Heat It, Wipe It, Toss It! Make Your Microwave Happy With Easy-Off Heat Activated Wipes
Written: Nov 29 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, cuts down on cleaning time, individually wrapped wipes.
Cons: Tough baked on stains might require some scrubbing.
The Bottom Line: Sick of having to clean the inside of your microwave? Give yourself a break with Easy-Off Heat Activated Microwave Wipes.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Easy Off Heat Activated Microwave Wipes |
I use my microwave a lot; reheating food and tea, melting chocolate and defrosting frozen meats and with all this use, no matter how hard I try, things splash and splatter. Not only does this mean a complete mess inside the microwave but a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. I am a germ-phobic kind of person and go to great lengths to try and make sure that anything that can be cleaned is cleaned. We have two microwaves in the house, one in the kitchen and one in my brother’s apartment that is in the basement of the house. As you might imagine, his is often the brunt of jokes and often referred to as the electric science experiment. Both have glass turntables and I wasn’t sure that these wipes would be able to get the dirt under the turntables loose.
I was more than a little skeptical about this product so when I came across them on sale I only purchased one box to try them out. After using them in both microwaves I have to say that this is a good product but not without a few small design issues. Sometimes the pouches pop open, some times they don’t. If the pouch does not open then you will have to try again with another one since the manufacturer states that you should not try to use it a second time. I chalk this up to the power level of the microwave, as strange as it may seem when I am using other large appliances in the house, the microwave seems to have little power surges now and then, the light inside dims or the digital clock face dims. This might just be the age of the microwave showing but when this happened when I was heating a pouch, the pouch failed to pop open.
Directions
Using these is relatively simple. Place a pouch inside your microwave, set the timer for one minute [60 seconds] and allow it to run the full minute. During the process you might hear a pop, this is nothing more than the pouch popping open. When the microwave has run for the minute you should allow the pouch to stand for about three minutes before opening the door, this will ensure that the cleaning agents that were released during the “cook time” had a chance to loosen any dir or grim on the inside of the microwave. Take care when opening the pouch since the wipe may still be too hot to handle, use a pair of tongs to remove it and see if the pack still feels super hot or if it has cooled off enough to handle. I suggest cutting the end of the pouch rather than trying to peel it open, but that’s just my preference. Use the wipe to clean the inside of the microwave and to remove any pieces of dirt or splatter that were loosened when you heated the pouch. You may need to have some paper towels on hand to clean up larger messes but most of the time the wipe handled everything nicely.
Each of the packets have all the instructions on them as well as a “this side up” label, sort of like a bag of microwave popcorn. I am really thankful that each of the packets are individually labeled with all the necessary information since I ate wasted space under the sink, this way I can remove them from the box and store them in a rubber storage container but can still access all the necessary information. Another reason I like this is I can give these to a few friends and know that they will have all the information they need to use them correctly and safely. You will also find the first aid and contact information on the outside of the box as well as on each pouch.
Price
I found these on sale at my local Smart & Final store for $1.99 on a table with a bunch of other “wipe related” products. I’m not sure what the regular price is on these at Smart & Final but I can say that after the first time I used them on both microwaves I went back and stocked up on them at the $1.99 price. When I checked around I found that the prices range from $2.49 to $3.99 per box of six individually wrapped wipes. If you are someone that wants convenience then this is most definitely the way to go however if you are someone that likes to save money, I’d suggest waiting for a sale to roll around or using coupons [or both!] to bring the price down a little.
Things To Know
I don’t have overly sensitive hands but I try to avoid contact with any type of cleaning agent since I have a house full of animals to feed. That might sound like a strange comment so I will explain it. When you clean with any product there is a risk that some of it can be left over no matter how well you wash your hands, be it the cleaning agent or just the scent. Several of the animals that I care for are older and a little on the sick side and don’t react well when I clean so I have to put them in my office or in the garage – if just the smell of a cleaner bothers them I can’t imagine what ingesting even a small amount of it might do to them. This is why I always wear gloves [disposable non-latex] when I clean, not only do I protect my hands from potentially drying and powerful chemicals but I safeguard my furry little critters from coming in contact with the chemicals. These types of gloves can be purchased from most drug stores or home health care centers in boxes of 25, 50 or 100 and in sizes from extra small to extra large. Most places have samples you can try on to see which size fits you best.
Some people have said that these have a smell to them but honestly, I couldn’t pick up on one, maybe it was the fact that I had the ceiling fan running or have a non-sensitive nose but I didn’t smell anything out of the ordinary. Being the paranoid person that I am, I did wipe down the inside of the microwaves with a wet paper towel to remove any left over cleaning solution. This isn’t necessary nor is it listed on the instructions but as I said, I am a paranoid person in regards to cleaning supplies.
The Bottom Line
So far these have been a great product that I really like using. They cut down on the overall cleaning time of the microwave and help ensure that any germs or splattered food is removed. If you have a turntable microwave [also called a carousel] you may need to scrub under the plate if you had any items boil over but generally, the cleaning solution does penetrate under the plate and loosen anything that may be hiding under it. I suppose you could get the same results by placing a large bowl of water inside the microwave and setting it for three minutes but this is a little easier and there’s no risk of spilling water everywhere. Since I stocked up on these at the $1.99 sale price I’ll be using them every few weeks or when someone heats up a plate of spaghetti without using the microwave cover … ever see what the inside of a microwave looks like after meatballs explode?
If you are having trouble locating these, you can call Reckitt Benckiser at [800] 228-4722 to see which stores in your area carry these. You can also call the same toll free number for questions, comments or concerns about this product.
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Other kitchen essentials …
Casabella Grippee Fish Sponge
Clorox Lemon Fresh Bleach
Sunbeam Jumbo Oven Thermometer
Polder 3 Tier Wire Trolley
Red Devil Hydra Sponge
Rubbermaid Mini Freezer Pack
Recommended:
Yes
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