Review – Iron & Velvet – Luxury Cleaning Products

Have you ever heard about Iron & Velvet – Luxury Cleaning Products? No? Hmm, me neither, until a few months ago that is. I spotted Iron & Velvet on Twitter and as a junky for all things cleaning related and a lover of luxury I just had to try them out.

So who are Iron & Velvet and what is so special about their product?

As per their website description: Iron & Velvet was born from a desire to improve. With over 30 years’ experience in the manufacture and development of specialist cleaning solutions to be used in the metal finishing industry we noticed that we had a different expectation of what “clean” is. For us, “clean” is a surface which has no impurities on whatsoever, even down to a microscopic level.

Currently Iron & Velvet have 14 cleaning solutions for use in and around the home. They are all manufactured in the UK at their site in the West Midlands. They use only the best materials and are proud of the products they make.

Iron & Velvet split their products into two separate collections – there is an interior collection and an exterior collection.

I was lucky to be sent a few products from each collection, so we can “test ride” them. So what did I get and how did they perform?

This is the selection of Iron & Velvet products I received.

Let me start with the delivery itself.

You know how it seems some companies really don’t care about deliveries… once they got your money that’s it… Iron & Velvet cares! They actually care a lot. Every single bottle came in its own separate plastic bag. Every bag was separately sealed.

This was great. I am a sucker for details and small things like this make a huge difference to me. I have received on many occasion cleaning / liquid products by post and I must admit they do not always reach me in a perfect condition. And believe me there is nothing worse than opening the parcel full of excitement just to discover your order is actually damaged or worse, ruined.
I am confident in saying that in the case of Iron & Velvet the chances of this happening are really zero.

Now let’s talk about the packaging.

Iron & Velvet products come in see-through bottles of different shapes and sizes. I like it. Why? Simple because I can see how much product is left, without playing the guess when will I run out game. Some bottles have just a simple screw on top, some have a top and a spray and some have a spray only. The one with the spray only has however a very clever security mechanism, so you can lock it when not in use and thus avoid any accidental spraying.

One other thing about the packaging – every bottle has clear directions for use, suitability and storage, safety warnings and content information, which includes % and some chemical names as well as clear details about the company, so basically everything you might want to find on the bottle is present.

Now it is time for the products themselves.

I must admit, I didn’t use the Barbeque Cleaner (simply because by the time I received the products our BBQs were already prepared for the season and didn’t need any cleaning) or the Decking Cleaner (no excuse here, I am just too lazy). I did however try all the rest.

Car shampoo is the one product making me laugh every time I look at it. It is red / violet in colour yet its fragrant is called Blue Lagoon 🙂 Ok, I know that one has nothing to do with the other but for some bizarre reason I would expect blue lagoon to be… guess what… blue! Car shampoo comes in a 750ml screw top bottle. Despite the lack of blue colour it does smell like the sea or a sea breeze or a sea front, I guess it depends where you go to the sea side. The smell is pleasant and not overpowering. The surprising bit for me however was how effective it is. Ok, I am not a car shampoo expert as you know from my earlier posts; our car is always a bit neglected, but if I didn’t read the label I would most likely put about half of the bottle into my bucket, when in fact you only need a 50ml of shampoo to 5l of water. And this amount is sufficient to clean your car, which means that one bottle will last you for 15 car washes or in my case a lifetime 😉 The shampoo works great and I can’t fault it in any way.

Moving on…

The interior collection has quite a few different products. They are split into three categories which are easily recognized by different colours. Kitchen collection is kind of green-ish, bathroom pink-ish and household specific products have a kind of yellow-brown colour of the liquid. I like colour coordination so for me it works perfectly. I would be much happier to display them outside of the cupboards, as they are products of a similar design and colour rather than a colourful mish-mash of products we all usually have, this would just drive me crazy all the time.

Most of the interior collection has a really nice and interesting smell – there is mango, coconut and lime, sandalwood, orange and ginger, ylang ylang and my personal favourite apple and mint.

The apple and mint fragrance belongs to the Glass and Mirror Cleaner. This product comes in 500ml spray with the top bottle. Sharing the house with a gloopy Newfoundland can only mean one thing – there is always something to clean and we like mirrors. We have a mirror in every room in the house (except for the front room at the moment) and they get dirty on a daily basis. There are some things which you can ignore when your house isn’t sparkly clean but a mirror for me isn’t one of them. I simply can’t stand looking into a mirror and sharing the view of myself with loads of dog slobber (and if you are wondering how come dog slobber gets onto a mirror… well, it gets everywhere including the ceiling, so hey ho…)
When it comes to cleaning mirrors and windows for years I used just one product and one brand only. Everything else that I have tried just wasn’t good enough, but Iron & Velvet actually is. Iron & Velvet Glass and Mirror Cleaner not only smells amazing but what’s most important is it cleans the mirror and glass with ease. For a normal family living in a normal living condition without a “slobber machine” which works 24/7 dirty mirrors might not be such a problem but for us it is… believe me. You, my lovely readers, might struggle with water stains or dry speckles after toothpaste… I have to deal with slobber. If Iron & Velvet Glass and Mirror Cleaner works for me, it will for sure work for you as well. And it is not just the fact that it cleans the mirror and leaves them sparkly… to some degree most products will do this… what gets me is the ease of the cleaning process. It is almost like spray and wipe, no scrubbing necessary… it is brilliant! Same with the glass; our conservatory doors have never looked better.

Hmmm I am not even half way there and my post is well over 1200 words long. Ok, I think I will stop now and if you want to discover more about Iron & Velvet you should place an order.

But before I go I just want to give a special recognition to Iron & Velvet Floor Cleaner. It is so efficient and works like magic. All pet owners know how hard it is to clean dried muddy paw prints… well for Iron & Velvet this isn’t a challenge at all! I hate mopping in general because I find it hideous and very tiring but with Iron & Velvet I hate this chore just a little bit less.

So from me Iron & Velvet gets big thumbs up.

Special note to Iron & Velvet: I really like your products guys and I think you are creating something special!

As for you my lovely readers:

What are your favourite cleaning products or brands?

Did you try Iron & Velvet yet?

* Products were provided free of charge for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.

Review – Bath Power by OzKleen

OzKleen Bath Power removes bore water stains, limescale, calcium, soap scum, rust stains and is great for use in hard water areas. 

Containing no chlorine, ammonia or phosphates, Bath Power is safe for bio-cycles and septic tanks. (Not tested on animals)

Use it on all surfaces such as fiberglass, taps, toilets, shower screens, baths, stainless steel, tiles, metal surfaces and chrome.

Bath Power is based on a mild, natural plant acid, combined with a rich surfactant system, using a special manufacturing process to unleash the powerful cleaning action.

This is some basic information about the product from the OzKleen website. It contains all that you need to know about the product except the most important fact…

it really works!

no scrubbing is required to achieve a clean and shiny bath / sink / toilet or tiled wall surface

OzKleen Bath Power will allow you to have a clean and shiny bathroom in no time and with minimum effort on your part. Follow these easy steps:

1. Identify the dirty surface
2. Spray Bath Power and leave for 30-60 seconds
3. Wipe with a sponge or a cloth
4. Rinse with water
5. Enjoy the results

Sparkly clean sink in no time

Bath Power works even on stubborn and “old” dirt. If you have something extremely dirty all you have to do is to leave your OzKleen just a little bit longer… but please do not be tempted to leave it for “ages” as it is not going to help. Bath Power needs to be wiped whilst it is still wet, so do not allow for the liquid to dry.

The OzKleen website has a great selection of cleaning hints for using Bath Power.

I would love to share them with you.

Bathtubs:

Regular cleaning with Bath Power will lessen hard soap-scum build up. After each use, wipe your bathtub with Bath Power and a sponge. The Bath Power Mate is ideal for baths. Baths are low to the ground, so using the Bath Power Mate can make cleaning easier. The long handle means less bending. Turn on bath tap and rinse the dissolved soap-scum down the drain.

Spas:

Empty spa water and wipe over with Bath Power. Leave for about 1 minute then rinse off. Your spa will look like new. Bath Power cleans and gleams!!

Tiles:

Ceramic tiles are extremely durable. Most tiles have a glazed glossy finish that protects the surface from stains and moisture. Unglazed tiles require additional care such as more frequent cleaning and occasional sealing. SquirtBath Power directly onto the tiles you want to clean. Wipe over using a sponge or cloth, leave for 30-60 secs. then rinse off using the showerhead. Applying Bath Power using the Bath Power Mate makes it easier again. Fill the Bath Power Mate with Bath Power, turn to “ON” and you’re away. Bath Power will dispense out as you wipe your tiles. The Bath Power Mate has a non-scratch cleaning head unlike steel wool or abrasive products that can scratch the tile finish.

