Stains happen, it's just an unfortunate fact of life. And if you're someone with clumsy tendencies like me, then they tend to happen pretty frequently.

My clothes have seen it all, from red wine to pasta sauce and ink stains. Over the years, I've lost a number of garments to stubborn stains that didn't come out in the wash.

That was exactly what I thought was going to happen when I spilled coffee down the front of my favorite white button-down one morning at the office. And it wasn't just a small spill that I could hide for the remainder of the day, I was stuck with a huge brown splotch right in the front and center of my shirt.

Thankfully, I work in an office filled with products (we're shopping editors, after all!) so when I made the rounds to my coworkers' desks asking if anyone had a stain treatment, someone offered me the Puracy Stain Remover. While I had relatively low expectations, I was so impressed by the results.

Puracy Stain Remover

How I tried the Puracy Stain Remover

After changing into my handy office sweatshirt, I sprayed the formula all over the coffee stain, and let it sit for around 20 minutes (the brand recommends waiting at least 15) before washing it out in the sink and letting it dry for the rest of the work day.

Puracy recommends laundering after, but in cases where you can’t launder the item, the brand suggests using a specific method of rinsing in a bowl with a cloth. I didn’t see that beforehand, so I just rinsed it thoroughly with water, scrubbing lightly with the shirt fabric and my hand and hoped for the best — and it did the trick! The stain was completely gone and I couldn't believe how well it worked and neither could my coworkers. It seemed like magic! It not only saved my shirt but saved me from the embarrassment of having to wear a sweatshirt to a nice post-work event.

Editor's note: The 4 oz bottle is currently out of stock, but you can shop three other sizes, including 12 oz for less than $15.

The Puracy Stain Remover comes in a convenient 4-ounce size.Courtesy Emma Stessman

What I like

It really works

The results speak for themselves — it really works! And it only required 20 minutes of soaking. (I probably could have been wearing the shirt again within an hour too, if I had access to a dryer)

The brand says that this cleaning product works on all kinds of stains (1,500 different types, to be exact), from grass to blood, sweat, red wine and more. And Puracy also says that it can be used on all water-safe fabrics, including linens, carpets, couches and more.

To make sure it wasn't just a one-time miracle, I spilled a greens powder supplement mixed with water and coffee on a white skirt and followed the same process above and had the same result as before, the stain was completely gone. It also came in handy after I spilled a cup of matcha on my beige carpet — after I treated it, let it sit and then scrubbed, there wasn't a trace of green left!

The Puracy Stain Remover works on a variety of stains, including coffee and juice.Courtesy Emma Stessman

It's free of harsh chemicals

I have sensitive skin, so I have to pay close attention to the ingredients in my laundry products. That's why I appreciate that this formula is free from perfumes, dyes and other harsh chemicals. It contains six plant-based enzymes, which the brand says work together to dissolve, lift and cut through a variety of common stain culprits.

What to consider

All of the stains that I used the product on were fresh spills. In every instance, I applied the formula within an hour of a spill happening, so I'm not sure how it would work on more set-in stains. Though, some reviewers have noted that they've seen success when using it on older stains.

It's also not an instant solution, like a stain-removing pen. You still have to rinse or launder the product, so it's not the best choice for anyone who is looking for an on-the-go fix that can help them, say, get rid of a coffee stain an hour before a meeting.

Because the bottle and the spray nozzle are small, to completely cover a large stain, like the one I had, you have to spray it quite a few times. Thankfully, the brand also has a larger size available that I imagine has a larger spray radius.

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Emma Stessman is a commerce writer at Shop TODAY, who covers everything from celebrity shopping habits to home products and beauty trends. She has previously written about some of her other favorite cleaning products, including Bar Keeper's Friend and The Pink Stuff.