:25

none
bleach and strong sunlight may help fade it, but the only sure fire way of getting rid of thestains, is ditching the clothes

bookthief · 29/08/2007 23:27

Washing with at a very high temp does the job sometimes when nothing else will. Obviously you run the risk of ruining the clothes but it's better than binning them.

bookthief · 29/08/2007 23:27

Washing with? Well, washing with anything really as I think it's the temp that does the job.

BecauseImWorthIt · 29/08/2007 23:37

The minute you spot the stain, put some neat washing up liquid on to it, then wash as normal. Usually does the trick.

Dabbles · 29/08/2007 23:43

watching this thread!so many of dds clothes riuned by spag bol! (and also raw red peppers )

Washersaurus · 29/08/2007 23:54

I haven't found anything to remove set tomato stains, but my mum did give me some 'Tide' instant eraser pens which successfully removed fresh stains like magic.

Sadly, you can't buy them in the UK - I will have to ask her to send me some more over from America

bookthief · 29/08/2007 23:57

Now the real trick is removing those black specks caused (I think) by banana. Several of ds's tops look like they've got mildew due to dh's apparent disdain for bibs.

Aitch · 29/08/2007 23:59

pear, by god... who would have thought pear could wreck a t-shirt? am putting this on my watched list.

controlfreakyonholiday · 30/08/2007 00:01

biotex is truly miraculous

Seona1973 · 30/08/2007 10:12

I buy a little tin of DE-SOLV-IT stain remover and it is great at getting out orangey stains. It is about £3/£4 for a small tin but it is worth it as it really works (and you dont have to leave the clothes to soak for hours either) I never found vanish or any of the other stain removers to work. The only downside is that it stinks!! I got mine in Morrisons

De-Solv-It

Original poster
temmy99 · 30/08/2007 21:39

bump

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 30/08/2007 21:59

Which Vanish product are you using? The oxy stuff doesn't shift them, but my current routine is to spray with Whizz oxy, leave for half an hour, then scrub with one of the vanish soap blocks (these work sooooooo much better than the powdered stuff, but are more hassle to do), then soak in the vanish oxy stuff, then wash (at 40 degrees with ecover non-bio for me).

This has shifted even really really bad stains lately.

Seona1973 · 30/08/2007 22:20

forgot to say I dont use non-bio for mine or my kids clothes. Biological powder plus the spray works miracles

helenelisabeth · 30/08/2007 22:21

I bleach any clothes of DD's overnight. Dilute the bleach in warm water and soak, then wash in the machine as normal. This includes whites and coloureds. You can only really do it once or twice as it will wear away at the fabric but I have got most stains out of her clothes doing it this way.

Milliways · 30/08/2007 22:22

Agree with DeSolvIt, It is FAB & got black oil out of trousers!

Curry, tomatoes, all goes!

Dannie · 30/08/2007 22:24

Sunlight bleaches tomato stains. Honest.

Jenkeywoo · 30/08/2007 22:30

I've found that persil small and mighty liquid on a 60 degree wash actually does work - vanish is useless as a spray,it's all in the scrubbing. MIL recommended old fashioned fairy soap which I rub on and scrub in with my finger nails.

clumsymum · 30/08/2007 22:38

I have found Vanish an utter waste of money, it makes b-all difference.

I find that the best way to get stains out (inc. tomato-y sauces like my bolognese) is ....
1 Buy a good quality Biological detergent
2 Put the stained things in your washer with 1 and a half times the recommended dosage of detergent (e.g. 3 tablets instead of 2)
3 switch on the washer, at least a 40 degree cycle, hotter if you can (or dare). After about 15 - 20 mins, when the washer has warmed up the water, switch off your machine, and leave everything to soak in it, at least 2 hrs, pref overnight.
4 Switch the machine back on. It will reheat the water and complete the cycle.

This should get most stuff out of cotton/polycotton type fabrics.

Generally, if it's still stained after this, give up and bin it.

Jenkeywoo · 31/08/2007 09:01

clumsy mum, that is a cool idea about switching off the machine to leave it all to soak - I'm going to try it. Unfortunatley can't use bio stuff as it flares up dd's eczema but I have persil non-bio really quite good so will give it a go with that.

clumsymum · 31/08/2007 10:28

Jenhkey

Only bio stuff will shift the stains.

I'd use bio to get the stains out, then immediately rewash again in non bio before letting dc wear it.

Original poster
temmy99 · 31/08/2007 12:15

wow, this is amazing, how did i manage without mn!! Thanks ladies, keep them coming.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread