We tested the entire Poundland cleaning range from Channel 4 How Clean Is Your House's professional cleaner Kim Woodburn - Tilly Alexander - MyLondon

2022-09-02 20:10:34 By : Mr. David Ding

MyLondon Reviews Writer Tilly Alexander tested everything the Celebrity Big Brother legend has to offer

Kim Woodburn, professional cleaning expert and media personality. You might know her as one half of Aggie and Kim from Channel 4's How Clean Is Your House, or perhaps as the meme-inspiring celeb who scored third place in Celebrity Big Brother 19.

Or, if like me you've lately been trawling Poundland's aisles, you might also know her as the pearl-wearing blonde woman whose face is plastered across countless bright pink plastic bottles in the household cleaning section. Yes, that's right, cleaning legend Kim has partnered with everyone's favourite budget shop (mine, at least) on an exclusive range of products.

There's everything from kitchen and bathroom sprays to furniture polish and mould cleaner, plus peony pink rubber gloves, a dustpan and brush, duster... It's enough to get excited about - but is it any good? I grabbed as many items as I could from Poundland's shelves - then scoured its little sister Poundshop's website for any missing items - to find out.

It was love at first sniff and swipe with Kim's £1 Multi Purpose Cleaner. Twisting the clever nozzle top and giving it a test squirt, I was delighted by a lovely lime and mint scent that was more gently fragrant fabric softener than chemical-smelling cleaning product.

I read the back to uncover the exact perimeters of its 'multi purpose' nature, delighted to discover it was suited to 'most hard surfaces' including metal and plastic. It quickly lived up to these promises, tackling first the kitchen counters then a dusty spice stain and finally a particularly tough chunk of hardened bin juice that had leaked unseen from the bag.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Multi Purpose Cleaner 750ml online at Poundshop or in-store in Poundland

Another day, another Kim Woodburn product that blew me away. Like my newly beloved Multi Purpose Cleaner, this bad boy is just £1, incredibly good at its prescribed role and surprisingly delightful on the nose (the herby yet floral lime and mint scent delivers once again).

I tried it on windows, two glass-topped tables (one indoor, one out) and a mirror for good measure, becoming increasingly impressed as it transformed the muddied surfaces back to their clear, shiny original states in a matter of seconds. Unlike fellow cleaning enthusiasts who have also tried and raved about this product, I couldn't get it totally streak-free - though that's likely more to do with my technique.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Window & Glass Cleaner 750ml in-store or online at Poundland

As Microfibre Cleaning Cloths go, the £1.50 pack of four from the Kim Woodburn x Poundland range are more than decent. The white and pink colour scheme struck me as less appropriate for an item that is undoubtedly going to be put in stain-worthy situations but I found it cute and cheerful.

As for usefulness, it paired especially well with the sprays in this collection, and is arguably a match made in heaven with the Window & Glass Cleaner. When dry, it buffed effectively and absorbed stray liquids; when damp, it became a little lumpy, soggy and less effective - but I forgive it as being otherwise a brilliant addition to my cleaning arsenal.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Microfibre Cleaning Cloths online at Poundshop or in-store at Poundland

My first thought upon seeing this eye-catching duster was that if The Cat in the Hat and a pastel-coloured candy cane - or actually, just his Hat - had a baby, this is what it would look like. My second was that, at £2, it was one of the priciest yet also least versatile items in the range (unless you know more users for dusters than I do).

But after initially dismissing it as a novelty product, I went on to appreciate its bushy, flexible tail sweeping along surfaces with a rustle. It was shorter than I would've liked (only 60cm), yes, but it did manage to extend to most wall corners without a chair and was very adept at cramming itself into crevices (above fridge, beside washing machine).

You can buy Kim Woodburn Duster in-store at Poundland

Antibacterial toilet gel is a household essential, so of course Kim has one in her line up. Like all antibacterial toilet gels ever, this one claims to be 99.9% effective at killing germs and 'tough on limescale' - he key differences are that, compared to name brands like, say, Harpic, it's only £1 and also purple.

Don't underestimate the power of the purple, which is oddly pretty and mesmerising as it secretes into the basin like the beginnings of a tie dye bath. The smell was a little lilac (good), a little funky (bad) initially and not long-lasting, leaving the toilet smelling largely the same after I eventually flushed it away. But it did an adequate enough job and made me smile - which I never expected while leaning over a toilet bowl.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Toilet Gel 750ml online at Poundshop or in-store at Poundland

Kim's White Vinegar Cleaner is said to be ideal for 'cutting through grease and fingerprints' so, naturally, I put it to use on the hob's splattered metal surface, then the iron burner grates. As promised, it quickly began dissolving the greasy remnants of meals gone by, possibly even a little faster than the Multi Purpose Cleaner had.

