Big Wipes: review

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Introduction

Judging from the picture below, it will come as no surprise I am a fan of these Big Wipes, Heavy Duty 4×4’s cleaning wipes. I’m also a fan of the firm’s Power Spray cleaning solution, too; in my experience both products are the best on the market. 

Short Description

Living somewhere as isolated as I do, new products take time to filter onto the shelves of my local decorator centre. Until recently, we didn’t have as much access to the internet either, so we just got by with what was available locally. The first wipes I used were self-branded ones a from a local builder’s merchant called Travis Perkins. They were okay; you could just about clean your hands with them, but they were little more than repackaged baby wipes.

A few years ago, I found a small display of Big Wipes in Travis Perkins, so I purchased a tub to try. The difference between the products was like night and day. Big Wipes heavy duty wipes are much harder wearing than any builder’s merchant own brand or any of their recent competitors such as Grime boss or Hippo Wipes.

Having used various types over the years, I always return to what is my opinion the best on the market. Big Wipes are not only good at cleaning your hands, but tools or spills are easily mopped up from various contaminates such as paint, oil, grease, caulk, foam, silicone and general grime.

I have used the Big Wipe Heavy Duty 4×4’s as a light degreaser and mild abrasion pad on some jobs, too, and they performed the task with no issues.

Having gone through a period where I had relatively poor skin, (a form of eczema so I’m told), I need to be careful about the chemicals I use. Again, using a Big Wipe hasn’t aggravated my skin and I have looked into their composition to ensure they are free from solvents that may cause irritation.

 

Pros

Tough durable fabric

Excellent cleaning properties

Pleasant smell

Dermatology tested

Cons

Prices sneaking up

Shouty advertising video

 

Conclusion

My preferred Big Wipe is the heavy duty 4×4 ones as they have many uses. Expanding foam or ready mixed light weight fillers are renowned for clogging your tools, but Big Wipes can easily remove both. I found even when filler has almost dried a Big Wipe will still remove it from filling blades, hands, van door handles and anywhere else it gets to.

They really are an essential piece of kit in the van now and even after using all the wipes we often recycle the packaging as a handy container.

 

Cleaning ability 9.5/10

Durability 9/10

Kindness to skin 8.5/10

Scrubbability 8.5/10

Value for money 8.5 /10

 

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Latest product review

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Coral Paperwiz

Introduction

Ok let’s be totally up front and honest here, this isn’t really a new tool. It’s a bold copy of our old friend the Wall-wiz.  Nothing wrong there I hear you say, if Wall-wiz has gone out of production fair play to Coral for reintroducing a replacement copy.

Short Description

These types of tools do have their uses admittedly, although I sometimes think they are not as versatile as the manufacturer would suggest. Perhaps it’s only because I am such a dinosaur I still like to use my papering brush when hanging the majority of wall coverings.

Using a cutting guide to knife wall papers probably started with the use of an artex caulking tool and things have evolved from there. The Coral Paperwiz and its predecessor the Wallwiz introduced these standalone tools which have been designed to replace at least three traditional ones.

I find it will only work as a replacement for my papering brush on certain smooth surfaced papers, hard wearing vinyl’s are quite good and recently the current trend of paste the wall papers seem to work ok if smoothed with the Paperwiz.

In my opinion it’s no use on textured wallpapers or those which go very soft when soaked as it can take the surface of delicate papers, where a soft papering brush can be used gently.

Not sure about its suitability as a seam roller, rubbing a hard piece of plastic over a seam on some papers would just shine the seam like many plastic seam rollers used to.

The Paperwiz’s final trick is it can be used as a cutting guide, yes despite  it being fractionally thicker than the original Wallwiz which in turn was thicker than most plastic caulkers, I like it, I like it a lot.

I always reach for the Paperwiz now when wallpapering, recently I hung some paste the wall paper and never used my papering brush once, just Paperwiz’ed for smoothing on and cutting guide.

Admittedly as a cutting guide you need to pay attention, push the Paperwiz into the desired position and get the blade of your knife resting right against the curve at a slight angle so you get a close cut, but once your there you can create straight consistent cuts every time.

As decorators it’s also fun that these come in a range of translucent colours, bringing a bit of fun into our tool boxes which I applaud.

Pros

Lightweight translucent design

Solid Construction

Tactile feel

Fun Colours

Cons

Trimming guide edge takes practice

One radius corner adequate.

Conclusion

Priced at under £5 from various outlets there is no reason why everyone who hangs wallpaper should have one of theses in their kit, even if you only use it for one of its multitude of abilities it would be a worthwhile addition. Easy to use, easy to keep clean and useful little product

Comfort   9/10

Cleaning 10/10

Application 7/10

Value for money 10/10

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