Trustworthy name in a convenient format (Dettol Antibacterial Surface Wipes)

Member Name: pingucb

Product:	Dettol Antibacterial Surface Wipes
Date:	10/11/08 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use, convenient

Disadvantages: Expensive

When we had our daughter earlier this year, we were inundated with money off vouchers and sample products to try. One of these was a sample pack of Dettol Antibacterial Surface Wipes and we've since purchased several packs as they've become an invaluable addition to our household.

The Dettol Wipes come in a flat white packet with a tear off section at the top to reveal a hole that the wipes can be pulled through. The packaging is akin to that used for baby wipes or moist toilet tissue, which leaves me with the irrational fear that someone might use a Dettol wipe on our daughter's bottom by mistake. Fortunately this hasn't happened so far and with the word Dettol emblazoned in large letters across the packet, I think my fears are very much misfounded.

Dettol Wipes are widely available to buy and our most recent purchase was for a pack of 28 wipes for £1.78 from Ocado. The packaging makes the claim that there are 56 regular wipes or 28 large, suggesting that to use a regular wipe you simply tear the wipe in half. Personally, I find this claim very misleading. Each 'large' wipe has a perforation in it's centre, but it's very difficult to tear the wipe in half and practically impossible when using only one hand, which is usually the case with a small baby to hold onto at the same time. In practice, we tend to always use the 'large' wipe, which can sometimes be more than is needed for the job at hand. This product would get a five star score from me if it came with 56 individual wipes, rather than 28 that are perforated, as for me this would be a more useful option.

Other than this tearing issue, Dettol Wipes are extremely easy to use. Each wipe has a soft, thick texture that is pleasant to hold and the wipes come out of the packet extremely moist, with little bubbles of the cleaning product visible on them. The wipes have a very neutral aroma, only a hint of a wet, fresh smell which doesn't leave a lingering scent on the surface or in the air. The packet seals back together well, as the resealable area is much larger than the hole that it covers, and we've never had a problem with the wipes drying out, as can happen with some similarly packaged products. Because the wipes are very moist, the surface can seem to take a little while to dry, which is occasionally an issue e.g. if we need to wipe down our daughter's changing mat and are waiting to put her back onto it. However, this wait often seems longer than it is, as on timing it, drying takes only a matter of 20-30 seconds, which is reasonable for a product of this type. We've used the wipes for everything from cleaning down the changing mat, to wiping down the kitchen work surface and even running round the top area of the toilet and one wipe has always been sufficient for whatever we've thrown at it.

Dettol Wipes provide peace of mind that surfaces are free from bugs such as E. Coli, Salmonella and the Flu Virus. Dettol claim that they wipes will kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses and the well known Dettol name gives reassurance that their claims are realistic. The wipes are obviously a fair bit more expensive than a traditional spray and cloth arrangement. However, they have the benefit of being quicker and easier to use, easy to store in the cupboard and pull out when needed, with no damp cloths lying around, and no concerns that the cloth itself may become contaminated with bugs. Although it seems expensive, £1.78 works out at 6p for each larger size wipe, which is a small price to pay for bug-free reassurance and convenience.

POSITIVES
Easy to use and convenient
Reassurance of bug free surfaces
Trust in the Dettol name
Don't dry out
No strong scent

NEGATIVES
Claim of large vs. small wipes is misleading
Expensive compared to spray and cloth

Summary: Convenient way to keep surfaces bug free