The popularity of Spanish cleaning products in Merseyside has "exploded" since the pandemic with families indulging in "little luxuries".
Cleaning products that bring a little of the Costa Del Sol to Merseyside are now viewed as a must have in any house-proud Scouser's home. But the popularity of the cleaning products isn't an overnight success, according to one seller, they have slowly been creeping into the market.
Helped by the pandemic and the recent visibility of influencers, the products have garnered a significant following across the north west for their intense, fresh smells and quality finish. Steph Johnson, owner of The Scouse Bird Shop, told the ECHO she first knew about the products in 2015.
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Steph, who also blogs under The Scouse Bird brand and has amassed nearly 250,000 followers on Twitter, said she then started selling them in 2019. But the real driving force for their popularity came during lockdown when more people were at home.
Speaking to the ECHO, Steph said: "They've actually been around for a while. When I was first brought samples I didn't know what to think but they smell amazing. I started selling them shortly after.
"Scousers are very house-proud. Our nan's generation always had a spotless house. The Spanish cleaning products are practical little luxuries. In the lockdown, their popularity absolutely exploded. They were everywhere.
"Cleaning with them gives you a really sense of satisfaction. And I've never smelt cleaning products as good as them."
Steph pointed to the popularity of influencers like Mrs Hinch who have used social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok to reach a wider audience. Cleaning wiz Mrs Hinch gained a significant following during the covid pandemic when more people were at home with access to her easy to follow tips.
Steph told the ECHO: "Mrs Hinch showed people how you could blitz the house and get a good end result. She also spoke openly about her mental health. She showed if you have a messy house you have a messy mind. She's shown cleaning can become more enjoyable."
The rise in Spanish cleaning products has resulted in a number of suppliers stocking the products both for home-use and wholesale with pop-up stalls across the city centre and wider Merseyside. Like several other specialist retailers in Merseyside, Steph stocks a range of the products in both her city centre shop and in her online store.
One of her favourites is Limpia Cristales - a glass cleaner which smells like flowers and is "impossible to leave streaks". Another is Limpiazul, an all-purpose cleaner that can be used on any surfaces and smells like Jean Paul Gaultier aftershave. She said this has been her all-time bestseller. She added every fabric conditioner is "fit", but her personal favourite is Asevi Colonia.
Steph told the ECHO: "Whenever I go on holiday I always smell the fabric softeners. But nothing comes close to the Spanish products."
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