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A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting nursing a Greek wrap at Wilderness festival, only to discover that I'd unwittingly dripped juice all down a beloved – and relatively new – summer dress. With no washing machine to hand, all I could do was frantically scrub at the stain under the tap with some hand soap and pray that a proper spin when I returned home three days later would be enough to restore it to glory. Spoiler: it wasn’t. To my chagrin, I must now accept that if I am to wear this dress again, it will be with an accompanying grease mark. Not the chicest look.
Things could have been different. Or, at the very least, I could have done more. Namely, I could have discovered these stain wipes pre-chicken wrap rather than post. A pained Google search to help me avoid further heartbreak brought these clever soap wipes to my consciousness. Coincidentally, they’re created by the same brand that makes the magic ironing spray that drops creases from your clothes – another of my must-pack items when travelling.
These wipes are designed to banish all the main culprits from fabrics and shoes, including wine, sauces, oils and vibrantly coloured food. They’re individually wrapped and require no rinsing, so you can pop a couple in your handbag and be ready to immediately spring into action when the inevitable happens. At £8.50 for 10, they’re relatively pricey, but this sub-£10 investment does admittedly work out much cheaper than having to replace red wine-splashed shirts.
Thankfully, I haven’t had reason to use these wipes on my clothes yet. However, I gave them a whirl on a pair of dingy white trainers. I was impressed with how saturated they are; they foamed up nicely upon use, which reassured me that when my next gluttonous mishap occurs, there’ll be a decent chance of actually saving my garment before it’s too late.
As a shopping journalist, I always like to test a product properly before recommending it. While I can’t vouch that these stain wipes will vanquish every unwanted mark just yet, I still think they’re a handy buy. Much like the seasickness bands I purchased after my first cruise, they represent one of those preventive products it's good to have in your tote to ensure you're prepared when away – and something I’d like to share with readers so you can avoid my same missteps.
Next time I’m away, I’ll be as prepared as I possibly can be to care for my clothes, and for that reason, I think they’re a worthy investment. You can purchase these stain wipes from Victoria Health.