New Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap {Review & Giveaway - 3 winners!}

Is it actually possible to make it through the winter without someone catching a cold? It's typically more than only one someone, actually. What is it about kids and germs that they're magnetically attracted? Whether they pick them up at school, while shopping, playing outside or elsewhere, they always seem to have a knack for it.

As well as covering our mouths when we cough and blowing our noses properly with tissue, one way that we work to at least cut down on the amount of germs spread around here is with a lot of hand washing. Both of my daughters do a fairly good job of heading to the sink themselves, but when it comes to actually scrubbing up, they can always use a little more encouragement.

Fortunately, that is much easier thanks to the arrival of the new Deep Cleansing Hand Soaps from Dial.

America's trusted brand for 65 years, Dial has continued to deliver clean, healthy skin for families everywhere with their body washes, bar soaps, hand soaps, liquid hand sanitizers and lotions.

But while Dial Liquid Hand Soaps have long been known to not only clean your skin but condition it as you wash, they have now introduced a new, luxurious level of hand washing with their Deep Cleansing Hand Soaps.

These premium soaps feature vibrant scents, a gentle micro-scrubber formula that smooths skin and provides refreshing moisture, and a completely new design that blends well with any home's style. Nice!

Available in three bold scents — Water Blossoms, Coconut Lime Verbena and Yellow Raspberry & Black Sugar — I was ready to give these a test to see how they would compare to our current family soap.

Even better, my young testers were more than excited to wash their hands to get the full experience of these great smells!

Just as Dial had claimed, we have enjoyed having their Deep Cleansing Hand Soaps in our home and the kids (as well as the adults) have commented time and again about the fresh, vivid scents.

The Coconut Lime Verbena has a bright, tangy, juicy citrus aroma, while the Yellow Raspberry & Black Sugar has a tart, rich sweetness that encourages you to take a deep breath while soaping up.

The votes for our favorite have ended up split, as Big Sister E has declared Coconut Lime Verbena her winner while Little Sister B and I are a tad obsessed with the Yellow Raspberry & Black Sugar. We may have commented more than once about how it smells so good that it is tempting to want to actually taste it!

New to stores last month, keep an eye out for Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap during your next shopping trip to try this new hand washing experience in your home, too.

Find out more about this and all of Dial's great products by visiting DialSoap.com and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

And, thanks to their generosity, three people will soon get to try out the vibrant high quality that these soaps can provide, because...

Three lucky people will win (1) coupon*
for FREE Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap!

*Note: Coupons expire 3/31/2014, so winners will need to head to the store quickly to redeem them!

Entry-Form

A big thank you to the Dial brand for providing samples and coupons of Dial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap for me to review as well as coupons for three lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

LYSOL No-Touch Hand Soap System {Review}

Per what seems to be the norm around here in the winter, someone in the house has a cold. It's typically more than only one someone, actually. What is it about kids and germs that they're magnetically attracted? Whether they pick them up at school, while shopping, playing outside or elsewhere, they always seem to have a knack for it.

As well as covering our mouths when we cough and blowing our noses properly with tissue, one way that we work to at least cut down on the amount of germs spread around here is with a lot of hand washing. Both of my daughters do a fairly good job of heading to the sink themselves, but when it comes to actually scrubbing up, they can always use a little more encouragement.

Fortunately, that is much easier thanks to the arrival of the LYSOL Healthy Touch No-Touch Hand Soap System.

On a mission to help everyone learn the importance of proper hand-washing to prevent the spread of germs from the everyday things we do, LYSOL is continually introducing great products to help prevent sickness and the No-Touch Hand Soap System is no exception (particularly during this rough cold and flu season).

This convenient product helps eliminate the millions of germs that your hands can pick up each day — starting with the item we use most often to get rid of them, the hand soap dispenser. Many families might not suspect that the very germs they are washing away may be found on their soap pumps, so why not remove that possibility?

Right away I appreciated that LYSOL gave this Soap System a crisp, clean look (it is available in a stainless steel-inspired design as well) and the way that it would easily blend in with the decor in any of our bathrooms or the kitchen.

