. While we’re not terribly picky about our laundry–typically buying the generic detergent–we are picky about the way our home and car smell. So when I was approached to test out the […] "'Pin It")
Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator Review
My household is a big customer of Febreze products–bedroom mist, fabric refresher, even the car vent clip (which my wife reviewed). While we’re not terribly picky about our laundry–typically buying the generic detergent–we are picky about the way our home and car smell.
So when I was approached to test out the new-and-improved Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator, I was curious to see if Febreze had any place in my washing machine–and if the brand’s high standards were upheld there.
Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator Review
Product: Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator
Manufacturer: Febreze (Procter & Gamble)
MSRP: $10.00
Size: 50 fl oz
Website: http://febrezeinwash.com/
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Product Information
Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator is a laundry additive from the Procter & Gamble company which typically focuses on air and fabric freshening sprays. This new “laundry aid” eliminates odors from dirty clothes in the wash, claiming to “eliminate, not mask” odors. It is designed to trap and rinse away malodors without hindering the fresh scent of your detergent. Replacing the old Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator product, this product advertises its “professional-strength, 3x more freshening power.”
Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator aims to remove embedded scents from perspiration, mildew, food, pets, and smoke that most detergents don’t get on their own. It can be used on clothes, blankets, uniforms, towels, or bedding; it cannot be used on fabrics unable to be washed in the laundry, such as carpet or upholstery.
Product Packaging/Quality
The test sample of Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator came in a box with two 1-cup packets (4 oz each), plus a t-shirt and information inserts.
Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator is sold in stores in large blue 50 oz bottles resembling similar laundry-additive products, so it will fit right in on your shelf above your washer. It’s a thinner liquid than laundry detergent, more closely resembling blue water than a thick, soapy additive, so you have to be extra careful when pouring to avoid drips. The liquid consists of “water, concentrated odor eliminator derived from corn, & fragrance.”
Instructions for Usage
Using Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator is just about as easy as doing laundry typically is.
Once you sort your clothes and load them into the washer, add the typical amount of your preferred detergent. Then add a cup of Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator before running the laundry like usual. Based on how pungent the odors are, vary the amount of Febreze you add:
- Light Odor Loads: 3/8 cap
- Heavy Odor Loads: 1/2 cap
- Extreme Odor: up to 2 caps
The Febreze Odor Eliminator is safe in regular or HE washers at any temperature and should be added directly to the wash cycle, in addition to any bleaches or fabric softeners. It is safe for children/pets, but is not a refill for any Febreze de-odor mist sprays.
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Overall Assessment: Does It Do What It Advertises?
Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator has been tested countless times already by other customers on sweaty, dirty clothes. So, being an automotive website, The News Wheel had to do something a bit different. Throwing the worst of what we had to offer at this Febreze product, we dug deep into our backseats and unleashed…rancid dog blankets.
Not only were these festering blankets covered in dog stank and bodily fluids that accumulated through repeated use in the backseat of a car, they had also been used to wipe up fast food, mud, and car grease. Needless to say, I heaved repeatedly handling them.
I added a cap of Purex detergent to the load of blankets, plus a capful of Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator. The blankets ran through a 28-minute warm wash in our old GE commercial washer. Then, they endured a 60-minute dryer cycle for normal colored clothes.
Putting my face right against the warm, washed blankets and taking a big whiff, I could still smell traces of dog on them, but not nearly as badly as they were before. Plus, they smelled much better compared to the test blankets I ran without Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator. Had I ran them through a second time or used two cups of the liquid, the blankets would’ve been fully cleansed.
Bottom line: Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator does an effective of removing odors–rather than masking them with pleasant scent additives. You might have to run the seriously stinky items through twice to fully remove smells, but for your average laundry, it will do the trick. If you’re willing to spend money on aid products in addition to your normal detergent, Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator is a satisfying product–whether on clothes or car blankets.
If you want to try it for yourself, get this $2 off coupon from Febreze.
Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator is available through many online and local retailers. Find a store near you.
Product provided for review by manufacturer.
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.