I have just made a purchase, which I am hoping will be another one of my best buys this year!
Ecoballs.
http://www.ecozone.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=314
You can use them in your washing machine for up to 1,000 washes instead of detergent. Saving money.
And because you don't need to rinse, you can save water and electricity.
How do ecoballs work? From what I have read, I understand that...
...by raising the water PH to to higher than 10, it has an antibacterial effect. And mineral oxides condition the water by changing its ionic structure. The molecules of the water are made smaller, which gives hydrating results, as it can filter between the fribres more easily and loosen dirt. Teamed with the antibacterial effect, clothes are cleaned.
I have done about 5 washes so far, and it all smells clean so far, and visible stains were removed 
Another of my favourite purchases this year was my mooncup. It's fantastic!
It cost me about £20, but it saved me money in the first month I had it.
It's easy to use, I feel completely 'secure' and clean and it has saved a huge amount of waste. Maintenance of the mooncup is also straight forward.
I love it! And there'll be no going back for me now.
CheesyFeet
I love my ecoballs!
Also as they don't smell like regular powder i've noticed an added side effect:
- there is limited space to dry clothes in my house and pretty much constant rain outside so clothes seem to spend alot of time lying around just waiting for the water to evaporate naturally . . . unfortunatly when you do this after washing with regular cheap powder the clothes smell like damp and, what myself and others have agreed, vomit. Normally I would account this to my wonderful housemate who enjoys the finer things in life; vodka, sambuca, beer, wine, rum, usually from the same glass and sadly his stomach just isn't up to the job! ANYWAY, as there is no powder this smell has disappeared! magic!
I also LOVE my mooncup! I have to confess i nearly gave up after my first experience, I think my thoughts were "ow ow buggery ow theres no way im putting one of those in again!" but luckily I'm not good to my word!