Clean the old-fashioned way with Brillo

I can remember ever since I was a little girl, there was always a box of Brillo Steel Wool Pads in the cabinet underneath the kitchen sink. Some things never change. Brillo pads have helped to keep my pots and pans, grills, roasters and many other things, super clean and sparkling for decades. I received a couple items from Brillo to test out including the original Brillo pads and some Estracell Sponges. Of course I have had a lot of experience with the original steel wool pads, but the Estracell Scrub Sponge with the Wedge Edge was new to me. I admit that I have seen it many times in the stores before but was scared to try it because of the way the sponge looked. I know it sounds silly but I thought it would be cheap. Boy, was I wrong! One of the first things I noticed was the unique wedge shape. It makes getting into corners easier. The best part about the sponge was how well it made my dish soap suds up. I have used premium sponges in the past that no matter how much dish soap I would use, there was very little suds. The sponge is very durable and rinses clean. I like the fact that it air dries fairly fast too.

You see the pan in the photo below? I have had this pan, along with a few pots that match for over 18 years. Brillo pads work brilliantly to keep the stainless steel surface clean and shiny. Trust me, I use my cookware daily and I can see my set lasting me many more years. You just can't go wrong with a trusted brand that has been around for almost 100 years!

Do you use any Brillo products? Be sure to check out Brillo on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

I received product samples for review purposes. All thoughts/opinions are 100% mine as always.

Dirt Devil Extreme Cyclonic Quick Vac Review

Hey guys! Last week I received the Dirt Devil Extreme Cyclonic Quick Vac to review. When I brought the box in from my front step I was amazed by how light it was. The vacuum was fully assembled with the exception of the handle. It took me about a minute to install it simply with a screw that was included. I kept picking it up and putting it back down because I have never felt a vacuum that was that light before! Nine pounds surely feels a lot different from the normal nineteen pounds I am used to. The vacuum is very slim and compact. I gave it a spin around the house and I was pleased with how well it sucked up all the dirt from our carpet.

Even my 4 year old gave it a try and it was very easy for him to use. We tested out the hose with the crevice tool to clean under the couch and it worked well. This vacuum was more powerful than I expected for its size. I think this machine is ideal for if you live in a smaller home, apartment, have very little carpet/rugs or if you are very tight on space. My teenagers have already put their name on this vacuum for the downstairs area of our home. They love not having to lug the big vacuum downstairs and it will encourage them to want to vacuum more frequently.

The Dirt Devil Extreme Cyclonic Quick Vac is available online and in-stores at retailers nationwide and retails for $59.99

Disclosure: I received an items from Dirt Devil to review. No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own. 

Dirt Devil® Extreme™ Cyclonic Quick Vac Giveaway

**Contest Closed** 
Winner is Latasha, congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated

Hey guys! I wanted to introduce you to this super cute vacuum from Dirt Devil called the Extreme Cyclonic Quick Vac. This vacuum has a compact design but offers full size features. It only weighs 9 pounds which is great news if you have stairs. A lot of vacuums are so heavy that you end up hurting your back lugging it up and down all those steps. This bagless vacuum  has cyclonic action, HEPA filtration, on board tools, telescoping handle, a 20 foot cord and more.


The HEPA media filter is washable so you don't have to replace it as often and can prolong the life of the filter. This compact machine is the perfect size for any home. Hmm, I think the fact that it is lightweight and compact might be wonderful to get your younger kids involved in cleaning up! Gotta teach 'em young, right? This vacuum retails for $59.99. You can purchase them In-stores now at retailers nationwide, or visit DirtDevil.com I will be trying this baby out for myself soon so be sure to check back for my review.  For complete details on this machine, check out the website.

Now here comes the fun part: one lucky Momfiles reader will be able to win a Dirt Devil Extreme Cyclonic Quick Vac!

Entering is easy. 
*Mandatory: Let us know what your favorite features are on the Dirt Devil® Extreme™ Cyclonic Quick Vac.

Want additional entries?

