Complete the Cycle - Wash Day Giveaway

***WINNERS PICKED 8/31 WITH RANDOM.ORG***
***CONGRATULATIONS!!!***
#83 Sylvia
#25 Jocelyn
#2 Keonte'
#55 Carolyn G
#111 Tina






I can't say I really enjoy doing laundry. While we have a laundry room, it doesn't have any space to fold laundry unless you count the tops of the machines, which I don't since you can't put another load into the washer without moving everything. (Chalk up another reason why I should have gotten a front-loader set, aside from the fact that the contractors obviously thought I was getting one since they left so much vertical space for the washer and dryer to cohabitat in.)



The sad truth is my laundry tends to accumulate on the kitchen table until I get around to folding it:



I try to fold it in a timely fashion, since we can't eat at the table with all the laundry piled up and also because the cats find clean laundry irresistible to sleep on. That being said, there's a load on the table right now, waiting for me to finish writing this post and get on with the folding! Folding is obviously my least favorite part of my own laundry regimen but the part I love is shopping for and trying out new laundry products. I recently received a $25 gift card to do some laundry product shopping and I headed out to do some damage. Here's what I ended up with:



I'm pretty loyal to my laundry brands but sometimes I like to shake things up a bit. The bug spray has actually been my staunchest foe in the laundry wars this summer. My husband loves to garden and work in the yard and with all the rain we've had, we've developed a huge mosquito population. He douses himself liberally in the strongest DEET concentration sprays he can find… ironic since his garden is all organic. Anyway, the stuff leaves an icky residue and cloying scent on his clothes so I've been washing his laundry separately from the kids' things. Roo has sensitive skin and gets rashy if I use scented products on her laundry. That makes me sad because I love the way scented detergents and softeners can lift your mood. Oh, well. I use the frou frou scents for Daddy's yucky outside clothes and get a vicarious aromatherapeutic thrill while folding them. Yes, I do realize I used the word thrill while describing laundry. My life is that exciting.



Something that is exciting is the Complete the Cycle Laundry Regimen Guide, a super-handy laundry cheat sheet compiled by Clorox. This clever guide features tips to streamline your laundry regimen as well as concise explanations of what laundry additives are appropriate for which jobs. I know that my family has always used dryer sheets while Bob's family doesn't. I think most people tend to stick to what they know, laundry-wise, so it's nice to have a reference that isn't biased by nostalgia or tradition. The Complete the Cycle Laundry Regimen Guide was created with input from Collective Bias, an online community that I enjoy sharing my opinions with. They sent me this impressive gift laundry basket yesterday:



This Laundry Regimen Kit consists of a hamper filled with Gain Laundry Detergent, Downy Ultra, Clorox 2 Ultra, a Clorox Bleach Pen, Clorox Bleach coupon, a laminated copy of the Complete the Cycle Laundry Regimen Guide and a Flip Fold Ultimate Folding Tool. I haven't had the chance to try out any of the detergents yet (the Gain smells great!) but I have a feeling we might use the Clorox Bleach Pen for crafts (and I head acid-wash, bleach-embellished denim is making a comeback… shudder) very soon and the laminated Complete the Cycle Laundry Regimen Guide is already clipped to the cabinet above my washer. I can't believe I am hoping for the kids to stain something! My husband was also entranced by the wonders of the Flip Fold, which is funny since he usually leaves all of the laundry to me. (This is a good thing, typically, since the last time he got near the washer he put a camping backpack in it and it caused $300 worth of damage to the machine. Awesome.) But, hey, if he wants to fold his own clothes that would be great… I was skeptical but it does an awfully good job. Now we need to get one of the jr. models for the kids' clothes. If only it could help me with fitted sheets, too… mine always turn out lumpy and bulky, bursting out of the linen closet. Witness the neatly flip-folded tee vs. my slovenly manually-folded tee:



Collective Bias and Clorox have generously provided five additional Laundry Regimen Kits for me to give away to my readers.

To enter and win your own Laundry Regimen Kit (just like the one I described and pictured above), please comment on this post with your laundry regimen stories. If you have a blog, feel free to post about your laundry regiment there and link back in your comment. For this week-long contest, you may enter as many times as you like: Tell me about your favorite brands, stain removal tips and tricks, reasons why I need a front-loader, etc. Maybe even clue me in on the easiest, neatest way to fold a fitted sheet!

There will be five winners.


Entries will be accepted through August 28th and I'll pick five winners using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter (and tweet about this contest using this hashtag: #completecycle ), fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


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