Monday, August 10, 2009

Product Review - Purex 3-in-1


I typically use liquid Tide laundry soap, liquid Downy fabric softener, and Bounce dryer sheets. After seeing commercials for a month or more, I decided to give the new Purex 3-in-1 product a try. I had never used Purex detergent before, but a good friend does, so I trusted that they would at least have a chance of working. I also considered that if they did the job, they might save me a few bucks a month, and hopefully this product is a little better for the environment. I mean, at the very least, there is less packaging involved. So, let's get down to it.

The 3-in-1 sheets come in 3 scents right now. They are described on the Purex website as follows:

Spring Oasis - a nature-inspired fragrance with fresh citrus and flowers, like a clean morning breeze

Tropical Escape - Island-inspired watery clean scent with a hint of exotic fruit freshness

Pure & Clean - 100% hypoallergenic with a subtle fresh, clean scent. Perfect for people with sensitive skin

I wanted to try Tropical Escape, but my local Target only carries Pure & Clean and Spring Oasis. So, I went with Spring Oasis. Keith said the Pure & Clean smells like Dial soap, and I have to agree. That's not a bad thing; it's just an observation.

From the photos on the website, it appears that the Spring Oasis and the Pure & Clean sheets look exactly the same. They both have a blue detergent section with a blue fabric softener strip. However, the Tropical Breeze appears to have an orange fabric softener strip. The storage containers don't have the scents anywhere on them, so I was a bit worried as to how you could easily remember which scent you prefered, when it's time to buy the refills. I guess the different colored strips will help with that.

You have two options of how to buy these sheets. The first is a starter kit that comes with 20 sheets and the plastic container to keep them in. Since they obviously can't get wet before use, this is your safest bet on how to store them. The starter kit costs around $5.50 at my local Target store. The second option you have, is to buy a refill pack. The refill pack includes 4 more sheets, for a total of 24 sheets. The refill pack is the same price as the starter kit. On the Purex website, they explain why they have packaged them in this manner. The 4 extra sheets in the refill pack make up for the lack of storage container.

For an all-in-one sheet, I say that the Purex brand does a great job. When doing a typical load of laundry, I have no complaints at all. The fabric softener and dryer sheet portions of the 3-in-1 sheets seem to do an excellent job. My clothes always come out smelling great and are just as soft as they were when I was using Downy and Bounce. As far as stain fighting goes, it doesn't score quite as high. It just doesn't cut it as stain fighter. But, I guess that's why it's not a 4-in-1. I will stick with my liquid Tide as a pre-treater for tough stains.

On the website, they do state that some spotting from the fabric softener strip of the 3-in-1 sheet can occur if the dryer is overloaded or has a bulky load, such as bed sheets or blankets. I have not tried washing sheets or blankets with this product yet, so I can't comment on this. I have washed a large load of bath towels, and did not have any issue at all with this. As for the spotting, the website goes on to say that it is not permanent and would simply require another washing to remove.

These sheets can be used with an HE or standard washing machine. They are not reclyclable yet, but the company is supposed to be working on finding a material they can use, that can be recycled. The container and packaging are recyclable.

I read somewhere else online, that you could use the used sheets to wash windows and other glass in your house. I tried cleaning a mirror in the bathroom with Windex, using one of the spent sheets instead of a paper towel. This did not work well at all. The sheets aren't absorbant, and so they just smeared everything around. I haven't tried using them to clean with soap and water, but I really can't see that working any better. They might work well as a scrubber, using Comet or something similar. I haven't tried that yet, but I can see it working quite well. The only other suggestion I have for using the depleted sheets, would be to use them as closet fresheners, or drawer fresheners. Our upstairs hall closet tends to get musty pretty easily. I've got one of the used sheets in there now, to see how long it will freshen that space. It's been about a week, and I can still smell the nice fragrance when I open that door.

In summary, I've been using this product for approximately 3 weeks as of this writing. These sheets are not highly effective as a stain fighter, but do a good job of cleaning, freshening, and softening a standard load of laundry. I will continue to use the Purex 3-in-1 sheets for average loads of laundry. For deep set stains, I will use Tide liquid detergent as a pre-treater.

