Test Drive Tuesday- Laundry Detergents PLUS Enter to Win a $25.00 Ann Taylor Loft Gift Card!

I cannot wait for the warmer weather to arrive. Just today I looked down at the ground and saw tiny little green tips of early tulips just barely peeking through the muddy earth where the recent snow had melted.  Spring is definitely around the corner! This makes me think of pastel colored spring flowers, lazy Sunday afternoons playing in the park and the smell of freshly laundered clothes blowing in a warm spring breeze.

Speaking of laundered clothes, I have been busy perfecting my laundry techniques and getting back to basics! Let's just say that before my June Cleaver project began, I tended to throw everything into the washing machine, slap it on and run away.  These days, I take a lot better care of my threads by sorting first, reading care labels and drying as indicated.

Inspired by my newfound appreciation for proper laundering, I recently devoted a "Test Drive" to liquid laundry detergents to see which one would fight the grime, bust the dust and get my clothes clean. In order to test out the contenders, I did one load of mixed colored clothing which included "normal" dirty clothing; by this I mean that there were no significant, hard to remove stains on anything.  I also washed another load of "normal" white clothing.  Here are the results of my test:

1) Seventh Generation Liquid Detergent

This is a plant-derived liquid detergent. It is a "green" product, containing no phosphates or petroleum products, so it scores points on the environment chart. I also learned that this is non-toxic. I was impressed about that and gave it kudos for kiddos safety. The drawbacks are that its more expensive than other brands and it is not high efficiency. I also sampled the blue eucalyptus and lavender scent which was too strong for my tastes. Finally, when compared to the other liquid detergents in this test, I felt that it did not get the laundry as clean. 

2) All Small and Mighty Triple Concentrated Liquid Detergent

This is a liquid detergent that is triple concentrated so it comes in a very small bottle. The bottle does not weigh very much and therefore can be easily picked up. The type I used for this test was the unscented, as this was the only one in the store on the day I purchased it.  It had no dyes, no perfumes and no smell at all.  It got my clothes clean, but it did not leave them smelling clean since it was fragrance free. This would be a great option for allergy sufferers or for washing baby clothing.  I also did a little homework on All and I learned that this liquid detergent supposedly kills dust mites, so that is a bonus.

3) Tide 2X Ultra Liquid Detergent with Bleach Alternative

This is a liquid detergent that is concentrated with a bleach alternative.  This bottle was large and it was pretty heavy.  You could probably get a decent workout for your arms with this baby!  The scent was "original". This detergent definitely got my clothing clean and I loved the scent.  It reminded me of sunny days when I was young and my Mom used to hang our laundry on the line to dry.  The drawback is that this is more expensive than other brands and it is not a "green" product.

And the Winner is......

TIDE 2X Ultra Liquid Detergent with Bleach Alternative!

I have awarded the Test Drive Trophy to Tide.  It did seem to make my bright clothes brighter and my white clothes whiter. I loved the way the clothes smelled and while it is a bit more money, I felt like it cleaned my clothes the most efficiently.  The other brands had their benefits, but I felt like this one did a better job getting my clothing clean. Despite the extra pennies, I believe this to be worth it.  I am going to make this my permanent, go-to liquid detergent from now on (and keep my eyes peeled for coupons, too)! In the meantime, you can get a good deal at Amazon by clicking here:  Tide 2x Ultra with Bleach Alternative Liquid Original Scent 78 load, 150.0-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2) . For $53,98, you can do 156 loads of laundry, which comes to about $.35 per load. WOW! That is pretty darn good if I do say so myself!

Ann Taylor Loft Gift Card- CONTEST!!!!
Finally, I recently increased my followers to the 200 mark and I am celebrating this milestone!!!! I am offering one lucky winner the chance to win a $25.00 Ann Taylor Loft Gift Card.  In order to have a chance to win this, just do one of the following:

1) Become a follower of my blog. Be sure to leave me a comment with your email so I know how to contact you if you are the lucky winner!

BONUS ENTRIES**** For any of the following, you will get 2 additional entries EACH**

2) Add my button to your blog! Leave your link here.
3) Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LifeJuneCleaver and leave a comment to let me know.
4) Become a Fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-of-A-Year-in-the-Life-of-June-Cleaver/259401679300 and then leave me a comment to let me know you did.
This contest is open to US Residents 18 years of age or older only. Winner will be chosen by random on or about March 10, 2010 and will be contacted via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond! Thank you!