Getting it ready to use it couldn't have been easier, as I simply removed all of the packaging, peeled the sticker off of the bottom of the soap and installed it right in the top — then it was time to wash our hands! LYSOL smartly even put the power switch on the back of the dispenser so that there isn't any worry about having soap come out while you are trying to turn it on or off, move it, or clean nearby.

I love the convenience! The LYSOL No-Touch Hand Soap System is one less thing for my kids to touch and they are continually fascinated by the way that it automatically senses their hands and dispenses just the right amount of soap.

As a bonus, this system has 10 times more germ protection than the leading antibacterial hand soap, so not only does the No-Touch Dispenser make hand washing fun and interactive, but it really does a fantastic job stopping the transmission of germs.

If creating this versatile, handy dispenser wasn't enough, last month LYSOL wanted to give even more to families and launched The Kid Who Touches Everything Contest to award one lucky family even further.

This creative contest invites parents nationwide to submit photos of their child's messiest moments — the grand prize winner will win a family vacation to Disney World and have their photo featured on Lysol.com!

Photos can be entered into one of five categories — Future Artist, Food Fanatic, Mud Madness, Young Explorer and Critter Kid — and each week a category winner will be randomly selected to have his or her photo featured on Lysol.com and on LYSOL's Facebook page.

(No purchase necessary. Contest runs from 2/25/13- 5/25/13. Open to US residents ages 18+. Void where prohibited. Click here for official contest rules.)

When it comes to eliminating germs, the LYSOL Healthy Touch No-Touch Hand Soap System can remove millions of them from your and your family's hands without having to touch a thing. Find out more information about it, and all of LYSOL's innovative products by vising Lysol.com and connecting with them on Facebook.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of MomCentral Consulting for LYSOL®. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Clorox Disinfecting Spray from CleanItSupply.com {Review & Giveaway - 2 winners!}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, S and Lynn!}

While talking with friends about winter, kids and colds recently, I made the mistake of mentioning that we seemed to have gotten past all of the germs that were floating around and everyone was finally healthy.

I should have known that I would be tempting fate with a remark like that and, sure enough, Big Sister E has once again started sniffling, sneezing and altogether is beginning to look miserable. Darn you, microorganisms!

As well as piling on the vitamins, encouraging her to get her rest, and doling out extra hugs, another cold around here also means I start getting antsy to sanitize every possible surface in hopes of not spreading anything around. One product that I reach for just for that reason? The powerful cleaning that comes from Clorox Disinfecting Spray.

Stored in a convenient aerosol can, Clorox Spray is designed to be used for any number of cleaning jobs, from cleansing kitchen counters to wiping down bathroom sinks. Easy to use and apply (simply spray it on and wipe it off), Clorox Disinfectant Spray doesn't just mask odors — it eliminates odor-causing bacteria, leaving only a clean, fresh scent.

In addition to its cleaning and disinfecting power, the spray's innovative bleach-free formula also kills and prevents the growth of mold and rids your home of a wide range of germs. So you're left with not only a clean surface, but a product that helps prevent the spread of many common and dangerous illnesses.

And, considering these are sold by CleanItSupply.com, that means that you not only get one bottle to use, but their awesome bulk shipping means your case contains a full 12.

Oh, yes. You're in for it now, germs.

As soon as I saw these bottles and the large number of viruses that they were designed to kill, I was excited to put them to use.

But then I turned the disinfectant spray around and found that the list of bacteria that it would power through was much, much longer.

Even though I can't pronounce a large portion of them, that doesn't stop me from wanting them off of my surfaces, out of my home, and away from my kids!

Using Clorox Disinfecting Spray and knowing that it is proven to eliminate the germs that cause tuberculosis and MRSA as well as eradicating dangerous germs found in foods, such as E. coli, has been making me happy. In all, this spray can be used effectively to control both bacteria and viruses as well as those that cause smells. Therefore the bonus to the clean surfaces is that the space smells refreshed and deodorized also!

If you've read any of my past posts on CleanItSupply.com, then you know that I'm going to say that purchasing their commercial cleaning products for your home just makes sense. The affordable prices mean that while you're saving money buying in bulk, you also no longer have to worry about running out and continually having to head to the store. I know my house is going to stay disinfected with this case from Clorox for quite some time to come!

Elsewhere on the internet it would cost over $76 to purchase 12 bottles of Clorox Disinfecting Spray, but CleanItSupply.com offers them for $47.29. Simply make this one purchase and their lightening fast shipping will have a case at your door and ready to rid your home of germs, bacteria, and all sorts of viruses that you want to stay away from your family.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of CleanItSupply.com, two people are going to be prepared to sanitize for the rest of the winter and beyond, because...

Two lucky people will win a case (12 bottles) of 19oz cans of
Clorox Disinfecting Spray!

To enter to win: Visit CleanItSupply.com and leave me a comment about an item there that would help keep your house clean.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CleanItSupply.com on Twitter, Like them on Facebook and/or sign up for CleanItSupply's Super Saving Program.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

2 winners: Win a CASE (12) of Clorox Disinfecting Spray from www.CleanItSupply.com! http://bit.ly/zt8ZUi @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on February 10th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to continental U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to CleanItSupply.com for providing a case of Clorox Disinfecting Spray for me as well as for two lucky giveaway winners. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System {Review}

Per what seems to be the norm around here, someone in the house has a cold. It's typically more than only one someone, actually. What is it about kids and germs that they're magnetically attracted?

Last spring we were introduced to a product that has become a permanent fixture in our home and our fight against bacteria, the Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System, and having this sleek, easy-to-use system in our bathroom has been a great addition.

Both of my girls have been much more receptive to washing their hands ever since they realized that this dispenser could magically sense that they were there... and I appreciate that having one less surface to touch with dirty hands means one less place to transfer those germs.

So, what could be better? Extending how much we love the innovation and convenience of this product into the kitchen with the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System!

On a continual mission to help everyone learn the importance of proper hand-washing to prevent the spread of germs from the everyday things we do, Lysol is constantly introducing great products to help prevent sickness and their line of No-Touch Systems are the perfect example.

Designed to meet your various kitchen cleaning needs, the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System is an automatic, hands-free dispenser that offers one solution for a clean kitchen and healthy hands. Everyone knows that we come in contact with millions of germs every day, but the ones found on our soap pumps in the kitchen are definitely not ones that I want to spread around.

Therefore, I couldn't wait to see how well this No-Touch System would help out with just that.

With a sleek, white and stainless steel-inspired look, I could tell right away that Lysol made it possible for this Soap System to blend in with the decor in our kitchen as well as many others.

Getting it ready to use couldn't have been easier, as the included batteries were already installed, leaving me to peel off a sticker and pop the soap right in the top. Lysol smartly even put the power switch on the back of the dispenser so that there isn't any worry about having soap come out while you are trying to turn it on or off. Just place it on your counter and you're ready to go!

What a great idea! This one solution works for dishes, surfaces and hands and requires nothing more than sticking your hand, a sponge or a dishcloth right underneath the dispenser.

From sparkling clean dishes to wiping up food or grease spills to killing bacteria on hands, I've been really happy with the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System since its arrival and plan on keeping it at the kitchen sink for quite some time to come.

No more dripping, sticky soap dispensers or having to dig around for various different soaps depending on what area (or person) we're cleaning. Whether you are preparing to scrub a dirty counter or don't want to touch anything after handling raw meat, this not-too-big-not-too-small dispenser is there and ready for you. I love the convenience!

The starter kit for the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System comes complete with batteries and one 8.5oz soap for around $12.99 (a little lesson Amazon). Refills are available in Sparkling Tangerine, Shimmering Berry, and Sunkissed Lemon scents and retail for $7 (also on Amazon).

Find out much more about the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System on Lysol's website and be sure to connect with them on Facebook as well.

(Other than the No-Touch Kitchen System that I was provided by Lysol, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this company and this convenient product.)

