Tropical Traditions Powdered Laundry Detergent - Review and Giveaway!

***This giveaway is closed.***
Winner: Claudia

As you know, I've had the opportunity to try out a number of Tropical Traditions products in the past (and shared them with winners as well!). This time I am testing out their Powdered Laundry Detergent.

I am accustomed to using liquid detergents in our HE front loader, so this was a fun experiment for me. I was worried that the detergent might leave white bits on the clothes, or may not dissolve entirely because the front loaders use less water. Nothing to worry about on both counts - there were no white deposits left on our clothes, and the detergent tray was clean when I checked after doing a load.

I always use about half the recommended detergent, simply because I don't feel it's necessary to use so much soap on our clothing. We generally don't have a lot of staining or really dirty clothes (yes, I know all that will change as soon as this baby arrives), so a little does go a long way. So I used a half-scoop for each of the large loads I was doing in my front loader. You can also see on the Tropical Traditions site that they recommend using half the amount called for when you're washing with a front loader.

Of course, the other benefit is that one container of detergent lasts a very long time! This jar is 5lb and I know it will last ages!

For my whites, I did supplement with a little of their Oxygen Bleach (you can read my review of that here). The Powdered Laundry Detergent does contain some of the Oxygen Bleach, but I like my whites WHITE, and I was happy with the way they came out! My husband had accidentally put his suitcase on top of our white bedspread and the wheels left a mark - but it came out beautifully with this combination. In case you're worried about using it on your colours - the detergent (and the Oxygen Bleach) are both colour safe. Just don't use it on silk or wool.

I also like that it is scent-free. The ingredients are simple and few, enough to do the job but nothing more. That is what I prefer. If you put your nose right up to the jar and sniff, you get a faint, clean smell - but a scent is not noticeable on the clothes, other than they smell clean, not like a chemical or perfume. If I decide I want a scent, I'll put a couple drops of essential oil on a cloth and toss it in the dryer. That way I know exactly what's on my clothing and that it's free of nasty chemicals.

Tropical Traditions has generously offered one of my readers the chance to try the Powdered Laundry Detergent for free!

The giveaway:
A 5 lb tub of Tropical Traditions Powdered Laundry Detergent!

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 enviro-friendly, non-toxic Laundry Detergent from @TropTraditions at Emily's Latest @emilyisland http://bit.ly/eaY9rq US/CAN 2/7
  

• 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 February 7th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn within a few days, announced here, in a separate post and emailed! (Note: winner draws may be late as I'm not sure when I'll be in labour with this baby!)

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 jar, which came to Canada quickly and packaged well.)