On October 11, I got an email from a PR flack, asking if I’d like to do a review/giveaway of products to clean dishwashers and washing machines. Yes, someone out there thinks you need to wash your dishwasher, and wash your washing machine.
Given that in all my born days, I’ve never noticed smelliness emanating from any of my washing appliances, I ignored the email.
On December 14, I got a follow-up email, which I politely replied to:
Thanks for being in touch, but I think I'll skip this one.
On January 12, I got yet another email – this time referencing someone else’s blog:
I work with Whirlpool Corporation and came across your blog Gray Matter Matters. I thought you might be interested in learning more about the affresh brand of cleaning products.
I ignored it, especially since it wasn’t for me.
On January 21, I got a FOURTH pitch from the same people. I bit my tongue, hard, and restrained myself from responding to this email in the way in which I was inclined.
Methinks they are desperate. And I have to say, it warms the cockles of my little black heart to think that they must try so very very hard to sell their product that no one needs and which may not even work. No one! It’s like the unneeded Vagisil Feminine Wash and the dangerous Feminine Deodorant Spray. Because if they have to work so very hard to sell their unnecessary product, it must mean that the general public realizes that it’s an asinine waste of time and money and chemicals. It’s such a comfort to know that Americans are getting brighter.
16 comments:
I agree that for the most part these products are stupid. Yet I admit I feel compelled to vacuum my vacuum cleaners! They get dusty and, though I'm no clean freak, I do like a shiny clean vac!
:) This made me smile. Surely if the inside of your washing machine (I don't have a dishwasher so I can't speak about them) was in need of cleaning, you could just toss in a little vinegar or bleach? My rotator thing gets stained a bit because our well water gets silty at times. But I can clean that off without too much trouble.
As a member of the PR flack fraternity, I say name those losers! What agency? Come on, give them some Google juice!!!
If only more people saw through ad campaigns, saw through the "need" for a full range of products, and instead saved that money and donated to a worthy cause, the world just might be a better place.
p.s. Kinda funny, I did clean the top part of my (white) washing machine just the other day. A rare event. I merely dipped a wash cloth into the machine (filling with sudsy water)and wiped the grime.
A good rant is always a good thing.
If only it were true, that Americans are getting brighter, that we could eliminate more of the redundancies.
Eek, de. You make me afraid I'm one of the redundancies.
LOL Magpie: I have a front-end loading washing machine. If we close the door anytime except when it's running, it gets mildewy almost instantly. The solution, of course, is just to keep the door open. (Also mildew is kind of an unusual phenomenon in this here desert, so I don't worry too much.)
And if you do feel compelled to clean your dishwasher (I have)--use white vinegar.
You know, that's a really good point. And I do enjoy a good rant. And my dishwasher does have to be cleaned, but only because it's not working properly and crap gets left behind. And the product I use to clean it is called a husband. Any time you want to review him, just let me know.
I've seen these products--Chlorox makes one for washing machines, but the warnings would have curled my hair if it wasn't already curly. Instead I ran a bottle of vinegar through the machine and that helped the mustiness/mildew a lot.
And trust me, from what I see as a librarian people are NOT getting brighter. Cathy Guisewite described it in "Cathy" years before the Internet as "multimedius ignormus" and it's even truer now.
Sigh...
I got a free sample of the dishwasher washing stuff and used it on my old dishwasher as it was losing its enamel and all that kind of thing.
The clean walls lasted about a week. I put it on a level with all the anti=bacterial wipes they try to sell us. Encouraging the toughest bacteria to survive.
Marketing is not a fun profession.
Okay, my washer needs to be replaced due to its advanced age. I do need to clean it. But that's what other everyday household products are for. Like vinegar and bleach.
I disagree. We had a washing machine die and the new front loaders have one big detriment, they stink, literally. Someone else warned me of this actually. They are more "green" and use less water but if you buy a front loader, they keep water in the seal and it never dries out completely. Afresh is recommended because of a design flaw that allows mildew. You could scrub it or dry it out everytime and you definitely need to leave the door a bit ajar, but the Afresh helps.
ughhh. how annoying! btw my front loader in my rental smells awful.i was just discussing this with my husband and we definitely want a top loader whenever we decide to buy. i've read about those products too various places and none seem to work. we keep our door vented and that helps for the most part.
By "brighter" I meant their laundry. Probably so did you :D
:)
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