~ "like" Momfiles on Facebook and let us know you entered this giveaway
~ Share this giveaway on Facebook and leave a link to your post (Do this by clicking on the time it was posted)
~ Follow Momfiles on Pinterest and Re-Pin this giveaway. Leave your Pinterest link so we can follow back. 
~ Follow Momfiles on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway (once a day) Leave a link to your Tweet:

Win a #DirtDevil Extreme Cyclonic Quick Vac for your home from @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/7hmochu [ends 7/16] #cleaning 

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on July 16, 2012 at 9:00 AM EST. One winner will be selected via Random.org and contacted by email to claim prize. Please be sure to leave your email address in your comment if you do not have a Blogger Profile. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. You must complete the mandatory entry to qualify for extra entries. Failure to follow rules will disqualify your entries. Thanks for entering and good luck!

Disclosure: The vacuum prize is part of a promotional program with The Mommy Factor and DirtDevil. I will also receive a vacuum for review purposes. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

Purex Let's Be Honest {Giveaway}

Hey guys! I'm not sure if you knew about the latest promotion from Purex. They are running their "Let's Be Honest" contest where one person daily will win a year's supply of Purex. Now who wouldn't want to win that? If you check out the Let's Be Honest page, you will see a series of short videos that I assure will make you smile in agreement. They are hilarious and this one is my favorite...



If you are not convinced that Purex cleans your clothes effectively, sign up for a FREE sample and judge for yourself.

My friends at Purex have provided me a FREE coupon toward one bottle of Purex for 3 Momfiles readers to win. It is so easy to enter. *Just go to the Let's Be Honest page and watch a few of the short videos. Leave a comment telling me which video you liked the best.

Want some extra ways to enter?
~ Tweet, share of like your favorite video and let me know that you did.
~ Follow Purex and Momfiles on Twitter
~ Tweet about this giveaway (once daily)

#LetsBeHonest I want to win a coupon for FREE @Purex from @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/86mpk88 #laundry #giveaway

~ "like" Purex and Momfiles on Facebook
~ Follow Purex and Momfiles on Pinterest and let us know your Pinterest name. I will follow you back.
~ Enter the Purex Let's Be Honest Contest and let me know that you did.
~ Follow Momfiles via GFC
~ Subscribe to Momfiles via email

You must complete the *mandatory entry to qualify for extra entries. Be sure to leave a separate comment per entry method. Entries will be verified. Please leave your email address if you do not have a Blogger profile. 3 winners will be picked at random and contacted by email. Momfiles is NOT responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Contest ends on July 27, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST.

I received no compensation for hosting this giveaway and prizes were provided by Purex. All opinions are 100% my own.

Look what I won!

I just had to share my latest tech gadget that I won from a Twitter contest that was hosted by Brillo for Father's Day. I got a brand new Kindle Fire with a case/stand! I think I might be in love. I have been talking about getting one of these and I am still in shock that I ended up winning one! A HUGE thank you to Brillo for hosting this contest. I am a VERY happy mommy! Please be sure to follow Brillo on Twitter and Facebook for updates on Brillo products, cleaning tips and more!

Please leave me any app recommendations or tips so I can get the most out of my new favorite toy. Thanks :-)

Does organization have you down?

Are there myriads of beauty products overflowing your bathroom? Is there a ‘junk drawer’ you can’t even begin to organize? Does the simple thought of the papers on your desk stress you out? Schick Intuition is here to help! With the launch of Simplicity Project, the brand provides professional advice from Organizational Expert Jill Pollack on easy ways to keep things simple in just a few short steps! Just visit Schick Intuition on Facebook for more!

 

 Jill says: ·
“Designate a drawer or shelf as a home for purses and wallets, cell phones and chargers, sunglasses and loose change.”
“Categorize and store like items / like uses together; Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Cooler, Blankets.”
“Get belongings ready the night before for quick and easy access in the morning. Try placing items by the door to shorten and simplify your routine.”
“Make sure to schedule time for yourself that is nonnegotiable. A Skype chat with an old friend, a yoga class, a massage.”
To simplify your beauty routine, Jill recommends using Schick Intuition, the only 2-in-1 razor with a moisturizing conditioning solid surrounding four ultra-thin blades to achieve the closest shave possible. Schick Intuition offers women the ultimate multi-purpose beauty accessory in one easy product, available now in three new, limited edition handles!

