Category: Product Reviews

Purex Complete Crystals Giveaway

A few weeks ago, I was accepted to be a Purex Insider (a nice name for people who get to test out Purex products and provide reviews). Lucky me, this means I will occasionally be sent products to test and review here on the blog. Lucky you, this means I will be hosting some giveaways from Purex! Just to be clear, the opinions below are mine (and Greg’s). We were not paid to be part of this program and the only “reimbursement” received was in the form of product to test. Purex has also graciously provided for a giveaway for you, our readers! Enjoy.

I am sure you have been in my shoes before. There you are standing over the washing machine, waiting for the rinse cycle so you can toss in just the right amount of fabric softener. Your time is wasted in waiting, so you decide to buy a “fabric softener ball” that automatically dispenses the liquid for you. There’s the one time you forgot to add the ball and the time release won’t work. Or the time the ball failed and didn’t release at all. Or, all the sudden, you have overfilled the ball. There is fabric softener all over your hands, your clothes that haven’t been washed (or just came out of the dryer), and creating little rust spots on your washer lid.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I gave up on fabric softener a few years ago when I was pregnant with Ari. Since she was born, I haven’t been able to use fabric softener on her clothes because she has sensitive skin (and frankly, I am still lazy). When Greg became a full-time SAHD, he took over doing the laundry and never asked about fabric softener. Now that we are a few years removed from using the liquid, I was excited when I was selected by Purex to review their new product, Purex Complete Crystals Softener.

This new softener comes in three great scents–Fresh Spring Waters, Lavender Blossom, and Tropical Splash that are sure to complement your favorite laundry detergent. I love the Fresh Spring Waters we tested because it reminds me of the smell of springtime in the mountains.

It is a 92% natural product that comes in a crystal form–not liquid. That means it is not oily (I hated the way other softeners would leave a “film” on my washing machine and clothes) and is better for you and your family. While I haven’t tried it on Arianna’s clothes, yet, I am fairly certain her sensitive skin won’t even notice a difference–mine doesn’t. Ok, I lie a little. My skin notices that my clothes are softer, and for days longer. As I wrote this, I was wearing a PJ shirt for the third night in a row and not only was it still soft, it still smelled like it was fresh out of the laundry! That’s because, according to Purex, the Crystals are “infusing fabric with freshness” and help clothing maintain a “naturally soft feel”.

As a mom, I love that it is safe for all clothing–even babies. It doesn’t harm the flame retardant materials that Evan’s clothes are made of and keeps even our toughest denims feeling fresh. Even our “running gear” and my PumpEase don’t loose their wicking ability because there isn’t that oily leftover. I also love that is reasonably priced (from $3.99-$5.99 depending on your stores), and available where I shop.

So, how does it work? Remember I mentioned waiting for just the right time to throw the liquid in the washer? Well, with Purex Complete Crystals Softener, you don’t have to! You just put the crystals in the washer with the clothes, start the cycle, and forget about it! When you are done, you are left with clothes that smell fresh and feel soft for days longer than the competition.

Ok, I admit, I didn’t benefit from the time saving or get to smell the laundry FRESH out of the washer, but Greg (my SAHD/Husband) did, and here’s his take on the new Purex Complete Cystals Softener:

“It gives your clothes a light, airy fragrance that sticks with your clothes. It was very self explanatory, just pour the Crystals to the allotted line on the bottle and added my clothes and I was done. An instant soft freshness. I may be wrong, but the clothes did feel softer when I took them out, even from the washer.”

Well, babe, you are right. Our clothes are softer and fresher, indeed. We are hooked and will definitely be buying more Purex Crystals Complete Softener!

Want to scoop up some Purex Crystals Complete for yourself? Enter my giveaway today! Follow the rules below and I will hook 2 readers up with a gift from Purex and me!

Purex Crystals Complete Softener Giveaway Rules:

1. There will be 2 winners of the contest. Winners will be selected at random using the number generator from www.random.org. Contest runs through Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST. I will notify winners via e-mail of the prize won and will send it to you. No purchase or obligation necessary by you to participate.

