'No Marks, all Sparkle' is the new affordable cleaning range from no other than the name suggests, Marks and Spencers. Its new products start at a low-cost price of £1.50 and include everyday staples from washing up liquid to fabric freshener spray.
As a bit of a self-proclaimed 'cleaning fairy,' I swapped my usual go-to products like the classic Fairy washing-up liquid, Zoflora disinfectant, Flash multi-purpose cleaner and Cif kitchen cleaner to try out M&S' new range. And what better time to do so than in the lead up to spring, a time notoriously well-known for 'spring cleaning'.
I believe the term 'spring cleaning' refers to a lot more than cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and more of a nod to the clear-out jobs that need to be done each year; like organising the loft. After trying five of Marks and Spencer's new spring cleaning products it's safe to say I'll be using these every day.
There are ten new products in total, the ones I couldn't get my hands on were the multi-surface wipes, toilet gel, fabric conditioner, non-bio laundry liquid and dishwasher tablets.
Even so, the products I have put to the test are enough for me to recommend shoppers try the whole range out for themselves. And the bergamot, peony, lavender and rose smells alone are winners in themselves.
Lemon and ginger kitchen surface cleaner - does it tackle grease?
The straight answer is yes, the lemon and ginger kitchen surface cleaner tackled my hob and backsplash with no problem. To be honest, it wasn't that dirty to start off with but the spray wiped any fingerprints and lunch residue off in just one swipe.
The new kitchen surface cleaner from Marks and Spencers is priced at £2 for a 750ml bottle, which is what I would consider to be a really good price, in fact, cheaper than one I buy from Home Bargains.
To be honest, and I know I said the smells alone were worth buyingthe products for, this one was the only one out of the five that I wasn't too keen on. It's supposed to smell of lemon and ginger but I got a more spiced, cardamon fragrance.
White tea and rose washing-up liquid
There's not a lot I can say about a washing-up liquid, not to be harsh on the new product but essentially it is as good as any other I've used before. It definitely washes just as well as any popular brand on the shelf, and to give a few extra brownie points to M&S it 'packs a punch' with the smell.
The sweet tea and rose scent is noticeable as soon as you open the bottle and made my kitchen smell amazing even as I was filling up the dishmatic. I'd also rate it a good 10/10 when it comes to leaving cutlery and dishes squeaky clean.
Although I'd love to give this product a full five starts just down to the smell alone I do have a small 'gripe' with it, and that is the fact that it doesn't last very long and I had to use a lot more product than I normally would.
At £1.50 you can't go wrong with Marks and Spencers new washing-up liquid.
Multi-surface cleaner
Out of the five products, hands down this is my favourite by a mile. On the outside it may look like your generic surface cleaner, to use after dusting or wiping up a spillage but without sounding like a cleaning nerd there's so much more to it.
I tried it out on my shelf unit and just wiping down with a cloth has left that area of the room smelling like a perfume shop. Of course it is antibacterial and antiviral so you can be rest assured that is tackling germs alongside smelling like something out of a boutique.
Like the name suggests it can be used 'almost' anywhere be it in the kitchen to tackle grease, in the living room or bathroom. So far I've only used it on the unit next to my sofa but no doubt I'm sure it's something I'll grab first on my next cleaning sweep.
At £2 for a 750ml bottle its affordable too.
A scent boost between washes with the fabric freshener spray
Marks and Spencer's new fabric freshener spray is antibacterial and antiviral, so not only does it leave bedding and towels smelling like they've just come out of the wash but it gets rid of germs too. Don't get me wrong it's not a replacement of washing your bedding once week (or however long you choose) but it keeps them clean inbetween washes.
This is the first time I've used a spray like it and I will definitely be keeping it to use around the house, on sheet, towels, the sofa and even curtains. It costs £3 for a 750ml bottle and I can see myself buying it again.
A dash of concentrated disinfectant
Concentrated disinfectant is becoming an increasingly popular staple in the cleaning aisles, well to me anyway. I think the whole idea comes from 'back in the day' when cleaning consisted of a bucket of hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush to clean about anything; the floors, walls, bathtub and sink.
Its new disinfectant is priced at £3.50 for 500ml, initially I did think it was a bit of a steep price point compared to other brands in the £2 region, but after using the product it does go a long way. I tried this out in my bathroom sink which immediately frothed up and filled the room with a lovely floral (bergamot) scent.
Another great thing about this is left the tap shiny after a once over with a cloth, so you wouldn't have to use more than one product to clean the area. It's really convenient too I've found it means I don't have to lug up three to four different types of spray bottles up to the bathroom with me, and can instead use one product for just about anything.
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