Schick Intuition razors are so great because they come with a handy hanging holder and there is no need for shaving gel. Shaving legs in the shower is so much easier! I just love how smooth my legs feel.

For additional simplicity tips from Jill visit Schick Intuition on Facebook and click the ‘Simplify and Save’ tab. There you have the opportunity to take our Simplicity Personality quiz and receive up to $4 off Schick Intuition products!

Things that are making me so happy right now.

Today I laughed HYSTERICALLY in the car on the way home from picking the girls up from school. I am talking full abdominal pain, tears from my eyes and coughing from laughing so hard. My sunglasses even fogged up. Man, that was some good laughter! 

Today William was complaining about "those meddling kids". He loves old school Scooby Doo. As a matter of fact, he loves all the old cartoons like Tom & Jerry, Yogi Bear, The Snorks, The Smurfs and more. Sure beats Sponge Bob any day! 

This salad is made from baby organic greens (kale, spinach, arugula and others) dried cranberries, sliced almonds, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. It is outstanding. It is my new favorite salad. 

If you haven't tried Mr. Clean with Gain scent, you are missing out on the happiest scent ever. It is as if you accidentally spilled Gain freshness into the air. It really makes me excited to clean. Yeah, I have issues :)

Dwayne and I tried Red Moscato for the first time and really enjoyed it. I think we need to explore some other brands. I am going to make a date night reservation to try out a wine bar in our area in the very near future. 

I love Coca-Cola from the 1.25 liter bottle. There is something so special about the taste from that specific size bottle. It's not the same out of the can or the 2 liter bottle. 

Dwayne and I have been thoroughly enjoying watching the NBA play-offs and even the pre-game, half-time and post-game footage. This has been the most enjoyable basketball season ever! We will be so sad when it's over. 

The thing that has been making me over-the-top happy lately has been the new windows we had installed over the course of the last year. We have noticed a huge difference in the consistency of  the overall temperature as well as the air conditioning unit does not run 24/7. I know our light bill should be looking a lot better too. That will be the icing on the cake! 

So what has been making you happy recently? Please share, I wanna know! :)

Spring cleaning with Stanley Steemer {$100 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

**Contest over** Winner is Pascha. Congratulations!

It is Springtime and there is an abundance of dust and allergens floating around in the air as well as lodged in our carpets, ducts, floors and fabrics. This is a great time to do some deep cleaning and Stanley Steemer is a phone call away. Did you know they do more than just clean carpet? Stanley Steemer’s expertise extends to hardwood, tile, air ducts, water damage restoration, and more! I have made a service appointment for next month to have our air ducts cleaned out. It has not been done in a few years, so it is really time! I have used Stanley Steemer in the past and the difference is always astonishing after having your carpet cleaned.

Check out the video below from fellow blogger Corine of Complicated Mama



We will be replacing the carpeting in our home soon and plan to make sure we have Stanley Steemer in twice a year to get the 'ick' out! Stanley Steemer’s proprietary equipment and cleaning processes remove more than 98% of dry soil from floors With over 70 branches and 220 franchise locations in 48 states, Stanley Steemer services 95% of the country. You can find Stanley Steemer on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

I am really excited that Stanley Steemer (through MyBlogSpark) is providing a $100 gift certificate for one lucky Momfiles reader to win. How fantastic is that!?

Enter below in the Rafflecopter widget. Be sure to complete the mandatory entry in order for your extra entries to count!

LYSOL® No-Touch Kitchen System Review & Giveaway

Contest Closed

Winner# 67- Lisa Congratulations! 

I just love cleaning and household products. I was thrilled to get to test out the new Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System. I am a very active kitchen person so this was right up my alley. I received the starter kit in the fresh and fruity Sparkling Tangerine scent. Other scents are Sunkissed Lemon and Shimmering Berry.

Assembling the system was so simple. It comes with batteries so all you have to do is remove the tab where the battery compartment is and peel the sticker off the bottle of product. Snap product on the top of dispenser and you are ready to go.  The unit dispenses just the right amount of formula automatically and it is wonderful that it is hands-free! When you cook everyday you will find that you don't always want to put your food covered hands on your dish liquid bottle. This is a winner for me!

