Thursday, July 28, 2011

Eco Sprout Review and Giveaway!

The perfect cloth diaper detergent. Does it exist? I suppose that all depends who you ask. Some people swear by good old-fashioned Tide original. Of course Tide isn't very eco-friendly, and it gives me a rash, so I've never attempted to use it on anything Jem wears. We've been through a good number of the eco-friendly, cloth diaper safe detergents out there - Nellie's, Lulu's, Rockin Green, Crunchy Clean - and there have been things I liked about all of them. All of them have worked for us in certain situations, but not others. Battling the stinkies has never been a particularly easy feat for us, especially since we have dealt with hard water in the past, and now with a water heater we cannot control. Suffice to say I am always eager to try the new "best thing" in CD detergents, and I had an opportunity these past couple of weeks to try the new favorite on the block, Eco Sprout.



A little background: while many of the CD detergents on the market today were formulated by WAHMs (Work-at-Home Moms), Eco Sprout was thought up by a WAHD -- that's right, a Work-at-Home Dad. Awesome, right? I don't know that many dads who even want to do the diaper laundry, much less come up with their own detergent! His name is Jared Edwards, and he wanted to come up with a detergent that was "non-toxic, natural, eco-friendly, sensitive for my boy's bottoms, and got rid of the strong ammonia our diapers always had with other detergents... Eco Sprout detergent is free from dyes, brighteners, enymes, phosphates, SLS, and is 100% biodegradable."  Sounds pretty great, doesn't it? I also love that the larger sizes come in cloth bags!

After using it for several diaper washes, I have to agree that it's pretty great. After carefully following the instructions on the Eco Sprout website for switching detergents, I've found it's been able to get out stinkies that our previous detergent wasn't able to!

My favorite of the scented samples is the "Warm Vanilla Sugar." It reminds me of cookies, and anything that smells edible to me is a plus. I always prefer unscented detergents though, and so I personally would stick with "In the Buff" for Jem's diapers. It doesn't smell like anything! The other scents I received for sampling were Baby Powder, Vanilla Sandalwood, and Fresh Linen. Again, I'm not crazy about non-edible smelling scents, but that's just me! I'm more of a "stop and smell the chocolate" kind of girl. However, if you like the smell of baby powder and freshly cleaned sheets, you will probably love these. The scents wash out pretty thoroughly regardless, they're just to make wash day smell a bit more pleasant!

The real test was the RearZ Eco-Kit fitted diapers I bought last month. Because they are so bulky, I have begun to find that they are the hardest diapers in my stash to get thoroughly clean. I have to keep tossing them back in the pail after the first wash to go through another cycle before I'll let Jem wear them again. While this isn't that too much of a problem (there are five of them and we only use them for nighttime), it is kind of a pain.  So, did the Eco Sprout get the RearZ clean? Well, yes and no. Some of them come out of the first wash smelling just fine, and some come out still smelling just slightly funky, in a "should I do them again or just leave them be?" kind of way. However, this is a whole lot better than the previous detergent we were using, and I honestly can't blame Eco Sprout for not getting all of these big bulky diapers totally clean in one shot, especially because of our frustratingly lukewarm water (you really need hot water to get things like that totally clean!) It has gotten all of our other diapers smelling fresh and clean, and that's impressive in and of itself! I've also found there is somewhat less staining with the Eco Sprout than with other eco-friendly detergents I've used.

All in all, I am very impressed with Eco Sprout and would definitely recommend it! Thanks to the generosity of Jared and his team, one lucky reader will have the opportunity to try a 24 ounce bag in the scent of his or her choice!




Rules for Entry

Contest is open to anyone in the US or Canada (sorry to my international followers!) There are several different ways you can enter. There is no mandatory entry, pick any one or do them all! Please leave your email address with each entry. I will only use your email address to contact you if you win, I do not spam contest entrants or my subscribers. Email subscribers will have to visit the actual blog to enter.

~ Visit the Eco Sprout website, then come back to this blog post and leave a comment to tell me which scent you'd like to try.
~ Like Eco Sprout on Facebook. Come back to this blog post and comment that you have done so (with your Facebook name, please!)
~ Leave a link to this contest page anywhere on Facebook or your own blog. Leave a comment here that you have done so (and tell me where to find the link!)
~ Follow Jem's Room on Google Friend Connect (by clicking the "follow" link at the top of this blog page or going to the GFC box in the righthand column). Leave a comment here that you have done so (if you already do, it counts!)
~ Follow Jem's Room on Facebook. Leave a comment here that you have done so (with your Facebook name).
~ Follow Jem's Room on Networked Blogs. Leave a comment here that you have done so.
~ Follow Jem's Room by email by entering your email address in the box in the right hand column of this blog page. Leave a comment here that you have done so.
~ Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment here that you have done so (and tell me where to find it!)
~ Add Jem's Room to your blogroll. Leave a comment here that you have done so.

The contest will end next Saturday, August 6th. Winner will be picked by a random number generator. Good luck to all!

**I received a free sample of this product for review, however I received no other payment, and I verify that the opinions expressed in this review are my own.**

95 comments:

  1. I'd like to try Warm Vanilla Sugar!
    hun423 at hotmail.com

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  2. I like Eco Sprout on fb as Vashti McMurray
    hun423 at hotmail.com

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  3. I follow Jems Room via gfc
    hun423 at hotmail.com

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  4. I like Jem's Room on fb as Vashti McMurray
    hun423 at hotmail.com

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  5. I follow Jem's Room via network blogs as Vashti McMurray
    hun423 at hotmail.com

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  6. I follow Jem's Room via email.
    hun423 at hotmail.com

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  7. I'm already a fan on FB (laurawolcott@gmail.com) and I would love to try the warm vanilla sugar. :)

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  8. I am following on Google Friend Connect.
    :o)

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  9. I also follow Jem's Room on Facebook!

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  10. Hi :) Warm Vanilla Sugar, please! jamie.stefanko@gmail.com

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  11. And I found out about this because I follow you on FB :p jamie.stefanko@gmail.com

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  12. And just one more since I Like'd them on FB jamie.stefanko@gmail.com

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  13. Ooh, that lavender chamomile looks great!
    teo.torriate@gmail.com

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. I follow Jem's Room on Google Friend connect. teo.torriate@gmail.com

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  16. Leah Labrecque followed Eco Sprout on FB. teo.torriate@gmail.com

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  17. Would like to try Sandalwood Vanilla!

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  18. Liked Eco Sprout on FB (Tish Duncan)

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. I Like Eco Sprout on FB (Katie Vanis)
    Also, I would like to try Pink Lemonade!!

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  21. would love to try the warm vanilla sugar
    taraz9 at excite dot com

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  22. like Ecosprout on FB - tara e
    taraz9 at excite dot com

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  23. like Jem's room on fb - tara e
    taraz9 at excite dot com

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  24. I looked at the web page. I would like to try the vanilla sandalwood.

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  25. Warm Vanilla Sugar - mmmm.

    gmbergemann@gmail.com

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  26. Following you on GFC.
    gmbergemann@gmail.com

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  27. Posted link to this giveaway on my facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Big-Dreams-for-a-Simple-Life/161442500566883

    gmbergemann@gmail.com

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  28. I just noticed that I can enter by being an e-mail subscriber. Which is actually how I usually read your blog. Yay!

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  29. I would love to try the lavender scent. I am new to cloth diapering and I am loving it so far, but it would be wonderful to have a laundry soap that had a nice scent to it!!

    Jessica@plasticmind.com

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  30. I'd love to try Ocean Blue!

    SHull2319 at gmail dot com

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  31. I like Eco Sprout on Facebook (Sarah Hull)

    SHull2319 at gmail dot com

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  32. I follow Jem's Room on Google Friend Connect (Sarah Hull)

    SHull2319 at gmail dot com

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  33. Hi, I would like to try fresh linen. julie.kanter@gmail.com

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  34. Hi, I follow Jem's room on facebook. julie.kanter@gmail.com

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  35. Hi, I liked ecosprout on facebook. I'd love to try fresh linen. julie.kanter@gmail.com

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  36. Hi, I follow your blog on google friend connect. I would love to try fresh linen. julie.kanter@gmail.com

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  37. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  38. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  39. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  41. I would like to try sandalwood vanilla
    mystikafaith at hotmail dot com

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  42. I like eco sprout on facebook (candice kelly)
    mystikafaith at hotmail dot com

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  43. I mentioned you in my blog
    http://m-g-wild.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-giveaways_31.html
    mystikafaith at hotmail dot com

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  44. I follow you on gfc (mystikafaith)
    mystikafaith at hotmail dot com