2. Mandatory EntryYou must comment below. Please include your name and e-mail address (the e-mail stays hidden) so that I will be able to let you know you won.

3. Optional entry: Follow me on Twitter (@mrsgregwillis) and comment below. If you already follow me, comment!

4. Optional entry: Share this post on your Facebook or Twitter (one entry per service per day) and let me know you did so by commenting below. Use the buttons or this text: “I want to win the Purex Crystals Giveaway by @mrsgregwillis on 3/28! http://wp.me/pZH8r-7n”

Good luck!

Props to my PumpEase!

This post is a follow-up to my recent list of Top 10 Nursin’ Mama Must Haves–a verification that the Pump Ease was well worth my spend. Remember, I have not received any products or compensation from the companies I mention, I am just letting you know what items work for me!

With the end of my maternity leave fast approaching, I realized I needed two essential items to head back to work and continue nursing my son—a new breast pump and a pumping support bra. With a dying pump to at the least get me through, the support bra became my number one concern. I’d been lurking around, reading tweets and posts from other breastfeeding mamas. My search led me to choose a Pump Ease hands-free support (PumpEase or @pumpease); however, I kept putting the purchase off (because I really was not ready to get back to work).

With a week to go, I finally went back to the site (which boasts their supports as “pretty things” that “will hold your breast pump in place as securely and comfortably for your 1000th pumping session as it did for your 1st”). Lucky me, there happened to be a sale on a few supports that either the design was being discontinued or there were minor defects. I picked a design that looked cute (‘Forget Me Not’) and put it in my cart.
Since the company is based in British Columbia, I did not expect to receive my Pump Ease before returning to work, so I started to practice flipping my nursing tank over my pump horns as a back-up. Needless to say, this method left me with a lot of spillage and frustration. My frustration didn’t have to last long—my Pump Ease arrived the Saturday before I returned to work!

As I tore into the package, my husband asked, “You want to whip out the pump right now, don’t you?” Obviously! I knew it didn’t matter, but the pattern I had picked out was adorable (and there are plenty other great patterns including a “Very Cherry” and classy polka dotted “T-Bird Red”). Although I read on the website that the support was made of a “super soft” “88% polyester/12% spandex high-performance technical fabric” that would remember my body shape (thank you memory), I had NO idea just how soft it would feel. Imagine a running shirt and t-shirt sheets made sweet love and this was the baby.

I slipped the support bra around my chest and did up the eyelets. Next, I put the horns (of my Medela Pump in Style Advanced) in place behind the support and through the openings (which are supposed to fit horns of any breast pump—I believe it as they also worked with my backup Playtex Embrace). With two quick snaps, I was attached to my bottles and ready to pump.

My lifesaver was FOUND! I was able to do anything within reach of my pump tubing (wipe my toddler’s nose, pull crackers away from the dogs, and replace the blanket over baby boy’s feet). No milk was lost and I had a killer first pumping session. When it was done, the bottles stayed nicely in place until I was ready to dump into the storage bags. The little drops that did fall from the horns wicked off the Pump Ease with no fear of having to toss yet another piece of laundry in before the weekend was up. For a half a second, I was actually excited about going back to work and taking my pumping breaks!

I highly suggest the Pump Ease for any nursing mama who will be returning to work and pumping. While I can’t say it will be the best experience, I will actually be able to do some work while pumping and will be able to get home to my nursling and toddler quicker. (Definitely a win.)

Although I can’t verify that the Pump Ease will hold up for the 1000th pump, I have been able to pump with it quite a few times and the ladies did not sag once yet. Just based on my first few pumps, I am sure the claim is true—you know I will keep you posted.

Thanks to Pump Ease’s Facebook, I found out that there is a BOGO sale on the “Very Cherry” pattern from now until the end of February. Perhaps two Pump Ease’s would allow for a back up (one in wash, one in pump bag) or a great shower gift (if you know the mama’s size—but definitely read up on the sizing chart on their webpage before purchasing). Who’s tempted?