Latest news with #Brillo
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Mrs Hinch loves it but I think it's toxic… I've seen it do so much damage & I'm a pro cleaner
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MRS Hinch loves it so much that she's done multiple Instagram videos gushing about its effectiveness. But now professional cleaner Gemma has had her say - revealing she thinks Viakal is one of the most "toxic" products around. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mrs Hinch took to Instagram to share a video about the new Viakal spray, as she said she's used the limescale remover since "day one" Credit: Instagram/@mrshinchhome 3 She showed herself without gloves, as she demonstrated the effectiveness of the product on her shower head Credit: Instagram/@mrshinchhome 3 But professional cleaner Gemma strongly disagrees, and insisted there's no need to use such a "toxic" product Credit: TikTok/@diamondgemcleaning Gemma took to TikTok to share her opinion after Mrs Hinch - aka Sophie Hinchcliffe - posted yet another social media clip about the limescale spray she's used from "day one". This time she was referring to the latest Viakal release - Viakal Vinegar Action - which "combines the magic of Viakal with the cleaning power of vinegar". She then used it on her shower screen to show it in action, spraying it on, waiting three minutes and wiping it off to reveal a sparkling clean screen. Mrs Hinch continued to use the spray on both her shower head and her plug to remove the limescale, before concluding: "If you haven't got one in your cleaning cupboard, get one. Read more Cleaning stories WASH THIS Cleaning gurus swear by £2 trick to banish stubborn sun cream stains this summer "It's the number one by me for a reason." But Gemma was quick to disagree with the cleanfluencer in her TikTok video, as she said: "I've just seen Mrs Hinch promoting this product, it was an ad and I know that she works for them, she said it's her favourite product. "Now I'm a professional cleaner and it's my worst. "I've spoken about this product so many times because I've just seen so much damage from this product and I will never use it." Gemma added that the reason her nails always look so good is that she doesn't use Viakal, or get such "toxic" products near her hands. "I would say that anybody if you do want to use Viakal please wear gloves," she sighed. I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1) "That stuff is potent and I would even wear a mask, like that stuff makes me feel sick, it gives me a headache and the worst part is it's not needed." Instead of using the spray, Gemma swears by Cif cream cleaner, white vinegar and a Brillo pad, which doesn't scratch the glass and works for her every time. In fact, she's said she's even seen "so much damage" that's come from using the spray. "I don't normally come on here and talk about other people but I find it hard when someone is promoting such a toxic product and it's an ad and it's just not needed," Gemma continued. "Honestly ditch the Viakal and swap it for white vinegar or Cif cream cleaner and you're going to get exactly the same results without breathing in loads of toxic chemicals." And as with any video featuring an opinion, the comments section of Gemma's TikTok was quickly filled with other cleaning whizzes sharing theirs. Mrs Hinch's whopping £4.4million fortune HOMEMAKER Sophie Hinchcliffe makes a whopping £4,313 per day. The star, known best as Mrs Hinch online, has cleaned up with bumper earnings for her social media, with reported new figures for company Mrs Hinch Limited. In fact, according to Companies House, she has more than a million reasons to be smiling with the company's takings in 2024 amounting to a huge £1,574,405 annual profit. They also reveal that Sophie has amassed a huge £5 million worth of assets in her firm since it first launched. Mrs Hinch Limited, which was set up in 2019, started off with online videos detailing cheap cleaning hacks, ways to save money, and advice to run a family home. Sophie was also praised for her honesty when it comes to raising her sons, giving advice to mums who could be struggling, lifting the lid behind a world that could be picture perfect. She proved so successful, she has since been expanding her businesses to multiple different ventures, including her own cleaning range, books, interior design services and baby goods. In 2024, her company's reported cash at bank and in hand at £4,179,283, monies due in at £748,130 and tangible assets at £81,123. After allowing for £644,402 in bills, Sophie retained £4,364,134 worth of profits in the firm – including her latest takings. Her assets include a £99,775 car bought in 2024 - with her latest account proving her most successful set of figures so far. "I love it. It's the texture- it clings," one wrote. "So I can spread it evenly, the other stuff is too patchy." "I love it!!!!!! It's great for glass," another agreed. "If used correctly it's fantastic. Don't get me wrong, Mrs Hinch is promoting it like it works easily when it doesn't. "But it can be used safely and I work in a ventilated room with a mask and gloves. Job 10x easier." "It's good in the right hands," a third said. However, others were firmly of the same opinion as Gemma, and didn't hold back as they explained why. "I used it for a long time and totally regret it," one said. "It ruined my client's taps, it's toxic and it DAMAGES for sure." "It ruined my bathroom!!!" another added. "I didn't know it was so bad and my gorgeous new build bathroom is RUINED!" "I'm also a self employed cleaner and I hate it so much," a third said. "Causes so much damage."
