Chicago, Ill. (MARCH, 2004)—Hammacher Schlemmer, the 156-year-old catalog/retailer known for unique products that combine practicality with innovation, is offering a powerful new product, The Fiber-Penetrating Buzz™ Ultrasonic Stain Remover. This groundbreaking stain remover combines ultrasonic energy with a specially formulated Tide™ cleaning fluid to eliminate tough fabric stains that other cleaning methods simply can't touch.

According to a consumer study, 67% of households reported an average of over nine stained items per week-a substantial wardrobe loss. The Hammacher Schlemmer stain remover gets rid of virtually any stain-from coffee to grass to makeup to wine-that hasn't already been set by a washer or dryer, and even some stains that have been set.

A tough ABS plastic wand spot-drops the powerful Tide cleaning formula onto stains; then, a simple wipe across the stain sends penetrating sound waves through the fabric. The ultrasonic waves create bubble implosions that pump cleaning formula deep into fibers. The stain then loosens and literally falls out of the fabric onto the catch-pad. When followed by a regular machine washing, fabrics look almost new.

The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute tested the Fiber-Penetrating Buzz™ Ultrasonic Stain Remover on a variety of fabrics, including 100% cotton, 100% silk, a 65% cotton/35% polyester blend, and 35% wool/65% rayon blend. Each fabric was subjected to some of the toughest stains: red wine, grass, coffee, tomato sauce, chocolate, lipstick, and make-up.

The Buzz Stain Remover visibly "melted" the stains away. When followed by a regular machine washing, between 75% and 100% of most stains were removed from the fabrics tested.

It had a much greater impact on removing make-up, lipstick, chocolate, tomato sauce, and grass stains on cotton/polyester blend fabric than just pretreating and washing or washing alone. It was found to have completely eliminated a variety of stains on the swatches of cotton, silk, and both blends, proving much more effective then typical solutions that rely on pretreaters and washing.

The Fiber-Penetrating Buzz™ Ultrasonic Stain Remover is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $59.95. Additional cleaning cartridges and stain-catching pads are sold separately.

Hammacher Schlemmer is the oldest catalog company in America with a well-deserved reputation for offering unique, problem-solving products that enhance our lives. The company continues its tradition of innovative offerings through its catalog, retail stores in New York and Chicago, and web site (www.hammacher.com).