Mr. Clean in Therapy – DUO-Personality Exposed
Written: Nov 03 '04 (Updated Nov 03 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: An inexpensive and effective cleaning product that safely removes soil and stains.
Cons: Breaks apart easily after vigorous scrubbing.
The Bottom Line: Using the DUO on hopeless projects: Switch plates and doorjambs appeared new after a quick swipe or two; even a stained antique table required little effort to restore.
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| pogomom's Full Review: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo |
I love Mr. Clean. As far as icons go, Mr. Clean ranks right up there with Poppin’ Fresh and Speedy Alka Seltzer. Mr. Clean’s persona remained the same all these years as he waited for society and fashion to catch up with his unique sense of style. Some say he is stuck in the sixties but, his return to popularity (unlike John Travolta’s history) did not require a Quentin Tarantino to rediscover his talents; he relied on housewifely lust and a super sponge.
Building a Better Dirt Trap
Proctor and Gamble brought their Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to the public conscientiousness by way to free online offers and a brilliant marketing campaign. Using the same methods, their marketing and public relations people brought the improved version of the product to the consumer’s doorstep. I received my updated version, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser DUO, from the generous folks at Hass MS&L, Mr. Clean’s personal PR firm. All they asked in return for the free sample was my honest opinion of the product.
When first opening the brown envelope containing my DUO, I thought, “Wow! It’s a sponge!” I already gave the earlier incarnation of the same product my wholehearted thumbs up; the addition of the blue absorbent surface could not possibly make that much difference. I wondered what possessed the folks at P&G to market the enhanced Magic Eraser so soon after the original hit the stores.
Physically comparing the original with the DUO, the only evident difference was the 7/32-inch thick spongy blue layer, sporting an impression of a self-satisfied Mr. Clean, added to the new DUO product. Already sold on the cleaning properties of the original Magic Eraser, it dawned on me that the blue layer might have some special properties. When checking the product insert and the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser DUO web site, I came across these explanations:
- “The blue side is an absorbent layer that helps you hold on to Mr. Clean Magic Eraser DUO as you clean until the white side is gone.”
- “The new Mr. Clean Magic Eraser™ DUO lets you clean even more ways than before! That's because it has two sides: a white side to clean tough soils, and a soft, absorbent blue layer to wipe up everyday messes.”
The first explanation made sense to me; the original Magic Eraser disintegrated into clumps of rubber after one or two uses. I aided the sponge’s decomposition by forcing a finger or two through the product during somewhat vigorous scrubbing of louvered doors. The new blue layer lessens the chance of my fingertips penetrating the white side under normal use.
The second explanation regarding the addition of the new layer may apply under some circumstances but in most situations, I prefer to use a clean towel to wipe up everyday messes. I do agree with the statement about the white side cleaning tough soils. Until the DUO entered this household, we had at least one unusual issue that stayed on the books for more than a decade.
Before sharing that odd experience, I found a third purpose for the blue layer, one not mentioned by the manufacturer in any of their product related documentation. The blue side works as a squeegee, removing white spongy remnants and residual liquid after the scrubbing side does its thing. It does not remove every single speck of sponge nor does it completely dry areas that I managed to soak but it does give me a chance to see what I missed in the scrubbing process.
Does Size Really Matter?
In a word, yes! Size matters when it comes to cleaning tools and in the case of both the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and its younger brother, the DUO, the size is right. Measuring 2-1/2" wide by 5" long x 1-inch thick, the DUO fits my hand without feeling unwieldy or too small. Friends and family trying out the innovation seem to agree on that point, with one exception. A furniture refinisher in our group wishes that Mr. Clean would consider a larger version for big projects and a smaller version cut to break apart at angles for tiny jobs.
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory…
Our dining room table dates back to the 1920s and until recently, looked its age. The furniture refinisher mentioned above offered to restore the table to its former beauty but we never seemed to have the time to dismantle and ship it the three hundred miles to her shop. Certain nicks and scratches add character to the old piece; the large red stain covering a quarter of the tabletop added nothing to its charm.
I tried every non-caustic cleaning product on the market and managed to work the stain deeper into the wood grain. Instead of stripping the piece, that takes work, talent and determination, we decided to go the formal route by covering the table with pads, placemats, runners and tablecloths. Out of sight – out of mind, that works until I change the table linens and have to look at that deep red stain of undetermined origin.
One laundry day after receiving the Magic Eraser DUO, I decided to throw caution to the wind. The product disclaimer suggests trying the sponge on an inconspicuous spot to avoid causing scratches or dulling of surfaces. Following that, P&G adds, “Not recommended for use on surfaces that are polished/glossy, or on brushed, satin, dark, or faux finishes.” The table about to serve as my test case has a light cream, antique satin finish. Knowing I always have the backup of my furniture-refinishing friend, I ignored those precautions.
After dampening and squeezing out the DUO, I started scrubbing the edge of the stain. A few seconds later that small area glistened with moisture and the decade old red stain disappeared. I quickly discovered that the amount of elbow grease employed made little difference in the effectiveness of the product. The stain vanished as I gently rubbed the white side of the DUO along the grain. Within minutes, I cleaned the offensive section and started on the rest of the table. Deep decorative grooves and carved legs took on new life. The creamy satin finish brightened to a lighter eggshell and for the first time, we noticed subtle shadings along the edges of the hand carved areas.
As I mentioned above, using the blue absorbent side of the sponge let me see if I missed any spots. Once I finished erasing years of soil and that awful stain, I followed up with a clean damp rag, let the surface dry and used oil-based furniture cleaner to help restore the table to its former glory. Then, I yelled to my husband, “You have to see this!”
From that point on, we tried using the DUO on other hopeless projects. Switch plates and doorjambs appeared new after a quick swipe or two; even scuffed painted surfaces we thought were marred beyond repair required little effort to restore. Vinyl coated wire shelving responded to a little scrubbing with some of the cast off chunks from other DUO test projects. The grubby, sticky feel and appearance of the vinyl coating wiped away and did not transfer back onto the surface as we worked our way across ten feet of garage shelves.
All of this occurred without any cleaning product other than the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser DUO and water. We used no sprays, powders, solutions or additives, only the dampened DUO. I tried to find out more about the sponge’s composition and came up dry. The only hint there may be something caustic added lies in the manufacturer’s advice, “If using for dishwashing, rinse dishes thoroughly.”
We Need Lives…
Dinner conversation around this house borders on boring most days. The night of the table restoration was no exception to the rule. Through train of thought rambling, my husband mentioned a product his mother used during the thirties and forties. Hardware stores once sold a block of gummy rubber intended to clean wallpaper. Paul spoke about being given the responsibility of making the substance pliable by rubbing and warming it in his hands. Then, his mother and he would take turns scrubbing their paper-laden walls with chunks of the gummy rubber. The dirt transferred to the substance, turning it black and they continued until all walls were spotless or they ran out of the cleaner. He believes that someone at Proctor and Gamble who shares the same history created the Magic Eraser based on those memories.
Not privy to what brainstorm led to the creation of the Magic Eraser DUO or its predecessor, I choose to imagine an accident in some P&G research laboratory. Whatever brought about its genesis, after my experience testing the DUO, Mr. Clean can count me among his many admiring fans.
Recommended:
Yes
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pogomom
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Web/puter person who, disguised as mild-mannered Pogomom, offers unsolicited opinions to all she encounters.
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