Ashamed to admit, I neglected my poor dishwasher

Since taking part in the poject of testing Fairy Platinum dishwashing tablets, it has made me think about how popular Fairy actually is, and how we trust the brand that has been around since 1898. For as long as I can remember Fairy has always been a huge part of the cleaning process in my mum's home, and then when I thought about it my grandmothers were just as keen on the same brand.  When I moved out of my mum's house and started to stand on my own two feet, I was on a very tight budget and therefore Fairy products had to be replaced with cheaper, and sometimes own brand items.  These items did the job, but nothing was better than going home to mum's on the weekend for Sunday lunch and the dishwashing chore was always much more pleasant than at home.  First, my hands were always dried out with the cheaper brands, but when I used the Fairy my hands were always smooth and soft.  I also liked how I didn't have to use so much of the liquid and could do a whole pile of dishes without having to keep adding liquid.  I will admit that it went completely over my head that Fairy actually had dishwashing tablets.  I guess I was a little naive and just kept with the product that I had been using.  That was until I received the tablets with this project.  The effect they have on my dishes and my dishwasher is absolutely amazing.  It's just like when the liquid loving caressed my hands and made them soft and smooth, the tablets are taking care of my dishwasher and loving caressing it.

Now I hate doing dishes by hand, the whole reason I got a dishwasher, as much as I love my hands being smooth and soft, I just can't bear the whole dishwashing routine it drives me nuts.  But after reading the SuperSavvyMe Fairy project handbook it made me realise how much I do take my dishwasher for granted.  Yes, I helped it along by rinsing my dishes first.  But what about all those stuck on stains, all the grease that I didn't get off the plates, pans and roasting dishes.  My thoughts, "don't worry Em, the dishwasher will get it off for you".  I never realised that the dishwasher needs some care too, how can I expect it to do all this cleaning, if the poor machine is not getting any attention at all?  Going back to the liquid use, would I use dirty water to wash all the dishes in that lovely Fairy liquid? Nope, so why would I neglect my poor machine?  I was giving it tablets to clean the dishes, but nothing to clean itself, and infact when it comes to cleaning the dishes the tablets I used were missing the spot and I had to rewash the dishes by hand anyways, so that was a total downer.
  

"Fairy has developed Platinum dishwasher tablets, which work to provide tough grease cleaning for both your dishes and machine with just one tablet* - the proof is in a cleaner filter" (SuperSavvyMe Project Handbook, 2012)   *Against Limescale, use Fairy dishwasher cleaner.

 How could anyone refuse to treat their dishwasher to these beauties.  We really do take things for granted and I guess our dishwasher may well be one of them.  I have learned from this project that I do need to take better care of my machine if I want it to perform better.  It's just a thought, but maybe it's also changed my mind on the products I do buy from now on.  What's that old saying, you only get what you pay for, in this instance it is totally true.  Fairy Platinum has given results that my previous dishwashing tablets couldn't even give after being used several times. 

Oral B Pro Expert Review - Refreshingly Minty

OK I'll admit it, I'm one of those people that when I get any sort of sample through the door I have to try it.  I just have to, and it can't be later, or tomorrow it has to be now, right there and then.  So when my the Oral-B  Pro Expert sample came through the door courtesy of Super Savvy Me it was no different, and off I hopped to the bathroom to give it a try.

Photo Courtesy of Super Savvy Me

When I first opened the lid of the toothpaste I just couldn't help but get thrown right into the dentists chair.  The aroma that came as soon as the lid was ajar was unbelievable, it was identical to that of my dentist's, luckily for me, I'm not that bothered about dentists, in fact I would rather go to the dentist than the doctors lol.  So after the initial throwback, I admired the lovely blue paste, it was actually something different, something I'd never seen before.  Usually toothpastes are white or striped, but I have to admit I liked this colour.  So then the real test came the brushing.  I happily applied my usual pea drop onto my brush and as soon as the brush met my teeth I knew this was different.  There were grains in the paste.. was this right? OK panic over it was right, this grains have an active ingredient and will dissolve happily in your saliva, it is also rather kind to the enamel on your teeth.  So on with the brushing.  The taste was actually quite pleasant, not too strong and not too weak.  It foamed up quite nicely, so you really did feel you were getting your full 3 minutes worth. 

