Mr. Clean Reaches High
Written: Dec 05 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to assemble, hand-held cleaning head works great, cleaning solution has a fresh scent
Cons: read all manufacturer cautions before using -- not for all cleaning
The Bottom Line: I did not see the Bottom Line while cleaning and ran over it with the mop. On the bright side, it now smells citrus fresh!
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Mr. Clean MagicReach Starter Kit |
I am not alone. Lots of people must hate cleaning the bathroom as much as I do! When I first saw the Mr. Clean Magic Reach cleaning tool, the packaging looked fancy enough to give this product as a gift. It is very well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box with a clear plastic blister card to hold everything in place in the see-through window. The box is colorful, too, catching the eye with its vivid blue background, orange-yellow swish of color around the window area, and Mr. Clean with a confident smile on every side of the box.
Description
The box is easy to open and is designed to reclose. Upon first appearance, with all the parts that come in the box, I thought it might be difficult to assemble this cleaning tool. Step-by-step instructions come with the unit, and they are written/illustrated on a nice piece of cardboard that will not disintegrate with a few drops of water (unlike some paper instructions I have encountered).
The box contains:
* one cleaning head
* three pole sections
* two Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pads (individually packaged)
* two Scrubbing Tub/Shower pads (individually packaged)
* one set of instructions
The business-end portion of the cleaning head is rubber-like and shaped like a blue football, but flat -- and it has holes punched throughout it. It measures 4 1/2" wide x 9" long. A white plastic handle is atop one flat side of the football shape. The handle is a clever design. It can be used simply as a handle so that the Mr. Clean Magic Reach is a hand-held scrubbing tool. Or there is a rotating piece of white plastic called the yoke that can be vertically rotated to form a connector for a pole to fit into. With the pole, the tool can be used to reach high places or as a mop-like tool. The pole is metal with a plastic grip and other plastic parts.
To use as a hand-held cleaning tool:
Make sure the yoke atop the handle is rotated to the side and snapped into position so that it is out of the way. Select the Scrubbing Tub/Shower pad. One end of the pad fits onto one end of the cleaning head just as if a foot were sliding into a slipper. Then at the opposite end of the cleaning head, wrap the remaining pad around it and tuck the ends into a holder built into the cleaning head.
To use as a mop:
Make sure the white yoke is lifted vertically atop the cleaning head. The pole comes in three sections that slide into one another. Simply snap the end of the pole handle into the middle pole, then snap the middle pole into the pole that has a blue piece at the end. This blue piece inserts into the white yoke of the cleaning head. The step-by-step instructions make assembly simple. The pole parts are different diameters, so you cannot accidentally snap the pole ends into the wrong section.
Once the entire mop is assembled, the plastic sticker around the center portion of the mop can be removed. The sticker helpfully states: Do not open lever until pole is completely assembled. The sticker makes sure this lever stays in place until assembly is complete. This lever in the center of the pole allows one to adjust the telescoping pole length.
Next attach the Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pad to the cleaning head. This pad is thicker than the Scrubbing Tub/Shower pad. It is also wet with cleaner. Just as explained above, one end of the pad fits onto the cleaning head like a slipper onto a foot. Wrap the rest of the cleaning pad around the cleaning head and tuck the edges into the built-in edge-holder.
My Experiences
I have had the Mr. Clean Magic Reach for several weeks and have enjoyed experimenting with it.
The first task I set for it was to see how well it would clean the plastic ceiling fan vent. I used the Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pad, which dripped liquid when I removed it from its foil bag. The pole allowed me to easily extend the cleaning head toward the vent. When used as a mop, the head rotates so that a lot of area is covered with just a few swipes of the cleaning head. While the Mr. Clean Magic Reach did a great job of reaching the vent, and of cleaning it ... the flat cleaning head is not designed to reach into the vent grooves. I still had to climb a ladder and manually clean between the vent slats.
Since I had the Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pad on the cleaning head, I next used the Mr. Clean Magic Reach as a mop. At first, I was so excited with using the new product that I forgot to sweep the floor. A big mistake. The cleaning head just moved the dirt around the tiled floor making a mess. Next time around, I remembered to sweep the floor then mopped. My favorite feature of this mop is that the football shaped design of the cleaning head allows the mop to easily reach and clean the narrow area behind the toilet. Fantastic!
