Grrr, I fell for it.

[Donnie B.]

Maybe you've seen the ads: a gadget hangs from your shower head and automatically cleans your shower/tub, keeping it spotless.

So, I was at the store the other day and saw it. Hmm, sez I, sounds like just the thing for a housework-phobic bachelor like me. And I bought one.

Mistake!

The thing is fairly big and bulky, so it gets in the way when you're in the shower. It goes through the bottle of cleaner in just a couple weeks, based on usage so far. It's not really automatic, you have to start it for each cleaning. So far, a week's worth of use has had no visible effect on the state of my tub.

Worst of all, to me at least, is the smell of the cleaner. It's strong, cloying, penetrates the entire house (well, it's a pretty small house), and never goes away. Thank goodness it's summertime and I can keep the windows open.

The thing is warranted against defects, but there's no satisfaction guarantee. That was smart; it'd be so back to the store by now if there were. As it is, for the first time in my life I'm tempted to use the old "it don't work" excuse to take it back.


Anybody else tried this gadget? Is your experience anything like mine? What other products have you bought that turned out to be disappointing or worse?

[Swift]

Thanks Donnie for being the test subject, I've thought about getting one. Sorry it didn't work out.

[Trebuchet]

The consumer reporter for one of the local TV stations had several viewers test it a year or so ago. They were unanimous that it didn't work at all.

[Van Rijn]

Thanks, Donnie, I'd been thinking about that too. It's about time for another heavy shower cleaning. I won't waste my money on that.

[Dragon Star]

My Aunt just did the same thing, total bogus product. No effect, and as mentioned, pungent spell insured.

[Hornblower]

I find that the simplest and most effective way to keep the shower clean is simply to wipe down all the surfaces with a towel. Any residue ends up in the towel and eventually is washed out in the laundry.

[BigDon]

Thanks for the warning Donnie. I, too, was thinking of buying one next month when my next check came in.

[Donnie B.]

Well, actually, it's some consolation that my $20 loss has perhaps spared a few others from the same unhappy experience. Thanks for sayin'.

Indeed, not all that money was wasted. The thing comes with four AA batteries. Have you seen the price of those things lately? :)

[jedaisoul]

Well, actually, it's some consolation that my $20 loss has perhaps spared a few others from the same unhappy experience. Thanks for sayin'.

Indeed, not all that money was wasted. The thing comes with four AA batteries. Have you seen the price of those things lately? :)

What??? You use non-rechargeable batteries. Don't you realise that means you are personally responsible for half the world's emissions of CO2?:naughty:

[crosscountry]

What??? You use non-rechargeable batteries. Don't you realise that means you are personally responsible for half the world's emissions of CO2?:naughty:


the rechargeable ones aren't much better for toxicity, but they sure do save money.

[Maksutov]

I find that the simplest and most effective way to keep the shower clean is simply to wipe down all the surfaces with a towel. Any residue ends up in the towel and eventually is washed out in the laundry.Yup, towels and Simple Green for the nasty bits. Plus a toothbrush with a scouring agent for the grout areas.

No shortcuts there, I'm afraid.

But then again everybody ought to have a maid (http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/afunnythinghappenedonthewaytotheforum/everybodyoughttohaveamaid.htm).

[Maksutov]

Maybe you've seen the ads: a gadget hangs from your shower head and automatically cleans your shower/tub, keeping it spotless.

So, I was at the store the other day and saw it. Hmm, sez I, sounds like just the thing for a housework-phobic bachelor like me. And I bought one.

Mistake!...Did you keep your receipt? Did you ask for your money back?

[triplebird]

The thing is warranted against defects, but there's no satisfaction guarantee. That was smart; it'd be so back to the store by now if there were. As it is, for the first time in my life I'm tempted to use the old "it don't work" excuse to take it back.

Where did you buy it? Most retailers (Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, etc) will allow you to bring anything back, for any reason, within 30 days or so. I would return it with extreme gusto.

I use the old Comet and scouring pad technique on my shower. Works great and is far less expensive.

[Larry Jacks]

I find that the simplest and most effective way to keep the shower clean is simply to wipe down all the surfaces with a towel. Any residue ends up in the towel and eventually is washed out in the laundry.

I use a squeegee first and then wipe it with a towel. It really cuts down on the scrubbing.

[crosscountry]

yea, but you have to do it often

I clean my shower every few months. Spray some powerful cleaner in there and come back in a little while. Usually does the trick. Sometimes A second application is needed.

