Sterilite Ultra Wheeled Hamper

As someone with back problems, I am always looking for ways to make my life easier in that regard. Laundry was always a chore, especially when I would forget to have my husband lug our giant wicker hamper from the bedroom to the laundry room. Not only was it awkward to carry, it was also heavy. Then we happened upon the Sterilite Ultra Wheeled Hamper, on accident, and it was love at first sight. We bought it immediately and never looked back.

This hamper has wheels so you don't have to carry it and has a retractable handle, much like many suitcases have. It glides easily over carpet, wood floors, and tile (I know because I go over all three from the bedroom to the laundry room!) It is lightweight and has enough holes in the side that your clothes don't start to stink at the bottom of the hamper, but the holes aren't so big that socks and other small items go missing. The dimensions are: 21" L x 13 3/4" W x 28 3/8" H.

Visit Sterilite.com for more information. This product can be purchased at Meijer, Target, or Amazon, among other places.

Dropps Laundry Detergent

I tried Dropps laundry detergent because it is more environmentally friendly than your average laundry detergent. The packaging alone makes it "greener" as it does not use as much plastic and therefore has a smaller carbon footprint. (Reference this diagram for more information on the eco-friendliness of Dropps). The laundry detergent is also 6x concentrated as opposed to the standard 2x concentrated because they do not use water in the detergent. Not only that, it is much more convenient to carry a small, light package of Dropps than a standard heavy plastic container of detergent. I also like that they come in the pre-measured pacs for no mess laundry-ing.

This product was very easy to use. Simply toss one pac in the washer for a regular load or two pacs for a heavy load, pile in the clothes, and turn on the washer. No measuring, no mess. And my clothes came out clean and fresh. They are compatible with standard and HE washing machines and can be used with all water temperatures.

Dropps come in three different kinds -- 1. fresh scent; 2. scent & dye free; and 3. baby - scent, dye, & enzyme free. The kind that I tried was the scent & dye free.

Dropps can be purchased from their website at www.dropps.com with a price ranging from $1 for a trial 2-load pouch to $24 for an 80-load pouch. I have also seen these at some local stores, including Meijer.

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheet

One website I like to visit is www.freestuffheadquarters.com. They put together lists of places giving out free samples that you can try. One sample that I received through there and recently tried was a Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheet. If you've never heard of this, what it is is a sheet that goes with your clothes in the washer as a laundry detergent and transfers with your clothes to the dryer as a fabric softener and anti-static.

I tested this product out on some new sheets that we bought. While it did its job as both a laundry detergent and a fabric softener/anti-static, and smelled really good, it is not something I would likely use all the time. For one, it cannot be used on any children's pajamas or other flame resistant fabrics and since we have a small child, almost every load we do has some sort of this material in it. And the other reason I wouldn't use it frequently (and this is silly) is because you have to start the water first, then add the sheet, and then add your clothes. This is completely backwards of how I do laundry! It definitely required some brain power on my part to do this.

That being said, I do think it's a good product, especially for those without small children. It is definitely more convenient to carry a lightweight sheet than a big container of liquid detergent. And more economical to buy one product than separate laundry detergent and dryer sheets. It would be ideal for traveling as well.

You can visit www.purex.com for more information or pick up a package at most local supermarkets.