Spare Change Laundry Room DIY + How To Get 12 Weeks Of Freshness

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurexCrystalFresh #CollectiveBias

As an adult I've always found the process of sorting, washing, and folding one's laundry very calming. I enjoy the sight of tightly folded corners, crisp edges, and stacks of clothing piled high, organized by color. But laundry and I haven't always gotten along.

In fact, when I was a young girl it was one of my first chores to rotate the loads of laundry and pull and sort simple things such as socks and towels. It was a monotonous chore with little care. Am I wrong or isn't half the pleasure of having to go through the whole laundering process the act of being able to pull one's warm linens out of the dryer smelling 'fresh'? Sure, 'fresh' smells different to everyone, and their tastes, but laundry should have some positive aromatic effect, no? Well the loads of my childhood were absolutely fragrance free- Something Momma had made an edict on after a particularly horrible skin reaction of mine that was traced back to a strongly perfumed detergent.

As it turns out, or rather as I was bold enough to experiment and discover as an adult with my own laundry decisions, it was only that specific brand of detergent I have such an adverse reaction to. And, while there are a few other wayward products I've discovered here and there that cause an annoyance, there are some staple brands I can rely on not to irritate my sensitive skin. And that is where my passion for Purex® came from.

It wasn't the amazing value of the brand, or how easy it was to find in nearly every major retailer I chose to shop at, but the wide range of distinct fragrances I could actually enjoy. And, when Purex released their range of Purex® Crystals in wash fragrance boosters I knew I could at last partner my favorite Purex® Natural Elements detergent with an uplifting aroma of my choice. At long last my laundry process was as magical as a unicorn prancing through a meadow. You may laugh but amazing smelling laundry is something I consider I basic right, and that right was denied to me for the first portion of my life!

But wait- the seagulls fluttering in the ocean breeze, or the playful squirrel chattering through the flowered meadow doesn't end at my dryer. Purex® Crystals offer up to 12 weeks of freshness! With every swoosh of my closet door, or creak of a dresser drawer I enjoy subtle fragrance from a variety of amazing scents. 10 scents, to be exact. Purex® Crystals come in 3 different collections, Classic, Aromatherapy, and NEW Botanicals as well as the Limited Edition Oh So Chic fragrance. So you, heck everyone in your house, can enjoy a gentle laundry fragrance that matches your nose, erm, personality.

I buy my Purex® Crystals at Walmart or Target, but you'll also find it at many major grocery retailers, and online at sites such as Amazon.com. There are 2 sizes sold at my local Walmart, where Purex® Crystals are currently on rollback- If I wasn't so set on owning such a variety of my favorite fragrances I'd definitely jump at the family 'value' size which is near triple the capacity of the original 18oz bottle.

If you're new to laundry fragrance boosters Purex® Crystals is one of the simplest ways to go. Just add as much, or as little, directly to your washer load before you start your was. Your clothes will emerge smelling of kitty cats and lady bugs (or a more refined scent such as Sandalwood and Vanilla if you're into that sort of thing), and continue to smell amazing through the drying process, and up to 12 weeks after!

I recently discovered a new favorite, Purex® Crystals Fresh Mountain Breeze, from the Classic collection. It has a very crisp 'clean' build with notes of sweet florals and crisp mountain air. It reminds me a little bit of that beautiful aroma just after an unexpected rain. And, with that in mind I was inspired to 'wash away' some of the clutter in my laundry room with a simple D.I.Y Spare Change holder project. Having only recently moved from a condo (where I shared a communal laundry room) to our house (with a private laundry room) I'm still getting the hang of some of the finer conveniences of personal domesticity.

Here's what you'll need to recreate this project:

Mason Jar
Lumber Board Cut To Size Based On Your Mason Jar Size
Paint Of Choice (I Used A Stained Glass Spray Paint)
White Paint/Brush or Paint Pen
Hose Clamp (Of Appropriate Size for Your Jar Mouth)
Small Screwdriver and Small Wood Screw
Wood Stain of Choice + Old Rag
Polyurethane Seal/Clear Coat
6-8" Rope OR Simple Hook Bracket Hardware To Hang
Staple/Upholstery Gun (If Using Rope)
Dropcloth
Rubber Gloves

You'll have a lot of freedom on your choices for this project. I went back and forth on the size of jar I wanted to use- I ended up going with a classic 8oz mason.

I knew I wanted to be able to see the change in the jar- a sort of mental encouragement to not only use the jar, but check pockets before laundering as it all adds up! I first washed and dried the jar, even though it was brand new, to ensure a nice even paint coat. Since I was using a spray paint I wore a particle mask and applied a few coats over the course of a morning until I reached the desired amount of  transparency. This project would be equally cute with a chalk paint outer coat- one could even 'dip' the bottom half of the jar to add a pop of color.

While my jar dried, in between coats, I put on some gloves and applied a generous layer of Briarsmoke (colored) wood stain to my board.The key is to work the color into the wood in circular motions with a rag, until the color has been absorbed into the grain and reveals the natural flow of grain beneath it. Drying time was relatively quick and I was able to apply a clear top coat/seal about 20 minutes after the last side was treated. You will want to apply some sort of clear seal layer as to prevent any paint/words you apply from bleeding on the wood surface later.

 I don't own any power tools but the board itself came in 5' and the hardware store does cuts for free. As a bonus I was able to get 3 appropriately sized boards out of my single 5' board, to make 3 of these spare change collectors.

Once my wood was sealed and dry I took a white paint marker and free-handed my desired phrase on the top half of my board. While I chose 'Finders Keepers,' a phrase from my childhood, you might like to write 'Spare Change', 'Mom's Tip Jar' or 'Vacation Fund' on yours. Since the final product will be displayed indoors I chose not to add a top/clear coat on top of my text, but you could if you wanted a more polished finished product.

For literally leftover change at the hardware store I was able to get a foot of cut rope to use as accents on my projects. For this particular jar I chose to use the rope as a sort of decorative handle which I could hang the board by. A few good pops of the upholstery/staple gun secured the rope much quicker than I could have screwed brackets into the back of the wood.

The final assembly was a bit of a pain, but only compared to the rest of the project. While Jay suggested I use small nail tacks to pin the hose bracket down (hammering between the bracket's notches) I wanted to be sure the heavy glass jar full of change wouldn't go anywhere, even if it was hanging full. I used a fat, heavy duty, nail to hammer a gap into the hose clamp's bracket notches then screwed through the gap directly into the wood on the front of my board. Because I'd chosen a wide head screw the screw itself rested between the threading of my mason jar and reinforced the pressure of the hose clamp, once ratcheted closed.

It was really pretty simple, and kind of a fun beginner's project. I mean, I like to think I worked with wood- but really, it was power tool free and only took about 20 minutes of actual effort and time. In fact, with the leftover supplies I was able to make 2 more so both my mother and father's girlfriend will be getting one for their laundry room!

Speaking of my mother- Summer is the perfect time to send care packages to loved ones, and I can't wait for her to receive her next one. I've carefully washed a stack of buttersoft leggings in my favorite Purex® Crystals fragrance so the box will smell amazing when it arrives in her hands. With 12 weeks of freshness, even slow transit times can't rain on this fragrance parade. In fact, I'm even sending along a bottle of Purex® Crystals for her to try. Purex® Crystals really provide a great scent at a great price! After all, a daughter can teach her mother a few laundry tricks now and then, too, right? Now, tell me, if your laundry could smell like anything 12 weeks after washing, what fragrance would you like to smell? Purex® Crystals just might have a fragrance booster to match!