Go get your Vicks coupon

Vocalpoint has a new Be the First promotion for the new Vicks Nature Fusion Cold & Flu that's flavored with natural honey instead of artificial flavors.

It's also free of alcohol, artificial dyes, AND gluten!

Hop over to Vocalpoint and request your $4 off coupon before they're gone!

Swiffer 360 Duster Review

Redesigned for high quality results and "HD clean," the new Swiffer Duster does not disappoint. 

Starting off on the wrong foot:
I didn't expect to like the new Duster any more than I liked the old one. Years ago, when Swiffer first introduced its Duster line, I was impressed with what the ads claimed and bought one immediately. I've always hated dusting and thought this would make it an easy. But the old Duster didn't capture as much of the dust as it claimed it would. I could see it floating around in the air, and it aggravated my allergies. The handle was too flimsy and caused the dust to "fling" off. To top it off, it wasn't economical because it would take two or more of the disposable covers to do my entire house, and the duster pads tore and snagged on everything. So I went back to my rag and spray ways and didn't look back.

Vocalpoint sent me the new and improved Swiffer 360 Duster and, surprisingly, I have great things to say about it. 

A change of heart:

First of all, 360 refers to degrees, as in, it cleans in every direction at one time. This is wonderful for all the wood slat blinds I have in my house. Those things normally take me forever to clean, but now they're a breeze. There are thousands of deep-cleaning fibers in the fluffy new 360 Duster that help reduce allergens.

Ergonomic handle is still lightweight and sort of cheap feeling, but still an improvement on the old design. And it's pretty big: my fingers don't touch my palm while holding it, but that may be saying something about my short, stubby fingers. The prongs that hold the duster pad still give a little - if they didn't it would snap - but not so much that it flings dust.

Lastly, I was able to use one duster pad to clean my whole house. (Disclaimer: I live in a dollhouse-sized home, and I'm not talking about Barbie's mansion, either.) And it really does capture nearly all the dust. I still saw a few dust motes in the air, but nothing like the old Duster. It snagged one time on a sharp edge!

Overall I like the new Swiffer 360 Duster. The company has made drastic improvements and not only does it work better, but the price isn't that bad.  The best part of all is that my hands didn't have to get all lemony and greasy, although I do miss the gleam on the furniture and the scent that screams loud and proud that it's so fresh, so clean.

More info:

Starter Kit MSRP: $4.99 ($4.47 at Walmart.com)

6-pack Refill MSRP: unlisted ($7.97 at Walmart.com)

All Swiffer products come with a money-back guarantee. 

Swiffer products have the Good Housekeeping Seal

Swiffer on Facebook

Get a coupon for $1 off a Starter Kit

I received this sample and coupons to try out for free because I'm a member of Vocalpoint. If you're not a member, you should be! It's a great way to sample products and provide your honest feedback.

All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by anyone. View my full disclosure here.

Fall Give Me 20 Reading Challenge

Every year our homeschool participates in Pizza Hut's Book It! reading incentive program for children in K-6 grades. Did you know there is a program for pre-school aged children as well? There's no free pizza involved (bummer!), but it's still pretty cool in its own right.

The Give Me 20 Reading Challenge is all about encouraging parents to form a habit of reading to their pre-schoolers for just 20 minutes a day. According to R.E.D. Zone, "children who are read to on a regular basis show more interest in books, have a higher vocabulary, and learn to read more easily..." We all want that. Plus they'll give away some good prizes :)

The Challenge runs from October 24-December 16, 2011 and prize winners will be announced December 27.

From the R.E.D. Zone:
The Fall 2011 Give Me Twenty Reading Challenge kicks off on Monday, October 24th and runs through December 16th.  Join and establish a habit of daily reading for your preschool aged children that will likely continue into elementary school.  Read just 20 minutes per day at least five days per week for the eight weeks.  On top of establishing that daily habit, you also have a chance to win one of 50 prize packages - a Snowmen at Night hardcover book and a Snowman Building Kit!  Hurry, the challenge registration deadline is October 24, 2011. Sign up today!

Dental Insurance Giveaway

With over 9% of the US out of work, and many employers not offering benefits like dental insurance due to the high costs involved, there are a lot of un- and under- insured people out there. My family included. Head over here to read a review of DentalPlans.com and enter to win a 15-month dental plan!

Giveaway is hosted by Happenings of the Harper Household blog, and is not affiliated with me.
 

Downy Unstopables Review

I received a sample of Downy Unstopables In-wash Scent Booster "Fresh" scent from Vocalpoint to review and report back on. If you've never heard of Vocalpoint, you really should check them out. I've been a member for years, and they send great samples and coupons.

About the product:

Downy Unstopables are available in two fragrances: Fresh and Lush.
Squeeze and Sniff bottle design makes laundry duty much more pleasurable!
The beads are poured directly into the washer at the beginning of the cycle.
It's safe for all colors, fabrics, and loads.
Works great for towels and sweaty active wear.
High-efficiency (he) machine compatible.
Downy claims the scent will last for up to 30 days. It's only been about a week since I used it, but so far it's going strong.
Downy Unstopables can be used in conjunction with your favorite fabric softener.
The cost is about $7.99, depending on where you shop.
You can find it at retail stores nationwide.

My experience:

Our house is tiny. I have one little storage cabinet (the cheap particle board kind from Wal*Mart) at the end of my short hallway, and it's stuffed full of bed linens and towels. Anything retrieved from inside the cabinet has that smell: the sitting-a-while, musty, dusty smell. Drives me crazy and really irritates my allergies.

But my family also has various sensitive skin issues, including eczema, and I suffer from migraines, perfumes being one of my triggers. All of this prevents me from using most detergents, any fabric softeners, or the fresh-smelling static sheets, much to my disappointment.

I wasn't even going to attempt to try out this sample, but I'm glad I took a chance. The load of towels came out smelling just as fresh as the label implies. So far no one in the house has had any skin irritation and the scent doesn't trigger my migraines. But I'm still a little leery of using it on clothing.

Final Verdict: 

The price is a little high for me, but I'll purchase as long as I can combine a coupon with a sale. Thankfully, P&G is good about offering coupons for all their products, and drugstores frequently put items like this on sale, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Overall, I give Downy Unstopables a 4 out of 5. The price is steep for the type of product it is, but it works fabulously, and I highly recommend it.

I received a free sample from Vocalpoint in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own. View my full disclosure policy here.