Mia O'Hare tested two popular stain removers on a white T-shirt with tomato sauce stains to see which performed best. She used Vanish PowerGel Stain Remover and Astonish Oxy Active Fabric Stain Remover, comparing ease of use, price, and effectiveness.
The Products
Vanish PowerGel comes in a 200ml bottle costing £4 at Asda. It promises to remove stains like grass, mud, and olive oil in 30 seconds. The gel is squeezed from a bottle with textured circles for rubbing into stains. It is safe for colours and whites but not for dry-clean-only items.
Astonish Oxy Active Fabric Stain Remover comes in a 750ml bottle priced at £1.50 from Heron. It claims to be tough on stains yet gentle on fabrics and works instantly. It cannot be used on dry-clean-only items or delicates like wool, silk, suede, and leather.
The Test
Both products were applied to separate tomato sauce stains on the same white T-shirt. For Vanish, she squeezed the gel onto the stain, rubbed it in with the bottle's texture, and left it for five minutes before washing. She noted that a lot of gel came out, spreading to areas around the stain.
For Astonish, she sprayed both sides of the fabric, and the liquid fizzed on contact. She let it work for up to five minutes, then washed normally. The spray covered the stain with just a couple of sprays, without spreading.
Results and Verdict
Both products completely removed the stains after washing. Astonish was the clear winner due to lower cost and easier application. The Astonish bottle contains 550ml more product than Vanish and is £2.50 cheaper. O'Hare found the spray easier to direct and less wasteful, whereas the Vanish gel spread beyond the stain and onto her hands. In her opinion, Astonish provides better value, is more convenient, and works just as well.
