A jug of cleanliness
Crabtree & Evelyn’s Lavender Fine Linen Wash is excellent for washing small batches of clothes while you’re on the road. The little jug packs easily, and a fraction of a capful yields a basin loaded with lightly scented suds. It’s safe for virtually all fabrics, including silk, wool, linen, cashmere, cotton, rayon, nylon, polyester, and Spandex. It costs $15 for 500 ml at Crabtree & Evelyn stores and catalog (www.crabtreeandevelyn.com, 800-272-2873).
Space-y companion
This folding cargo bag will keep everything in its place as you drive to grandma’s house for the holidays. Made of heavy-duty nylon, the bag is large enough to hold three fully loaded paper grocery bags. It has a padded bottom, so it won’t mark up the inside of your car (Velcro tabs keep it in place if you put it in your trunk). Three mesh pockets hold maps, games, and flashlights easily and, when not in use, the cargo bag folds down into a zippered bag for storage. Unfolded, it measures 233/8 inches long, 131/8 inches deep, and 12 inches high; it costs $19.99 (www.containerstore.com, 888-266-8246).
Scribble, listen — or do both
This sleek little ballpoint pen has a clever secret — it’s also an FM tuner. Plug a set of earbuds or earphones into the top and clip the pen to your pocket, or detach the tiny tuner and write with the pen while you listen to the radio. There’s a volume control wheel on the cord. The FM Pen runs on two LR44 1.5-volt batteries (four of them are included, along with one standard blue-ink refill for the pen) and costs $19.95 at Sharper Image stores and catalog (www.sharperimage.com, 800-344-5555).
Lylah M. Alphonse’s e-mail address is lalphonse@globe.com.