Lysol Healthy Touch No-Touch Hand Soap System {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Jennifer H!}

Sometimes I'd love to take my kids and stick them right inside their own personal bubble. Sure, it would make it a little difficult to play at the park or cuddle on the couch, but at least it would keep the germs away, right?

Having a pretty strong immune system of my own, before I had children I barely ever had the sniffles, let alone caught a cold. Now? Now I'm lucky if I can make it past one of their coughing, sneezing, runny nose sessions without waking up with a sore throat and aching head myself. Why can't they keep the bacteria to themselves?

As well as covering our mouths when we cough and blowing our noses properly with tissue, one way that we work to at least cut down on the amount of germs spread around here is with a lot of hand washing. Both of my daughters do a fairly good job of heading to the sink themselves, but when it comes to actually scrubbing up, they can always use a little more encouragement.

Fortunately, that has now arrived in the form of the Lysol Healthy Touch No-Touch Hand Soap System.

On a mission to help everyone learn the importance of proper hand-washing to prevent the spread of germs from the everyday things we do, Lysol is continually introducing great products to help prevent sickness and the No-Touch Hand Soap System is no exception.

Recently named 2011 Product of the Year (winner in the Hand Soap Category in a survey of over 60,000 consumers), the Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System helps eliminate the millions of germs that your hands can pick up each day. Although it is widely-known that regular hand washing is extremely important to help stay healthy, many families might not suspect that the very germs they are washing away may be found on their soap pumps.

Cringing at the thought, I was interested in seeing just how fast and easy it would be to incorporate this new product into our lives and how well my kids would get accustomed to it.

Right away I thought the sleek, stainless steel-inspired look that Lysol gave this Soap System was a nice touch (it is available in white as well) and that it would easily blend in with the decor in any of our bathrooms or the kitchen.

Getting it ready to use it couldn't have been easier, as I simply popped the included batteries right into the bottom, peeled off the sticker and installed the soap right in the top and I was ready to wash my hands. Lysol smartly even put the power switch on the back of the dispenser so that there isn't any worry about having soap come out while you are trying to turn it on or off.

Setting this in our most-used bathroom, I was interested to see what Big Sister E and Little Sister B thought about having something that automatically senses their hands and would dispense just the right amount of soap.

The answer is that they love it!

The system's antibacterial hand soap kills 99.9% of bacteria on hands and the Aloe Vera & Vitamin E with Moisturizers soap that we received smells nice and leaves our skin soft and smooth. Refills are also available in Refreshing Grapefruit Essence, Soothing Cucumber Splash and Antibacterial Total Care and each one is said to hold approximately 166 dispenses per bottle!

With a viewing window on the dispenser to allow you to see the amount of soap left and a battery life indicator to blink when it is time to change the batteries, all that is left to do is to enjoy the fact that the little (and big) hands in our house will never have to touch a germy soap pump again.

For more information about Lysol, the Healthy Touch No-Touch Hand Soap System, and other products that they have, visit www.lysol.com and look for their innovative products at your local retail store.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon have a unique and easy way to have clean hands in any room of the house, because...

One lucky person will win a Lysol Healthy Touch No-Touch
Hand Soap System!

To enter to win: Like Lysol on Facebook (please leave at least a portion of your user name for verification).

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

No more colds! WIN a Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System and get rid of germy soap pumps! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/e2r2oF #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook, or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on May 17th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Lysol for providing a No-Touch Soap System for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse Test Drive {Update}

Last month Big Sister E and I took our bi-annual visit to the dentist and, while she left with a glowing report, a new toothbrush and toothpaste, and a toy in honor of not having any cavities, I left with my head hung in shame after getting my usual scolding for not flossing enough.

Not exactly my idea of a great day, but at least I was pleased knowing that my daughter is learning good habits.

Fortunately, at the start of this month I was able to give my oral health a boost by participating in the Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse Test Drive Program and I felt like it couldn't have come at a better time!

Prior to trying out this new product, I knew that Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse was said to provide an invigorating sensation during use and a lasting cool freshness after use, all while helping protect your smile from plaque and gingivitis. Sure sounded good to me!

So what do I think three weeks later?

I think it's great! Never having had mouthwash as a part of my routine before, I can now see how easy it is to incorporate it into my everyday practices and have my mouth feeling fresh and clean all day.

Although I won't claim to be doing a stellar job at flossing still, it was simple to keep my bottle of Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean on the shelf in the bathroom right next to my toothbrush so that I would remember to use it twice a day when I brush. Not only did it not burn my mouth and throat like any of my previous experiences with mouthwash, but the cool mint flavor provided a clean feeling that lasted for hours afterward.

Only time will tell (and my next visit to the dentist), but the idea that I can kill germs, reduce plaque, help prevent gingivitis, and keep my breath fresh with this pleasant addition to my oral hygiene routine is one that I'm really happy about. I know I need to floss more (hear me, Hygienist? I know) but for now I'm loving having Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse as a part of my daily routine!

I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse Test Drive

Recently, Big Sister E and I took our bi-annual visit to the dentist.

Now, you'd assume that a 4-year-old wouldn't be all that thrilled about that, considering that the hygienist and all her strange tools coming at your mouth might be a little bit scary, right?

Apparently not for my 4-year-old.

Yes, I am just that cool.

Possibly because she leaves with a new toothbrush and toothpaste as well as a special coin that gets her a tiny toy out of the machine before we go out the door, but Big Sister E has thus far been a big fan of the dentist.

I wish I could say the same.

I've always been good at brushing my teeth... it's the flossing that gets me every time. It has just never been a part of my routine and therefore is just extremely hard for me to keep up with, no matter how much scolding I get every six months.

Then there is mouthwash or rinse. The main experience I have had with it? When I was in a school play in high school and the drama teacher had us all gargle with it before the curtain opened. Weird, right? And clearly not a way that encouraged me to want to continue with mouthwash, as we used some brand and flavor that tasted horrible.

Assuming my feelings about this aspect of oral care weren't ever going to change, I was pretty excited to see an email from Mom Central Consulting telling me that I was able to be a part of their Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse Test Drive Program. That is just what my mouth needed to hear!

The new Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse provides an invigorating sensation during use and a lasting cool freshness after use, all while helping protect your smile from plaque and gingivitis. Considering that I can use a little extra help with my dental hygiene (really, who can't?) I'm looking forward to participating in this one-month test drive program and seeing what this rinse really can do.

By adding Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse to my daily routine, I'm hoping to experience all of the benefits that it claims:

• Kills germs
• Reduces plaque
• Helps prevent gingivitis
• Keeps teeth cleaner longer (vs. brushing alone)
• Freshens breath
• Invigorating sensation

Only a few days into this test and so far, so good! This bright green liquid doesn't have a burning taste or feeling and the "clean mouth" feeling really has lasted long after I've used it. This just might be the rinse that I don't mind using regularly that will give me a little extra help and protection for my mouth... I'll let you know at the end of the month!

And heck, hopefully at my next dental checkup, I'll be able to sit back and look just as cool and happy as my 4-year-old.

I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Checking Our List #31: BISSELL Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Brandy!}

My husband will attest to this (probably too strongly) but I'm not very good at being a neat freak. It's like I want to be one... but I'm just too lazy. It's so much easier to just ignore the mess rather than put in the work to do something about it. Not to mention that my kids will just replace all of the dirt by the next day anyway, right?

But I really do want to have a cleaner home, it just seems that I need easier ways to accomplish that. Instead of letting the dishes pile up, I'll quickly put them into the dishwasher after each meal (as well as, ahem, teach my daughter to do it for me). And instead of not wanting to pull out the broom to sweep up the crumbs and then an entire separate mop and bucket to wash the floor, I'll turn to the people who mean clean: BISSELL.

With a wide selection of vacuums, deep cleaners, bare floor cleaners, cleaning formulas, sweepers and more, BISSELL has been finding ways to make your home a cleaner place for more than 130 years. This family-owned corporation has developed and created the world's best cleaning tools and has one (quite a few, actually) that will fit your needs. If you're not sure where to begin, they even have a great Find Your Perfect Match section to get you started!

