Green/Environmentally friendly cleaning products

I'm exploring more eco-friendly cleaning products, and I know a lot of you are too. HTH!

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Spring Greening
Ecofriendly cleaning products
By Michele Foley and Roxanne Webber


Biodegradable ScrubbersSpring is coming. For some of us, that means a kick in the *** to do some sprucing up. Combine that seasonal motivation with environmental conscientiousness: Replace some of your conventional kitchen cleaning products with greener alternatives.

1. DIY Cleaning Products. The best way to be sure you’re not spraying toxic chemicals in your kitchen is to make your own cleaning solutions. Many are based on white vinegar or baking soda, making them an extremely economical option. Check out the simple recipes from the Alliance for the Great Lakes for a start. If you like scented products, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to them.

2. Earth Friendly Products. This producer makes a drain opener that’s nontoxic and nonpolluting. Earth Enzymes employs bacterial mixtures and proteolytic enzymes to clear your drain. It’s also safe for septic systems—it doesn’t kill off beneficial bacteria. Use it to unclog the kitchen sink or garbage disposal.

Re: Green/Environmentally friendly cleaning products

3. Twist Sponges. Twist makes biodegradable sponges out of cellulose sourced from renewable tree farms, and it reuses most of its waste. The small product line includes the European Sponge Cloth #20, a long-lasting paper towel alternative, and the Loofah Sponge #50, which has an abrasive side. The packaging includes instructions for turning the box into a bird feeder.

4. Biokleen. Biokleen’s cream cleansers, soaps, and all-purpose cleaners are chlorine- and phosphate-free. For fighting mildew, try its stain and odor eliminator, which uses live enzymes to break down nasty smells and molds.





5. Method. Method’s biodegradable, nontoxic products are widely available and easy on your wallet. Its granite and marble cleaner and wood polish will keep your counters and cabinets sparkling.




6. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day. Basil, lavender, geranium, and lemon verbena smell a lot better than Windex and Pine-Sol. The Mrs. Meyer’s website clearly outlines the ingredients in each item if you have special sensitivities. The rhubarb-scented spring-cleaning kit will get you started with all-purpose cleaner, countertop spray, window spray, and dish soap.

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7. Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation’s dishwashing liquid works well enough to stand up to the CHOW test kitchen’s pots and pans. It’s also biodegradable, nontoxic, and free of phosphates and petroleum-based cleaners. It comes lightly scented or fragrance free.

8. Shaklee. Shaklee made its first biodegradable product in 1960, long before movie stars were driving Priuses and “green” was fashionable. Try the heavy-duty scouring paste and cleaning wipes. If you don’t like the company’s stuff, it offers a full refund.

9. Ecover. Ecover sells ecofriendly soap, rinse aid, and surface cleaner, as well as biodegradable compost bags, but what makes the company unique is that it manufactures the products in green factories with living roofs for insulation. The floor soap won’t leave behind any unnecessary chemical residue, but check the website to be sure it will work with your flooring type.

10. Biodegradable Scrubbers. If you need to buy a new scrub brush, consider one made from an alternative to plastic. The Tawashi Brush is constructed out of palm fibers, while the Sandclean offers some hard-core abrasion thanks to its threads of sandpaperlike cloth.

Re: Green/Environmentally friendly cleaning products

i currently use seventh generation products, but i'd like to look into others. thanks for the info!

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LOVE Method products...and just started using Green Works and like it as well.

Re: Green/Environmentally friendly cleaning products

Thanks!

I have to say I didn't like the Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent. It wasn't able to get my son's bottle nipples clean.

Re: Green/Environmentally friendly cleaning products

thanks for all the info. going to look into some of them.

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I like most of Seventh Generation's stuff but I think I want to try other laundry detergents. I don't think it does as good a job as others might.

The place we shop doesn't carry anything for laundry other than Seventh Gen so I'll have to find it someplace else.

Thanks for the info!!

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Before I started using green friendly products I contacted a website called Shop Natural and asked why they don't have the Method product listed on there website. They replied and said Method isn't 100% natural and uses synthetic FD&C colors and synthetic fragrances with aren't natural... And at the time they didn't have a MSDS sheets available... They went on to say that Method is better then Clorox and Lysol but that's about it.

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I use mainly Seventh Genration, and Mrs. Meyers. I love them all and feel so much better for using them.

Message edited 3/30/2008 6:35:44 PM.

Re: Green/Environmentally friendly cleaning products

I love the Green Works but these sound great-thanks!