Mr. Clean MagicReached Me
Written: Nov 23 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy assembly; solid construction; extension pole is a back-saver
Cons: Pads could use more cleaning solution; extension rod assembly could be more user-friendly
The Bottom Line: This product is probably best suited for quick cleanup or ongoing maintenance of reasonably clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
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| pogomom's Full Review: Mr. Clean MagicReach Starter Kit |
You have to love a man who looks good in white Spandex and a hoop earring, while not aging one iota in the past thirty-five years. This gentle giant manages to disco-spin his way through the house in commercials just as the products he represents give us the chance to speed through some of the most tedious though necessary household cleaning tasks. Proctor and Gamble’s latest bevy of new and improved products prove a good match for the company’s Mr. Clean line.
The MagicReach Starter Kit I received from Hass MS&L as part of a pre-launch event surprised me by doing exactly what the manufacturer promised and more. I agreed to test the product and offer my honest take in a review and not let the fact that I received this product free of any charges color my opinion.
The Out of Box Experience
The promotional package the pre-launch testing crew received contains:
- Sponge Scrubber/Mop Head (4-3/8" W x 8-3/4" L x 1-3/4" H)
- Three-piece extension pole handle (26" compressed; Extended (rod) handle: 35-1/8" L)
- Two Scrubbing Tub and Shower Pads
- Two Mopping Floor/All Purpose Pads
- Assembly and Help Tips Instruction Card
With all the components splayed on my breakfast bar, assembling the extension pole and fitting the rod into the sponge-head handle required virtually no time. After reading a number of reviews on the MagicReach kit, I do have a suggestion for Proctor and Gamble that might have made the process simpler for many of the kit’s recipients. Clearly marking the pole sections so there would be no question what goes where and in which order would make assembly simpler.
Too Much Testosterone Exposure?
Twenty years of marriage may have some effect on how I approach certain projects. Before becoming the better of two equal halves, I always read instructions and then tackled the project. These days, I find I may or may not choose to consult the experts when involved in something seemingly too simple to screw up – consider that my first mistake when dealing with the MagicReach.
As mentioned above, I found no challenge with the assembly process, everything fit and locked together perfectly the first time I tested that phase of the product trial. Armed with my new cleaning tool, I tore open the foil packet and slipped the moist cleaning pad on the sponge head, while thinking, this is a no-brainer.
This is the ideal time to mention that unlike my peers who claim experience with similar products like The Swiffer, I never felt the need to try disposable cleaning tools and had hardly a clue about how these things function. An uneducated guess on my part might focus on the main differences between the Mr. Clean version and other similar products.
The somewhat elliptical-shaped cleaning head with dual pointed ends permits access to corners and tight areas. I realize that description may not represent the product well enough so, imagine a spongy, blue flatiron with two contoured ends. One angular end sports a portrayal of Mr. Clean and the other a reinforced white starburst.
Dumb and dumber… The majority of those testing this product knew that the white starburst serves more than a decorative purpose; they knew to tuck the loose ends of the cleaning pads into the starburst for a secure fit. I spent my first encounter with a fully loaded MagicReach wondering why the pad kept falling off and determined to find out why the manufacturer failed to address this issue in their design. Silly me, not only is this addressed, the accompanying literature and the packaging give both graphic and written directions on this topic.
Another notable difference between the MagicReach and other products rests with the cleaning solution used to moisten the pads. The Scrubbing Tub and Shower Pads contain a small amount of Mr. Clean Summer-Citrus Scent Antibacterial Cleaner, enough to clean two bathrooms. The Mopping Floor/All Purpose Pads contain Mr. Clean Ultimate Orange Multipurpose Cleaner.
Dumber and dumbest… I mentioned I failed to read the directions and I might as well confess I also failed to look as close as I should at the foil packets containing the moistened cleaning pads. That first trial, the one where the pad kept falling off the cleaning head, also seemed to not do anything close to a fabulous job on my tub and bathroom surfaces. I wet the pad-adorned scrubbing head with very warm water and cleaned my bathroom without benefit of the suds mentioned in other reviews. I thought I might have been a bit over zealous when running water over the pad, possibly rinsing out all the cleaning solution in the process.
No, faithful reader, this reviewer of all things household used the floor cleaning pad on the tub and thankfully discovered my error before using the tub and shower pad on the kitchen floor. It was at that point I brewed a cup of Douwe Egberts, sat down and read the embarrassingly simple directions.