Overall much less effort and time. Of course my shower gets dirty and stays that way for a while. Just call me lazy.

[Damien Evans]

yea, but you have to do it often

I clean my shower every few months. Spray some powerful cleaner in there and come back in a little while. Usually does the trick. Sometimes A second application is needed.

Overall much less effort and time. Of course my shower gets dirty and stays that way for a while. Just call me lazy.

OK, you're lazy

Happy now?

[Sticks]

I don't have a shower, so I have to use a bath.

You can't read a book and doze in a shower.

[crosscountry]

yea, but you can finish sooner, lay down and read until you fall asleep ;)

[Gillianren]

I have to have a shower; washing waist-length (longer, actually) hair in the bath doesn't work. However, I really only use my shower when I want to wash my hair; other than that, I take baths.

How do I clean it? By having someone who's borderline OCCD living in my home. Most effective cleaning tool I have.

[Donnie B.]

Well, I took triplebird's advice and took it back to the store. It was a large grocery store, not a general retailer like Target. They gave me a refund. All they really cared about was that I had the original register receipt -- which I had to dig out of a bag of garbage. Wet, stinky garbage.

I guess that was worth twenty bucks.

And I kept the batteries. :)

[crosscountry]

fraud, fraud alert!!!


good for you.

[Trebuchet]

And I kept the batteries. :)

Of course the batteries that come free with products like this are generally worth just what you paid for them!

[DaveC426913]

My wife bought one of these. I am dubious. Pretty hard to judge if it's doing a good job or not.

All I know is that it's bulky and makes it very difficult for me to get near the mirror to shave.

[Donnie B.]

Aside from the free batteries (Energizer alkalines), there was another good result of this incident: I ended up giving the tub and shower a good cleaning. The old-fashioned way.

Since I took pains to slam the automatic thing, I'll give a thumbs-up to Comet Bathroom Cleaner. Comes in a spray bottle. Works well and smells nice.

[Sticks]

I had to make do with Cillit Bang

[Spock Jenkins]

I find dragging the business end of the power washer through the bathroom window works wonders.

[Gillianren]

Sure, if you have a bathroom window.

[mugaliens]

Solution to all aforementioned problems: Bon Ami and a simple sponge, used once a week on all shower surfaces (takes less than 5 minutes, and no unpleasant/harmful odors or fumes).

For mold/mildew, there's always Tilex, but once it's knocked out, the weekly Bon Ami approach will keep it knocked out except for the worst cases of grout.

It helps to have a hand-held shower head to rinse the surfaces...

[Donnie B.]

Solution to all aforementioned problems: Bon Ami and a simple sponge, used once a week on all shower surfaces (takes less than 5 minutes, and no unpleasant/harmful odors or fumes).
A noble approach, but one that's been rather difficult for me since my back problems began around a decade ago. Fortunately it's been improving steadily since disk surgery in 2000, but kneeling-leaning-over is still one of the toughest postures for me.

The idea of having an automatic tub cleaner was pretty enticing for that reason (as well as my general lazy attitude towards housework).

[KLA2]

QUOTE
The thing is warranted against defects, but there's no satisfaction guarantee. That was smart; it'd be so back to the store by now if there were. As it is, for the first time in my life I'm tempted to use the old "it don't work" excuse to take it back.

Grrr. If I buy a car, and it neither starts nor runs, I take it back and say “it does not work” and expect a refund or that they will make it work.

If I buy a computer monitor and it will not display an image, I take it back and say “it does not work”.

If I buy a flashlight (a torch to those of you not in North America) and it does not … flash light … I take it back and say … come, sing along with me.

Therefore, if I buy a shower cleaner that does not clean my shower, why would I hesitate to take it back and say, “it does not work”? Did the instructions on the packaging say (in large letters) “Will only work on a totally clean shower, between weekly cleanings”?

These parasitic companies prey on people who are too shy to call them on their perfidy and swallow the cost. If everyone demanded that products performed at least as well as advertised (i.e., as shown on TV) or demanded a refund, imagine what would happen to product quality / truth in advertising.

While I am on the subject, another pet peeve is the “new” style plastic packaging that must be totally destroyed to remove the product. I suspect the reason is that some people are embarrassed to return a product that cannot be put neatly back into its packaging.

Thanks, by the way. I was thinking of buying one of those gizmos myself.

[Sticks]

Breathe ......

[KLA2]

Breathe ......

:lol: