Tackle Spring Cleaning Starting With the Basics #OxiClean #MC

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for OxiClean. I received three product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Spring cleaning can be a daunting task, but it is a necessary one.  For busy households like mine, I think it's best to start early and spread the cleaning out over a few weeks.  There are some things most people don't think to include on their spring cleaning list, like laundry and dishes.  This year, why not try spring cleaning starting from the inside out?  Start with the basics by refreshing your family's clothing, linens, dishes, and toys.  Then move onto the furniture, closets, and carpets, and ultimately onto the windows, walls, and ceilings.  Did I leave anything out?

To help us get started with our spring cleaning, we received 3 new OxiClean products to try.  To refresh all the warm weather clothes we packed away at the end of last summer, we washed them all in new Fresh Scent OxiClean Laundry Detergent.  If you've used OxiClean to wash your clothes in the past, then you'll be thrilled to know that you can get the same cleaning and stain-fighting power in a liquid detergent.  Although we thought the Fresh Scent formula was the perfect thing to freshen our clothes for spring, for those who prefer unscented detergents, the OxiClean Laundry Detergent is also available in a Perfume & Dye Free formula.

Part of getting our clothes ready for spring is to make our whites whiter.  We don't notice how dingy our whites have gotten over the winter until the sun shines on them.  That's where the new OxiClean White Revive Laundry Stain Remover Powder comes in.  We tried it on everything we had that was white, including linens, t-shirts, underwear, and socks.  Although, this cleaner does not get things bleached white, it does make everything whiter without the use of bleach.  Some of our children's socks were very dingy on the soles, but the White Revive Laundry Stain Remover made a huge difference.

On the same note, I notice residue and spots on our dishes considerably more when our home is filled with sunlight.  I was fairly happy with the dishwasher detergent I was using, except when our old dishwasher doesn't dry our dishes completely, it would leave behind residue on our dinnerware, flatware, and drinkware.  Because I've tried many types of dishwasher detergent over the years, I was pretty skeptical when I tried the new OxiClean 4X Extreme Power Crystals.  Not only did it get our dishes clean (even though our children don't believe in rinsing off their dishes before they put them in the sink), it also left zero residue!  To top it all off, there were no spots on our glasses at all.

What's next on the list?  I need to go through our closets and drawers to donate all the clothes that no longer fit or that we no longer wear.  Does OxiClean make a product that makes that job easier for me too?

To learn more about these 3 new OxiClean products, visit www.oxiclean.com.

Getting Warm-Weather Clothes Ready for Back-to-School Using OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for OxiClean. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Here in Massachusetts, the summer weather extends into the first month of the new school year.  For the past couple of weeks, we have been busy sorting through our three children's warm-weather wardrobes.  All the clothes all fall into one of three categories . . . outgrown or too worn, ready-for-school, or stained.  The opportunity to try OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover arrived at the perfect time.  We really want to salvage as many of those stained warm-weather clothes as we can for our children to wear to school during the months of September and October (and possibly next Spring).

Since it is impossible to tell how old some of the stains were and what kind of stains they actually were, my husband and I decided to make new some new stains to test out the OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover properly.  We did this by taking our unsuspecting children to their favorite ice cream place on a hot summer day.  We had them order ice cream cones (no cups that day).  We tried to talk them all into something chocolaty, but only one of them went for it.  Then we attempted to convince them to sit outside to eat on the deck, but they protested because their ice cream would melt too quickly.

After not too long, all 3 of their little faces were plastered in ice cream, but not one drop on their clothes.  My husband and I stared at them in disbelief because our children have proven time and time again to be messy eaters, especially our 6 year old son.  When all was said and done, our 9 year old son with the chocolate ice cream came through!  He had several drips of chocolate ice cream on his t-shirt.

To really test out the stain removing power, we let the shirt stained with chocolate ice cream sit for four days without pre-treating or rinsing it.  We followed the instructions on the package and did not put the OxiClean directly on the stain or the clothes.  We washed the shirt twice this way and were able to remove one of the major stains about 80% and the other approximately 95%.

