Funny T-Shirts

Exploding Golf Balls
Blows up in a cloud of powder!

I think I'll save myself some money, and continue removing stains the old fashioned way - soap, water and elbow grease.

Tide (Procter & Gamble) sells one, too.

Tide Buzz

Consumer Reports has done a review of the Tide one, but I'm not gonna spend $5 just to see it.

Maybe this is what the woman from the Kentucky Fried Movie needed. (Although shouting the stains out seemed to work for her )

Well ultrasonic technology is employed to break up kidney stones; perhaps it works similarly with stains. Unfortunately, patients treated for stones with ultrasound experience a much higher recurrence than those treated conventionally. Which begs the question, are garments treated ultrasonically more likely to develop new stains than those just tossed in the wash?

If it works on any stain, no matter how stubborn
What does it do to the dye?

It has no detrimental effect on the colours of your fabric.

I would just think from it's description that it rubs really quickly, a lot. I can see how that works, but the little head thing looks terribly small. If you had a stain the size of a half dollar, you'd be ultrasonic-ing for HOURS.

I use some oxy stuff. I think it works b/c it has perioxide in it.

It says it only "Virtually" removes stains. That word is a tricky one.

I just happen to subscribe to Consumer Reports.com. Here's what they have to say about Tide Buzz:
Tide Buzz, a new stain-removal system from Procter & Gamble and Black & Decker, uses a cleaning solution and ultrasonic energy to clear stains from clothing before laundering. You insert a bottle of Tide's solution into the unit's base and put a “stain-catcher pad” under the spot. Then you gently rub the unit's cleaning wand over the stain, dispensing a buzz of ultrasound.

The electric ultrasonic unit cost us $50, which includes a 10-ounce bottle of solution and a supply of pads; replacement solution costs $5, as do 15 pads.

We tested the Buzz on ketchup, chocolate syrup, mustard, used motor oil, lipstick, grass, ballpoint ink, and cherry drink on nylon, cotton, and polyester/cotton.

The bottom line. The Buzz got out most stains from most fabrics, even stains that had set for 24 hours. It didn't get out all the ink and mustard, or cherry drink from nylon. Buzz plus laundering worked better than the Buzz alone.

We went through pads quickly, using a few dozen with a single bottle of cleaner. White towels also work, we found.

Is it worth $50, plus regular outlays for supplies? We think so. The Buzz lets you dispense with other cleaners and most laundry pretreaters, and it works fast. You can also buzz spots off clothing that you're wearing.

PS - I hope that this doesn't cause a problem with Consumer Reports, Alex. If so, just delete my entry!

Hmmm, interesting! Thanks for posting the bit from CR.

Nymph, thanks for the "consumers" info.

"You can also buzz spots off clothing that you're wearing." Uh, even skidmarks?

with Oxyclean you may use or sell any device for cleaning (CD player, toothbrush, your hand) and it will work.

Ultrasonic cleaners are nothing new. They're used in laboratories a lot to clean specimens, tools, parts, anything. However, in that case they usually aren't used on fabrics, and usually don't use detergent, you just soak your sample in solvent (ie. alcohol, acetone, etc.). I know there's a bunch of ultrasonic jewlery cleaners out there.

Excerpt from the ad for this cleaner:
"Utilizes ultrasonic technology—120 vibrations per
second"

120 vibrations per second (120Hz) is most definitely
NOT ultrasonic... it's 142 Hz below middle C. A bit
more energetic than elbow grease, but still in the
same league. An ultrasonic cleaner would typically
employ a frequency of 43KHz (43 thousand vibrations
per second). Gimmicky advertising.

Yeah, Pat, I was pretty sure 120 vibrations p.s. was in the audible range.

If ultrasonic cleaners work (and apparently they do), they must work in a way analogous to how washing machines work-- agitate the clothes, watch parts, or whatever in a cleaning solution (e.g. soap and water) until the dirt shakes loose.

"You can also buzz spots off clothing that you're wearing."

Hmmm, I think I feel a new pick-up line coming on:
"Hi, there. Too bad about that drink you just spilled. Let me try my new ultrasonic vibrating stain remover on that..."

Could it work on a birthmark or a mole. I bet I got some stains it couldn't get out.

Who cares if it works, the model is just plain HOT!

Sorry, guess I just miss the Dusty girl...

That model IS one of the Dusty girls, isn't she?

Anyway, I'd be happy to remove stains from clothes she's wearing, any time.

I bought the Tide Buzz for $9.99 two weeks ago at a store called "Tuesday Morning."

I've tried it on ketchup and grass stains; so far so good. I think that Shout would have removed these stains as well though.

I'll try to remember to write back when I've given it a serious test.