Eureka! Success in small steps…
Acquired knowledge and the kindness of strangers gave me the opportunity to give Mr. Clean’s latest family member a honest trial under the worst of circumstances. I cleaned my husband’s bathroom with overwhelmingly positive results. Armed with the right pad attached to the scrubbing head, with the pole extended to its full nearly forty-inch reach, I tackled that bad boy in less than my former record time of one hour and forty-seven minutes.
The tub, surrounding tile, sink and tile floor wiped clean without my resorting to a gas mask and caustic chemicals. A quick rinse using the hand-held shower on the tub and tile, and a damp washcloth on the counter, outer commode surfaces and sink had me crossing the finish line in minutes. All that remained was a quick once-over Windex job on the mirrors and I was back in the kitchen munching low-carb brownies, feeling confident that the bathroom was cleaner than it was fifteen minutes ago.
Bolstered by my success, I decided to see if the pad really could clean two bathrooms without wimping out solution-wise or shredding the pad into oblivion. Returning to my bathroom, I cleaned the same areas I used the floor pad on in the first trial and discovered the truth, Proctor and Gamble’s claim regarding the pad’s ability to clean two bathrooms rings true.
Not one to rest on my laurels, I decided to try a few other tests mentioned in earlier reviews. One writer mentioned saturating the scrubbing pad with vinegar and water to clean walls and wood floors. I grabbed a bottle of generic white distilled vinegar, diluted a small amount in water and moistened the pad with the solution. With hardly any effort, the walls took on that just-painted appearance. I finished that job and started on the flat panel, painted doors with the same great results. Once I exhausted all possible test surfaces, I rinsed the pad, hung it up to dry and put it back into commission as a dust mop. Swiffer converts may laugh at my discovery but I felt as if I conquered Mt. Everest.
Using the Mopping Floor/All Purpose Pad on my kitchen, foyer and bathroom floors also equaled success. I love the authentic orange scent and the no-rinse utility of the product. Once again, I pushed the product to its reasonable limit, felt it did a remarkable job and then rinsed the pad, let it dry and continue to use it with the same Mr. Clean Ultimate Orange Multipurpose Cleaner it came embedded with or a highly diluted solution of Orange Clean Degreaser.
Who? What? When? Where? Why?
This product is probably best suited for quick cleanup or maintenance of reasonably clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces. My personal product testing environment included tile floors, painted walls and woodwork, and two bathrooms most often used by only one person each in a house two adults and one large dog call home. The amount of traffic crossing our kitchen floor cannot compare to the action seen by households with children and teenagers. To honestly answer the five standard questions, I would have to say:
Who: The target market for this product is anyone and everyone who needs a multipurpose tool for quick cleaning of bathrooms and floors. Baby Boomers, senior citizens and anyone suffering with back problems will find the utility of the MagicReach’s pivoting scrub-head combined with the extension pole useful, painless and effective. Anyone who makes a practice of cleaning the bathroom while wearing rubber gloves will enjoy the ability to apply commercially available cleaners without worrying about the effect of cleaning chemicals on sensitive skin.
What: Proctor and Gamble wisely placed limitations on this product as far as on what surfaces to use the MagicReach pads. The company advises against use on marble, unsealed tile, colored grout and other fragile surfaces.
When and where: When unexpected company arrives or whenever a touchup seems like a good idea, I definitely will employ the MagicReach system in my bathrooms and on hard surface floors. The combination of the clean scent and the ability to quickly freshen up those rooms makes this the perfect choice for us. The added bonus of my husband thinking this is a fun new toy means I can plan to spend less time in his bathroom.
Why: Once I realized the manufacturer, on both the packaging and instruction card, addressed the main issues I encountered during my initial product trial, the MagicReach kit became my friend. This product suits my cleaning style to a tee; with this tool, I am able to keep the bathrooms and floors clean without having to resort to chemical warfare. I keep the scrubber and extension handle assembled, hanging on a hook behind my bathroom door, and grab it for small jobs as they happen. My bathroom stays clean with minimal energy expended on my part.
I give Mr. Clean’s MagicReach Starter Kit two citrus-scented thumbs up; any product that has the man of this house willingly cleaning his bathroom deserves at least five stars.
Mr. Clean MagicReach Starter Kits are slated to retail at $12.99 when they arrive on the market in February 2005.
Recommended:
Yes
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pogomom
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About Me:
Web/puter person who, disguised as mild-mannered Pogomom, offers unsolicited opinions to all she encounters.
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