As I was still trying to get away from the hassle of a broom and mop, I couldn't wait to see how well BISSELL's Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner would work for me.

A powerful steam mop and sweeper all-in-one, I love the idea of picking up dirt and debris while cleaning with steam all at the same time... and without chemicals! This is definitely the type of convenience and versatility that I need on my road to my goal of keeping my house a cleaner, safer place for my family.

Arriving in its own thin, compact box, I pulled out the parts and was surprised (and pleased) to find that assembly was going to be extremely easy.

Literally two screws later and I had the Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner completely put together and ready to go.

Putting this innovative machine to work was just as easy. As it weighs only 9.5 pounds, I had no problem lifting and carrying it to where I knew needed cleaning the most: my kitchen floor. And when I got there, I appreciated the 30-foot cord that allowed me to plug this in just about anywhere and not have to move to closer outlets as I proceeded through the room.

Even though the Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner can do both steaming and cleaning at the same time, I followed the manual's suggestion of using just the sweeper first to clear off the pieces of... well, all kinds of stuff that was probably on my kitchen floor.

With a simple flip of the brush switch and then the power switch, the blue ready light came on and it began to pick up everything in its wake. The swivel head made it easy to maneuver into any tight spaces or under the cabinets with ease and I could already see the dirt being pulled up into the container. In fact, even though it really hadn't been that long since I swept, the Steam & Sweep still managed to pick up everything that I had previously missed.

Even though I wasn't happy to see what had been all over my floor, I like the inclusion of the clear window into the dirt container to get a view as to how much mess you were living in. When it came time to empty it, all that was required was to lightly push the Dirt Bin Release button (with your hand or foot) and the entire cleaner comes off, leaving the bin waiting on the floor.

After dumping out the dirt and snapping the pieces back together, I moved on to the steam cleaning, something that was also definitely needed.

This time all that was required was to fill the water tank (it is recommended to use distilled or demineralized water instead of from the tap) and you're all set for steam. The Steam & Sweep is designed to clean just about any hard flooring such as ceramic tile, vinyl, marble, stone and sealed hard wood and, if you follow the specific instructions, will not only clean but sanitize as well.

In order for that, BISSELL states that you have to "leave the Steam & Sweep over the area for a minimum of 15 seconds, but no longer than 20 seconds," which I thought was fairly specific, but as I was looking forward to a germ and bacteria-free floor, it was worth it.

Instead of dirt, now it's just all steamy in there!

When you're done steaming, simply dump out any remaining water and pull the mop pad off of the bottom (it attaches with Velcro) and throw it right into the washing machine. I appreciate that the Steam & Sweep comes with an extra mop pad, meaning if I haven't gotten around to washing the first one by the time I clean the floor again, there is another waiting.

Hmm. Dirty much?

The BISSELL Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner truly is lightweight, convenient, easy-to-use and an all-around worry-free machine to have. The only regular maintenance that it might need is to check that the bright green grains in the filter haven't turned blue (which indicates that it needs changing) and you're set for floors that are clean and sanitized in one easy step. My floors sure have been cleaner since this arrived and its great to be able to do both steaming and sweeping at the same time!

Retailing for $139.99, this and many of BISSELL's great products are available right on their website or at a wide selection of online and retail store locations across the world. If you or someone you know is a neat freak (or has aspirations to be one!) or just wants a fast and simple way to clean, the Steam & Sweep would be a great holiday gift. And, thanks to the generosity of BISSELL, one person will be able to give the gift of clean, because...

One lucky person will win a Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner from BISSELL!

To enter to win: Visit BISSELL and tell me the name of another of their high quality products you would like to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a BISSELL Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner over there as well!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow BISSELL on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 31: WIN a BISSELL Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner (ARV $140)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/fVlejN #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and BISSELL. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 30th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to BISSELL for providing a Steam & Sweep Hard Floor Cleaner for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.