Resolve High Traffic Foam Versus the Woolite Pod

If you have kids or pets, you know about carpet stains. And chances are, you have tried quite a few different stain-removal products. I know I did--I tried the specialty stain removers that are sold at the pet store that are supposed to remove all traces of puppy accidents (they don't). I tried about every product down the grocery store aisle with the stain removers, trying both the ones designed for carpet and upholstery and those meant for clothing.

After testing a lot of different products over the last few years, I pretty much settled on the Resolve High Traffic Foam as my main stain-remover. It seems to do the job pretty well, as long as I used a lot of elbow grease and a good scrubber along with it. Is it extraordinary? Awe-inspiring? Not really...it just works adequately enough.

Not too long ago, a new stain remover product came out on the market--the Woolite Pod. I happened to be lucky enough to get a free one in the mail as a promotional offer from Woolite, so I decided to try it out, pitting it against my tried and trusted Resolve High Traffic Foam. I didn't know how things would turn out--I wasn't a huge Woolite fan, as I had tried a few of their other stain removal products and wasn't too impressed. But, free is free, so I was going to give it a try.

From a design point-of-view, the two products are quite different. The Resolve High Traffic Foam comes in a tall metal aerosol can, whereas the Woolite Pod is just that--a pod. The Woolite Pod is a little handheld gizmo that contains a fabric-safe sponge and brush along with the cleaning solution. I wasn't sure which product held the advantage here--yes, the Woolite product needed no extra scrubber, but would the little pod hold up after a few scrubbings, or was it a one-hit wonder?

Now, I must confess--I didn't do a scientifically sound experiment here...I didn't go about the house, spilling ketchup and juice and red wine on the carpet and sofa just so I could try to scrub it off with both products. Sorry, but I get enough messes to clean up on a daily basis by having two small kids! So, what I did was to bring both products along when I cleaned up messes, trying to use each product for a portion of the mess. I tried this method out while cleaning up spilt milk from breakfast one day. Another day, I used both products to clean up after my youngest son threw up in the hallway. Throughout the next several days, I ended up testing the two products against each other when cleaning up lots of other messes, too--juice from a juice box that my oldest stepped on, urine from my young son's nighttime accident, and syrup from when I dropped a plate of the remnants of our waffle dinner. So, trust me, I put these two products through their paces!

Which product came out the winner? Well, I'm surprised to say that it was the Woolite Pod! Here are my reasons why:

--The handheld pod is just the right size to fit in my hand, and everything I need to battle the stain is right there in my palm.
--The built-in scrubber and sponge on the Woolite Pod are quite durable, easily lasting as long as the stain solution inside the pod.
--The stain solution is oxygen-activated, which seems to work better than harsh chemicals--and isn't as toxic-smelling as well.
--The Woolite Pod did require elbow grease, but the cleaning solution worked better for me than other stain removers I have tried.
--The Resolve High-Traffic Foam smells more toxic, which makes me a little more light-headed as I am scrubbing--surely that isn't a good thing.
--The aerosol can of foam doesn't seem to last very long...my can was empty before the Woolite Pod had run out of solution.
--I saw at the store that the Woolite Pod costs about $3.99, whereas the Resolve High Traffic Foam costs about $6.99...that's a pretty big difference, don't you think?

I will probably keep a can of the Resolve High Traffic Foam around, just in case I come across a stain that the Woolite Pod isn't too good at removing; after all, I liked it well enough before trying the Woolite Pod, right? But, for everyday stains and spills, I have made the switch--I definitely reach for the Woolite Pod before anything else.