Let’s face it. You can think of a hundred other things you would rather do than laundry. Nevertheless, you still want your whites bright, your colors vibrant and you would like them to get that way as quickly possible. With that being said, I thought I would take a few minutes to discuss some of the newer products to hit the store shelves, which are designed to promote both cleanliness and efficiency.

Tide Pods – You know those handy individual packets of dishwasher detergent? Well, Tide Pods are the same thing but they’re designed for your laundry. The pods consist of three chambers (cleaning, stain-fighting and brightening) housed in a smooth dissolvable shell. They’re safe for use in any type of washing machine and will work in any water temperature. Gone will be the days of measuring liquid or powder detergent and rinsing cups. Proctor & Gamble has delayed the release of this product twice because of unexpected manufacturing challenges, but it’s scheduled to be on store shelves by the end of the month. A package of 57 pods will retail for approximately $15.99.

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets – One sheet provides detergent, fabric softener and static-guard for a full load of laundry. Drop a sheet into the washer, and the detergent is released during the wash cycle. Toss the same sheet into the dryer with the clothes. The stripe on the sheet will be activated by heat to soften clothes and remove static. The product has received favorable reviews on Amazon. A package of 22 costs around $10, so while it might be a bit pricey for regular use, it would be perfect to bring on vacation or emergency trips to the laundromat.

Shout Color Catcher Sheets – Designed to protect clothes from color bleeds while preserving original colors, this product is marketed as a time saver that reduces the need to sort clothes. Simply drop one sheet into the washing machine and it will absorb loose dyes found in the wash water. The sheets received mostly favorable reviews from Amazon customers, with some noting that while they may have prevented bleeding between colors, they failed to keep colors from bleeding on whites. A pack of 24 sells for approximately $4.29 at Walgreens.

Bounce Dryer Bar – This product attaches to the drum of your dryer and eliminates the need for dryer sheets. One bar will last between 2 and 6 months, depending upon its size and scent. The Bounce Dryer Bar has also received favorable reviews from Amazon customers, with some noting that it leaves a white residue on black clothing, which may or may not be caused by over-drying. Expect to pay between $8 and $10 per bar.

Mr. Steamy – This contraption is actually a ball that when filled with water and placed in the dryer, is supposed to produce enough steam to unwrinkle clothes. When purchased directly from the manufacturer, the product is $19.99, but online reviews indicate the people have found it at discount stores for $9.99. The product has been met with mixed reviews, with unhappy users complaining that it’s quite noisy in the dryer and fails to remove wrinkles as promised.

Affresh Washer Cleaner – Geared toward modern, high-efficiency washing machines, this product is designed to remove odor-causing residue from washers. One tablet placed in the empty wash basket and run through a normal wash cycle is all it takes to keep the appliance clean. Affresh was well-received by Amazon customers and a pack of 4 sells for approximately $7.56 online.

Scentsy Dryer Disk – Scheduled for release in March, the disk is made of plastic which is infused with a fragrance that includes anti-static properties. One disk will work on 15 loads of laundry. The product’s pricing has yet to be determined as of this writing. Contact a Scentsy independent consultant for further details.

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