Pemolux Soda Cleaning Powder: Worth the Extra Cost?

I've been using Pemolux Soda cleaning powder for years, and it's still worth the extra cost. The results are top-notch, and so is the consistency and even the smell. The powder comes in a long bottle with a slightly indented lid.

The label is eye-catching, but I've been buying this for years, and it's still advertised as a new product. The apple scent is widely available at hypermarkets and discount stores, so I'm not sure what's so special about it.

The reason for the lack of a dosing mechanism is the powder's consistency. It's not as powdery as you'd expect, despite being labeled as soda. Every Pemolux product, regardless of scent, comes in a clumpy form. Sometimes the powder itself spills out, and sometimes you get solid clumps that need to be crushed with a sponge to get them to foam.

Here's a great example of how the powder looks on the sink - the label even features a sink! It's also supposed to remove rust and grime, but I've only used it on coffee and tea stains in my cups. I'm not convinced of its universal cleaning abilities. It's a high-quality product, but not quite that versatile. I do use it to clean the bottoms of my mugs, though - it does a decent job under hot water, but not so great under cold.

Speaking of its effectiveness and cleaning power - here's a before-and-after example. I applied the powder to this soft blue sponge, added warm water, and let it sit for a bit...

I was trying to get some foam out of this sponge by squeezing it, but it was a total fail. I mean, it just didn't work at all. Then I used it to clean the sink and was thoroughly disappointed. There was no foam, no powder residue - it was like the sponge had sucked up all the magic. If it had absorbed the powder, it would have definitely foamed up. But nope, nothing. Can you see any foam? I sure can't.

Using a soft sponge is just a disaster. Check out how Pemolux reacts to a stiff one, though. It's thicker and pricier, but hey, it gets the job done. Just a few drops of water and it's foaming like crazy, making it perfect for cleaning.

That's after I wiped the sink with it just once. Look at how it shines now.

And check out how much foam I managed to squeeze out. With a stiff sponge, it's great at cleaning surfaces and is super economical. I used a normal amount of powder for this review, but in real life, I can use even less and still get plenty of foam. Pemolux is an economical choice, too. I clean the sink, wring it out under water, and still there's foam left in the sponge. It's also quick to rinse off and absorbs fast.

I wipe the sink after every dishwashing session. There's always some oil and grease left behind. I grab Pemolux, sprinkle some powder on it, rub it in, and then rinse it off after a few minutes. You gotta rinse it off pretty quickly, or you'll end up with those annoying white streaks. To avoid that, I rinse it off after 2-3 minutes. The sink looks spotless and sparkles.

I was pretty surprised by the color of this cleaning powder - it's a bright white. But when it starts to foam, it turns a light blue. I used it to clean a pan with some fish grease on it, and let me show you how it worked.

First, I just rubbed it in a bit with a sponge - and look at what happens. The white powder turns light blue as it reacts with the water. A couple of passes with the sponge, and the grease stain starts to disappear.

And here's the result after just three minutes. There's no smell, no stain - it's like new. I used a sponge to clean it, and then a damp cloth to wipe it down. If you don't wipe it down, you can still feel a slight roughness on the surface - it's like it's scratching the pan. I have to say, the manufacturer might have been a bit too generous with their claims - Pemolux doesn't leave any scratches, but only if you clean it properly. During the cleaning process, there is a bit of a rough texture on the surface of the items I'm cleaning. Overall, I do like this product. It has a nice, gentle scent - like green apple. It's a lot easier to clean with rubber gloves on. Without them, it can be a bit harsh on the skin and dry it out. There are a few things that could be improved, though. I think it's a bit pricey, and you need to buy a special sponge to go with it. And it's a bit weird that it comes in clumps that you need to crush and dissolve. It's also marketed as an eco-friendly and antibacterial product. I'm not so sure about the eco-friendly bit - it does leave a bit of a burning sensation on my skin, so it's not the most environmentally friendly option.