However, that earlier tested product still wins in my heart, firstly because it's a jack of all trades and secondly and perhaps more importantly, this one smells bad. Though allegedly laced with the collection's signature lime and mint, the wafts of product I got were mostly vinegar-y, mostly rancid. (For this, it gets only half marks.)

You can buy Kim Woodburn White Vinegar Cleaner online at Poundshop or in-store at Poundland

Something important to know about me is rubber gloves have always grossed me out and I'd generally rather do it raw than shove my hand inside a clammy second skin. Kim's Household Patterned Gloves are remarkably less revolting to, though.

This is not just because they're cute and pink (that helps though, obviously) but chiefly because the unique waterproof material on the mid-arm stretch of the gloves stopped water getting inside. They're not perfect: the crinkled edge rubbed against my elbow crease a little annoyingly and the thickness of the rubber made manoeuvring a dish brush against dainty cups more difficult than, say, bare-handed - but I will keep wearing them and that's saying something.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Household Patterned Gloves in sizes small, medium or large, online at Poundshop or in-store at Poundland

I'll be honest that furniture polish is something I've never really used or understood. If you're also in that boat, well, the Kim Woodburn Furniture Polish is a good for first timers.

As I held the metal spray can the designated 15-20cm away from my landlord's wooden side table, my mind was filled with what ifs: what if it comes out brown and I accidentally dye it, what if I spray too much and it goes in my nose and mouth. But all was well.

It came out in a steady but gentle stream, colourless. I buffed it in with my microfibre cloth, pleased that while I wasn't seeing copious amounts of shine, it had certainly given the object a glowier complexion.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Furniture Polish in-store at Poundland

Everyone keeps a dustpan and brush in their life, and I'm lucky enough to have two - one courtesy of my landlord, one, this article, both, from Poundland. For this reason I can say with confidence that Kim's version is completely identical to the originals except that it's had a makeover.

Same small-ish half moon pan; same firm, somewhat flexible brush; same mechanism to click it into place. It's adequate but not amazing. Gratefully and surprisingly, though, this colour change doesn't come with a price hike.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Plastic Dustpan and Brush online at Poundshop or in-store at Poundland

The bristles on the Printed Dish Brush are substantially firmer than those on the dustpan brush, making them far superior at trapping wayward specks of dirt on dishes or even taking on well-set stains. I worry about its longevity a little, though, as it's already showing minor wear and tear.

The handle wasn't the most comfortable to grip - I would've preferred something more cylindrical - but the serrated bottom portion meant it stayed firmly in my grasp as I scrubbed with vigour. I'd be lying if I said I didn't also appreciate the fact it was pink, novelty or not.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Printed Dish Brush online at Poundshop or in-store at Poundland

Initially, I thought 'Why do I need a kitchen cleaner when I already have a multi purpose cleaner?' Then I noted its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties but lack of bleach and breathed 'Ah, food safety.'

More good news: it was not only a pro at swiping benches clean but once again strongly limey and minty. Win.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Kitchen Cleaner 750ml in-store at Poundland

For this test, I first scouted my flat for mould and mildew, half-relieved and half-disappointed not to find anything obvious at first (good news for me but bad news for the experiment). Clearly I jinxed it because when I opened the next cupboard, there sprouting along a pocket of damp was a line of mossy green. Ew.

But Kim x Poundland's Mould and Mildew Cleaner had come prepared. I squirted, wiped and watched with amazement as it vanished, wondering suddenly 'Was it really there before?' There were no traces left and hopefully wouldn't be again, with this trusty spray by my side.

You can buy Kim Woodburn Mould & Mildew Cleaner online at Poundshop or in-store at Poundland

I am now a loyal subject of the Kim Woodburn x Poundland household collection and will be singing its praises here, there and everywhere. Not only is everything priced from £1 to £2, including tools, but the majority of the products are seriously high quality.

A special mention goes out in particular to the £1 sprays (bar the White Vinegar one) which performed brilliantly and are easily as good as more expensive rival name brands. You better restock before I do.

Is there a story you think we should be covering? If so, please email whatson@mylondon.news or at tilly.alexander@reachplc.com

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