Grout:

Grout is rough and porous which attracts soap-scum and dirt. Remove this layer of grime first with Bath Powersprayed directly onto the surface, leave for 30-60 secs. and rinse off using the showerhead. Do not use nylon or short bristle brushes that can damage grout. The Bath Power Mate has a special non-scratch cleaning head that is ideal for wiping over grout. NOTE: Sometimes mould and grime can etch itself behind and in the grout making it impervious to cleaners. If this is the case, the surface is therefore damaged and you may need to re-grout. When you re-grout, be sure to kill all the mould or it may breed back through again. Don’t use steel wool – too much scrubbing can rub the dirt into pores!

Shower Screens:

Why do all that scrubbing when Bath Power does it for you? Some happy users prefer to clean the screen while in the shower. Simply squirt onto surface. Use your hands to wipe over (those with sensitive skin should use a cloth or the Bath Power Mate) leave for 30-60secs. and rinse off using the showerhead. The Bath Power Mate is ideal for screens and makes it so much quicker. The special non-scratch cleaning head won’t scratch your glass. The long handle means less leverage and saves you time.

Toilets:

Bath Power is brilliant for toilets and NEW Bath Power Pine leaves your toilet smelling fresh and clean. First remove dust using toilet paper or paper towel and flush down toilet. Spray up and around the rim of the bowl. Lightly use a toilet brush for inside areas and a cloth for the bowl. Flush toilet and wipe toilet with a moist cloth. BRILLIANT!!

So, if you want a sparkly clean surface with no effort, OzKleen Bath Power is the way to go!

Join OzKleen on Facebook and you will be able to enter their competition to win a year’s supply of Ozkleen products:

– 8 bottles of Bath Power
– 8 bottles of Kitchen Power
– 8 bottles of Carpet Power
– Ten packs of BBQ Power wipes

Be quick as the competition closes Friday 26th July. And remember you have to answer all 4 questions in order to take part in this contest.

Good Luck and Happy Cleaning!

* Product was provided by OzKleen free of charge for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own .

Review – Kitchen Power by OzKleen

We all have some chores and there is no way of avoiding cleaning. I personally don’t mind cleaning tasks but I hate scrubbing. I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist, so every time I have to scrub something or put more pressure into my wrist I suffer later on. I was determined to find myself a cleaning aid which will allow me to clean with minimum effort.

5 years ago when we bought our house we were in need of some magic powers to help us clean it and bring it back into a usable state. We went shopping and got back home with a car full of cleaning products, clothes, scrubbing brushes etc… it was a very hard work and after the first day I went online to find a solution to our problem. I needed something that would actually work on stubborn old dirt (previous owner of our house didn’t belong to the cleanest people in the world club). This is how I come across OzKleen. It was recommended on various forums so next morning I popped to our local Tesco and bought myself 3 magic power bottles.

OzKleen made all the difference. Don’t get me wrong things aren’t going to clean themselves just because you bought some OzKleen Powersbut this job is so much easier. You indentify the nature of your dirty spot, you spray and wipe… when the dirt is very stubborn you might scrub a little but most of the time wiping it with a rough side of a sponge is enough.

Since that purchase we became a loyal customer of OzKleen. Every now and then whilst on my weekly shopping trip I will pick up some other manufacturers cleaning aid whilst it is on special offer. Then invariably I get home, try it and end up regretting the purchase. I know that OzKleen works and I couldn’t ask for anything more from the product but for some reason I am tempted to try what competitors come up with. After making my curiosity purchase I cure myself for few months and my need for further searching is gone… but then again sometime down the line I fall into the same trap due to advertising.

Around a week ago I received a parcel from OzKleen with my new magic powers. Since then I have tried NOT to clean my kitchen sink and cooker so that I can record the results once I finally do decide to clean it. Today was that day. I just couldn’t bear to look any longer at my kitchen sink so it had to be cleaned.

See for yourself what OzKleen Kitchen Powercan do. Please bear in mind that the total time to do my sink was just over 2min. It is really so quick and simple – you spray, allow to rest for 60 sec and you wipe. No scrubbing was required.

Before and after

My sink before and after

Next task I under took this morning was to clean my cooker. Ok, I admit it wasn’t very dirty at first glance but when you looked closer it had parts which were in need of some attention. I stripped my cooker into smaller parts in order to make it all clean and shiny. It took me 11 minutes to do it all, including the wall tiles above the cooker.

