Multi-purpose washing products can be very handy for touring, travel and camping weekends, reducing the number of bottles of gloop required. Fibertec Smart Wash is concentrated, comes in a handy 100ml bottle, and is designed to wash everything bar your bike. It works, and doesn’t smell too bad either.
I’ve long been a fan of one-bottle-does-it-all detergent type products for minimalist touring and bikepacking. If you’re not going away for long (or even if you are!) you can get by with a single liquid that can be used to clean veg, clothes, hair and skin, saving on space and weight. A concentrated formula is key, since you’ll be using it for everything, and this also means a smaller bottle.
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Smart Wash comes in a travel and touring-friendly 100ml bottle (or a larger 250ml bottle for £6.99) and has a concentrated pH 5.5 (sort of neutral ish) formula, based largely on naturally derived ingredients, including coconut.
It’s certified biodegradable, handy for use in wilderness situations, although the manufacturer does stress that it shouldn’t be used directly in rivers, lakes or other water sources wherever possible. It’s also suitable for use in salt or fresh water and is claimed to have moisturising and skincare properties.
I tried it as shower gel, shampoo, handwash and also to wash dishes, clothes and sweaty mitts. The aroma was fairly subtle and reasonably unisex but with a distinctly chemically undertone, which was okay but not ideal.
Very little liquid was required for showering, although for washing my hair I needed a little more as it doesn’t lather that strongly. My hair wasn’t over-dry afterwards, although my skin did feel in need of additional moisture.
For washing clothing, not much liquid was needed, and it worked very well – garments were noticeably cleaner and fresher. They also rinsed easily, needing less water. Dishes came up clean and not greasy, and the soap suds lasted well.
When used as a handwash, Smart Wash even tackled smudges of chain grease okay.
> Find more skincare, soap and moisturiser reviews here
It’s a good product and not bad value, but to be fair, there are similar products available such as Lifeventure’s All Purpose Soap, which is cheaper, similarly biodegradable and versatile, but also has an antibacterial action.
Verdict
Does what it’s supposed to and handy for bikepacking, but you can get better value elsewhere
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Fibertec Smart Wash
Size tested: 100ml
Tell us what the product is for, and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Aimed at lightweight travellers looking for a one-bottle-does-everything detergent product.
Fibertect says: “Fibertec Smart Wash is our new ‘all and everywhere outdoor soap’.
“Through its very mild formulation and a pH value of 5.5, it is excellently suitable for everyday hair and body care. The additive dexpanthenol makes for a special skin care. Smart Wash may be used both in fresh water and in salt water.
“Smart Wash may not only be used as shower gel and shampoo, but it is also perfectly suited as dish-washing detergent and travel laundry detergent.
“Smart Wash is highly concentrated, which means that a drop will go a long way.”
It is effective and easy to use.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Ingredients
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth-5 Carboxylate, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, PEG-4 Rapeseedamide, Sodium Chloride, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Benzyl alcohol, CI 16035, Methylchloro isothiazolinone, CI 1914, Methyl isothiazolinone
Biodegradable in accordance with EC Regulation No. 648/2004
Bottle is good and solid.
Did a good job for all the different jobs including hair and body washing, dishes, laundry…
Lasts pretty well for each ‘chore’, though more was needed for hair washing.
Skin feels a bit dry after use.
Other products of a similar nature are available for less money.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Versatility, compact size.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Slight chemically odour, dryness of skin after washing with it.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Possibly, although I’d probably stick to cheaper alternatives.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Possibly
Use this box to explain your score
A handy and versatile detergent liquid but not exceptional and I’ve used better ones that cost less.
About the tester
Age: 43 Height: 1.65m Weight: 73kg
I usually ride: Boardman Hybrid Fi My best bike is: Specialized Ruby Elite
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking
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