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Mrs Hinch loves it but I think it's toxic… I've seen it do so much damage & I'm a pro cleaner
MRS Hinch loves it so much that she's done multiple Instagram videos gushing about its effectiveness. But now professional cleaner Gemma has had her say - revealing she thinks Viakal is one of the most "toxic" products around. 3 Mrs Hinch took to Instagram to share a video about the new Viakal spray, as she said she's used the limescale remover since "day one" Credit: Instagram/@mrshinchhome 3 She showed herself without gloves, as she demonstrated the effectiveness of the product on her shower head Credit: Instagram/@mrshinchhome 3 But professional cleaner Gemma strongly disagrees, and insisted there's no need to use such a "toxic" product Credit: TikTok/@diamondgemcleaning This time She then used it on her shower screen to show it in action, spraying it on, waiting three minutes and wiping it off to reveal a sparkling clean screen. Mrs Hinch continued to use the spray on both her shower head and her plug to remove the limescale, before concluding: "If you haven't got one in your cleaning cupboard, get one. Read more Cleaning stories "It's the number one by me for a reason." But Gemma was quick to disagree with the cleanfluencer in her TikTok video, as she said: "I've just seen Mrs Hinch promoting this product, it was an ad and I know that she works for them, she said it's her favourite product. "Now I'm a professional cleaner and it's my worst. "I've spoken about this product so many times because I've just seen so much damage from this product and I will never use it." Most read in Fabulous Gemma added that the reason her nails always look so good is that she doesn't use Viakal, or get such "toxic" products near her hands. "I would say that anybody if you do want to use Viakal please wear gloves," she sighed. I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1) "That stuff is potent and I would even wear a mask, like that stuff makes me feel sick, it gives me a headache and the worst part is it's not needed." Instead of using the spray, Gemma swears by Cif cream cleaner, white vinegar and a Brillo pad, which doesn't scratch the glass and works for her every time. In fact, she's said she's even seen "so much damage" that's come from using the spray. "I don't normally come on here and talk about other people but I find it hard when someone is promoting such a toxic product and it's an ad and it's just not needed," Gemma continued. "Honestly ditch the Viakal and swap it for white vinegar or Cif cream cleaner and you're going to get exactly the same results without breathing in loads of toxic chemicals." And as with any video featuring an opinion, the comments section of Gemma's TikTok was quickly filled with other cleaning whizzes sharing theirs. Mrs Hinch's whopping £4.4million fortune HOMEMAKER Sophie Hinchcliffe makes a whopping £4,313 per day. The star, known best as Mrs Hinch online, has cleaned up with bumper earnings for her social media, with reported new figures for company Mrs Hinch Limited. In fact, according to Companies House, she has more than a million reasons to be smiling with the company's takings in 2024 amounting to a huge £1,574,405 annual profit. They also reveal that Sophie has amassed a huge £5 million worth of assets in her firm since it first launched. Mrs Hinch Limited, which was set up in 2019, started off with online videos Sophie was also praised for her honesty when it comes to raising her sons, giving advice to mums who could be struggling, lifting the lid behind a world that could be picture perfect. She proved so successful, she has since been expanding her businesses to multiple different ventures, including her own cleaning range, books, interior design services and baby goods. In 2024, her company's reported cash at bank and in hand at £4,179,283, monies due in at £748,130 and tangible assets at £81,123. After allowing for £644,402 in bills, Sophie retained £4,364,134 worth of profits in the firm – including her latest takings. Her assets include a £99,775 car bought in 2024 - with her latest account proving her most successful set of figures so far. "I love it. It's the texture- it clings," one wrote. "So I can spread it evenly, the other stuff is too patchy." "I love it!!!!!! It's great for glass," another agreed. "If