The product promises to protect areas that your dentist checks most, for example your gums, plaque, sensitivity, tartar, cavities, enamel, whitening, and your breath. I have to say I was suitable impressed with this toothpaste.  It made you feel like your  mouth was clean, that it had been thoroughly taken care of and caressed with minty freshness.  I've been using it everyday since and my gums have shown a huge improvement, they are not so sore and raw, and my teeth look whiter than before.  My breath is fresh for longer and there is no aftertaste either.  I would definitely recommend this toothpaste to others, however, I've discovered looking at some other reviews since using it that the price of a full size product is quite pricey, but if you can afford it, it is well worth it. I'm sure there will always be some sort of offer on toothpastes.

Fairy Platinum Dishwasher Tablets Review - The testing begins..

Dirty dishes produced, Fairy Platinum Tablet inserted into dishwasher - and the magic begins.


I have to say I like to try new things.  I like to be the first and then tell everyone I know, and those I don't, all about it.  And these Fairy Platinum Tablet are no different.


Fairy Platinum Dishwasher Tablets come in three different options; firstly you can have different sized packs ranging from 20 tablets, 30 tablets, and a family pack of 60 tablets.   The scents which are associated with the packs are original and Lemon.   The packs are a plastic re-sealable bag which is rather handy and can be re-used time and time again. Also makes for easy storage with no bulky boxes.  A tablet measures approximately 4.5cm x 4cm and is in 2 parts, the powder and the liquid detergent which has a powerful anti-grease action,  these are both encased in a film, which means no more unwrapping and less rubbish, that’s always a bonus.   The tablets dissolve rather quickly in your dishwasher and Fairy has indicated that the tablets have cleaning ability even at low temperatures with tough stain removal and glass and silver protection.  A rinse aid action is also within the tablets and provides a super shine for glass and metal.



Fairy are promoting Fairy Platinum Dishwasher Tablets as an all in one tablet meaning that not only does it clean your dishes to a high standard, but that they degrease parts of the dishwasher that you cannot see, for example the machines filters.





One part of my filtering system, yuck!

Now this will definitely entice anyone who has decided to take a proper look at their dishwasher below the surface.  The filter is the one place that you can see the grime build up, (see photo opposite, that is proof of my own yucky filter) and Fairy is certain of their product that they actually have a filter challenge on the go.  I’ve taken part in the challenge, and all that you have to do is check your filter before using the product, and then review it at the end of the process.   When I used the product for the first time, I saw a small difference, however, after using it over a period of time, from the first time I used it I have seen a fairly noticeable difference so far, once I have finished the project I look forward to seeing how far the product has done its job since starting the testing.


When I opened the pack up the first thing that I noticed was the aroma that jut hits your nose, the smell is absolutely beautiful. I would quite happily sit there with the bag under my nose smelling it, he he.



Now I don't know about you, but I've always been in the habit of rinsing my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, I was always so fed up of going through the wash and still having dirty dishes from the plates or pans. Believe me there is nothing worse than having dried in Weetabix swirling round the dishwasher and then resting on your glasses and cups, try getting that off. So that's the reason I end up doing the dishes in my house, Joe absolutely detests it. HOWEVER, after reading the Fairy bag, and telling him that "honestly you don't have to rinse the dishes, you just get most of the soil off the dishes and throw them in and set it going with this wee tab!" he has now discovered his new best friend, and is quite happy to do the dishes for me! BONUS!!



