The best stain removers for clothes

With over 1,000 five-star ratings, this US favourite takes the top spot as the best stain remover to buy right now. It contains stain-fighting ingredients to break up and remove tough stains, just apply to the affected area, rub it in, wait for a few minutes and then pop it in the washing machine. If you have a particularly bad stain, you can leave it overnight to work its magic.

Review: "I was very pleased to see the containers are made from recycled plastic. Well done. The spray dealt with stains very efficiently and so I am happy with that. Many thanks."

If you'd like an on-the-go stain remover, these wipes will go to work as soon as the spillage happens. Whether that's coffee on the carpet or red wine in the restaurant, you can act quickly and remove the stain before it has time to settle.

Review: "Have only tested one wipe so far! Coffee spilt on carpet. Having soaked up most of the liquid I then used a stain remover wipe on the stained area. I cannot now even see where the coffee was spilt. Fantastic!"

Suitable for use on food, grease, dirt, drinks, cosmetics and more, this stain remover not only works hard but smells great too. It'll even work on delicate fabrics like silk, wool and cashmere.

Review: "Have been using Ace for years now. Mainly use it for silk blouses (for my wife's work uniform) and the occasional work shirt. Thought we'd snap this up when it came available (a new fragrance that smells nice) and has the same reliable results as the original. Would have recommended this anyway (and already have done multiple times) for delicate laundry."

Vanish is known for its stain-removing prowess, and this Oxi Action Powder is one of the top products to buy. You can pre-treat or soak your fabrics before washing or add a scoop to every wash for great results every time.

Review: "Bought this due to the pricepoint- cheaper than the gold or platinum versions. I was dubious as to whether it would actually work to remove the stains from spag bol and curry on my white t-shirts but thought it was worth a try. The stains were pretty baked in- and the items had been washed normally which had set the stains, so I thought the tops were destined for the bin. Luckily, after pretreating the stain as per the instructions and popping into the wash (normal 40-degree wash) My t-shirts came out like new! No more sauce stains.

"I have also used this to wash pillows and towels, and it has restored them to their former whiteness- no grey washed out colours in sight. I am a convert, and will definitely be buying this again."

If you need to use non-bio for sensitive skin or for children's clothes, Fairy's stain removing powder is a great bet. It's independently tested and clinically proven to be suitable for people with sensitive skin, and easily tackles stains on both whites and colours.

Review: "I was really sceptical about ordering it… I used spray from Fairy [before] and it was awesome but is nowhere to [be found] right now. I hate putting clothes in water with stain remover first so it’s not my cup of tea, but my friend told me she buys powder and just put a scoop in the washing machine without soaking it before, so I gave it a try. I am glad I did. All my kids' clothes are nice and clean without much effort."

Astonish is a budget brand, but that doesn't mean its products are of lower quality. These stain remover bars are a handy spot-on treatment - all you need to do is wet the spot, apply the bar to both sides of the fabric, rinse it well and blot dry with a towel.

Review: "Best stain remover I've ever had. Even takes out false tan on shirts, first time I've found something that actually works. Even took wine stain off my carpet."

On the hunt for an eco-friendly stain remover? This plant-based option from Ecover is suitable for whites and colours and comes with a brush applicator to really tackle those tough stains.

Review: "Amazing stain remover not only on my kids' clothes but the back of my sofa. Gets even the dirtiest of the kids' socks clean. Really happy with my purchase. Definitely be buying more. The best part about this product is it's cruelty-free and good for the environment with no nasties added."

While this stain remover will happily remove ink, food and grass stains from your kids' clothing, it'll also work for your carpets, upholstery and anything else you might need it for - which is especially great if you have pets.

Review: "I have tried many types of stain remover, but this one is definitely the best. The applicator makes it very easy to use. My advice for 'old' stains is to apply the remover to both sides of the fabric and the stains disappear like magic!"

Mrs Hinch fans know all about The Pink Stuff, but have you discovered the stain remover yet? This biological laundry stain remover powder is ideal for use with white clothing, bedsheets and delicates and is cruelty-free, too.

Review: "I absolutely love the pink stuff products so thought I'd try this one for my whites and it's absolutely amazing. Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves the pink stuff products."