used correctly it's fantastic. Don't get me wrong, Mrs Hinch is promoting it like it works easily when it doesn't. "But it can be used safely and I work in a ventilated room with a mask and gloves. Job 10x easier." "It's good in the right hands," a third said. However, others were firmly of the same opinion as Gemma, and didn't hold back as they explained why. "I used it for a long time and totally regret it," one said. "It ruined my client's taps, it's toxic and it DAMAGES for sure." "It ruined my bathroom!!!" another added. "I didn't know it was so bad and my gorgeous new build bathroom is RUINED!" "I'm also a self employed cleaner and I hate it so much," a third said. "Causes so much damage."
Buzz Feed
30-04-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
If You're Considering Grooming Your Dog At Home, The Pros Swear By These 16 Things
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Time to take matters into your own paws. 1. An oatmeal doggy shampoo to help soothe your pup's skin and make their fur feel oh-so-soft so you won't feel like you're cuddling with a Brillo pad. Promising review: " This was recommended by a groomer. It is by far the best shampoo I've ever used on my Yorkie. It makes her fur so soft and the smell is very gentle." — Carrie Get it from Amazon for $16.97 (available in three formulas). 2. A slicker brush you'll wanna add to cart immediately if you have a curly-haired or double-coat breed. Its thin, tightly packed bristles are angled and have coated tips to prevent any scratches. Amazon There are lots of reviews from pleased pet parents of Maltipoos, poodles, goldendoodles, Maltese, Bichon Frise Promising review: "This is the only brush he likes. He Is relaxed when you brush his hair. I had to buy two, one for grandma's house and one for our house because he runs runs and hides if you try to brush him with any other brush. No more mats for this poodle." — Liz "This was recommended to me by my dog groomer and it works great. I have a large Labradoodle with a long coat and it's perfect to keep his coat nice and soft." — Morgan Crowe Get it from Amazon for $13.97+ (available in three colors). 3. A grooming rake that'll help loosen tangles and lighten your pup's undercoat — without the yelps. Promising reviews:"It really gets out the hair from the undercoat of my Aussie without pulling and hurting her. It came highly recommended by my groomer. It really helps with shedding, pulls that undercoat out, and keeps my old girl cool in the Florida heat." — R. Smith "This works amazing. I am a groomer, and this works really well for the clients who have dogs with a lot of undercoat that's shedding. I may get a second one for home use. And you can't beat the price!" — Whitney Get it from Amazon for $18.99. 4. A reusable roller dog hair remover might have you toss your old sticky roller after you see how much fur this reusable one (it has a sturdy brush system) picks up off your beloved couch that both you and your dog basically live on. If you've been avoiding grooming at home because you're afraid to be covered in fur, this is gonna help a LOT. See the ChomChom roller in action on TikTok! Promising review:"I'm a pet groomer and constantly have hair on my clothes and car. This product works very well to remove hair and is easy to clean!" — Jessica Pittman And check out this ~glowing~ review from my colleague Jenae Sitzes: "The tens of thousands of 5-star Amazon reviews are reason enough to add the ChomChom to your cart immediately — but let me add my own personal review to the stack. I've been using the ChomChom for quite a while now, but I took the photos above literally just now to show just how quick, easy, and effective this roller is. It took 10 seconds to rid my velvet couch ottoman (yes, velvet...a terrible cat owner choice, I know) of the hair my two gray kitties are constantly leaving everywhere. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of using this roller — at first, I thought you only brushed down in one direction, and was confused why it wasn't picking up hair. It's important to do a push-and-pull brushing in *both* directions so it actually pulls the hair inside, which does require you to apply a bit of pressure. Afterward, you'll just dump out the hair that's been trapped inside. The ChomChom is best for large flat surfaces like couches and beds." Get it from Amazon for $24.99. And check out a mini version. 