Product review: ACT Concrete Cleaner, Treating stains on the basement floor with bio-cleaner microbes : before and after video

 

I purchased ACT to treat a stained area of my basement cement floor. When the product arrived, I was surprised by the size of the container. It was much smaller than I had expected. Unlike the large container shown in the stock video, my container was only 3 inches tall. Additionally, the powder inside was grey, matching the color of my cement floor, rather than the white color depicted in the video. Despite my initial concerns, the contents were sufficient to treat my stained area, which measured 5 feet long by 3 feet wide, in two separate 3-week applications.

The stain on my basement floor had a messy origin. It started when a container of cleaning solution I had stored deteriorated and spilled onto the cement. In an attempt to clean it up, I used a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, but this only worsened the situation by spreading the stain further across the floor. I’ve attached a video that shows the stain before and after the treatment. Note that the "before" photo on January 26, 2025 shows the dry floor even though the stain makes it appear dark in color.

My process:  First, I sprinkled the powder over the stained 5-by-3-foot area. Then, I activated it by lightly misting it with water using a spray bottle. The instructions didn’t specify only one mist to activate the microbes, but I decided to spray the floor with water every day. I noticed that the powder dried out very quickly after each misting, and I thought misting it every day might help the microbes  stay active and work more effectively. I continued this daily misting routine for three weeks. At the end of the first three-week period, I removed the powder and washed the floor with water. The stain had improved somewhat, but I wasn’t fully satisfied with the results.

I decided to repeat the process. I applied a fresh layer of the powder to the same 5-by-3-foot area, activated it with water, and resumed misting it daily for another three weeks. After this second round, I removed the powder and washed the floor again. I took an "after" photo on March 12, 2025, which I’m including in the video. The results show a significant improvement in the appearance of the cement floor. While it’s not perfectly restored to its original state, the stain is much less noticeable compared to the "before" photo and the attached video.

In summary, despite the surprisingly small 3-inch container, the product proved sufficient for two 3-week treatments of my 15-square-foot stained basement floor. My daily misting routine, though not part of the official instructions, may have contributed to the positiv outcome. The floor now looks much better, even if it’s not flawless.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of ACT Concrete Cleaner

Product review: Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover Rust Remover

 

 I had initially hoped to use this cleaner on my basement cement floor and even posted a question about it on the product listing. The seller responded quickly, though their answer was somewhat vague. Upon receiving the cleaner, I realized my intended use wasn’t suitable. The product specifies it’s designed for surfaces like Corian, shower doors, granite, windshields, aluminum, porcelain, stone, windows, fiberglass, grills, tombstones, glass surfaces, hard vinyl, stove tops, copperware, and stainless steel. However, the instructions clearly state it should not be used on Plexiglas, plastics, or glossy automotive paint. For best results, they recommend using an oscillating buffer or a Bio-Cleaner microfiber towel.

The cleaner itself is a thick, green liquid with a fairly strong scent. I ended up testing it on a sink with rust and hard water stains, and it did an excellent job removing both.


Review of Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Lodge Enameled Cast Iron & Ceramic Stoneware Care Kit

 

The cleaner solution does an excellent job removing stubborn stains, especially at the top around the rim. The brush works well not only on enameled cast iron but also on the grooved surface of my Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro. The scraper is comfortable to hold.

The pot protectors are the same as those that came with the original Lodge Enameled Pot, so these are "backups" in case I lose some.

Overall, very nice - it helps me keep my cookware clean.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Lodge Enameled Cast Iron & Ceramic Stoneware Care Kit

Product review: Scotch-Brite Gentle Clean Delicate Scrub Sponges Pink, no scratch, enameled Dutch oven

 

I  like Scotch-brite pink scrubber. I use it on an enameled Dutch oven, stainless steel frying pan, and Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro frying pan. It is doing a great job on all surfaces, getting the fried on food off without damaging the surface of my cookware. Note that Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro has grooves, and I typically use a brush with bristles to get into the grooves, but this sponge also worked decently.

I have been using the scrubber for several weeks; it is staying together. I am happier with it than the yellow/green Scotch-Brite scrubber I used in the past.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Scotch-Brite Gentle Clean Delicate Scrub Sponges Pink

Product review: Mr. Scrub All-Purpose Sponges, Non Scratch for enameled Dutch oven

 

Excellent scrubber. I use it on an enameled Dutch oven, stainless steel frying pan, and Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro frying pan. It is doing a great job on all surfaces, getting the fried on food off without damaging the surface of my cookware.

The scrubbers are shipped compressed, and are revived with water. They puff up after being watered.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Mr. Scrub All-Purpose Sponges, Non Scratch

Product review: BLACK+DECKER Dusbuster Handheld Vacuum, Cordless, Gray (HHVK415B01)

 

I own several hand-held vacuums and there are determined that I have two major requirements:
1. Strong suction
2. Easy to empty cup so I don't have to touch the dirt

The Dustbuster meets my requirements.

I also like that the filter is washable and that I can charge it by standing the charger on the floor without making holes in my walls to hang it. I appreciate the flexible design of this unit.

One thing that I wish was different is that the vac extension is too wide to fit into the rails of the slider door. My old vacuum's attachment fit and it helped get ladybugs that always fell into that area.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★  

Review of Black&Decker Dustbuster Vaccuum

Product review: Kitchen Sink Strainer Filter Mesh Bags, KWOKWEI kitchen sink trash bags

 

Through the years, I have tried a large set of sink drains, looking for the one that makes this unpleasant task less unpleasant. These strainer bags allow me to throw away the garbage neatly stuffed into a bag instead of cleaning the junk by hand. Of course, I still need to wash the strainer, but it is free from debris and not unpleasant. You need to use a drain that does not have a central post to make it work. The strainer bag has a thin rubber band on the edges to tighten around the drain. The mesh is very fine, and nothing gets through. It drains well.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Kitchen Sink Strainer Filter Mesh Bags for Kitchen Sink Strainer

Product review: Offbrand Mop Replace Heads with Mop Head Base Compatible for O Cedar

 

 

 

I received two heads and one base. My favorite use for these heads is not floor washing but cash washing. I am using a short mop handle to wash my car. They are made out of super soft fiber. When wet, they wash well; when dry, they dry the car effectively. I have a bad back, and I like that I don't have to bend at all when I wash the car.

I wash them by throwing them in the washing machine. They survived many cycles totally intact.

Note that these heads are for only the one-tank system, not the newer two-tank system.
In addition, the base fits any standard mop handle, which is how I use them when I wash the car.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of Two Mop Replace Heads with One Mop Head Base

Product review: Mistgre Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster (similar to Magic Eraiser)

 

This is an excellent sponge. It feels spongy and almost sticky; it grabs onto dirt and does a good job cleaning even without spraying with cleanser; I just wet it with water and squeeze it dry. It feels and works similarly to the Magic Eraser sponge but lasts longer than Magic Eraser. It is not just for dusting; it can handle real dirt.

The first thing I tried was cleaning the refrigerator door, which I tried cleaning before but never got it to look like it did when it was new. This sponge did it!

It also works well on mirrors, but I need to run a paper towel over the mirror to remove streaks.

However, this sponge does not work on narrow grooves of the sliding door's tracks.  The sponge grooves are not deep enough to reach the bottom of slider tracks, where the dirt collects.  I cut a 1/4 slice of the sponge to work the wider slider openings, but the most narrow slides are still too narrow, and I need to use a narrow brush to clean them.

I still like the brush, but just be aware that it is not the solution for slider doors.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Mistgre Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster

Product review: Fikoksol Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster (similar to Magic Eraiser)

 

This is an excellent sponge. It feels spongy and almost sticky; it grabs onto dirt and does a good job cleaning even without spraying with cleanser; I just wet it with water and squeeze it dry. It feels and works similarly to the Magic Eraser sponge but lasts longer than Magic Eraser. It is not just for dusting; it can handle real dirt.

The first thing I tried was cleaning the refrigerator door, which I tried cleaning before but never got it to look like it did when it was new. This sponge did it!

It also works well on mirrors, but I need to run a paper towel over the mirror to remove streaks. Very pleased with this sponge; I just ordered a set of four additional ones for future use.

However, this sponge does not work on narrow sliders of the sliding door's tracks.  The grooves are not deep enough to reach the bottom of sliders, where the dirt collects.  I cut a 1/4 slice of the sponge to work the wider slider openings, but the most narrow slides are still too thin, and I need to use a narrow brush to clean them.

I still like the brush, but just be aware that it is not the solution for slider doors.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Fikoksol Damp Cleaning Sponge Duster
 

Product review: ZYFE Citrus Orange Scented Liquid Hand Soap Refill 3 Gallon

 

This item includes six 64 oz bottles of liquid hand soap.  The liquid soap smells mildly orange.  It is an industrial-type product that comes in large bottles suitable for refills in a business.  It cleans well, and the scent is okay (typical for an industrial-type soap).

