I was determined to get my England shirt back to its former glory in time for the World Cup, so I put Dr Beckmann and Elbow Grease stain removers to the test.
The Problem with White Clothing
I try my best to avoid wearing white clothing because, without fail, I will manage to spill, pour or splatter something on myself. Every single white or pale garment I own has fallen victim to my own clumsiness at some point.
Naturally, with the World Cup now officially under way, it felt only right to dig out my retro England '90 shirt for the occasion. It had already made an appearance a few weeks earlier when I found myself at the London Stadium for the 20th anniversary of Soccer Aid (where England won, naturally). However, I made a rather costly error at the end of the evening.
Rather than removing my makeup straight away upon getting home, I was absolutely shattered and pulled the shirt straight off. The consequences of my actions were immediately staring me in the face.
Plastered across the pristine white collar were two very obvious foundation stains of the distinctly orange variety. As a woman approaching 30, I know it's a rookie mistake and I really should have known better.
Testing the Stain Removers
A standard run through the washing machine made precious little difference. Instead of red, white and blue, it was now orange, white and blue.
I had been hearing plenty of buzz about Dr Beckmann products being amongst the finest on the market, along with several colleagues having great results with Elbow Grease products. I was absolutely determined to restore my England shirt to its former glory ahead of England's World Cup campaign.
At Waitrose, I spotted the Dr Beckmann Stain Devils Pre-Wash on offer for £2.75, reduced from £3.30, so I decided to put it to the test. On one side of the collar, I tried the Dr Beckmann Pre-Wash, while on the other I tested the Elbow Grease Stain Remover Bar (picked up for £1 at Poundland).
Dr Beckmann Pre-Wash Results
The instructions were straightforward enough. Simply apply the Dr Beckmann Pre-Wash directly to the stain and leave it to soak for 10 minutes, before putting the shirt through a standard wash cycle. The rubber bristles made application effortless, particularly when working the product deep into the makeup stain. I could hardly believe my eyes - the foundation appeared to vanish almost immediately.
Elbow Grease Stain Remover Bar Results
Applying the Elbow Grease bar, on the other hand, proved somewhat more fiddly. First, dampen the stain with cold water, then rub the bar directly onto it. The exact composition of the Elbow Grease product was difficult to determine - it resembles an industrial-strength soap. Yet each time I rubbed with a bit of force, the edges of the bar began to crumble, leaving me unsure whether it was truly doing its job. Rubbing away for several minutes felt rather pointless, but as it also needed a spin in the washing machine, I had to hold my breath for the final verdict.
Final Verdict
The results were absolutely worth the wait. The moment I pulled the shirt from the washing machine, I hastily unfolded the collar to check whether those stubborn foundation stains had finally met their match. Absolutely nothing. The stains had vanished completely from the shirt, restoring the white fabric to its former brilliance.
I had my doubts about the Elbow Grease bar, but it was clear my concerns were unfounded. Both products, despite their different designs and methods of application, delivered precisely what they promised. Much like Ronseal, they did exactly what they said on the tin. For those who are a little apprehensive, the Dr Beckmann Pre Wash offered near-instant results. That said, the outcomes speak for themselves. These two products may well have brought my shirt back to its original condition. Now all that is left is for England to bring it home.
