We put eight cleaning products to the test and report the
results
n By Kelly Savio Staff Writer
It’s that time of year – time to drag out the cleaning supplies, and get into all the nooks and crannies that may get neglected during the rest of the year. It’s time for spring cleaning, and to help give South Valley residents a jump-start, we tested out a few cleaning products on the market. After all, nothing is worse than getting into the mood for cleaning only to have your cleaner refuse to work.
Formula 409
Despite all the commercials bombarding our televisions touting the wondrous glory of 409, we respectfully beg to differ. Though it does have a pleasant lemony scent, the cleaning power of this all-purpose, antibacterial cleaner just didn’t stand up to the messes we tried it on. It didn’t get the red tomato gut stains off cutting boards and it didn’t get tea stains off countertops. It got rid of surface dirt, but that’s not impressive. Frankly, we’re ready for Formula 410.
Swiffer Duster
One day the heavens opened, a bright light shone down on the earth and the Swiffer Duster floated down from the sky. OK, maybe not, but one use of the Swiffer Duster will make even the most jaded cleaners believe it must be heaven-sent. The duster sucks up dirt, lint, hair and even the thickest layers of dust, trapping it all in its floppy blue tentacles. Dusting no longer needs to be hated or feared – Swiffer Duster to the rescue!
Lysol Sanitizing Wipes
These pre-moistened cleaning wipes are a great alternative to traditional cleaning sprays. They don’t require rubber gloves or paper towels, they’re convenient to use, and there’s no risk of splashing the cleaner on clothes. The citrus scent is pleasant instead of overwhelmingly disinfectant-smelling. The wipes clean up stains, dirt, grime, crumbs, dust and just about anything else we tried. Plus, the plastic container is recyclable.
Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser, Original
The box lists a plethora of places the Magic Eraser can make things sparkle, but we skipped over all of them and put it right to the test on one of the grungiest places possible: the shower floor. The Magic Eraser definitely requires some elbow grease, but it works. It did a pretty good job getting the dirt out of the cracks in the textured tub floor. The age-old favorites, Comet and Ajax, would probably do a slightly better job, but the eraser doesn’t require rubber gloves or paper towels, and isn’t a powder that has a tendency to poof up and get in your nose. One of the newspaper’s managers also swears the Magic Eraser gets his nephew’s crayon drawings off walls, too.
Seventh Generation
Natural Laundry
Detergent
This detergent is non-toxic, biodegradable, hypo-allergenic and designed to be extra gentle for delicate fabrics and sensitive skin. As if all that wasn’t fabulous enough, it actually works. Seventh Generation doesn’t have dyes or fragrances, but it gets the dirt out, leaves clothes clean, and is safe for greywater and septic systems. Hippies, tree-huggers and the environment-conscious everywhere will appreciate the holistic goodness of the detergent. Everyone else will just appreciate its cleaning power.
LA’s Totally Awesome Laundry Pre-Wash Stain Remover
This stuff did such a dismal job of treating stains, we’re not planning to keep it around. We tossed the entire bottle after one use. We’ll stick with our Shout! or Tide stain treatments. Enough said.
LA’s Totally Awesome Carpet Spot & Stain Remover
What were we thinking? Despite the horrible performance of the same brand’s laundry pre-wash stain remover, we decided to give this carpet cleaner a chance. Big mistake. Though this stuff did manage to slightly lighten the stains in carpets, it did not remove them.
Lysol All-Purpose
Cleaner with Bleach
No question about it, this stuff cuts through just about anything. Stains and dirt cower in fear of this disinfectant cleaner and grime is no match, either. However, long after the Lysol has done its job and been put away, the scent of bleach lingers in the air. Also, because it’s so strong, it’s necessary to wear rubber gloves when cleaning. One other downside to the Lysol is the splash factor. If any of the cleaner finds its way onto clothing, drapes or other material, it will bleach out the color wherever it falls.
