Mia O'Hare tested Vanish PowerGel Stain Remover and Astonish Oxy Active Fabric Stain Remover on tomato sauce stains on a white T-shirt. Both products eliminated the marks completely after a normal wash cycle.
The Vanish PowerGel, available in a 200ml bottle for £4 at Asda, is a gel that claims to tackle stains within 30 seconds. Its bottle features a textured cap to work the gel into fabric. The Astonish Oxy Active, purchased from Heron for £1.50 in a 750ml spray bottle, claims to be tough on stains yet gentle on fabrics.
Application and ease of use
Vanish required squeezing gel directly onto the stain and massaging it in circular motions, leaving it for five minutes. The gel dispensed generously and spread beyond the stained area, saturating the fabric heavily. The textured cap helped work the product in but some gel transferred onto hands.
Astonish came as a spray, with instructions to spray both sides of the material. A few sprays covered the stain adequately, and the liquid began fizzing on contact. It was left for up to five minutes before washing. The spray bottle allowed precise targeting without waste.
Results and value
After the wash, both treated areas emerged completely stain-free. Despite leaving the T-shirt stained for several days, neither product struggled to remove the marks.
Despite equal effectiveness, one product stood out. Astonish cost £1.50 for 750ml versus £4 for 200ml of Vanish, a £2.50 difference. The spray format wasted less product and was easier to aim. O'Hare concluded that Astonish offers better value, easier application, and identical stain removal results.
