Infomercial Products: Do They Work?

May 14, 2007 — -- Late-night infomercials often hawk "life-changing" products guaranteed to make our lives easier, but do they really work? "Good Morning America" technology contributor Becky Worley is back with tests on three more infomercial products.

One Sweep

Price: $10, plus shipping and handling

The Claim: Rubber bristles allow users to pick up the dirt in "one sweep."

Grade: B+

What Worley Said: I like this broom because it basically does what it says it will and it provides different cleaning functionality from your traditional household items. It helps to keep dust down when sweeping because you are pulling the material toward you with short rubber bristles, not flicking dirt around like you do with a straw broom. The added bonus is that it works wet or dry.

The squeegee blade on the back is functional for snow or other debris you need to wipe away. I also like that you just rinse it in water to clean it off.

Glass Wizard

Price: $9.95

The Claim: Glass Wizard cleans glass faster than more conventional methods.

Grade: A

What Worley Said: The Glass Wizard actually makes cleaning the windows easier. The even pressure from the cleaning head lets you cover more ground that you could with paper towels or rags. The material on the "cleaning bonnets," the material affixed to the Glass Wizard's head, doesn't cause streaks. Plus, you wash the cleaning bonnets for reuse and don't have to waste paper towels.

Instant Screen Door

Price: $19.95

The Claim: Create a screen door in minutes with a hook and loop hinge that will keep insects out.

Grade: F

What Worley Said: The screen door is manufactured to fit a multitude of door sizes, but instead of being adjustable, it's just meant to overlap onto the wall of any smaller doors. On my regular sized doors, it has eight inches of screen protruding out to the exterior wall, which isn't very attractive.

The swing mechanism on the door feels flimsy and portions of the top or bottom don't fully close even when secured by the provided hooks. Bugs can freely enter through the open portions of the screen.

My main complaint about this product is its method of installation and stability: You put sticky Velcro tape down the inside of your door frame and then take the screen door and press its Velcro-lined spine against the Velcro in the door frame. I followed the directions exactly and a one-foot section of Velcro on my door rolled up on itself because the adhesive wasn't strong enough. I pushed it down four or five times, but it would not adhere to my newly cleaned door frame.

Company Comment: The standard door size is between 30-36 inches; A 28-inch size, like Worley's, is a bit narrow. A regular front door is 36 inches and that's the size of the product. If your door is smaller than the standard, the product will still work because it overlaps the frame.

The product is made to keep flying pests out of your house. If you are trying to keep things out that might crawl through at the edges, yes, they might get in. It is not going to keep them out like a standard screen door.

The company has not heard the complaint about Velcro tape before. The surface must be clean and dry. Directions also clearly state that you must put up the velcro for two hours before using. That's to give the adhesive a chance to really bond before putting the weight of the door on it. If you don't do that, it may not adhere as well as it should.