My cooker before and after

Wok ring before and after

Kitchen tiles just above the cooker before and after cleaning with OzKleen

work in progress

almost done

now I just have to put all these parts back together

Job Done!

OzKleen Kitchen Power not only does the job as proclaimed, it is also environmentally aware you can use it in households with septic tank systems and bio-cycles systems. It is NOT tested on animals. It doesn’t contain chlorine, ammonia or phosphates so there are no noxious fumes.  OzKleen Kitchen Power is good for you and good for the environment.

 

Here are some information’s from OzKleen website about their Kitchen Power.

Kitchen Power removes grease & grime, cooking oil, water marks, limescale, stubborn stains, food spills, red wine spills, curry stains. 

Use Kitchen Power on all your hard surfaces, such as stainless steel sinks, benches, pots & pans, ovens, rangehoods and cooker hobs. 

Kitchen Power also works great in the laundry, on light fittings, window frames, BBQ’s, outdoor furniture, metals, brass, jewellery, bins, boats and floors (dilute and mop floors).
(Not tested on animals)

And some cleaning hints on how to use Kitchen Power

Steel Sinks:

Spray Kitchen Power into sink and wipe over using a wet cloth. Leave for about a minute then simply turn on the sink tap and wash the dissolved stains down the drain. Your sink will look like new! 

Ceramic Hobs:

Kitchen Power works wonders on cooking hobs. Simply spray with Kitchen Power, leave for about a minute and wipe with a damp cloth. 

Handy Hint:

Kitchen Power can be tipped down the drain to help keep your drains clear and smelling fresh. Regular use of Kitchen Power prevents drain blockages. 

Flyscreens:

Remove screens and spray with Kitchen Power, leave for 30-60 secs. and hose off. Put two to three caps- full of Kitchen Power in a bucket of water and wash window and door frames with a sponge. Before you put screens back, wash out the window or door grooves where the screens slide. Wind a strip of cloth around a ruler or screwdriver, which will fit into the narrow slots. First dip this into the bucket of water and Kitchen Power. Finish up by wiping with a dry cloth. If you want to store the clean screens for the winter, put them in a place that is clean and dry. Cover them with paper sacks or clean cloths. Or use a big sheet of plastic, like an old shower curtain or tablecloth. 

Barbecues:

Tough grease, gunk and insects can threaten your outdoor feast. You’ll know if your barbeque grill needs cleaning if the flame coming from the burners is yellow instead of blue. The burner should be cleaned at least once a year with a wire brush and poke each burner hole with a nail to clear away gunk. Gas tubes should also be checked and cleared using a stick. Spiders and insects can block the flow of gas. When cleaning the gas grill spray a small amount of Kitchen Power on the surface, turn your BBQ on to medium high and scrap gunk off using a scraper. Check first that the scraper does not scratch the surface since all BBQs are different. 

Vinyl Floors:

Dilute Kitchen Power 20-1 in a bucket of water. Mop and wait awhile to allow it to penetrate the ground-in dirt. Dry the surface with a towel to be sure the surface is not slippery. Your floors will sparkle like new! 

Ovens:

The secret with ovens is getting to the grime quickly, preventing the buildup. As soon as there is a spill, squirt with Kitchen Power then wipe off. Avoid using steel wool, which can scratch the oven resulting in food clinging to the surface and making it harder to clean. Spray Kitchen Power in your oven directly to remove spillages. Leave for a while and wipe off. NOTE: It’s best to turn the oven off when doing a thorough clean. Use Kitchen Power just after spills. Caution: Never apply any cleaner to a hot oven.

 

If you are responsible for the cleaning chores in your house and wish these tasks were easier you should try OzKleen products. They can be bought from selected superstores or online at places like Amazon or Wilko.com

You might think that they cost more than standard supermarket kitchen cleaning aid (which can be bought for £1 on special offers) and yes, you are right but… OzKleen products are really worth the extra. Think how much time and energy you can save!

If you want to keep up with OzKleen news you can join them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter 

Have you ever try OzKleen? If you have let me know and keep in touch, more importantly stay tuned for exciting news in the near future…..

* Product was provided free of charge for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own .

OzKleen – The Cleaning Power!

Check out my delivery of fantastic cleaning goodies from OzKleen

My Cleaning Super Powers!

For your chance to win a year’s supply of OzKleen follow them on Twitter and RT competition tweet.

Good Luck!