5. A detangling spray that'll likely have you filming a slo-mo video for your grid of your dog shaking his glossy, NOT tangly, ears. Promising review:"I have been a professional dog groomer for over 35 years and this stuff does what it says it will. Even on the most coarse coats it turns it into a thing of beauty; any mats almost fall out. This is a whole new world for me. Who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks? This old dog just learned one." — sandra k. steele Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (or Subscribe & Save for $14.24/three months). 6. A nail grinder that, according to reviewers, will be a godsend for pets who hate or can't get to the groomer but are quite good at growing talons. Rexipets is a small biz specializing in grooming tools. Promising review:"Gilligan is the biggest drama king you'll ever meet and even he tolerated this nail grinder. Highly recommend!" — Julie "I am a veterinary technician and part-time groomer. I use this product at work and find it to be adequate to introduce pets to dremeling. It has a quiet hum while on both of its speeds and provides a bright light when dealing with dark coats and nails." — Savannah Blair Get it from Amazon for $26.99. 7. Or nail clippers for impatient pets who won't sit still long enough to let you go at them with a nail grinder. Promising review:"For whatever reason, I didn't know trimmers came in sizes. I have a big boy, about 90 lbs. His nails were so hard to cut, and I would usually split them. I talked to a groomer, and she suggested these. What a big difference! My big boy is very pleased with his nails, LOL. Nothing split and quick, clean cut. Ease to hold as well. Very pleased." — Susan E. Snyder Get them from Amazon for $11.99 8. Tearstain wipes to brighten your dog's coat by lightening those dark marks around their eyes. It will be especially helpful for dogs with lighter coats. Promising review:"My groomer recommended this product for my LhasaPoo mix because his eyes tear constantly and stain his light coat a dark red. The tear staining is all but gone. Much nicer to look at his pretty face now." — Janie Dietert Get 100 wipes from Amazon for $15.29. 9. A hair-removing glove for pets who KNOW what you're doing when you pull out a regular brush. They'll think they're getting a total treat but I'll keep our evil secret. 10. A year-round paw protection cream chock full of vitamin E to keep those paws protected against ice and salt in the then against too-hot sidewalks and sand in the summer. Promising review:" We got this at the recommendation of our groomer. Our dog is very short hair, but gets scratches and bites on herself a lot. She's a nervous little dog. This has been very soothing and has helped heal her skin. It's a little hard at first, but warms up and is easy to get out. I only need a little bit to form a film on her skin. Smells a little minty or herbally, but it doesn't linger, and the dog doesn't seem to mind. She loves having me put it on, and it has become a bonding time for us." — Jada Get it from Amazon for $15.99. 11. A doggie blow-dryer with a flexible hose and two heating settings to help transform your dog from wet mess to runway ready. Promising review:"My daughter is a professional groomer, and she absolutely loves this dryer. Uses at work daily. It's as good as a $300 one she was using before." — Nancys notes Get it from Amazon for $75.99 (available in two colors). 12. A scratchy lil' tool that'll FINALLY get all the pet hair off your fabric surfaces both inside your house and car. You'll wonder how you lived without up until now. Promising review:"I'm a dog groomer who's constantly covered in dog hair. That being said my car stays covered in dog hair. This brick actually removed everything!!! I'm so beyond impressed." — Kara Get it from Amazon for $12.99. 13. A broom for pet hair to unearth all that fur stuck in your area rug you've just learned to live with by now. It also works on wood and linoleum. And the handle extends from 36 to 60 inches! Promising review:"I am a dog groomer who has to clean up a lot of hair. I absolutely love this product; it makes clean-up a breeze. Hair doesn't stick to bristles like a traditional broom. It picks up dust and dirt, too. When the floor is wet, just use the squeegee side of the broom." — Kim Atwood Get it from Amazon for $16.99. Check out my colleague Emma Lord's Evrilholder FURemover broom review for more satisfying before and after photos! 14. A handy TubShroom to take on the hard task of helping clean out your tub after bathtime. It works well for human *and* pet hair, just so you know. Promising review:"I'm a groomer. I have two different tubs. They both have different 'waste holes.' One is a perfect fit, the other isn't. The TubShroom still manages to collect the bulk of the hair." — Obi Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in five colors). 15. A pack of grooming wipes perfect for in-between grooming appointments or as an alternative to professional grooming if you can't get your dog there for health or financial reasons. Amazon Promising review:"Love these wipes for our Pomeranian. We use them to wipe our dog down after his play dates and also clean his paws off after returning from our walks. Doesn't really have a strong scent, so it doesn't linger on our dog. The wipes are sturdy and big enough for our needs. These were recommended by our groomer and we are pleased with the product." — Average Amazon Customer Get them from Amazon for $12.99 (or Subscribe & Save for $12.34 /two months; available in two scents). 16. A toothpaste that'll help reduce tartar and plaque formation — and maybe even improve your dog's dental sitch enough so you can skip a professional pricey cleaning where they have to put your dog under anesthesia.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Meth for sale? Tenderloin shop owners sued by San Francisco attorney
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Four San Francisco shops were slapped with lawsuits accusing the owners of enabling criminals and causing illegal drug activities to thrive in the troubled Tenderloin neighborhood. City Attorney David Chiu announced Friday that he filed several lawsuits against the shops' property owners and managers for allegedly operating illegal gambling dens and harboring criminal activity. Chiu said, 'Drug dealing, gambling, fencing, selling contraband and illegal tobacco products — these stores are the Wild West. One store went as far as to store meth for sale under a display shelf. It is clear these stores are magnets for substantial illegal activity.' The markets were exposed by undercover San Francisco Police Department officers who posed as shop customers. Lawsuits were filed against: Family Corner Discounts, 401 Ellis Street Store owner Wadhah Albarak is named as a defendant in the suit, along with property owners Yong Oh and Kil Oh. An SFPD officer saw people crowded around a gambling machine in the store. The officer also saw someone walk in and show the clerk a container of laundry detergent concealed under his jacket, indicating a possible fencing operation, according to Chiu's office. Last month, SFPD executed a search warrant and seized six electronic gambling machines, merchandise on display for sale with CVS price stickers, and 50 grams of methamphetamine located under a display shelf. 'The store also sold drug paraphernalia, including hundreds of glass pipes commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and crack cocaine, and small plastic baggies used to store narcotics,' the city attorney's office wrote. EZ Dollar Discount Store, 335 Jones Street An undercover police officer entered the store and watched a woman gambling with an arcade game machine while she smoked fentanyl, investigators said. The officer also watched 'many people coming in and out of the store, but no one exiting the store appeared to have made any purchases. Patrons were gambling inside the store,' a lawsuit states. SFPD executed a search warrant and seized six gambling machines and stolen merchandise on display for sale with Walgreens, CVS, Safeway, Big 5, Trader Joe's, Target, and Harbor Freight branding. The store also sold glass pipes, digital scales, and small plastic baggies used to store narcotics. A lawsuit names property owners Ursula Fung and Rex Tin Chan, along with store owner Mohamed Muftah, as defendants. Ed's Market, 153 Turk Street An undercover SFPD officer found four gambling machines and saw others play and cash out winnings. In March, SFPD executed a search warrant and seized 11 gambling machines, hundreds of glass pipes and Brillo pads. A lawsuit names store owner Adal Saif Altahami as a defendant. 'Since Ed's Market has been in existence, criminal and nuisance activity has plagued the area, necessitating police intervention and adversely affecting the surrounding neighborhood. The neighborhood has experienced a rising number of thefts, assaults, drug-related offenses and arrests of Ed's Market customers,' the lawsuit states. US Smoke Shop, 415 Ellis Street SFPD executed a search warrant and seized five gambling machines, $17,269 in cash, a digital scale, and cannabis. The city's lawsuits accuse the four stores of profiting from illegal activity. In addition to seeking penalties and injunctive relief, the city attorney is asking a San Francisco judge to shut down each business for one year. SFPD Police Chief Bill Scott said, 'The city is united in the effort to dismantle drug markets, illegal gambling dens and other criminal activity to ensure our streets and clean and safe.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Designer Making Exquisite Clothes From Brillo Pads and Plastic Fruit
The British designer Harry Pontefract's clothing often starts with a very specific obsession. Last year, for example, his fixation with vintage faux fruit led him on a six-month search for plastic grapes, which he incorporated into his latest collection in the form of a sleeveless dress hand-embroidered with cascading bunches of them in shades of black and deep Bordeaux. He describes the aesthetic of the piece as 'cheap opulence.' Several garments — including a slim-fitting, hand-sewn corset dress that pools below the ankles and a cloudlike matching stole — consist of longhaired sheepskins, which he selected from the flocks of two female shepherds in Wales and England's Peak District. One of the animals, he says, was named Dilys. 'It's really about if something moves me or about bringing things into a new light,' says Pontefract, 36. He admits, however, that 'everyone's been sort of calling me crazy.' A native of Sheffield, Pontefract now lives and works in an old shoe factory in East London's Hackney neighborhood. He began collecting unusual materials — 'hoarding,' he says — as a child, and the attic and basement of his parents' home are still crammed with boxes of his accumulated treasures. As a teen, he and his friends would customize their jeans using his mother's sewing machine, a hobby that became a vocation when he enrolled in the fashion design program at London's Central Saint Martins. His 2016 graduate collection featured deconstructed underpinnings — upcycled bras and silk negligees — that slipped suggestively off the body and were styled with layers of skin-colored tights. Post-graduation, during his six-year stint on the design team at the fashion house Loewe in Paris, he continued to experiment with his one-off creations on the side before formally launching Ponte, which is sold exclusively at Dover Street Market, two years ago. In addition to the sheep fleeces — which were blow-dried, teased and sprayed by a hairstylist to create the effect of 'blurred memories, so you can't really see where the dress ends and the background begins, like a Gerhard Richter painting,' Pontefract says — the new collection, his fourth, will include a gown of sorts made from hand-shredded Brillo pads molded into trailing lengths of metallic rope. 'It's important that you can't tell what it is,' he says of that dress, which one would never guess was made from steel wool. 'That's much more interesting: It leaves it up to whoever's looking at it to feel something.' Along with such museum-worthy looks (the Costume Institute at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art just acquired a pair of Ponte tights, which are padded with polyester stuffing from old toys to look like jodhpurs), there are also more wearable styles, including reconstructed denim jeans, a leather suit stitched together from eight different salvaged trench coats and a precisely tailored black suit made from dead-stock wool. A single-breasted, drop-shoulder jacket paired with wide-leg knife-pleat pants, it has a slouchy, modern fit — and, of course, a back story. A large silky patch sewn onto the seat of the trousers is 'made out of an old satin dress that I found somewhere,' Pontefract says. 'There's a slight, sexual nature to it. You won't see it in a photograph, but I know it's there.'
