Homework: New products for the home

An oversized load of stiff towels on the verge of smelling like mildew came out of the dryer smelling like a tropical vacation and feeling fluffy and soft with the new Purex Complete Crystals Softener ($3.99 to $5.99 at RiteAid, Kmart and elsewhere). Another thing we liked: The crystals are added directly to the laundry at the beginning of a load, which is less of a mess than pouring a liquid softener into the dispenser (which some machines don't even have).