That smell that hits you when you open your closet door? It's your laundry, champ. Time to hit the washing machine. But the only thing worse than actually doing laundry is doing laundry badly. And ending up wearing pink socks.

Tip #1: Make sure your red t-shirt isn't mixed in with your whites. That's about as far as I can help you with that one.

Tip #2: Use the right amount of detergent. Too much and you're in Sudsville. Too little, and you might as well have not even have spent the time at the laundromat. This one I can help with. Next time the laundry pile gets too ripe to handle drop in a dropps pack.

dropps are small, pre-measured detergent packets that dissolve completely in the washing machine. One packet is good for all types of wash, in all water temps. No buying four kinds of detergent. (They make more than one?) No lugging heavy jugs down to the laundromat.

The dropps concentrated formula was rated number one by a leading consumer products magazine, so the chances it'll get the funk off your gym shorts is high. No fabric-damaging enzymes means your clothes last longer too. And for you tree-huggers, it's environmentally safe and completely bio-degradable.

Beyond all that they're easy and convenient. But pulling reds out of the white load is still up to you.

Available at major retailers
www.dropps.com