Stain #1 (Before & After)

Stain #2 (Before & After)

After seeing the results, I realized that we really should wash stained items right away, as suggested in the instructions.  In the past, there were so many stains that we did wash right away with our regular detergent and the results were similar to that of Stain #1, which was washed with the OxiClean after the stain set for four days.  Any new stains in our house will be washed with OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover right away from now on.  As for our children's clothes with old stains, we will try soaking them in a concentrated solution of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover before we wash them again.

What makes this OxiClean so "Versatile"?  Well, it is said to be safe for cleaning more than just laundry stains on your whites and brights.  It is safe to use around your home on things like your carpeting, upholstery, and hard surfaces such as your kitchen counters or bathroom tile.  We definitely can't say that about our regular laundry detergent.  The next time one of our cats decides to get sick on one of the rugs, we'll be ready!

A 3lb tub of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover retails for approximately $7.99.  It is also available in a "Free" version, which is free of dyes and fragrances for sensitive skin, and in a "Baby Stain Soaker" for households with infants and toddlers, which is also free of dyes and perfumes and can be used as a stain soaker or a laundry booster.  To learn more about these products, visit OxiClean.com.

Living Green With Jerinda: Roux Maison Eco-Friendly Sport Detergent

If you’ve read my reviews before, you know that I love finding laundry detergent that is both natural and works well. In the past I’ve gotten some really great ones and Roux Maison has now joined with all the other great, eco-friendly detergents I’ve tried.

Roux Maison is a complete line of environmentally friendly laundry supplies that are hypo-allergenic, vegan, chemical free, fragrance free, biodegradable, and non-hazardous. Each is highly concentrated so they require less water to make and less packaging and energy to ship and they contain therapeutic-grade essential oils instead of chemicals to make them smell great.

We were sent the Roux Maison Sport detergent in Sweet Tea scent and I loved how it was scented without being overpowering and smelling toxic. The concentrated bottle is small but still does 40 loads of laundry in that one 16 oz. bottle. We have a high-efficiency washer and I was very pleased it was compatible with that. Plus this detergent is never tested on animals and is free of SLS, SLES, formaldehyde, pthalates, dyes, and any GMO ingredients, and it comes in a BPA-free bottle, a fact I loved. This detergent works well and all my clothes have been clean and smelled great since the first use. I am very happy with this detergent and would definitely buy it for my family in the future.

You can learn more about Roux Maison and purchase their line on their website, www.rouxmaison.com. This 16 ounce, 40 load bottle retails for $16.99.

Thank you to Roux Maison for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

How To Remove Odors, Grass, Dirt, and Red Clay Stains From Sports Uniforms

After three seasons of outdoor soccer for our oldest son, who has now unofficially retired from soccer, I have to say that I do not miss all the dirt and grass stains that were left in his uniform, socks, and the thermal tops and bottoms we used to layer underneath on cold days.  Even though the stains usually came out, I could never figure out how to remove the musty odor that seemed to be embedded in the fabric even after multiple washings.  If you're in the same boat, here are some tips that you may find to be useful . . .

Image provided and removed by: Cisco Custom Volleyball Jerseys

Living Green With Jerinda: Oransi Robby Wash Ball

Laundry is one of those never ending chores that seems to suck the life out of you and drain your bank account. Well, that may be a bit dramatic, but laundry really isn’t fun. Finding good laundry detergent that works well, smells nice, is perfect for the whole family, and is easy to use can be a daunting task. The Robby Wash Ball by Oransi is a perfect solution to laundry woes.

The Robby Wash Ball is a very unique laundry detergent because it has pellets, called macromolecules, that fill a plastic ball. One packet of macromolecules can do literally months worth of washing. In fact, their guarantee is that one set of the wash ball kit will last for one year! Between uses, you just have to make sure to set the ball in a well ventilated area and make sure to never put it in the dryer.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

The starter kit comes with several packets of macromolecules, the plastic wash ball, and a stain remover stick along with instructions for use. We’ve been using the wash ball for several weeks and I must say that I really like it! My clothes smell fresh, are stain-free, and the ball is so easy to use. It’s really nice not having to measure out laundry detergent every time. The Robby Wash Ball makes doing laundry much easier and I’m glad we got to try it out.

