February 2007
Wipe hype
WAY TO WIPE Lysol was stronger than Clorox, but both should do the job--for a price.
The claim. The boast for Lysol Sanitizing Wipes is “now 50% stronger and cleans better than Clorox Wipes on tough grease!” Both Lysol
and Clorox wipes say they contain disinfectants, and both cost about 7 cents per wipe, which makes them a pricey alternative
to paper towels (about a penny per sheet). They’re to be used on nonporous surfaces.
The check. We used a machine to measure the force required to pull the wipes apart. And we used them to clean bacon fat and pancake batter drippings from a countertop.
CR’s take. The he-man award goes to Lysol. It’s stronger than Clorox, and although both neatly cleaned up fat and batter, Lysol eliminated filmy lard with one wipe, a task that took two Clorox wipes. That said, both products have enough strength for typical tasks. Their disinfectants might be useful on raw-meat residue, but a germ-free counter is a fantasy--the next time someone touches the surface, germs are back. For what it’s worth, both products bear a caveat: Don’t use these wipes for personal hygiene. Consider yourself warned.
The check. We used a machine to measure the force required to pull the wipes apart. And we used them to clean bacon fat and pancake batter drippings from a countertop.
CR’s take. The he-man award goes to Lysol. It’s stronger than Clorox, and although both neatly cleaned up fat and batter, Lysol eliminated filmy lard with one wipe, a task that took two Clorox wipes. That said, both products have enough strength for typical tasks. Their disinfectants might be useful on raw-meat residue, but a germ-free counter is a fantasy--the next time someone touches the surface, germs are back. For what it’s worth, both products bear a caveat: Don’t use these wipes for personal hygiene. Consider yourself warned.
