Does it all just make you sick? Pikosch removal powder review
17.3.2023
Translation: Julia Graham
Everyone knows cat litter. But did you know that there’s something similar for people? In case you didn’t, I put Pikosch’s «spontaneous bodily excretions» removal powder to the test for you.
«It keeps happening. It happens to everyone. And it happens everywhere.» At least, that’s what it says in the product description for Pikosch’s removal powder. It’s referring to «spontaneous bodily excretions» – in other words, sick, diarrhoea and urine.
And it goes on: «Be it at nursery when they’re running riot and playing. Or in public at a restaurant. At a business meeting or at home. When travelling, visiting friends or when you’re a guest at a party. Little mishaps like these happen every day.» And when it says mishaps, it means «liquid excretions». Infectious, disgusting, smelly, and more than anything else, unpleasant to remove.
Pikosch’s removal powder is designed to help with precisely these kinds of situations. But because we’re lucky that «any time» and «anywhere» excretions like these aren’t a reality in our house, I have to give things a helping hand for this product test – much to my ten-year-old son’s delight.
When your son pees in the living room in the morning
I’m no sooner up than I’m asking him if he’d be willing to urinate on the living room floor. A request that my son is, of course, at that age still so happy to oblige with. If we had a parquet or carpet floor, I wouldn’t have dared do this experiment. But our hard concrete floor is practically predestined to be this sort of training facility.
At that moment, my wife comes down from the bedroom and thinks she must be seeing things. But I can reassure her that the pool of pee will soon be gone thanks to Pikosch.
Source: Martin Rupf
So, my son did his part. Now it’s my turn. I tear open the Pikosch package and sprinkle the contents over the pool of pee. The powder clumps together immediately.
Source: Martin Rupf
I wait two minutes – as it says on the packaging – and can finally actually pick up the powder with a dustpan and brush and dispose of it in the bin. And not only that: as it says on the packaging, you don’t smell the urine (but this doesn’t mean that the odour of the powder itself is particularly pleasant).
Source: Martin Rupf
My wife was initially concerned that the powder could bleach the floor where we tested it out, but fortunately that wasn’t the case. That’s because the powder is, as the manufacturer says, free from colours and bleach additives.
Does the powder also pass the test on carpet?
So, on concrete floors, the powder actually worked in the same way as in the manufacturer’s video (in German), meaning it passed the test.
But I now want to know if the powder also does the job with «spontaneous excretions» on a carpeted floor. The product description does indeed say that the liquid linked to the powder can easily dissolve smooth surfaces. But I also read, «Pikosch is gentle on sensitive surfaces, such as upholstery or carpeting.» What does that mean in practice? That the powder also works on carpets?
Fortunately, we have a relatively old carpet in the basement and I’d put up with it getting residue on it, albeit reluctantly. I whip up some artificial vomit. The result is such a success that not much is missing, meaning I could do a carpet test with my own, proper secretion.
Source: Martin Rupf
I put the artificial vomit on the carpet and immediately sprinkle the powder over it. This is another instance where the powder binds instantly with the liquid, albeit not as well as with the pure urine like last time.
Source: Martin Rupf
Because my vomit is also made up of solid ingredients – it was supposed to look real – wiping it up is not quite as easy as in the first test. But most importantly, after I’ve wiped up, there’s still a slightly yellowish stain on the white carpet. OK, so the powder may have spared my carpet, but it didn’t really clean it.
Source: Martin Rupf
Manufacturer: «Pikosch is not a stain remover!»
When asked, CEO Mark A. Reuter tells me, «Pikosch was developed for professional use in hospitals, nursing homes, community facilities such as schools, as well as the food service industry and on trains.» For hygienic reasons, you find functional, non-absorbent substrates in a commercial setting. «But Pikosch is also becoming increasingly popular in the private sector,» explains Mark Reuter.
Here’s what the CEO has to say about the carpet issue: «As a general rule, Pikosch also works on carpets because it doesn’t stick to the fibres.» However, it’s important to note that with vomit, about 80% of mucus and food debris remain on the surface. Conversely, about 20% of the liquid components would be absorbed by the carpet fibre. «That’s why there’s no guarantee of completely removing liquids from the fabric because the granules can’t penetrate between carpet fibres.» As a result, some of the liquid remains in the carpet. That’s why CEO Reuter stresses that, «the Pikosch powder is not a stain remover, as it does not contain any cleansing substances.» It was designed to absorb aqueous bodily fluids, not fats and oils.
Oh well. Fortunately, I had a carpet cleaner at hand, which removed the yellowish stain quite well.
Cleaning products
Quantity discount
CHF8.55 per piece for 3 units CHF14.61/1l
Vanish Carpet and upholstery care foam
Finally: wiping completely without «risk of infection and injury»
I was able to confirm that Pikosch really does serve its purpose. But there’s still the question of what advantages, if any, it has over a mop or paper towel. Of course, the manufacturer has answers to these questions. Firstly, they point out that non-contact cleaning minimises the risk of infection. And secondly, gathering up glasses that have dropped and broken or a mixture of liquid and shards is safe, making it almost impossible to get cuts.
Whether that’s really true or not, I don’t know. I stop myself carrying out a glass test as well, even though our floor would absolutely come out of this test unscathed. I’m not sure I could say the same of my wife – she’s been through enough today.
Header image: Martin Rupf
Martin Rupf
Senior Editor
martin.rupf@digitecgalaxus.chHalf-Danish dad of two and third child of the family, mushroom picker, angler, dedicated public viewer and world champion of putting my foot in it.
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