To learn more about Robby Wash Ball, visit Oransi’s Facebook page or Twitter page. The Robby Wash Ball starter kit retails for $32.95.

Thank you to Oransi for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and of providing an additional product for our contest prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

Living Green With Jerinda: GrabGreen Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

I am always looking for new, innovative, eco-friendly cleaning products that really work and are better for the environment. Even when I find things that work, I am always willing to try something else simply because it’s nice to have a back up and that new thing might work better. “Green” laundry detergent has always been an issue for us. I find a detergent that I like, then within a month it stops cleaning as well and I have to switch back to a mass-made free and clear detergent. When I was sent GrabGreen 3-in-1 laundry detergent, I was excited to put it to work. GrabGreen 3-in-1 detergents come in pre-measured “packs” that go straight into your machine. No measuring needed, which is very convenient. Plus, the dissolving plastic coating makes the packaging minimal, thus lowering trash and fuel costs for transporting large, filled plastic jugs of traditional detergents. The little laundry pods are derived from biodegradable organic and mineral-based ingredients, so there are no harsh chemicals getting to my family or our planet. They are also non-toxic, free of phosphates, fragrance, fillers, dyes and more.

On top of all that, they work really well. I was very pleased with the quality of this detergent, how my clothes looked and smelled after the wash, and the fact that the pods did completely dissolve in the washing machine, which most similar detergents do not and I find the plastic “casing” stuck to my clothes later. I was very happy with this detergent for the whole month I used it and found no negatives to say about it.

GrabGreen was also nice enough to send me some of their wet dryer sheets, a product brand new to me. These dryer sheets are made from the Canola plant, and have fabric softening and static-reducing ingredients. Made without animal fat or wax, these sheets work very well at naturally making your clothes soft and reduce the amount of static as well.

You can purchase GrabGreen products on their website, www.grabgreenhome.com. The 3-in-1 laundry pods retail for $8 per pack (24 loads) and the wet dryer sheets retail for $4.95 for 64 loads.


Thank you to GrabGreen for sending us complimentary product samples to base this review upon.

Giveaway & Review: Robby Wash Laundry Ball by Orsani [CLOSED]

Laundry is a household chore no one can escape, unless you can afford to hire a housekeeper that is. My husband and I have tried several different products that are meant to streamline the process of doing laundry. The most recent product we've tried is the Robby Wash laundry ball by Orsani.

Having used liquid detergent almost exclusively for the past decade, both my husband and I were skeptical about how well the Robby Wash would work on our family's clothing and linens. I have to say that we were pleasantly surprised, not to mention that we did not miss the mess of pouring and measuring liquid detergent.

The Robby Wash, which comes in two varieties (one for cold and warm water and another one for hot), contains refillable macro-molecules which dissolve dirt and stains.

The kit comes with one filled reusable laundry ball, 3 packets of additional macro-molecules, and a stain stick. After two washes with the fuchsia Robby Wash in cold water, we realized that the rate at which the macro-molecules dissolve is extremely gradual. There was no noticeable difference in the size of the pellets between zero washes and after two washes. This eliminated whatever doubts we had that each Robby Wash kit actually launders approximately 120 loads (although extra-large capacity washers are recommended to use two laundry balls in each wash).

So . . . how did it work? Our clothes appeared to come out of the wash just as clean as it would with our regular liquid detergent. With the aid of the stain stick, we were able to get grass stains out of our daughter's jeans using the Robby Wash in cold water. We left one spot untreated with the stain stick and, although the stain is lighter, we can still see the grass stain. So the stain stick really made a huge difference for us.

