Are you wasting money on these 6 cleaning products? Uncover the truth now!
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With the cost of living getting higher, we’re all making sure that we get the most out of our cleaning products and appliances.
The experts at CHOICE have taken matters into their own hands by testing numerous cleaning products in their laboratories. They’re revealing the must-know cleaning buys that are non-essential and should be banished from your weekly shopping list.
1. Different cleaning sprays for each room
Don't be fooled–there's hardly any difference between multipurpose cleaners and kitchen sprays.
CHOICE tested a broad scope of these sprays, and the outcome is startling–there's virtually no difference between a multipurpose cleaner and a kitchen spray. Essentially, they're all doing the same job, regardless of which room you're in.
Hence, you could put that extra dollar you save by sticking with just one product–or even buying it in bulk for even more savings.
‘You don't need to spend money on a specific spray for the kitchen and another for other surfaces throughout your home,' says CHOICE cleaning expert Ashley Iredale.
'A good multipurpose spray will do the job,' he added.
However, the bathroom does call for a unique cleaning agent designed to cut through extra layers of grime and scum.
2. Floor cleaners
The allure of brightly coloured floor cleaners, with sparkling tiles decorating their labels, can be tempting, but our experts have bad news: they're not worth it.
When evaluating 15 popular floor cleaner brands, CHOICE’s experts discovered a shocking revelation–water outperformed some of them! A simple mop, together with some elbow grease and water, is your best bet.
'If you want your floors clean, save your money and just use a plain old bucket of hot water,' said Ashley. To top it all off, it's cheaper and eco-friendly too!
3. Low-performing and expensive cleaning products
CHOICE has done countless trials on cleaning products, revealing some surprising truths. Many cheaper alternatives actually outplayed pricier options, meaning you can opt for more affordable alternatives that do the job and keep your shopping bills in check.
A lot of products also lost the battle against plain old water. Here are some that were found to be as about as helpful as a glass of water:
4. Very cheap stick vacuums
CHOICE experts, having tested countless stick vacuums, learned that cheaper variants rarely offer commendable performance.
Riding on the backdrop of their tests is an average recommended price of $1,300, with the cheapest being $511.
CHOICE small appliance expert Kim Gilmour says: ‘We often find that stick vacuums that cost around $150 or less do not perform well in our testing.’
‘That's not to say that expensive stick vacuums are always better, but we do see that cheaper stick vacuums tend to be far less powerful and are usually made of cheaper components that mean they're not likely to do a great job.’
‘Buying a cheaper stick vacuum will also likely mean that you can't easily replace batteries or other parts when they deteriorate or fail, which means your appliance may have a shorter life and end up in landfill more quickly,’ Kim added.
5. Robot vacuum cleaners
These little robot vacuums seem like a great way to offload those pesky cleaning chores. But let it be known that these miniature helpers are not the cure-all for your cleaning woes.
Despite their heftier price tags, lab tests found that they underperformed when it came to carpet cleaning. Their size constraints mean smaller motors, which translates into less suction power.
While some do a decent job on hard floors, many struggle with carpet cleaning. They often get snagged on stray clothes, toys, and phone chargers, and get stuck under furniture, on door thresholds or thick rugs.
CHOICE expert Kim Gilmour says: ‘CHOICE has been testing robot vacs for years, and their overall cleaning performance has definitely improved a lot. At the same time, many are expensive, and our tests show they still have a number of issues and limitations. So it's vital to do your research to see if they'll suit your household and cleaning needs.’
6. Top-loader washing machines
Their initial cheaper price tag, lighter weight, and quicker washing times might sway you towards top-loader washers. But there's a catch–they consume more water, are rougher on your clothes, and their overall washing performance is typically poorer than that of their front-loading counterparts. Moreover, the 'agitator' in the middle of most top loader drums takes up space, which means less load.
Out of all the washing machines tested by CHOICE, not a single top loader made the recommended list.
Matthew Steen, CHOICE’s Head of Reviews and Testing, said, 'While everyone's requirements are different and there may be genuine reasons why a top loader is better for you, on the whole, we've found front loaders perform better, are gentler on clothes, take up less space and are more energy and water-efficient.'
‘Yes, they cost a little more to buy and take longer to complete a cycle, but the trade-off is cleaner clothes and cheaper running costs for the life of the machine, which helps to offset the purchase price,’ Matthew added. ‘So if you want better washing, then your future is likely to be front loading.’
There you have it! Which of these tips or products have you been using, and which ones will you be trying out? Let us know in the comments below!
The experts at CHOICE have taken matters into their own hands by testing numerous cleaning products in their laboratories. They’re revealing the must-know cleaning buys that are non-essential and should be banished from your weekly shopping list.
