A Sophisticated Notion

Hello Everyone,

Let’s be honest:  Reviewing wash for delicate items is kind of a first for the blog.  Sure, I occasionally review accessories, but does lingerie wash really warrant the space and time of an actual review?  YES!!!  (emphasis absolutely necessary)  Until now, I’ve been more in the “I’ll just use body wash for my bras,” but now I am a proud Eucalan addict.  A few months ago, fellow store owners mentioned how wonderful Eucalan products were, leading us to send inquiries to the brand.  Eucalan graciously provided me some sample pods to test the product, and I went into the experiment thinking “It’s just lingerie wash.  Big Deal.”  Once I tried it, I knew I would never use body wash again.

Before I discuss my experience, let’s rewind and talk about the company itself.  Eucalan was founded by Mary Edgar who used Eucalyptus and Lanolin to create a rinseless wash for yarn and sweaters.  Lanolin, in particular, functions as a conditioner for the fibers which helps reduce static cling—an all important factor in the yarn/sweater industry.  Over the years, the small family-owned business continued to expand, including hypoallergenic scents like Jasmine, Grapefruit, Lavender, and Natural (aka Unscented), all of which have unique properties.  Both the Eucalyptus and Lavender scents have moth-inhibiting abilities and protect against fleas (we’ll get to why that’s relevant later) while grapefruit has natural disinfecting properties, making it ideal for items which sit close to the skin.  The Natural works wonderfully for people with scent allergies or skin sensitivities.

The “No Rinse” element to the product allows for water conservation as well as making it ideal for travel.  Furthermore, the formula can easily be used for hand or machine washing (you’re not machine washing your bras, right?).  All of their products are pH neutral, “non-toxic, biodegradable, and free of bleach, phosphates, synthetic fragrance and dye.”  Furthermore, the packaging is easy to recycle and free of dyes as part of their commitment to being ecologically responsible.

16.9o bottles sitting behind "One Use" Pods
16.9oz bottles sitting behind “One Use” Pods

Being a bra store owner, my first framework for viewing the product was that of a lingerie wash, hence why the first use was on bras.  The rinseless component made hand washing easier.  All I did was fill my sink with water, add some Eucalan, and let everything soak for 15 minutes.  Once I drained the water, I squeezed the excess per usual, minus the extra step.  My bras smelled fantastic, and the fabrics felt softer when they dried.  Despite the rinseless factor working well for bras, I do rinse anything that I consider dirty for peace of mind. 

With the test run successful, I moved on to the store’s bras.  When we do inventory checks, sometimes a bra will get accidentally marked by a pencil or pen, and I decided to use the unscented pod to test on the stains.  They vanished completely!  I let some Eucalan sit on the stain for a few minutes and then gently rubbed it into the fabric more, rinsing a little here and there.  If anyone from Eucalan reads this post, please include in your marketing how easily it removes most stains.  Next up was a lamp shade with mysterious water marks which looked brand new in 15 minutes.

Then, there was this white shirt which I dropped blood from roast beef mixed with mayonnaise on:

 

This looked clearer on my cell phone . . .
This looked clearer on my cell phone . . .
All Clean!
All Clean!

Other things it has removed include makeup, perfume scents, lotion, mustard, stir fry, salad dressing, and spaghetti sauce.  (I’m a messy eater. Don’t judge me.)  The only thing it hasn’t been able to tackle is my dad’s kimchi, but there’s like three cups of Korean red pepper flakes per batch so whatever that touches is stained forever.  As I experimented more with the different scents and the product itself, I really came to see why I was wrong to label this “just lingerie wash” because it has a lot of versatility.  You can use this on silks, cashmere, wool, satin, synthetic . . . anything really.

If I was pressed to say something negative about the product, I would say that Eucalyptus is not my favorite scent.  It smells a lot like Vick’s Vapor Rub, but I do like the properties it has associated with it because I am going to try it on my dogs for flea season.  Yes, you read that correctly.  When I was reading more about the company, I found that one of the sales managers uses the Eucalyptus scent on her dogs and horses for bathing.  It’s that gentle!  So, the next time I feel like a glutton for punishment, I am going to test it on the terrorists.

Overall Grade:  Need you even ask?

Erica