I tested to see how many glasses and tumblers I could wash with one no-touch "squeeze". I did a total of 13 and I did not think that was half bad! I am a dish liquid over-user so I am hoping this system will keep save me overall. I have washed sink loads of dishes including pots, pans and bake ware with this new product. The formula works wonderfully on breaking up grease and loosening up stuck-on food particles. The Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System was not made just for dish washing. It is also good for cleaning surfaces. Another winner for me since I make a huge mess on my stove daily. It cleans my counter tops, stove top and even cabinets very well and leaves that fresh scent behind. You can also use this product to wash your hands. To say it kills bacteria, it is very gentle on your hands. The best part about that? My husband will and I will get along wonderfully when fishing season comes back (pretty soon too). He just LOVES going out back to the pond to catch his "big" fish and of course ends up catching babies and has to throw them back in the water. This means he has fishy, stinky hands. Of course he generally comes straight into the kitchen to wash his hands. I am thrilled to know that he can get his hand cleaner without touching any bottle! Another winner for me!! So can you guess my overall opinion of the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System? You are right, it's a winner!

You absolutely have to go check out the Lysol Kitchen System Undercover Challenge for a chance to win a Grand Prize Kitchen Upgrade and also weekly chances to win the Lysol No-Touch System. You should play, it's fun! I totally stink at it though but you better believe I entered for my chance to win the kitchen upgrade *fingers crossed*

So do you want to try the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System out for yourself? One lucky Momfiles reader will win a starter kit. Enter in the Rafflecopter widget below.

Bringing Sexy back to laundry | Review & Giveaway

Okay, okay well maybe laundry is not all that sexy. I tell you what though, it can be with some help! I received the latest Gain products to test out. Of course I am a cleaning supply freak so I was quite excited to say the least. I got the Gain Dreamy Desire fabric softener, Gain Fireworks In-wash scent booster in Sweet Sizzle and Gain Forget Me Not dryer bar in Flirty Fresh. Do you see where I am going with the whole sexy thing?

These scents are insanely wonderful! I won't lie... although I had already done laundry the day before, I created loads of towels, sheets and miscellaneous things around the house to get to test out these new items. I know, I need to seek counseling or something for my strange addiction :-)

My thoughts are as I expected them to be...LOVED them ALL! The Dreamy Desire liquid fabric softener has such a smooth and seductive scent. It left my sheets static-free and quite soft and fresh. I might or might not have also added a shake or two of the Fireworks In-wash booster... I won't tell! It might or might not have me still sniffing my sheets and pillowcases. Last but not least, the Forget me not dryer bar. What can I say? Gain products are addictive. I can't get enough of it! I wonder if the family would notice if I used them around the house for other things rather than laundry? Actually, the teenagers might not mind because they are just as obsessed as I am! hehehe

Guess what? My friends at Gain want one lucky Momfiles reader to experience the freshness, softness and lusciousness for themselves. You can win the same products I received (pictured above). Enter in the Rafflecopter widget below. Be sure to complete the mandatory entry method so that your extra entries will count.

Purex Triple Action detergent {Rafflecopter Giveaway}

Hey guys! I received my latest Purex Insider package that included the new Purex Triple Action detergent in the Mountain Breeze scent. This detergent is made to whiten and brighten your clothing at a great, low price. I put it to the test on some old towels we use for mishaps around the house. We had some water come in through our back door and it made a mess in our mud room. I went through 4 towels and they were disgusting! I threw them in the washer with a capful of Purex Triple Action and they came out great--No stains! I didn't even use bleach! If you want to prove it to yourself about how well this new formula works, you can request a FREE sample right here.

Giveaway: Three Momfiles readers will win a coupon good for one FREE bottle of new Purex Triple Action detergent. Enter below:

Why didn't I do this sooner?

It just dawned on me a few days ago that William's bedroom is a lot bigger than my office. Both rooms are next to each other and they used to be the girls' rooms before William was born and then they moved into bedrooms downstairs.  He only goes in his bedroom to sleep at night. How did I let a little kid get the bigger space? He doesn't even have that much stuff! It is also the one room in the house that is coldest in the Winter and warmest in the Summer. A light bulb went off in my head. I grabbed the girls and we switched rooms. Yep, I kicked the boy out of the big room with a full-sized closet and put him in a smaller, cozier room. Would you believe that now he wants to hang out and play in his "new room" all day long? It was a very smart move. It took me 3 1/2 years to think of it but at least it's done. I am loving my new office space and William is enjoying his new bedroom. We both win! :)

Seventh Generation prize pack Giveaway {$80 value}

**Contest Closed** Winner is #146 Kim Smith~ Congratulations! 

I received a really lovely prize pack featuring Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid in all 4 scents: Fresh Citrus & Ginger, Lemongrass & Clementine Zest, Lavender Floral & Mint and Free & Clear. I am so happy that Seventh Generation products are safe for my family and the environment! I love the Fresh Citrus & Ginger scent. These dish liquids are non-toxic, biodegradable, free of dyes and synthetic fragrances and are made from plant-derived cleaning agents. I am really pleased with how well the dish soap works on cutting grease and getting my dishes sparkling clean. My daughters love all the scents and this means even more help with the dishes...lucky me!

DID YOU KNOW...If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 25 oz. petroleum-based dishwashing liquid with our plant-derived product, we could save 5.2 MILLION gallons of oil, the equivalent to removing 11,000 cars from the road for one year. Learn more.

Enter the “Nature Makes Perfect Scents” sweepstakes here and you can have the chance to take a trip for two to visit one of the sourcing sites of Seventh Generation natural dish liquid fragrance ingredients. Visit Seventh Generation to learn more about each scent’s origin.

Along with the Seventh Generation dish soaps, I also received a very nice Le Creuset stoneware 3 qt rectangular dish, a set of 3 organic cotton dish cloths, 2 Twist scour pads and 2 Twist loofah sponges. Is this not a wonderful gift? I know I will get great use out of all these items! This gift set is an $80 value and one lucky Momfiles reader will be able to win it.


To enter: Let us know which of the Seventh Generation natural dish liquid varieties you most interested in trying.

For extra entries (please leave a separate comment per entry method) you can do all or any of the following:
~ "like" Seventh Generation (you can share which of the natural dish liquid varieties you are most interested in trying or which essential oil sourcing site you would be most excited to visit on their wall)
~ "like" Momfiles on Facebook (feel free to post on the Momfiles wall letting us know you entered)
~ Follow Momfiles via Google Friend Connect
~ Follow Seventh Generation and Momfiles on Twitter
~ Tweet this giveaway (once daily) and leave a link to your Tweet:

Enter the #7thGenDishLiquid #giveaway @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/64779ex from @SeventhGen & #MyBlogSpark!

Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end at 9:00 pm EST on November 3, 2011. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Be sure to leave your email address if you do not have a Blogger profile. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes.

Disclosure: The Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid prize pack, product and information have been provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.

Products I love

I purchased a few new items that I had not tried before and I also had coupons for them. Please note that I am not doing a formal product review. I am just passing on my thoughts about some great finds.
First up, Aveeno Creamy Moisturizing Oil. This is perfect in every way. It has a super-light scent that smells a bit like almonds. It is a little thinner than traditional Aveeno  moisturizer because it is an oil moisturizer. It makes my skin feel like how a woman's skin should feel...soft and sexy. Yep, this is my new favorite beauty product for the cooler weather months. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for coupons and sales. Good stuff.

Next item, Dawn Power Clean. This dish washing liquid is supposed to give you 'overnight soaking power in 5 minutes'. Well it actually works! I squirted some into my slow cooker pot that sat overnight with barbecue sauce cooked onto the surface. I was able to get all of it off with ease. I only soaked it for about 2-3 minutes. I also found that it cleaned my plastic food storage containers better than my usual cleanser. I am very happy with this since I wash dishes throughout the day. To me it pays to buy something that may cost a tiny bit more that actually works than to go with the knock-off brands.

Now please don't tell my husband that I did free product reviews! :)

When confusion strikes...

Move your furniture around! It is amazing how well changing things up can improve your focus. I have been having a hard time staying asleep in recent weeks. I know that my mind races but normally it shuts off enough for me to get a solid 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. We took time over the weekend to do some small house projects as well as replace air conditioning filters, floor vent filters and light bulbs. I even dusted and vacuumed the nooks and crannies that you don't get to all the time. I think it helped because my sleep was ah-maaaayzing! I feel so rested and refreshed. Let's see if it carries on for the rest of the week!

