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No joke, this Rubbermaid 'electric toothbrush' for cleaning restored my orange grout back to white
If you want your home to dazzle, this top-seller is your new best friend for spring cleaning.
When I say I've tried everything under the sun to clean my white grout, I mean everything. Baking soda concoctions, commercial cleaners — even my beloved The Pink Stuff. And while the latter is one of my go-tos for many other cleaning tasks, none of these methods have been able to tackle the orange hue my grout had taken on. I'd just about lost hope, when I discovered the Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber, a sort of electric toothbrush-style cleaning tool that delivers more power than manual scrubbing. I figured it couldn't hurt to put it to the test, right? Well, here's my review.
A spring cleaning tool that gets the job done quicker and gives my arms a break? Um, yes, please!
I bought a house a few years ago and quickly learned that having white grout in one's bathroom is not a walk in the park. The previous owners had let it become an unsightly orange color in many spots, and ignorant me assumed there would be a quick fix involving some baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and a little elbow grease. Wrong! My grout had been stained for too long for any home remedies to have an effect. I tried some other commercial cleaners and scrubbed as hard as I could but was left with the same rusty-looking grout every time.
Then I remembered having heard about a nifty little tool called the Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber, which happens to be super popular among Yahoo readers (and an Amazon top-seller). Having used an electric toothbrush for ages, I knew having a motorized cleaning tool could provide better results than manual methods, so I figured I'd give it a try. It's conveniently water-resistant, with a small brush head that is designed to fit into tight corners and small spaces — think grout lines, faucets, window edges, tire crevices. I also knew my own hands couldn't compete with its ability to scrub 60 times per second.
Upon its arrival, I was pleased to find it came with AA batteries, so it was ready to go right out of the package. (Love when that happens!) It felt comfortable in my hand, thanks to its soft grip handle, and as someone who isn't so savvy when it comes to electronics, I appreciated its user-friendly design — there are just two modes: pulse and continuous scrubbing.
Now for the test on my grout. I'd purchased some highly rated grout cleaner to try along with the Rubbermaid scrubber, so I spritzed some on and waited a few minutes, per the instructions. Then, I held my breath, turned on my battery-powered last hope and placed the bristles against the grout. I kid you not — after just a few seconds of buffing, the orange stains literally disappeared before my eyes. What?! I've never before experienced such a where-has-this-been-all-my-life moment, because the task I'd tried to accomplish so many other times, by hand, was being tackled like it was nothing by this little gizmo. Quite humbling, really.
Now that I've seen the wonders the Rubbermaid Reveal can work on stained grout, I'll be using it for pretty much any cleaning chore involving scrubbing. Why make my arm go through an intense workout when this gadget can do a better job, and in less time? It's also — dare I say — fun to use? Plus, it'll let me get into all of those nooks and crannies around my house that have probably (definitely) been neglected — I'm lookin' at you, fridge gaskets.
While I'd love to take credit for discovering this life-changing product, the Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber has 16,000-plus fans (and counting) who have given it a perfect rating on Amazon. No surprise there.
No more painful scrubbing
"Greatest thing ever for those hard-to-get-at places in your bathroom," shared a happy shopper. "I have tendonitis and arthritis in my hands, and cleaning in tight spaces or having to use much pressure can be quite painful. This little scrubber is such a blessing and makes bathroom cleaning a breeze. It gets into all those little grooves around faucets, shower door tracks, bolts on toilets, etc. Knocked out three bathrooms in no time flat."
Makes cleaning ... enjoyable?
"This thing is amazing — whoever thought of this should get a Nobel prize, because it’s that good," raved a Rubbermaid enthusiast. "I got this a day before my birthday and I’ve told my husband I’ll take this as my gift. This tool not only cleans grouts and faucets but it doubles as a therapy tool. It is so satisfying, comforting and oddly soothing when you see the difference. I set this next to my kitchen sink so it’s easily accessible so I can use it whenever I need some calming activity."
Even works on shoes!
"This product is great. My first use was on a pair of sandals that I was prepared to discard with white fabric uppers," shared a final reviewer. "I used a little OxiClean and the power scrubber, put them out in sun to dry and they look like new! Has paid for itself in [its] first use by saving me a shoe purchase."
A small-space savior
One fan called it "a real clean machine," adding: "Definitely a must-have for crevices and detailed cleaning areas. Scrubs great and easy to clean. Wish it came with different heads, but I’m managing fine." (Note: A dedicated grout head and eight-piece polish kit are available.)
If this isn't in your cart by now, here's my final plea to add it, stat. It'll make cleaning so much easier.
P.S.: Here's the Black Diamond Grout Cleaner I used.
This stuff is the real deal, I tell ya. I love that it doesn't require any mixing, and you only have to leave it on for 1-3 minutes to get great results. The fumes are a little potent, so you may want to wear a mask if you're not near a window, but I'll be buying this on repeat.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
