Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach - Review and Giveaway!

We seem to go through a lot of laundry in our house, despite it just being the two of us (and the dog, of course). When the baby gets here I can only imagine that the laundry room is going to become a much more frequent destination, especially since we're planning to cloth diaper!

So, anything that makes laundry easier is great. Even better if it's a natural and/or environmentally friendly product. I've tried soap nuts, laundry & dryer balls, and various green detergents. The one thing I find with natural products is that sometimes they don't clean quite as well as the chemical ones. They're great overall, but the occasional stain doesn't come out. Now, I'm not a pre-treater, so maybe that's my fault. And we don't have a laundry line (yet?), so I'm not getting the natural bleaching benefit of sun-drying - with Canadian winters, we don't get much sun for more than half the year, anyway.

I had the opportunity to test out Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach. This is made with just two ingredients: Sodium percarbonate (essentially a dry, crystallized version of hydrogen peroxide) and soda ash (aka washing soda, which softens water). Sodium percarbonate breaks down into oxygen, water, and soda ash, which is found naturally in mineral deposits. So you're not sending nasty chemicals into the water system when you use it!

Using it for laundry: You simply add 1-2 ounces into your wash load (it comes with a little measuring scoop). I have a front loader, so there's an extra step. I dissolve an ounce of the oxygen bleach into about 2/3 cup of hot water, just using an old jam jar to mix it in, and then pour it into the liquid bleach dispenser in the washer's tray.

It has lots of other uses, which I haven't tried out yet - from scrubbing grout to cleaning carpets and lots of other household applications. You can see a whole bunch of uses (with instructions) here! I have a feeling this is the kind of cleaning tool that becomes invaluable once you start seeing what it can do!

For my laundry, I find it works well in the front loader and does improve the look of fabrics. It can remove sweat stains from shirts, organic stains from clothing (like grass and dirt) and even did a good job cleaning a white tea towel that I'd just about given up on (food stains can be so difficult to get out!). Our towels come out nice and white. It is also colour-safe (pre-test first, if you're worried - I use it on our light and medium coloured loads but not on the darks).

I was really impressed by the size of the product for the price. For $23.99 (USD), you get 6 lbs (or, 96 oz). That's enough for 96 (lightly soiled) wash loads. Of course, you can always increase the amount you're using for dirtier clothes - and I LOVE that it has instructions right on the package for use with cloth diapers and even cloth feminine pads!

Tropical Traditions has generously offered one of my readers the chance to try the Oxygen Bleach for free!

The giveaway:
A 96 oz. tub of Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach!


How to enter: Head over to Tropical Traditions and let me know one other thing you'd like to try, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!

Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):
  • Subscribe via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter
  • Follow @troptraditions on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
  • Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
  • Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:
    Win non-chlorine Oxygen Bleach from @TropTraditions at Emily's Latest @emilyisland http://bit.ly/c1SCUy US/CAN 10/20 -great 4 #clothdiapers!
  • Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
  • Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
  • Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to Tropical Traditions – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
I will be verifying comments so please actually do the things you say you do ☺ If you already do any of these things, it still counts for entries!

Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends October 20th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!

Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for Canadian entrants: Tropical Traditions is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge if you decide to participate in this Tropical Traditions sponsored blog giveaway. (FYI - it's unlikely to have a charge, being well under the $60 that incurs duty charges. There was no extra charge on my bottle, which came to Canada quickly and packaged well.)

88 comments:

  1. I would love to try their tea tree liguid soap.

    lifeasalee@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have entered the natural deoderant giveaway- entry 1

    lifeasalee@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have entered the natural deoderant giveaway- entry 2

    lifeasalee@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have your button- entry 1
    http://lifeasalee.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have your button- entry 2
    http://lifeasalee.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil looks great too

