Unpacking “As Seen On TV” Bathroom Gadgets: Real Reviews and DIY Solutions
You’ve just watched our video testing several popular “As Seen On TV” bathroom gadgets. These products promise quick fixes and sparkling results. But do they truly deliver? Or are there simpler, more effective, and often cheaper ways to achieve a clean bathroom? Let’s dive deeper into our findings. We reveal which products are worth your money and which ones are not. Also, we offer fantastic DIY alternatives for common cleaning challenges.
Hurri Clean Automatic Toilet Cleaner: The Promise vs. Reality
Cleaning toilets is nobody’s favorite chore. This makes products like the Hurri Clean automatic toilet cleaner very appealing. It claims to clean your toilet with “hurricane strength” simply by pouring it into the tank. The promise? No scrubbing needed. We found this intriguing. However, a major red flag appeared immediately. The packaging offers no ingredient list, only a “chlorine-free” label. This lack of transparency is concerning.
We followed all directions. The product foamed up inside the tank. After six hours, we flushed the toilet. The results were quite underwhelming. While some discoloration on the flapper cleared, sediment at the tank’s bottom remained. The toilet bowl itself showed little improvement. A slight ring still required manual scrubbing to remove.
The product claims “powerful scrubbing bubbles.” Our tests showed these bubbles lacked real power. Online reviews strongly confirm our experience. Hurri Clean averages a low two out of five stars. This indicates widespread dissatisfaction. You are simply better off with a standard toilet bowl cleaner. Cheap dissolvable tablets also perform better. Save your money on this particular “As Seen On TV bathroom gadget.”
DIY Alternative: The Power of Vinegar
An eco-friendly and powerful alternative already sits in most pantries: white vinegar. This household staple effectively kills bacteria, germs, mold, and even lime deposits. Its acetic acid content breaks down mineral buildup. Here’s a simple method:
- Pour one quart of vinegar into your toilet tank.
- Pour the rest directly into the toilet bowl.
- For stubborn rim stains, soak toilet paper in vinegar. Stuff it under the toilet rim.
- Let it all sit for several minutes.
- Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush.
- Remove the vinegar-soaked toilet paper. Scrub the rim with an old toothbrush.
- Flush for a sparkling clean.
This method costs pennies. It uses a product you likely already own. Plus, it avoids harsh, unknown chemicals. Vinegar truly is a cleaning superstar.
Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mommy: Smiling All the Way to Cleanliness?
The Scrub Daddy gained fame on Shark Tank and QVC. Along with its Scrub Mommy counterpart, these sponges are widely available. Their unique feature is their “FlexTexture” material. It changes texture based on water temperature. Warm water makes them soft and pliable. Cool water makes them firm and abrasive. This offers versatile scrubbing power.
We tested these scrubbing tools extensively in the bathroom. First, hard water stains in a sink. With a little soap, the Scrub Mommy cleaned the porcelain effectively. Next, dirty shower tile grout. It removed grime well. However, it won’t whiten grout on its own. Finally, a bathtub with hard water stains. The Scrub Mommy lifted most stains quickly. The Scrub Daddy also performed well in the shower. But it struggled with heavy mineral deposits in the toilet bowl.
Overall, Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mommy are solid buys. They are effective. They work without harsh chemicals. They can replace multiple scrubbers. This helps declutter your cleaning caddy. Their innovative design truly stands out among common cleaning products.
Smart Alternatives to These Versatile Scrubbers
While making your own sponge isn’t practical, excellent commercial alternatives exist. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a melamine foam sponge. It uses micro-abrasion to clean surfaces. It excels at removing scuffs and stains. Also, Scotch-Brite scrub sponges offer great abrasive power for tough jobs. Both have passed our tests in various videos. They are also generally more affordable than Scrub Daddy products.
The $40 Turbo Scrub: Power Cleaning in Your Hand
For stains a regular sponge can’t tackle, power scrubbers come into play. The Turbo Scrub is a cordless handheld power scrubber. It comes with a wand, an extension, and three brush attachments. It also includes a charger. Its goal is to make scrubbing faster and easier. The extensions snap on like vacuum hoses. Brushes click securely into place.
The extension wand’s usefulness varies by user. It offers extra reach. This reduces bending. However, it can feel less stable. You cannot apply as much direct pressure. This means it is a matter of personal preference. Cross-contamination is a concern. Always clean brushes thoroughly between different tasks or areas.
Our tests used real-life dirt and grime. The Turbo Scrub handled light to medium build-ups decently. It struggles with long-neglected, heavy-duty messes. It performed well on sink grime. It only lightened a toilet bowl ring. However, its heavy-duty brush cleaned filthy baseboards remarkably well. This required very little effort. It significantly adds torque, or rotational force, to your cleaning. This helps power through stuck-on dirt. This “As Seen On TV bathroom gadget” does what it says. It generally works pretty good.
When comparing the Turbo Scrub to the Hurricane Spin Scrubber, we prefer the Turbo Scrub. It boasts a much longer-lasting battery. Both offer similar cleaning results and reviews. So, choose based on your specific needs and battery life preference.
DIY Power Scrubber: Your Cordless Drill to the Rescue
If you own a cordless drill, you already have a DIY power scrubber solution. This hack saves money. It leverages existing tools. You need a small, circular scrub brush. Remove its bristles and base. Get a threaded rod. Place it through the brush’s center. Secure it with hex nuts on both sides. Insert this assembly into your drill chuck. Tighten it firmly.
This homemade power scrubber works wonders on stubborn stains. It offers more power and speed than hand scrubbing. It transforms your drill into a high-torque cleaning machine. This DIY tool helps conquer stains you thought were permanent. It is a highly effective way to add power to your cleaning arsenal.
The Hard Water Wand: Abrasive Power with Design Flaws
Embarrassing hard water stains plague many toilets. The Hard Water Wand promises a scratch-free solution. It uses natural volcanic pumice. This material is known for scrubbing away tough stains. It targets calcium, lime, and rust buildup. This includes showers, tubs, and sinks, too. We tested it on a toilet with stubborn hard water rings.
The wand has a design flaw. Its extended handle keeps your hands out of dirty water. But it also hinders reaching toilet bowl contours. To truly scrub effectively, gloves are a must. Your hands need to get into the bowl. After extensive scrubbing, it did remove tough stains. It made the toilet look much newer.
The concept is great. However, the pumice stone wears down quickly. It won’t last long. Reviews average 3.2 out of five stars. Many complaints cite the stone breaking off the handle. This often happens within the first few uses. Many similar pumice cleaning products exist. They cost less and have better ratings. Consider those options first. This “As Seen On TV bathroom gadget” has room for improvement.
Budget-Friendly Pumice for Hard Water Stains
The Hard Water Wand is essentially a pumice stone on a stick. Pumice is a common tool for removing calluses. A smaller pumice stone from a dollar store is more practical. Its compact size helps reach tight spots. Even if you use several, they still cost less. A dollar store pumice stone offers the same cleaning power. It does so without the design flaws or inflated price.
L.A.’s Totally Awesome All-Purpose Cleaner: A Dollar Store Gem
L.A.’s Totally Awesome All-Purpose Cleaner is a concentrated liquid. It claims to clean everything washable. It contains no harmful chemicals. Best of all, it’s a dollar store find. We used this cleaner with many products in our video tests. It performed admirably. Just follow the dilution directions for your cleaning task. Spray it on, scrub, and wipe off.
Good reviews praise its versatility. It removes grease, paint, hair dye, drinks, and even some inks. It’s safe for carpet cleaning machines. We used it on soiled carpet. It worked great after just one application. This cleaner is truly awesome. It is also incredibly affordable. It stands out as a genuine value product.
Crafting Your Own Lemon-Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner
For those who prefer DIY solutions, a lemon-vinegar cleaner is excellent. Vinegar cuts through grease and disinfects surfaces. Its strong smell can be off-putting. Lemon helps mask this odor. It also adds its own cleaning power. You can use lemon scraps or slices. Place them in a pint-sized jar. Cover them with white vinegar. This mixture works immediately.
For enhanced cleaning power and a fantastic scent, be patient. Seal the jar tightly. Store it for a few weeks. Shake it every few days. By week three, your lemon vinegar infusion is ready. Fill an empty spray bottle halfway with the liquid. Top it off with warm water. This natural cleaner tackles dirt and grime. It polishes glass surfaces. It leaves a pleasant, fresh fragrance. Good things do come to those who wait.