I then tried to use the mop to scrub at a stubborn spot on the floor. Instead of removing the spot, the handle of the mop telescoped (even though locked into position). I did not like suddenly tilting toward the floor when the handle shortened. I readjusted the handle to its longest position and continued my mopping. I am a tall person at 5 feet 9 inches. Even fully extended, the mop handle felt short to me.
The scent of the Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pad left the bathroom smelling fresh and not overly fragrant. A nice clean smell. The cleaning solution left the floor feeling a bit tacky, which I did not like. This mop is good for light or touch-up cleaning. It never lifted the stubborn spot from the floor; I had to manually wipe it clean using a scrubbing sponge.
I had much better luck when removing the pole and using the cleaning head as a hand-held scrubber. It is easy to snap the cleaning head on and off the pole as needed. The plastic handle grip of the hand-held scrubber is comfortable, too. The thinner Scrubbing Tub/Shower pad is more fragrant with a citrus scent. It left the bathroom smelling great! The built-in cleaning solution produced an abundance of suds, and the pointed tips of the football shape allowed the scrubber into corners, though I still had to work at cleaning the soap scum from the corners of the tub. The cleaner and pad do a wonderful job of eliminating soap scum. During my first tub cleaning exercise, the pad came off of the cleaning head. It was easy to tuck back into position, and now I try not to scrub quite as aggressively. The hand-held scrubber did a great job of cleaning the tub and sink, though I was not impressed with the way it cleaned the chrome faucets.
When finished, remove the pad from the cleaning head and throw it in the trash. Do not flush it down the toilet. If you wish to hang the Mr. Clean Magic Reach when not using it, there is a hook hidden at the end of the pole handle. Simply slide the hook out of the handle. The hook has a 1 3/8" long opening for hanging.
Likes
* easy to assemble
* cleaning pads smell good
* hand-held scrubber a great tool
* mop and scrubber easy to hold
* disposable pads so fewer germs
* excellent cleaning solution in Scrubbing Tub pad
Dislikes
* mop pole only extends to four feet
* mop pole does not always remain locked at desired length
* mop cleaning head tends to push dirt around floor
* Mopping Floor/Multipurpose pad and cleaning solution could be better
Manufacturer Product Cautions
* Keep out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion.
* Do not flush the disposable pads.
* Caution: In case of eye contact or prolonged exposure to skin, flush thoroughly with water to reduce irritation. If irritation persists call a physician. Not for personal cleansing.
* Scrubbing Tub/Shower Pads: Do not use on natural stone or colored grout. Test in an inconspicuous area with desired pressure before use on old, worn, or delicate surfaces like chrome, plastic or cultured marble.
* Mopping Floor/Multipurpose Pads: Do not use on natural stone, non-sealed tiles, unfinished, oiled or waxed wooden boards or carpet. Test in an inconspicuous area before use on old, worn, or delicate surfaces like cultured marble.
* Contains no phosphate.
Purchasing
I received this product free in exchange for an honest opinion about my experiences using it. The Mr. Clean Magic Reach kit is not yet available for sale in my area.
Summary
While I like the idea behind the Mr. Clean Magic Reach product, it did not meet all of my cleaning expectations. The mop portion works well for light cleaning or when touching-up the bathroom between more thorough scrubbing. The mop handle needs to be longer for people who are tall like me. Also, the pole telescoped on me during use, which I did not like. However, the hand-held cleaning head did a fantastic job at scrubbing the tub, tile walls and sink. The cleaning solution in the Scrubbing Tub/Shower pad is excellent, producing lots of suds and a wonderful citrus scent that freshened the entire bathroom.
I am glad I was sent this product to try. When the Scrubbing Tub/Shower pad refills become available in my area, I will see about purchasing some. I will definitely use the hand-held scrubber again.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Procter & Gamble Inc.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Toll-free Phone: 800-275-6142
Please read my other reviews:
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo
Windex Potpourri Cleaner
Windex Pre-moistened Cloth Wipes
Ultra Dawn Concentrated Apple Blossom Dishwashing Soap
Electrasol 2-in-1 Tabs with Jet Dry for the dishwasher
Cascade 2-in-1 Action Pacs for the dishwasher
Maytag Dishwasher
Black & Decker 4-slice Toaster Oven
GE Top Freezer Refrigerator
Broan Allure III Range Hood
Maytag Gemini Double Oven Range
Sharp Twin Energy Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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