There have been some exceptional advances in cleaning in recent years and this product does seem to have carved out a little niche for itself as a 'must have' in many housewives' kitchen cupboard.

Produced in a unique bright pink coloured container with a screw-off lid, you just cannot miss it on the shelves and with extensive TV advertising, you cannot argue that the brand has done very well for itself, thank you.

That said, and credit where credit is due, a product doesn't achieve this level of success and volume sales without being able to do what it says it does.

Vanish comes in a number of variants. This product under review is the Vanish Oxy Action Stain Remover (Intelligence Plus), a white powder which is to be used in the cleaning of fabrics of various descriptions.

The two main uses are either as an additive along with your usual washing detergent in a load of washing done in the machine - or as a diluted product in which to pre-soak your stained items prior to washing as normal.

In our house we use it primarily as a pre-soak for treating particularly stubborn stains and it has proven effective in doing this. It has to be said however, that we don't present it with huge washing challenges in that, when I am allowed out to play I don't get myself in as much of a mess as I used to - more's the pity. No, I think my wife has swallowed the hype and even she has conceded that she shouldn't really have to use it as standard together with detergent in the washing machine. In so doing, unless your clothes are very dirty, you are acknowledging that the claims made by the manufacturer of your chosen washing detergent provider are invalid.

I would urge anyone using this product to carefully read the detailed instructions re usage. Used incorrectly on the wrong fabrics and you can ruin expensive items. The product contains Sodium Carbonate Peroxyhydrate which is nasty stuff. It is marked as being a harmful substance and you should avoid getting it on your skin or in your eyes.