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  45. I like you on fb (candice kelly)
    mystikafaith at hotmail dot com

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  46. I subscribe to your email
    mystikafaith at hotmail dot com

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  47. I'm kind of an unscented girl myself. I'd go with in the buff. Or possible pink lemonade because I love fruity scents.

    britbakow at gmail dot com

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  48. I like Eco Sprout on facebook (brittany higgs)
    britbakow at gmail dot com

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  49. I blogged about this giveaway! http://britsthegoodstuff.blogspot.com/2011/08/eco-sprout-giveaway-ends-86.html

    britbakow at gmail dot com

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  50. I follow via GFC (brittanybakow)
    britbakow at gmail dot com

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  51. I follow Jem's Room via networked blogs. (brittany higgs)
    britbakow at gmail dot com

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  52. I subscribe via email feedburner.
    britbakow at gmail dot com

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  53. Your button is on my blog (right side): http://britsthegoodstuff.blogspot.com/
    britbakow at gmail dot com

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  54. I would love to try the Lavendar Chamomile.
    morales_y at yahoo dot com

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  55. email subscriber.
    morales_y at yahoo dot com

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  56. I'd love to try the Fresh Linen scent!
    lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

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  57. I like Eco Sprout on Facebook.
    Jessica Gonzalez
    lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

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  58. Shared this on Facebook~ http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=251292371567545&id=1816415454
    lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I like you on FB~Jessica Gonzalez
    lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

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  60. I follow on networked blogs.
    Jessica Gonzalez
    lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

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  61. New Email subscriber
    lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

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  62. I have your button
    http://green-mama-jama.blogspot.com/
    lovemyhnk@yahoo.com

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  63. I would love to try Warm Vanilla Sugar!

    vsoul2213 at comcast dot net

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  64. Like Eco Sprout on FB via Virginia Lee

    vsoul2213 at comcast dot net

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  65. like Jem's Room on FB via Virginia Lee

    vsoul2213 at comcast dot net

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  66. networked blogs follower via Virginia Lee

    vsoul2213 at comcast dot net

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  67. email subscriber

    vsoul2213 at comcast dot net

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  68. Currently use warm vanilla sugar but would like to try the pink lemonade!

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  69. Like ecosprout on fb. Name: Benny Candace Page

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  70. I'd love to try the Seasonal: Pink Lemonade scent

    graceink at yahoo dot com

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  71. I like Eco Sprout on Facebook (Carolyn Hughesman)

    graceink at yahoo dot com

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  72. I like Jem's Room on Facebook (Carolyn Hughesman)

    graceink at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  73. I follow you on Networked Blogs (Carolyn Hughesman)

    graceink at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  74. I'd love to try the Seasonal Pink Lemonade!

    mmjrn2 at aol dot com

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  75. I like Eco Sprout on FB :)

    mmjrn2 at aol dot com

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  76. I subscribe to your blog via email

    graceink at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  77. Mmmmm...warm vanilla sugar.

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  78. Lavender chamomile...mmm... :-)

    enlehman86 AT gmail DOT com

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  79. I am a GFC follower. enlehman86 AT gmail DOT com

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  80. I Like Eco Sprout on Facebook
    diddle poyner

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  81. i shared on fb
    http://www.facebook.com/FoodShouldTasteGood?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=113932995370810&id=100002677719149

    ReplyDelete
  82. I'd like to try Fresh Linen.

    mrs.marcus2 at yahoo dot com

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  83. I like eco sprout on facebook!
    ohstella11 at gmail dot com

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  84. warm vanilla sugar sounds nice..
    ohstella11 at gmail dot com

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  85. Just fanned you on FB (http://www.facebook.com/laalaura)

    ReplyDelete
  86. I like Eco Sprout on Facebook (FB name: Maddie Brubaker).
    maddiemb {at} comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  87. I'd like to try the Warm Vanilla Sugar scent.
    maddiemb {at} comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  88. I follow your blog publicly via Google Friend Connect as shala_darkstone.
    maddiemb {at} comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  89. I follow your Facebook page (FB name: Maddie Brubaker).
    maddiemb {at} comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  90. I shared this giveaway on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/shala.darkstone/posts/240491619316837
    maddiemb {at} comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  91. I follow you on Networked Blogs (FB name: Maddie Brubaker).
    maddiemb {at} comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete