Review: The ShamWow did make me raise my eyebrows and say what do you know
I’m pretty sure I have declared my love for the infomercial. Whoever is producing those things really has my number. It almost doesn’t matter what the product is, by the end of the commercial I want it.
Now, I’m positive I have shared my skinflint ways with you as well, so don’t think I have a basement filled with products. Sure I have the products in my mind’s eye, but not in reality. Let’s say it together, “Cardiogirl is too cheap to buy all of that stuff.”
But I covet it. All of it.
And I have been watching Vince extol the virtues of the ShamWow for quite some time. I have been lured in by the super absorbency of that ShamWow. It holds 12 times its weight in liquid. And for a mother in the throws of potty training, that’s a huge selling point right there.
Fortunately for me, I was able to wrangle a set of ShamWow towels and I have been diligently performing experiments ever since.
First, I wanted to give the 12 times its weight in liquid claim a go. I don’t have a scale that measures weight in ounces. So I did what I normally do before I mail out a heavy letter. I put the orange towel in the palm of my hand and imitated an old fashioned scale that goes up and down until the balance is found.
Based on that unscientific method I deemed the ShamWow to weigh at least one to one point five ounces. I then filled a Pyrex measuring cup with 16 ounces of water. My kids and I jammed the ShamWow into the cup and watched the water disappear.
Then I pulled it out to see what would happen. It did drip a little bit. But I’m not sure if it absorbed 16 times its weight (if it weighs on ounce) or 12 times (if it weighs one and a half ounces.) I’m just surprised it dripped a couple of times since Vince said it wouldn’t.
I was still impressed.
Now an important part of the ShamWow, which I was oblivious to, is that the ShamWow should be rinsed with water and wrung out before ever using it. I did attempt to remove some uh, bodily fluids, from a throw rug. I used the smaller blue ShamWow to sop up the liquid on top of the rug. And I used it while dry.
It did pick up enough of the liquid on top of the rug, but when I lifted the rug to inspect the bottom I still saw a stain. Had I rinsed and wrung out the ShamWow with water before I used it, I believe my success would have been greater.
The same thing happened on the couch. I used the ShamWow dry and was not thrilled with the results. When wet, the ShamWow works much better.
And I did have very good success with another potty training accident on the carpeted steps. I used the ShamWow after I had rinsed it in water that time.
Rinsing the ShamWow with water first is the key to its success.
The towels are machine washable and I have run them through a load with good results. However it is noted that the ShamWow should never, ever go into the dryer. I am an ardent rule follower so I have not thrown it in the dryer.
I don’t plan on learning what happens if it goes through the dryer. Dry it at your own risk.
I did attempt to dry my hair with a ShamWow. There was no noticeable difference; it worked just like a standard bath towel does. My hair was still wet and I still had to blow it dry.
It is good for drying a bathing suit. Throw the suit on top of the larger yellow towel, roll it in a log and then squeeze out the excess water from the ShamWow.
Since I was so focused on the absorbency aspect of the ShamWow I was initially at a loss for how else to use it. Then I went back to the infomercial and realized it can be used as an all purpose towel. I have used it on my Swiffer mop as a reusable pad with good success.
It also dries the shower walls. It’s good for washing windows and walls. It also works well on spills; we seem to spill alot of lemonade in this house. However, unlike Vince, when I wipe up the spill — with the towel dry or wet — my floor is not dry when I finish. Yes, it picks up the lemonade or the chocolate milk, but the floor has to air dry when I’m finished.
If you’re into keeping your car immaculate minus water stains, it will dry off the excess drips and provide a shiny exterior.
But once again, I believe the ShamWow must be rinsed with water before using it. Vince did say it could be used wet or dry. Cardiogirl says you need to rinse it first.
I give it 3.5 Cardio Stomps out of 5. One point five stomps were removed because it doesn’t work well for me when its dry and it did drip a bit. But overall I was very happy.
Thank you, Cardiogirl, for that report. We now go to the weather with Jim……
I’m not tempted by those infomercials–not a bit. We bought those ShamWow’s years ago (before they were “ShamWow”s) at the state fair. Some dude was hawking them and they looked good. I grew tired of remembering when to use them, to rinse and wring for the best effect, and they ended up in the garage as orange rags. I didn’t find them to be all that incredible after all.
Perish the thought, Lin! No temptation?! I need to hang at your house to avoid the siren’s lure.
OH! OH! ALERT! ALERT!
I heard on the radio today at work that Vince (the ShamWow Dude) had a run in with a hooker just recently!! He was kissing her and she bit his tongue and would not let go!! He was punching her in the face to get her to stop! They arrested him and there are photos out there (somewhere) of the dame’s face all bruised up.
NOT KIDDING! Heard it on the news this morning. Yep. That’s me–working hard.
I wonder if he ShamWowed his bleeding tongue?
Yeah, poor Vince had to pay to knock boots (I read $1,000) and when it was close to happening he got the business end of her teeth. Bummer.
I would never buy this product, but only because of the commercial’s annoyance factor. However, I LOVE that you went to the trouble to try it and review it and let everyone in on a real person’s experience. What you won’t do for your readers!
p.s. Love the Stomp System, too!
Howdy Kathy!
