Have you caught on yet that I love natural cleaning products? I recently discovered Nellie's and it was primarily their clever branding that caught my eye. The vintage inspired tins and cartons make me feel like I've traveled back in time and borrowed some laundry powder from a fashionable fifties mom that lives down the street! Even though technology and scientific advancement keep giving us new chemicals, nothing is as good as some old fashioned laundry powder. Nellie's All Natural sent us the Oxygen Brightener and the PVC Free Dryer Balls.
Ease of use: As you might have read in my previous reviews, I've recently became a fan of laundry powder. After all, it makes sense not to dilute detergent with water and transport water around - what a waste. I love how easy it is to use the powder, and I find it less messy as well. The Oxygen Brightener comes in a neat tin can and has its own spoon, very convenient. Plus it is several products in one! Great for stain removal, hand washing clothes, carpet spot removal, and as a pre soak.
I was excited to find these PVC free dryer balls as I wasn't too ecstatic about other dryer balls available on the market. We have long stopped using the toxic dryer sheets and we use the dryer sparingly. These are extremely easy to use, you just toss them in! I actually just leave them in the dryer all the time, I don't even have to think about putting them in there! The cool thing is, you can also buy some Lavender Fragrance Sticks that you put inside these balls to infuse your clean laundry with a great natural scent of this essential oil. It's not really something I would use on my clothing (but that's just me), but it is perfect for sheets and towels! Lavender is actually a natural sleep inducer/aid!
Performance: The Oxygen Brightener is wonderful on stains! While it may not work on old set in stains (hey, what will?), it's great for my daughter's last night's dinner that found its way to her shirt. Avocados, you've met your match! Beware blueberries and carrots. Of course if you want the best results, treat the stain as soon as you can and watch Nellie's do its magic.
We really love the PVC Free Dryer Balls, wish we've had them sooner. In our experience they cut the drying time by about 10 minutes give or take. The laundry comes out soft and fluffy, and smelling great with the addition of the Lavender Fragrance Sticks. We find that they work best when the dryer is about half to 3/4 full, otherwise there isn't much room for them to bounce around if you have a dryer full to the brim. By the way, did you know that "fabric softeners emitted toluene, styrene, phenol, thymol, xylene, and trimethylbenzene, among other chemicals, many of which cause acute respiratory tract irritations and inflammation"? They stay on cloth fibers and release over time. I don't see why this should be used on clothing that we and our kids wear! I'm sticking to dryer balls!
Value: Nellie's is reasonably priced and their everyday detergents cost about $0.18 per load or even less if you buy bulk. The Oxygen Brightener that we tried ends up at about $0.31 per load for whites that need some extra help or for stain removal. The Dryer Balls are $24.99 a pair and will last about 3-4 years. It's a great money saver because it cuts drying time and you don't need to buy anymore softener!
Environment: Nellie's is a great company to support because of their commitment to the environment and to providing you with non-toxic means of keeping your clothing and your home clean. All of their products are non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and environmentally friendly.
Two Eco-Babyz readers will win the PVC Free Dryerball Starter Set with Lavender Sticks!
HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit the Nellie's All-Natural website and tell what other specific product you would love to try and WHY.
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