Eco Nuts™ Review & Giveaway

**Contest Closed** Winner is #40 T42vek20- Congratulations! I received a bottle of Eco Nuts™ Natural Laundry Soap to try out. I was pretty amazed that 4 ounce bottle I received can wash 24 loads of laundry or 48 in HE machines. I thought to myself that it could not be true. How can anything that looks like watery maple syrup and smells like the earth clean your clothing? I had to learn more... Eco Nuts™ is made from Soap Nuts. What on earth are Soap Nuts you ask? Eco Nuts™ are completely sustainable dried fruit shells that come from the Sapindus mukorossi tree (also called the Soap Berry or Soap Nut Tree) in Nepal, India and Indonesia. The ones they harvest come from high up in the Himalayas and are the highest quality "soap nut" on the market. These fruit shells have been used in India and China for centuries, and are now gaining popularity in America and Europe as a renewable, biodegradable and organic alternative to chemical detergents and expensive “Green” laundry soaps.

Eco Nuts™ contain saponin, a natural cleaner that works as a surfactant, breaking the surface tension of the water to penetrate the fibers of your clothing, lifting stains from the fabric and leaving dirt suspended in the water that is rinsed away.

Eco Nuts™ are gentle on both clothes and skin, making them ideal for those with sensitive skin, eczema, allergies and psoriasis. Because they are so mild, they are perfect for baby clothes and cloth diapers. All-Natural Eco Nuts™ are also great for septic and grey water systems. But don’t expect these shells to foam up like commercial soaps, which have artificial foaming agents. Foam simply does not represent cleaning power.

As you can see, there is no suds or foam when using Eco Nuts™

After testing this product on a few loads I found that it really worked. One capful washes a regular load. I sniffed the first load I did of towels and they smelled like.... well, like nothing. Just like clean laundry with no fragrance. Everything came out soft and free of stains. I am so amazed how well this products worked and love the fact that you can get so many loads out of such a small bottle.

Eco Nuts™ Are:
• Biodegradable
• Hypoallergenic
• Perfect for Sensitive Skin, Allergies, Eczema, Psoriasis
• Nut Allergy Safe!
• 100% Natural and Free From Manmade Chemicals
• Beneficial For Septic and Gray Water Systems
• Sustainable
• Fragrance Free
• Reusable
• Vegan Friendly, Vegan Approved
• Certified Organic By EcoCert and USDA at the Source

How would you like to win a bottle to try out for yourself? One Momfiles winner will receive one 4 ounce bottle of Eco Nuts™ Natural Laundry Soap.

Just leave a comment telling us why you want to win this product.
For extra entries:
~ Follow Eco Nuts™ and Momfiles on Twitter
~ Tweet this giveaway once daily and leave a link:

Win a bottle of @EcoNuts Natural Laundry Soap @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/3enygoc #green #laundry #giveaway

~ "Like" Eco Nuts™ and Momfiles on Facebook
~ Mention this giveaway on Facebook and leave a link

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on August 31, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Please leave your email address in your comment if you do not have a Blogger Profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to review and all opinions are 100% mine as always.

Lysol® back-to-school giveaway

**Contest Closed**
Winner is #22

Back-to-school time is nearing for most of us. Besides getting to find out what classes your kids have, buying new clothing and supplies... we have to be ready for the big battle~ GERMS. It never fails, every time school starts back one or both girls come home with a sore throat or sniffles. It seems like it was a lot worse when they were younger. Lysol® products have always been a household must-have even when I was a little girl. Lucky for us, Lysol has come out with so many new products to help us fight those nasty little germs. I received the Lysol® Healthy Touch® No-Touch Hand Soap System in the "stainless steel look" dispenser. It was super easy to put together (it even comes with the batteries) and just as easy to use it. We love the concept of not touching a germy hand soap pump. I placed our unit in the kitchen and both daughters are nagging me already about replacing all of the traditional hand soap bottles with the Lysol® Healthy Touch®. I wish all classrooms had this kind of system! One thing I do recommend is that you make sure when you put your hand under the dispenser for your soap, be sure to wait until all the soap comes out. If you take your hand away too fast it will end up on your counter (ask me how I know). We tried the Aloe Vera & Vitamin E with Moisturizers. I love the fresh scent and the fact that your hands are lightly moisturized. Very nice.


