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review
Cleaning products
Fibertec Smart WashFibertec Smart Wash.jpg

Fibertec Smart Wash

6
by Lara Dunn
UPDATED Fri, Mar 04, 2016 16:31

First Published Mar 4, 2016

0
£3.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Does what it's supposed to and handy for bikepacking, but you can get better value elsewhere
Weight: 
139g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
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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.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

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

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

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Bottle is good and solid.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Did a good job for all the different jobs including hair and body washing, dishes, laundry...

Rate the product for durability:
 
5/10

Lasts pretty well for each 'chore', though more was needed for hair washing.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
5/10

Skin feels a bit dry after use.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

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.

Overall rating: 6/10

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

Fibertec Smart Wash 2016
Fibertec Smart Wash
Fibertec 2016
Fibertec
Lara Dunn

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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