I Tried that Internet-Famous “Pink Stuff” Cleaner to See if it Can Really Do it All
If you’ve been on TikTok or YouTube in the last few months, you’ve probably stumbled across the Pink Stuff: a British-manufactured cleaning paste and, allegedly, a miracle cure for all the scuffs and stains you can dream up. With its slightly abrasive texture, it’s supposed to gently remove stains from home surfaces, from counters and grout to pots and pans.
That I’d give it a whirl myself wasn’t a question, especially when I realized the stuff has nearly 30,000 reviews on Amazon with a five-star average rating. The first thing I noticed when I tried it out: It feels way more like a goo than a paste (I’m not complaining). My second observation: It smells like perfume. It’s not too strong, but there’s definitely a light, floral scent. If you’re looking for a reliable, cost-effective solution for stains, and you’re not picky about smells and textures? Read on.
I tried the Pink Stuff first on a dirty kitchen backsplash — I’d read it basically erases unsightly water marks and rust from grout. Boy, did it deliver. You can see in the before and after photos that the section where I massaged the Pink Stuff is much whiter than the surrounding areas. Note to self: Tackle the whole backsplash sometime soon!
The Pink Stuff worked like a charm to remove stains from white countertops, too. I just rubbed a bit of the goo on the affected area, allowed it to sit for a minute or two, then buffed it out with a slightly wet microfiber cloth. The food stain on the surface totally disappeared with those few, simple steps. I’ll use it again when I inevitably spill red wine on the counter, and when my kids leave mac and cheese residue all over my white table.
Next, I used The Pink Stuff on a dirty wall. Typically, I use melamine foam (aka Magic Erasers) to clean off scuffs and marks from walls, but recently I’ve noticed the melamine can take off the top layer of paint if you’re not super careful. In hopes of removing a child’s crayon art installation, I dabbed some Pink Stuff on the area, let it sit for like five minutes, then wiped it away with a damp microfiber cloth. Whoa: It was like the crayon art never happened, and all without damaging the paint! I’ll be using this stuff for heavy-lifting jobs on my walls going forward, and saving the Magic Erasers for more durable surfaces.
My only real complaint? The Pink Stuff is a little bit annoying to clean up because it’s so gooey, so you can’t use too much of it. I hate to waste paper towel, but it would be a lot easier to just wipe away the goo and toss it rather than thoroughly rinsing and washing a microfiber cloth, which feels like adding a step. But that minor complaint won’t stop me from whipping this stuff out for future messes — because if there’s anything I love, it’s a lightly-scented, surprisingly effective novelty cleaner.