Yes, Vince is a tad, how shall I say, grating. Thanks for the praise, I am here for the people. And frequently I want to hear a personal, detailed account of the product in question. Not the paid testimonials, you know?
I’m quite proud of the Stomp System as well, thank you!
Love the new look!
Infomercials are addictive, aren’t they? I get hooked in so easily.
Thanks Cate! I’m quite excited myself. I love my new widgets that finally compress the archives and categories. I hated having them in a super long list down the side.
Yes those infomercials are extremely addictive. It’s like visual crack for me. I don’t understand the allure, but I love them.
I think I have seen those at Costco. I may have to check them out!
I’ve never paid attention at Costco, but I’m pretty certain Walgreen’s sells them.
Walgreen’s seems to be the go-to place for As Seen on TV stuff.
I think you need to do your own infomercial evaluating all the other infomercial’s products. It would be awesome. You’re half way there with your written evaluations. Now all you need is to get Mr. C. behind the camera and the girls ready to be your assistants and a channel to broadcast on. ;)
I’m not really into infomercials that much, the announcers usually drive me nuts. That Billy Mays guy that does the Oxi-Clean and other commercials makes me want to scream. I actually change the channel as soon as I see him….probably not the company’s desired result. However, if you get your own informercial, I promise to watch it. :)
That might be fun, Buf. I’d have to get those Groucho Marx glasses with the mustache, though. I can’t have this face on the internet. As they say, I have a face for radio (as well as blogging.)
I love your new look too – love the organization at the top.
I always wonder about infomercial products. It’s funny to actually have a review. I would totally use this on my car.
Also? I’ve told you before how much entertainment news I really read, right? *Chuckle*
Thanks Melissa! I’m still tweaking but I’m basically done.
Yes, you’ve mentioned that and I ran across the same story at The Smoking Gun. By the looks of both mugshots (his and hers) they both gave as good as they got, no?
p.s. I thought you had to be a bigger star to have a mugshot. I guess anyone can get one regardless of fame, eh?
I dried them on a normal setting and there were no terrible results and they’re much cleaner/less lintier, but I have two inside dogs. They may have shrunk a tad. I agree with rinsing first. On a previous post note, they certainly helped my sanity during potty training/scrubbing stains.
If you see a box of 4 different colored microfiber cloths, get those suckers. I’ve been meaning to post about their awesomeness, but there are certain stains (my tea kettle that never leaves the stove) that are gone. I mean gone. You can do mirrors with just water. They’re astounding.
I thought maybe they might shrink a bit. They are pretty good in terms of working with bodily fluids, I must admit.
I’ll have to check out those microfiber cloths. I can always use more good stuff for my cleaning arsenal.
I like Vince, he’s hilarious. He’s also doing the ShamWow commercials to sue the Scientologists for libel or some such. Amazing! My parents have these, though, but I haven’t heard anything on how they work. I was thinking of picking up some for my car, so this is very helpful :)
He has such an interesting Bronx-like accent, just another dude on the street hawkin’ his wares. I would be interested in hearing what your parents think, Heidi. If you think of it, let me know.
You have interesting timing seeing as the Sham-Wow guy just got busted be beating on a hooker. that aside – I’ve been intrigued with the Sham-wow thing, but never had the guts to purchase it.
On a side note – did you get yourself a “Shaun” of your own??
I know! Isn’t that funny? I was looking for some images this morning when I was writing and that’s the main story floating out there. Have you seen the two set of mug shots? He actually looks like he had a more vigorous beat down than she did.
I did get Shaun and I’ve been feeding him hay and listening to his gentle bleating. Very Zen as you mentioned. Thanks for the tip LJ!
i have no words. nice look. browser at work is old as h*ll. doesn’t display well there.
Hi Natural! (waves and jumps up and down) Thanks!
I wish I could make the avatars on the comment section larger, but hey I ain’t lookin’ a gift horse in the mouth. Especially since tweaking around when you don’t know what you’re doing can cause a parse error that totally effs up your site and makes everything unavailable. Auugghh!
Talk about bad mojo.
Hey does work use IE6? Because it’s stated in my php files that this theme does not deal well with IE6. I hate IE6. IE7, not so bad. And Firefox rules!
i’m viewing your blog on my desk top and it looks just like it does at work. i thought it was the browser at work, but it’s like that here too. on my laptop, which is a wide screen your blog displays properly. i’m guessing you have a wide screen at home? will send you a screenshot.
Yes ma’am. Wide screen over here, I think 17 or 19 inch. Will investigate further.
one of my favourite comedians bill burr was lured by the infomercial and also wasn’t aware that you have to wet the thing to have it work well. in his review he remarked “it’d be easier to clean a spill with a plastic bag it came in than to use the shamwow.” after learning the proper way he made sure to let us know he still uses paper towels after using the shamwow because while it cleans the spill well, it leaves the floor wet because it is wet. catch-22 i guess. great review, always love how those infomercial products look like the greatest thing ever on tv but turn out to be useful but unremarkable in real life. (but i do love my superslicer!)
Amen on the “fully dry” claim. I did enjoy listening to his take on the ShamWow.
“But I continue to use it. And every time I use it I’m cursing my brains out… I might as well use notebook paper.”
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