One thing I was concerned about was how strongly scented the actual laundry ball was. Would our laundry have an overwhelming scent? It actually did not. Our laundry did come out scented, but it was a light clean scent. For someone like me, who is accustomed to using fragrance-free detergent, to like the scent is saying quite a bit. The Robby Wash is also hypoallergenic, which eases my mind about any irritants on my children's sensitive skin.

You can order both the blue (hot water) and the fuchsia (cold/warm water) Robby Wash Kits, as well as the refills right on Orsani.com . Each kit retails for $32.95, which is a great price for a whole year's worth of clean laundry. That breaks down to just $2.75 per month.

Thank you to Orsani for sending us a sample of both kits free of charge to base this review upon and for providing another Robby Wash for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive one Robby Wash Kit (winner's choice of blue or fuchsia).

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me approximately how much money you spend on laundry detergent over the course of one year. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND Orsani.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 2 extra entries, share the link to this contest post on Facebook. Then leave TWO separate comments with the link to your Facebook profile.

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, April 26th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick & Power Paks

Recently, I had the chance to review the OxiClean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover and was extremely pleased with the results. For this reason, I could not turn down the chance to try two new OxiClean products . . . the Max Force Gel Stick Pre-Treater and the Max Force Power Paks. Finding a piece of laundry to test out the stain removing power of these products was not difficult in my house.

Look what I found when I was folding a basket of clean laundry the other day! These were the pants our 6yr old son was wearing last week when he threw up his breakfast and had to stay home from school. Yes, you read correctly. These pants were in with the clean laundry. My husband had already put them through the wash once. There were two large stains . . . one on the upper thigh area and one on the right leg near the hem.

As you can see from the comparison photos, the OxiClean products did an excellent job getting these stains out. All I had to do was rub the Max Force Gel Stick Pre-Treater directly onto the stains and let it sit for about ten minutes. Then we threw the pants in with our pending dark load of dirty laundry along with one OxiClean Max Force Power Pak. It could not have been easier.

The instructions said to wash the clothes in the hottest temperature the clothing's washing instructions allow. We actually wash everything in cold generally because it keeps the clothes looking nicer, it prevents shrinking and fading, and it also saves on energy. My point is that the stains came out 100% with using these OxiClean products even though we washed these pants in cold water.

Look for these two new OxiClean Max Force stain removing products to appear at your local retailer of household and laundry products soon.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of OxiClean and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Review: Oxi Clean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover

Two nights ago, our daughter had a little accident right around bedtime. She somehow tripped and managed to hit her mouth on the train table. As a result, she had quite a boo boo on her gums. It was not until the next morning that I noticed the bloody saliva that had dripped from her mouth onto the front of her pajamas the night before.

By the time I had noticed the stains, they had already been set in. So I put the pajama top aside for when I had time to treat it with something. It ended up being a full two days before I had time to come back to these stains. This was the perfect opportunity for me to see how well the Oxi Clean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover worked against blood.

I followed the directions on the bottle and sprayed the stain remover right onto the stains. I did not need to scrub, but I did need to blot the stained areas. I used a clean white paper towel, but I'm sure a cloth would have done just as well.

After completing the spraying, waiting, and blotting ritual four times, the stains were almost completely gone. I also achieved similar results using the Oxi Clean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover on pen ink that I found on one of my daughter's doll outfits.

Although I am extremely pleased with the results, it did take my using almost the whole bottle of spray to make these two stains almost completely disappear. At $4.99 per bottle, I do think it is worth the money, especially if you are using the product to salvage something that is important to one of your children.

In addition to purchasing this product locally, you can also now place your order for this and other Oxi Clean products on GreatCleaners.com .

This article was written for a campaign run by the Family Review Network, who arranged for Arm & Hammer to send us a product sample to base this review upon.

Could Doing Laundry Be Made Any Easier?

You are invited to watch this very short video of my husband demonstrating the new Purex Complete 3-in-1 laundry sheets. This is a must for everyone! If you are putting together a care package for someone, you really need to include a starter kit and some refills of these laundry sheets.