For more information, you can click on the following link to get to the Purex 3-in-1 website. You can also click a link at that website, to get a $1 off coupon. The coupons really do work. I used one at my local Target store, to purchase my starter kit.

Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets

Now on to the fun part. Leave a comment in this post before 8:00am on Friday, August 14, 2009, and I will choose a winner at random, using Random.org. The winner will receive a free starter kit of the Pure & Clean 3-in-1 sheets.

Updated to add: Just to clarify for everyone, the deadline to leave your comment is FRIDAY, 8/14/09 before 8am. Today is Monday. That gives you 4 whole days! YAY! And I will post the winner around lunchtime on Friday afternoon.

Updated again, to add this awesome video, for Mary: http://www.purex.com/thissheetworks/


19 comments:

juliam said...

PICK ME! PICK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tara said...

pick me. lol hehehe. I like winning things.

Shanna Payne said...

I use the Tropical ones. Mark dont like the other 2 smells. I have had some spotting though from washing a few jeans (maybe 5 pairs) together but i rewashed and it came out.

Seryus23 said...

Well, I missed the 8am deadline, but I will leave a comment anyway! I have wanted to try them, but I have been a little hesitant about it. I just hate buying new products and finding out that they either don't work, or I just don't like them. I believe you have given a good example of this product and it will more then likely lead me to buy it on my next shopping trip. Thanks for the input.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the GREAT review! Try the used sheets without the Windex. Use it dry and see what happens. This product sounds like something I think I will try also.
I have a product that I was wondering about. It is the Bounce Bar. You stick the bar in your dryer and it releases the softner everytime you dry a load of clothes. The bar is suppose to last for several loads.
From Tisha's Mom

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for being the guinea pig. I've seen the commercials and I have been curious, but have not yet tried them. I am currently almost out of detergent and I think you should pick me!!! My husband bought Gain last time and the smell is terrible. To me, it smells like alcohol and is way to strong...could be my pregnant nose though. I think you should try one of those Bounce thingy's that sticks in your dryer and tell us about that!! =)
Julie Rupp

Anonymous said...

I really liked that since the sheets are not recyclable you decided things you could try to reuse em at. Thanks for sharing that info.
Jennifer Walker

Unknown said...

I use purex liquid currently, so I will probably try the sheets when I run out of the liquid...anything to make the process more efficient. Thanks for the review!

Mary said...

Uhhh... is this thing on?

Mary said...

Can I write more than one?

Mary said...

What are you guys talking about?

Mary said...

Okay, now for my fun part! Even if I don't win the thingy, I think you ought to send me one anyway. I have no idea what all this nonsense you are talking about is. Being here in Germany, we don't get American commericals.... THUS, I don't know this product that you speak of... especially since our local on-base store only has certain brands. I can assure you that I know them all and this invention is not among them! :) Now, isn't that a good reason to send me one anyway? Also, FYI, I am leaving 5 posts just so that I increase my chances in case you decide not to find that "super nice" person in your heart that would send me one anyway. :) hehehehe

Mary said...

Mary... out... done-ski! Remember... chose me...

Mary said...

By the way... don't try anything tricky, like not publishing all of my posts Tisha... I know how you are! Hahahaha

J Goodson said...

There was a coupon for these in the newspaper a couple of weeks ago so I am currently trying them. I like them. I think I am saving money by not having to buy softener and dryer sheets. I did have a t-shirt that got some spotting but I guess the load was probably too big. They are a little pricey without the coupon so I will have to see if I buy more once I use these up.

Mary GRUVER said...

Holy crap! That video was SO funny! I had to call in Marty to watch it... we are so easily entertained now that we don't have commercials to watch!!!

Tisha said...

I know, right? LOL I watched it the first time, on mute, at work. With no sound, it looks like she says, "This SHIT really works!" LOL

Anonymous said...

I have found the spotting requires several washings to remove. Using a spray and wash spray helps. I hope the spotting issue can be engineered out.

Anonymous said...

I thought they were great too until I just paid $135.00 to get them out of the water pump on my washing machine!!!! I stood there and watched the tech pull about 9 of them out of the line and pump!! He said they are getting more & more calls that end up with the 3-n-1 sheets as the culprit. BUYER BEWARE THEY WILL COST YOU MONEY TO FIX YOUR WASHER.