There is no benefit in vitamin-infused soap since there is not enough absorbed through the skin, thus no reason to pay extra for this feature.  Buy it based on price and your fondness of the orange scent.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆  

Review of ZYFE Citrus Orange Scented Liquid Hand Soap

Product review: Hommaly 2.6 Gallon/240 pcs Small Clear Trash Bags

 

Hommaly trash bags are rated as 2.6 gallons. They are significantly smaller than 3-gallon Glad trash bags. They are only 16" deep from top to bottom. The bottom of the trash bag ends at a point, which means some of the depth is lost when you spread the bottom of the trash bag in the bottom of the bin. When I put it in the small bin in the bathroom, it could not reach the bottom of the bin. Because it has such shallow depth, these trash bags are of limited usefulness. The bag is transparent and very thin. They work well for soft trash like tissues.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆  

Review of 2.6 Gallon/240 pcs Small Clear Trash Bags

Product review: ProHeal Disposable Bibs For Adults, aid for messy people

 

These bibs are great! They have a waterproof backing lining. The bibs are sized 16" x 33".  They are not attractive but very practical.

These bibs are not just for seniors and the elderly! It is for messy adults of any age! The bib covers most of the front. I got the black color, hoping I can convince my husband to wear it rather than walk around with a stained shirt after sloppy eating in a restaurant.  

I usually try to describe pluses and minuses, but in this case, I can't think of a single negative!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of ProHeal Disposable Bibs For Adults

Product review: Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Plant-Based Liquid Laundry Detergent

 ⭐ I like:
1. Light scent while the detergent is in the bottle; no scent after the wash. Excellent.
2. Cleans well, although we do not have heavy staining

★ I do not like:
1. Price
2. A gallon container is hard to handle while the bottle is full; I over-poured it the first time. I moved the content into an old Tide laundry jug.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Review of Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Plant-Based Liquid Laundry Detergent

Product review: Spunspon Facial Sponges Compressed Natural Cellulose Sponge

 

These sponges are 3" x 2.5" in size. They are less than 1/16" thick when dry. They expand to about 1/4" thick. These are the typical cellulose sponges that are reusable many times and can be disinfected in a microwave.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆    

Review of Spunspon Facial Sponges Compressed Natural Cellulose Sponge
 

Product review: Compressed CGR 6 Pk Pop-Up Cellulose Kitchen Sponges

 

These sponges arrived compressed (only 1/8" thick) and expanded in 3/4" after they were soaked in water. If you don't have a lot of room for supply storage, it is nice that they take up so little room while they are not being used. I can also see this helpful for camping, when you must be very thoughtful about what you take.

Once the sponge expands, it is very much like any other cellulose sponge. These sponges are the right size for washing dishes or cleaning counters. Unlike other expandable sponges I got in the past, these sponges are slightly uneven (i.e. not plum angles) when they expand. They don't stink.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Review of Compressed CGR 6 Pk Pop-Up Cellulose Kitchen Sponges

Product review: MLKIN Portable Super Absorbent Cotton-Super Absorbent Potty Pads

 

 The MLKIN strips are very narrow. Each strip is 2.5" wide and 10".

The cotton pads absorb small amount liquid well. They become dry but still pliable. However, if the pad encounters a large amount of liquid it falls apart becomes a pile of sticky pulp, which is hard to clean up.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

  You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Review of MLKIN Portable Super Absorbent Cotton-Super Absorbent Potty Pads

Product review: Kauri Eyeglass Cleaner Tool Microfiber Cleaner Soft Brush

I received five brushes. The clamp on the lenses on both sides and clean the glass. The tool did a reasonable job. Is it better than using an eyeglass cleaning cloth? No.

⭐ If the shape of the eyeglasses were not round, the edges did not get cleaned. Using the cleaning cloth, this is not an issue.
⭐ I could not feel how strong I was pressing on the glass, whereas using a cleaning cloth, I do
⭐ It takes more room than a cleaning cloth. The size is significant if you need to clean your glasses somewhere other than sitting at your desk.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Review of Kauri Eyeglass Cleaner Tool Microfiber Cleaner Soft Brush
 

Product review: OUTLAW TACTICAL Lens Cleaner Spray, glasses cleaner (video review)

 

 I like:

⭐ Large bottle
⭐ No strong scent
⭐ Cleans well

I do not like:

⭐ Not totally sold on the gel vs. liquid; it leaves more smears on glass than the liquid. Maybe I need to use less.  But results are good after some extra polishing.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of OUTLAW TACTICAL Lens Cleaner Spray

Product review: MHY CARE 125 Pink Dental Bibs Disposable - help for messy eaters

 MHY Care dental bibs have a size 13” x 17.75”. They come without a clip to put around your neck.

They are fairly thin but have a waterproof layer on one side. I use the bibs to protect sloppy eaters from keeping the front of their shirts getting dirty during eating. They work well for that purpose. I am using them with small clips to attach to clothing. The only thing that could be better if the color was white, grey, or beige rather than pink.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Review of MHY CARE 125 Pink Dental Bibs Disposable