Sil is the better stain remover. Stiftung Warentest gave Sil 1 für Alles Grade 2.4 (Good) versus Vanish Oxi Action's Grade 2.7 (Satisfactory) — a full grade tier apart [S1]. Sil also scored better on color protection (1.8 vs 2.3) and fabric safety (1.8 vs 2.1). The chemistry tells the story: Sil combines oxygen bleach with enzymes for broad-spectrum stain removal, while Vanish relies primarily on oxygen bleach alone. At €0.14 per wash vs €0.50, Sil delivers better results at roughly a third of the cost.
Sil vs Vanish: Which Stain Remover Actually Wins?
Head-to-Head Comparison
Key takeaway: Sil dominates across test scores, fabric safety, and cost efficiency. Vanish's only clear advantage is format — its spray requires zero soaking time and works on surfaces you can't submerge. If you can spare 30 minutes for soaking, Sil delivers measurably better results at a fraction of the price.
| Criterion | Sil 1 für Alles | Vanish Oxi Action |
|---|---|---|
| Stiftung Warentest Grade [S1] | 2.4 (Good) ✅ | 2.7 (Satisfactory) |
| Stain Removal Score | 2.3 ✅ | 2.5 |
| Color Protection | 1.8 ✅ | 2.3 |
| Fabric Safety | 1.8 ✅ | 2.1 |
| Active Ingredients [S2] [S3] | Oxygen bleach + proteases + amylases | High-concentration oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) |
| Best Stain Types | Protein stains ✅ (blood, egg, grass, sweat) | Color stains ✅ (wine, berry, curry, dye transfer) |
| Price per Pack | ~€3.50 / 500g ✅ | ~€5.95 / 500ml |
| Price per Wash | ~€0.12–0.18 ✅ | ~€0.40–0.60 |
| Format | Powder (soaking required) | Spray (direct application) ✅ |
| Soak Time | 30–60 minutes | None — spray and wash ✅ |
Active Ingredients: Why Performance Differs
The performance gap comes down to formulation philosophy [S2] [S3]:
Sil 1 für Alles — Enzyme + Bleach Hybrid
Sil uses oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) combined with protease and amylase enzymes. Proteases break down protein-based stains (blood, egg, milk, grass, sweat), while amylases target starch residues. The enzyme action during the 30–60 minute soak gives Sil its edge on organic stains — enzymes need contact time to work.
Vanish Oxi Action — Oxygen Bleach Forward
Vanish relies primarily on higher concentrations of sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach) with surfactants. This bleach-heavy approach is more effective on color-based stains — wine, berry, curry, and dye transfers — where oxidation breaks the chromophore molecules that cause visible color. Less enzyme content means weaker protein stain performance.
Stain-by-Stain: Use Sil for… Use Vanish for…
Key takeaway: Protein stains (anything from a living organism) respond better to Sil's enzyme formula. Color stains (plant pigments, dyes) respond well to Vanish's oxidizing power. For stains that have both protein and color components (like grass), Sil's combined approach gives it the edge.
| Stain Type | Better Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood | Sil ✅ | Proteases break down hemoglobin protein chains [S2] |
| Egg / Milk | Sil ✅ | Protease enzymes dissolve dairy and egg proteins during soak |
| Grass | Sil ✅ | Chlorophyll + protein combination needs enzyme + oxidation |
| Sweat / Body Oils | Sil ✅ | Sebum and protein residues respond to enzymatic breakdown |
| Red Wine | Vanish ✅ | Anthocyanin pigments oxidized by concentrated oxygen bleach |
| Berry (blueberry, raspberry) | Vanish ✅ | Plant pigments break down faster with high-dose oxidation |
| Curry / Turmeric | Vanish ✅ | Curcumin (color molecule) needs strong oxidation to neutralize |
| Dye Transfer | Vanish ✅ | Oxygen bleach targets loose dye molecules directly |
| Coffee / Tea | Either | Tannin stains respond to both enzyme and oxidation approaches |
| Upholstery / Furniture | Vanish ✅ | Can't submerge furniture — spray format is the only practical option |
Verdict: Sil Is the Better Choice for Most Households
Sil wins this comparison. It scores higher in independent testing (Grade 2.4 vs 2.7), protects colors better (1.8 vs 2.3), is safer for fabrics (1.8 vs 2.1), and costs roughly a third per treatment [S1]. For the vast majority of household stain situations — food, grass, blood, sweat, everyday spills — Sil delivers superior results backed by Stiftung Warentest data.
Vanish has a narrow convenience advantage: its spray format is useful for upholstery you can't submerge and for immediate spot treatment when you can't soak. But this convenience comes at 3× the cost per treatment and measurably weaker performance.
Our recommendation: Start with Sil as your primary stain remover. If you find yourself needing a spray for emergencies or furniture, add Vanish as a secondary tool. But Sil should be the foundation of any stain removal toolkit.
Budget Alternative Worth Knowing
If Sil isn't available at your local store, dm Denkmit Fleckensalz scored the same Grade 2.4 in Stiftung Warentest at €1.45 [S1]. It uses a similar enzyme + bleach formula. However, Sil's wider retail availability (dm, Rossmann, REWE, Edeka, Amazon) and Henkel's established quality control make it the more reliable everyday choice. Read the dm Denkmit review →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sil better than Vanish for stain removal?
Yes, overall. Sil scored Grade 2.4 vs Vanish's 2.7 in independent testing [S1]. Sil is especially stronger on protein stains (blood, egg, grass) due to its enzyme content. Vanish performs better on color-based stains like wine and berry, and wins on convenience with its spray format.
What is the price per wash for Sil vs Vanish?
Sil costs approximately €0.12–0.18 per treatment (500g pack at ~€3.50, yielding 25–30 soaking treatments). Vanish Oxi Action spray costs approximately €0.40–0.60 per application (500ml at ~€5.95, yielding 10–15 spray treatments). Sil delivers roughly 3× more treatments per euro [S2] [S3].
Can I use Sil and Vanish together?
Don't mix them in the same solution. You can use them sequentially: spray Vanish for immediate pre-treatment, then soak in Sil solution before machine washing. This two-step approach can tackle stains that have both color and protein components.
Which stain remover is safer for colored fabrics?
Sil is measurably safer. It scored 1.8 for color protection in Stiftung Warentest testing, compared to Vanish's 2.3 [S1]. Sil's balanced enzyme approach is gentler on fabric dyes than Vanish's higher oxygen bleach concentration.