I also received a container of Lysol® Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes.

We already use these wipes in our home and they are very convenient! I even sent one into the husband's office for those just in case days (they happen more often than they should). These Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes:

• Kills 99.9% of Viruses and Bacteria when used as directed
• Kills Cold and Flu Viruses including Pandemic 2009 H1N1 Influenza A
• One side with built in Fibers for Tough Messes or a Side for Touch-up cleaning

Be sure to check out some of these great prevention tips , back-to-school basics and even download a neat poster to read together with your kids and hang it up near the bathroom sink.

{Giveaway}
How would you like to win your own Lysol® No-Touch Hand Soap System as well as a container of Dual Action Wipes? (One winner)

Just leave a comment letting us know what things you do to help keep your kids healthy during the school year or what cool thing you learned from the Lysol® site.

For extra entries:
~ "like" Lysol® and Momfiles on Facebook
~ Enter the Lysol® No-Touch Stainless Steel Kitchen Sweepstakes on Facebook and leave a link to your entry in a comment.
~ Follow Momfiles on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway once daily (leave a link to your Tweet)

Win a Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System & Dual Action Wipes @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/3vte2wm #giveaway #backtoschool

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on August 14, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST. One winner will will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Please leave your email address in your comment if you do not have a Blogger Profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received products samples for review. All opinions are 100% mine as always.

Sometimes you must appreciate the mess

Here is an example of everyday life at the Ismail house. Hurricane Willie can destroy any room in as little as 30 seconds. I get so aggravated some days and I yearn to know what a neat and clean home is again. Nothing is ever in place anymore and it is just normal to step on plastic fish, bouncy balls or blocks. I find myself picking up after the little one and sometimes even the big ones all day long. I then say that I will no longer clean throughout the day and I will save it for once he goes to bed. It doesn't go down like that. I wonder when this little boy will finally get it and clean up as I ask him to.
Then I really get to thinking about how much I would not want things any different. I have healthy, happy children. That's all that matters. William will eventually learn to clean up after himself. There will come the day that I will wish I had someone to pick up after and photos like this will make me smile. If I didn't have Hurricane Willie to pick up after I think I would be bored!

Purex® Complete with Zout® | Review & Giveaway

Contest Closed
Winners are #118 Jim & #57 Kittenish~ Congratulations!

As a member of the Purex Insiders, I was happy to receive a bottle of the new Purex® Complete with Zout®. I was even happier that is was the Free & Clear version since my 16 year old is allergic to most scented laundry detergents. It comes in both Free & Clear and also Fresh Morning Burst scent. Purex® Complete with Zout® combines the proven performance of Purex detergent with the triple-enzyme stain-fighting power of Zout® pretreater. This powerful combination works to get stains out the first time, even tough stains like grass, chocolate, and tomato sauce. The best part is that you can't beat the price!

A cool thing about Purex® Complete with Zout® is that it can be used in both traditional and HE machines. It does not suds up as much in my old washing machine but it still cleaned my clothes like I expected it would. If you are not sure if the product works you can prove it to yourself by signing up for a FREE sample (while supplies last)

The great folks from Purex® have provided me with coupons for 1 FREE Purex® Complete with Zout® detergent to give away to 2 lucky Momfiles readers.

To enter *Mandatory- Leave a comment telling us which scent of Purex® Complete with Zout® you would choose and if you are already a Purex® user.
For additional entries:
~ You can "like" Momfiles and Purex on Facebook
~ Write on the Momfiles wall and let me know you entered this giveaway
~ Follow Momfiles and Purex on Twitter
~ Tweet this giveaway (once daily) and leave a link to your Tweet:

I entered to win a coupon for a FREE bottle of @Purex® Complete with Zout® @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/3fx4jnz #giveaway #laundry

~ sport the Momfiles button on your blog and leave me a link

Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end at 9:00 PM EST on April 28, 2011. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will be notified by email. Please leave your email address if you do not have a Blogger profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided with a product sample to review and all opinions are 100% mine as always.