Elbow Grease and the Environment
By DAVID MARTIN
Bon Ami, the Kansas City-based polishing cleanser, did not fare well in a recent Consumer Reports test. But company officials say the substance is up to most jobs, while putting less stress on the environment.
The September issue of Consumer Reports graded the tub-scrubbing ability of powders, pump sprays and aerosol foams. Comet and Ajax were graded best buys for their ability to remove mildew for just pennies. Bon Ami, which is more expensive than the big-selling brands, received only fair marks for its mildew removing and preventing skills.
Bon Ami/Faultless Starch Co. officials do not dispute the results of CR's mildew test. But they're quick to point out that Bon Ami performs well in other measures, such as scratching and the impact of chemicals on the environment.
Company spokesman Ben Stark says a bleach-based cleaner (like Comet) may be appropriate in areas of the country, like Houston, where mildew is a large problem. However, "we feel that in the great majority of cleaning circumstances, that bleach need not be introduced into the wastewater, for a clean and shining result. Yes, Bon Ami might require more mechanical action (elbow grease) than some competitors because they are cleaning by way of harsher chemical action."
Bon Ami advertises the fact that it contains no chlorine, dye or perfume. The active ingredient in Comet is sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate. "In our opinion, hot water, our fine mineral abrasive, and biodegradable detergent are all one needs for most (maybe not all) cleaning situations," Stark writes in an e-mail.
Stark also notes that the paperboard used to Bon Ami cans contains more than 50 percent post-consumer waste paper.
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