The reddish-brown marks under a dog or cat's eyes are porphyrin, an iron compound in tears that darkens where it sits on damp fur. It shows most on white and cream coats and on flat-faced breeds whose tear ducts drain poorly, which is why the same dog can look grubby a day after a bath. Wiping the area regularly keeps the stain from setting into the hair and stops the crust that builds where damp fur meets skin.

These come pre-moistened in a tub of a hundred, which is the format that actually gets used, because a wipe you can reach for one-handed while your pet is on your lap beats a bottle and cotton wool every time. The wipes are soft enough for the thin skin around the eye and are intended for daily use rather than the occasional deep clean. Work from the inner corner outwards, use a fresh face of the wipe for the second eye, and dry the fur afterwards so the area is not left damp.

• Tub of 100 pre-moistened wipes
• For dogs and cats
• Soft enough for the skin around the eye
• Lifts tear staining, crust and everyday debris
• Intended for regular rather than occasional use

Be honest about what wipes can do. They clean the fur, they do not stop the tears. If your pet's staining suddenly gets worse, if one eye runs more than the other, or if the eye itself is red, cloudy or held shut, that is a vet visit rather than a grooming problem. Wipe around the eye and never into it, and stop if the skin looks sore.

Who it's for: Owners of a light-coated or flat-faced pet who are keeping the face tidy day to day, with the underlying cause already checked.