1. Different cleaning sprays for each room
Don't be fooled–there's hardly any difference between multipurpose cleaners and kitchen sprays.
CHOICE tested a broad scope of these sprays, and the outcome is startling–there's virtually no difference between a multipurpose cleaner and a kitchen spray. Essentially, they're all doing the same job, regardless of which room you're in.
Hence, you could put that extra dollar you save by sticking with just one product–or even buying it in bulk for even more savings.
‘You don't need to spend money on a specific spray for the kitchen and another for other surfaces throughout your home,' says CHOICE cleaning expert Ashley Iredale.
'A good multipurpose spray will do the job,' he added.
However, the bathroom does call for a unique cleaning agent designed to cut through extra layers of grime and scum.
2. Floor cleaners
The allure of brightly coloured floor cleaners, with sparkling tiles decorating their labels, can be tempting, but our experts have bad news: they're not worth it.
When evaluating 15 popular floor cleaner brands, CHOICE’s experts discovered a shocking revelation–water outperformed some of them! A simple mop, together with some elbow grease and water, is your best bet.
'If you want your floors clean, save your money and just use a plain old bucket of hot water,' said Ashley. To top it all off, it's cheaper and eco-friendly too!
3. Low-performing and expensive cleaning products
CHOICE has done countless trials on cleaning products, revealing some surprising truths. Many cheaper alternatives actually outplayed pricier options, meaning you can opt for more affordable alternatives that do the job and keep your shopping bills in check.
These products were found to be as helpful in cleaning as plain old water. Image source: Diggers, Morning Fresh, CHOICE, Saba Organics.
A lot of products also lost the battle against plain old water. Here are some that were found to be as about as helpful as a glass of water:
- Saba Organics Surface Sanitiser ($2.2 per 100mL)
- Rhythm Cleaning Vinegar Kitchen Surface Spray ($1.25 per 100mL)
- Morning Fresh Surface Disinfectant (80c per 100mL)
- Diggers Multi-Purpose Surface Cleaner (96c per 100mL)
4. Very cheap stick vacuums
CHOICE experts, having tested countless stick vacuums, learned that cheaper variants rarely offer commendable performance.
Riding on the backdrop of their tests is an average recommended price of $1,300, with the cheapest being $511.
CHOICE small appliance expert Kim Gilmour says: ‘We often find that stick vacuums that cost around $150 or less do not perform well in our testing.’
‘That's not to say that expensive stick vacuums are always better, but we do see that cheaper stick vacuums tend to be far less powerful and are usually made of cheaper components that mean they're not likely to do a great job.’
‘Buying a cheaper stick vacuum will also likely mean that you can't easily replace batteries or other parts when they deteriorate or fail, which means your appliance may have a shorter life and end up in landfill more quickly,’ Kim added.
5. Robot vacuum cleaners
These little robot vacuums seem like a great way to offload those pesky cleaning chores. But let it be known that these miniature helpers are not the cure-all for your cleaning woes.
These miniature helpers underperformed when it came to carpet cleaning. Image source: Flickr.
Despite their heftier price tags, lab tests found that they underperformed when it came to carpet cleaning. Their size constraints mean smaller motors, which translates into less suction power.
While some do a decent job on hard floors, many struggle with carpet cleaning. They often get snagged on stray clothes, toys, and phone chargers, and get stuck under furniture, on door thresholds or thick rugs.
CHOICE expert Kim Gilmour says: ‘CHOICE has been testing robot vacs for years, and their overall cleaning performance has definitely improved a lot. At the same time, many are expensive, and our tests show they still have a number of issues and limitations. So it's vital to do your research to see if they'll suit your household and cleaning needs.’
6. Top-loader washing machines
Their initial cheaper price tag, lighter weight, and quicker washing times might sway you towards top-loader washers. But there's a catch–they consume more water, are rougher on your clothes, and their overall washing performance is typically poorer than that of their front-loading counterparts. Moreover, the 'agitator' in the middle of most top loader drums takes up space, which means less load.
Out of all the washing machines tested by CHOICE, not a single top loader made the recommended list.
Matthew Steen, CHOICE’s Head of Reviews and Testing, said, 'While everyone's requirements are different and there may be genuine reasons why a top loader is better for you, on the whole, we've found front loaders perform better, are gentler on clothes, take up less space and are more energy and water-efficient.'
‘Yes, they cost a little more to buy and take longer to complete a cycle, but the trade-off is cleaner clothes and cheaper running costs for the life of the machine, which helps to offset the purchase price,’ Matthew added. ‘So if you want better washing, then your future is likely to be front loading.’
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