Stains are gone in a flash. (Tesco Stain Remover)

Member Name: jo@145

Product:	Tesco Stain Remover
Date:	28/01/09 (206 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Removes stains from washing

Disadvantages: Care needed as irritant

Whilst on holiday several years ago in Canada, my husband went underneath the cottage where we staying to help a friend with some work, his jeans, new for our holiday were awful. Mud, oil, grease etc, but my friend said don't worry it will wash! In Canada they have huge washing machines and sure enough after a magic spray and wash, a time in the tumble drier his jeans looked immaculate. So I realised I had to find a similar product and used a well known brand of stain remover since then, but a few months ago as we are pensioners I decided to try Tesco's own product which was nearly half the price and especially now that the dreaded "Credit Crunch" has hit us! A 500ml bottle cost 98p compared with £1.94.

It comes in a white plastic spray bottle, blue spray nozzle and trigger and a blue, red and white label, nothing special but then it's what is inside that is important.

The directions for use say turn the nozzle to the ON position and spray the stain evenly with the Pre-treatment stain remover. Then wash immediately at the highest recommended temperature. After use, return the nozzle to the OFF position, this prevents any accidental leakage. Simple to use even with fingers that can feel a bit stiff.

You can't use it on silk, wool or non-colour fast fabrics, but otherwise you can use it on the rest of your washing.

It works well on jeans which are heavy weight and has removed grass stains, oil, and emulsion paint. It has lightened but not quite removed blood from a hankie, made shirt collars look clean again and has removed coffee stains from my white towelling dressing gown. I sprayed the oven gloves on Monday and put them into wash as a casserole had bubbled over and stained the gloves, which I admit had got tomato stains on them already from a pizza, it nearly removed all the stains. Fortunately for my table linen, no red wine or beetroot stains to test the product but I would certainly give it a go. I use whatever washing liquid is appropriate either a Bio liquid for whites or a Colour liquid for the colours and normally a 40 degree wash if there are stains, although otherwise I have been reducing to 30 as the washing liquids recommend.

Amongst the ingredients is Limonene, which seems to be appearing in a lot of products now. It is a solvent which is used for cleaning purposes and is a by product from orange juice manufacture. Limonene is a skin and respiratory irritant, so care must be taken to avoid contact with the eyes and to use in a well ventilated space. I obviously didn't sniff it even for review purposes, but you can notice a citrus smell.

This product should be stored carefully and especially out of the reach of children.

I think it is every bit as good as the more expensive brand, and will continue to use it.

Summary: Budget stain remover as good as the brand name