    ReplyDelete
  7. I entered the deoderant giveaway
    #1

    ReplyDelete
  8. I entered the deodorant giveaway
    #2

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would love to try the coconut oil
    Nofearon@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I Subscribe via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter
    Nofearon@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I Follow troptraditions on Twitter
    Nofearon@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would also like to try their organic swiss chocolate!! karasceviour at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I follow you on twitter @TaraFearon
    Nofearon@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I subscribe to tropical traditions newsletter.karasceviour at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I follow you via GFC, entry #1. karasceviour at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow you via GFC, entry #2. karasceviour at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/TaraFearon/status/26602176830
    Nofearon@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love to try the gold label coconut oil
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Subscribe to TT newsletter with kmogilevski at HOTMAIL
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Follow TT on Twitter (kmogilevski)
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Follow you on Twitter (kmogilevski)
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Tweeted (http://twitter.com/kmogilevski/status/26696302347)
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Follow you through GFC (katie, kmogilevski) - 1
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Follow you through GFC (katie, kmogilevski) - 2
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Added you button to my blogs (http://cookingisme.blogspot.com/ on the right side) - 1
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Added you button to my blogs (http://cookingisme.blogspot.com/ on the right side) - 2
    kmogilevski at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'd like to try the Organic sundried tomatoes.
    cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. TT newsletter subscriber
    cjwallace43 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Follow @troptraditions on Twitter @cjwallace43

    ReplyDelete
  30. Following you on twitter @cjwallace43

    ReplyDelete
  31. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/cjwallace43/status/26844301092

    ReplyDelete
  32. I would like to try their coconut peanut butter.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I subscribed to the Tropical Traditions newsletter.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would like to try their coconut vinegar.
    sejotess@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I subscribe to TT newsletter.
    sejotess@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would like to try the tropical traditions 100% Pure Moisturizing Cream
    ksceviour@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Im subscribed to tropical traditions newsletter(karla.sceviour@nf.sympatico.ca)

    ReplyDelete
  38. I Follow @troptraditions on Twitter
    @ksceviour

    ReplyDelete
  39. I follow you on tiwtter
    @ksceviour

    ReplyDelete
  40. I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/ksceviour/status/26881637542

    ReplyDelete
  41. I follow your blog with gfc(1)
    ksceviour@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I follow your blog with gfc(2)
    ksceviour@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I'd love to try their laundry detergent as well ... and their natural bar soaps. :)

    reducefootprints at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I subscribe to Tropical Traditions newsletter (reducefootprints at gmail dot com)

    ReplyDelete
  45. I follow Tropical traditions on twitter (@smallftprints)

    reducefootprints at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'm following you on twitter (@smallftprints)

    reducefootprints at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I'd love to try their peppermint moisturizing cream!

    hempfield@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  48. The powdered laundry detergent is a product I would like to try.
    sue3lp@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I'd like to try the Certified Organic Canadian Raw Honey.

    edm728@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Subscribed via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter

    edm728@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Following troptraditions on Twitter as edmundwu

    edm728@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Following you on Twitter as edmundwu

    edm728@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Tweeted.
    http://twitter.com/#!/edmundwu/status/27421026849

    edm728@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Following your blog publicly.

    edm728@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Following your blog publicly.

    edm728@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I would like to try their laundry detergent. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.

    dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I am a new GFC follower. THanks


    dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  58. GFC follower #2. Thanks again.

    dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I would like to try the mint tooth cleaner!
    sexyhots29@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. followed tropical traditions on twitter
    @zombiesugarpie
    sexyhots29@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. followed Emily B. on twitter
    @zombiesugarpie
    sexyhots29@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/zombiesugarpie/status/27656830284

    sexyhots29@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. i wanna try Green Label Virgin Coconut Oil - Certified Organic

    drea8685 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  64. follow u on twitter
    drea8685 drea8685 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  65. I would love to try the Organic Swiss Chocolate!

    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  66. I Subscribe via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter too!

    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  67. I Follow @troptraditions on Twitter{Deb55106}

    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  68. I follow you on Twitter{Deb55106}

    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  69. Tweet!~

    http://twitter.com/Deb55106/status/27847662456


    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  70. I follow you with GFC

    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    Entry~1

    ReplyDelete
  71. I follow you with GFC

    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    Entry~2

    ReplyDelete
  72. I'd like to try the coconut flakes!

    feh79 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  73. Subscribed via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter

    feh79 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  74. Following @troptraditions on Twitter - Discoveringthem

    ReplyDelete
  75. Following you via gfc 1

    feh79 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  76. Following you via gfc 2

    feh79 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  77. I'd love to try the shampoo bar

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  78. Subscribe via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  79. Follow @troptraditions on Twitter @matt4melis

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  80. Follow you on Twitter @matt4melis

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  81. http://twitter.com/matt4melis/status/27993906289

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  82. 1-Follow your blog (publicly)

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  83. 2-Follow your blog (publicly)

    matt4melis at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  84. I subscribe to the Tropical Traditions newsletter!

    heaventaste @ hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Hey, why not leave a comment? I'd love to hear what you think. If you're entering a giveaway, be sure to leave your email address if it's not set to public in your profile!