When we first used the tablets we sat there for the whole cycle. We were not so sure how it would go, we never rinsed the dishes and all Joe could say “you'll be washing them after misses, if this doesn't work". Good job that when I opened the door and the steam came out with the most delicious aroma I’ve ever smelled, my glasses were gleaming, and the soiled plates, which before they entered the dishwasher were covered in bolognaise sauce and other such delights, were squeaky clean. I was absolutely amazed. I couldn't believe it, that this little tablet managed to clean these dishes. Joe was that happy he actually put the dishes away himself :) We delved a little deeper and looked in the dishwasher, the whole machine was sparkling and smelled fresh. I didn’t want to pull the filter out straight away, as I wanted to give it a few shots, but Joe wanted to see and we did notice a difference, nothing major, but there was a small difference.



My only little negative thing about the tablets is that it says that it provides tea stain removal.  My favourite cup which has the most horrendous brown stains from years of lovely tea was put in the machine, it came out cleaner than it had gone in, but the stains were still there. This is of course just after the one wash.  It’s just my cup was rather heavily stained, and the packet said tea stain removal and don’t get me wrong it came out with maybe 80% of the stains gone, which to me is a huge improvement and I’m not complaining one bit, as the next couple of washes the stains have completely gone, but  I did have a high hope that it would clean in the first wash, so maybe that’s my own high standards instead of the poor ability of the tablet, as it did take at least 80% of the stains away.



Needless to say we have used them every wash since.  My mum has also jumped on the Fairy bandwagon.  She can be very tricky to change her mind when she has found a product she likes, but she just can’t believe the cleaning ability of the tablets.



Why not give it a go yourself. What can the harm be in trying? You never know you may just be surprised. I've never thought that a dishwashing tablet could do the job for me, and that I’d be endlessly rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.



If you are still not sure, why not check out some more reviews over on Super Savvy Me and dooyoo



Want the best deal? Skip on over to MySupermarket to compare the prices to get the right deal for you :)

My Poor Filter

The start of the filter challenge.

Awaiting the parcel! :)

A few weeks ago I stumbled across a site called Super Savvy Me that looked really interesting.  I'm not actually sure how I found it but i'm glad that I did.  I signed up straight away and noticed that there was a little section where you could become a product tester.  I had a little peek around and noticed that they were looking for 10,000 willing individuals to product test Fairy's Platinum Dishwashing tablets.  I honestly thought that I had no chance of becoming a tester, but thought there was no harm in trying and therefore took part in there wee survey to check that I was eligible.  I was quite excited and hoped that I would become a tester.  I like to try new things out and give my honest opinion.

Admittedly, I had forgotten about the product testing when I got an e-mail to let me know that I had been selected to test Fairy Platinum Dishwashing tablets.  Excited was not the word to explain how I felt.  Ok Ok, I know most of you will think - what is she talking about, but honestly, there is nothing better than getting something to test and to let them know your feedback.  At the end of the day it's testers feedback that determine the effectiveness of the product when you get it into your home. If there is anything wrong then you can let the company know and they then have the chance to ammend this, or on the other hand if there is something that has been done well, they can take advantage of this.

Hapy with my little Fairy Pack

Anyways, while I waited for my starter pack to come through the post to get started, I read the Fairy Project Blog  to get some more information on what was happening, and to also meet a lot of the other testers that are also taking part, and which is safe to say, rather excited too.  Then it arrived, and I had so much fun opening and checking out the contents of my wee parcel.  A full pack of Fairy Platinum Tablets, with a recipe book filled with delicious meals to try out at your very own dinner party which also includes a voucher with money off your next packet of tablets.  A manual and surveys in which they were really good quality was also included.   I took some photos of myself and roped in my husband Joe, to also help with the whole process.  If you can't share your excitement then what's the point huh? :)
 



Welcome

Wow my first blog post. 

Ok I guess I should start with why I set this blog up and what it's mainly going to consist of. 

I love to review, be that a product, a business, or even a place.  I just love to get my opinions and views across.  I usually just post up reviews on main sites, but i thought I would take it one more step and set up a blog so that I could write what I wanted to about anything that I want. without limitations.  

Also I've been selected amongst 10,000 others to take part in a product test for Fairy Dishwasher Tablets over on Super Savvy Me.  So at the moment I will be doing a lot on the product which I'm asked to test over there, but I'm absolutely certain I will be testing other things too :)