For someone whose life basically revolves around clothing, I have a strange aversion to laundry. We all have to do it, but I fight it every week. It's not a difficult chore, but it's such a drag—emptying out the hamper, sorting through the colors and attempting to get the balled wet clothes into the dryer without dropping any on the floor (something I've never mastered).

But then I had a thought: I have no problem fussing over my grooming routine which certainly takes more of my time than laundry each week. What makes my skincare regimen so much more pleasurable than my laundry duties? Well, first, I can see the proverbial fruits of my labor every time I look in the mirror. And secondly, the products themselves! They're stylish. They smell good. And I've done my research to find the formulas that are proven to deliver results.

Phoning in my laundry detergent, and buying the same stuff my mother used (no offense, Mom) wasn't doing me any favors. Sure, you have to dig a little deeper (and maybe spend a bit more) to find something that will not only clean your clothes but also leave your wardrobe smelling sophisticated—not like some generic idea of clean. But, it turns out, there are some really good detergents out there. Handsome packaging that's a joy to use, with formulas that smell great and get your clothes spanking clean while keeping them looking like new. They're such a pleasure to use, I barely mind lugging out my hamper at the end of the week.