In the upcoming edition of Contract Manufacturing & Packaging we will be taking an in-depth look at the creation of the Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets. The product, a single sheet that can be used in both the washing machine and the dryer, was created using the teamwork and innovation of a contract manufacturer and a consumer packaged goods company
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Having researched the product and learned how it was created I decided the best way to properly analyze it was to try it out for myself. So I gathered my dirty clothes and headed off to the laundry room.

 

Out of the gate it was clear there that, if only in concept, the 3-in-1 sheets were an improvement over the standard laundry model. Most people, myself included, end up carrying the rather large detergent box into the laundry room. For me that’s down four flights of stairs carrying my already heavy bag of dirty clothes. Having to carry only my hamper and the one laundry sheet took out some of the stress of the first half of the laundry experience.

 

The creation of the Purex 3-in-1 product was the result of a joint venture between the two companies. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Henkel is a CPG company and the producer of a variety of brands in the laundry, cosmetics and adhesive markets. Kleen Test Products is a full-service contract manufacturer based in Port Washington, Wisc. with warehouses across the nation to service the needs of multiple clients at once.

 

The two companies created the laundry sheet so that it holds the properties of both enough detergent for a full load of laundry and enough dryer material to take the load into the dryer immediately afterwards. At first glance the sheet is a rather thick, mesh of fabric with a sticky blue layer on top. The smell of newly clean clothes permeates from the box mentally preparing you for what could be considered an ideal load of laundry.

 

I think all of us, as consumers, hope that each new load of laundry has the same effect as buying a new car. Smell excites the senses and gives a dash of anticipation as you wait for your clothes to come out of the dryer. Whether that was intentional on the part of the manufacturer is hard to say but it did the trick for me.

 

Once my clothes were ready to be transferred I noticed that the layer of blue had disappeared leaving only a standard dryer sheet. I have to admit this is rather ingenious on the part of the designer. There was no oily residue on the sheet or blue stains on my clothes. The sheet had done its job quickly and subtlety as all good products should. 

My only disappointment came when I took my clothes out of the dryer. Yes, they had been dried thoroughly and properly but there was no fresh smell. This was my first time using the product so it’s possible I did not pick up on the scent right away. This is a minor inconvenience but opening the box to the welcoming fresh scent is part of what made me excited to use the product. Overall the Purex 3-in-1 had done its job well as advertised. The average box comes with 22 sheets although bigger boxes are available.

To learn more about how the Purex 3-in-1 dryer sheets were created make sure to read the September/October issue of Contract Manufacturing & Packaging.