1. What were your thoughts and feelings about Ecover prior to trying them? Had you used any Ecover products before?
I had bought Ecover products previously because we want to try to reduce our environmental impact. I've used the washing up liquid, bathroom cleaner, laundry liquid and other products. I gave up using them because I was let down by the performance, or rather the lack of performance and they also smelled awful.
2. Do you currently use wipes as part of your cleaning regime? Is it because they are convenient, value for money or for other reasons?
Yes, I do use them for jobs where just a dishcloth and hot water won't do - like cleaning the worksurface after preparing meat and occasional quick clean ups or quick swishes and swipes in the bathroom. I don't think that they are value for money, at least not when you compare them to a cloth and hot water, but they are very convenient and a pack of 80 Sainsbury's ones lasts us about six weeks to two months.
3. Ecover Multi-Action Wipes can be used throughout your home - from toilet seats to highchairs - where did you test your wipes? Did they do the job?
I've used the entire pack so we've given them a good test. I've used them for a swish and swipe in the bathroom - not a bad job but see number 7.
I've used them to clean some black mould of UPvC. Again they did the job but see 7 for more qualifying information.
I've mainly used them for cleaning the kitchen surfaces including during birthday cake making when every surface (and walls and floor) were covered in fondant icing, icing sugar and buttercream. Again the wipes cleaned the mess but...
4. How important is it that the wipes are Anti-bacterial and kill 99.9% of bacteria? Do you use any Anti-bacterial products for cleaning or hygiene?
This is quite important to me and is really the only reason I buy wipes for those times when a hot soapy cloth just won't, in my opinion, do.
5. Thinking about the wipes, did you find the packaging easy to use and carry all the information you needed? Did you like the fragrance? Did the wipes retain enough moisture to get the job done?
I was really impressed with the packaging when I opened the envelope. I thought that Ecover had made a real effort to appeal to customers on a wider basis rather than just "green" customers alone. To be frank the packaging has always been really dull in the past and always seemed to be a bit of an afterthought.
The packaging was no better in terms of ease of use than any other soft-pack wipe. I find such packs always cause wipes to dry out and become less useful.
I was really excited by the thought of the fragrance - pomegranate and lime - when I saw the pack and was dreadfully disappointed. On initial opening the wipes smelled exactly like gin and tonic. Once the wipe had been out of the pack and started to be used the smell dissipated and they just went back to smelling a bit grim like the ecover products of the past. Once the pack had been open for a while the whole pack lost it's scent in this way.
6. The wipes are FSC sourced and biodegradable - how did you dispose of your wipes once used? Would you pop them on the compost heap or perhaps with food waste? They are not flushable, is this problem?
Our compost bin is full and we don't have food waste so ours went into our landfill rubbish but it's good to know that they will biodegrade (hopefully better than some other biodegradable put-me-in-your-compost products that I've tried!).
7. Would you buy the products in the future? If it came up in conversation do you think you'd recommend to a friend? Why? If not why?
No. The wipes were flimsy. They stuck together and did not last as well as others I have tried. They also stuck together and had to be teased open. My biggest issue, as someone with eczema, was that each wipe when picked out of the packet and used oozed foamy cleaning fluid all over my hands. I am really put off by this and it would be my main reason for not buying these again. In comparison my usual wipes open fully, last better and do not cover my hand in cleaning fluid. For that reason i wouldn't recommend them.
8. Having now tried Ecover Multi-Action Wipes has it changed your perception of the brand? If so, how?
yes I think ecover are trying harder to reach a wider market.
9. Finally, using a 5-star rating with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor? what would you give Ecover Multi-Action Wipes?
2