Paxton's Sandal Saver

Be honest. You, like most of our team, have a host of sandals, flip-flops and nylon watchbands that are grungy enough to make a skunk turn tail and flee in terror. We feel your pain.

So when Matt Paxton, founder of his namesake product, Paxton’s Sandal Saver, tossed a few test bottles our way, we skeptically, but eagerly, tucked them away for a serious test with some nasty sandals. We say skeptically, because we’ve tried a few other so-called sandal cleaners that required buffing and scrubbing and left our dogs smelling like a hospital room floor — slightly better than if we’d soaked our shoes in Pine-Sol.

We sprayed several sandals — one we thought was beyond hope — a nylon watchband, an indoor cycling bike seat and handlebar after too many workouts had made them grimy, and the inside of a well-used mountain bike helmet (too gross for words). In every case, after a quick one minute wait to let Paxton’s solution do its dirty work and then a few swipes of a paper towel, olfactory pleasantry was restored while offensive odors and a certain amount of greasy grime were banished. Made of safe and nontoxic castile soap blended with essential oils, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus extracts the stuff smells, well, herbally pleasant. In short, the stuff really works!

SNEWS Rating: 4.5 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection)

Suggested Retail: $7.99

For more information: www.paxtoniscool.com