As a member of My Blog Spark I get invited to try out a lot of really awesome products, report back to you guys and in most cases, give one away to a reader. What a fun group to be part of right?
This time the products I received in the mail were Seventh Generation
Why is it that a box full of cleaning supplies make people so happy? It seriously was like Christmas and I smiled with each item in the carrier.
There were two rolls of paper towel, a multipurpose spray, bathroom cleaner, disinfecting wipes and a book called Conscious Kitchen. Even the caddy is made from recycled plastic. Sounds like Heaven right? I know!
My kids were very confused with the paper towels being brown. It was an educational moment as I explained that usually bleach is added to make the paper white and that this was 100% recycled, unbleached paper towel.
Seventh Generation has partnered with eco-lifestyle consultant and author, Alexandra Zissu, whose new book, The Conscious Kitchen, discusses what´s good for your health, what´s good for the planet and what tastes great. Her book also includes great tips on maintaining a green and healthy kitchen, including:
Change is Good
Choosing cleaning products without indoor air pollutants like volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, is a simple and effective way to reduce your indoor air pollution. If you´re not prepared to switch everything overnight, start by swapping out the one product you use the most, and moving forward from there.
Think before you spray
Residues from cleaning products can last on a surface for longer than we we´d like to know and travel to areas that we sometimes don´t intend them to. Don´t contaminate your food by prepping it on a surface that may contain harsh chemical residues - rinse cleaning products from food preparation surfaces carefully or use botanical disinfecting cleaners that do not require a rinse step.
Home is Where the Clean Is
Your standard cleaners are good for removing soils and dirt from kitchen surfaces, but to tackle germs you need a cleaner that is effective against microbes like bacteria and viruses. Many cleaners contain ingredients that have antimicrobial properties such as vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, but the germ killing power of these is not necessarily guaranteed. To be sure you are killing germs, use an EPA registered disinfectant. Seventh Generation tapped into the disinfecting power of the common garden herb thyme, to provide a disinfecting cleaner that kills germs* naturally.
Make the Old New Again
Think twice about the items that you´re using to clean and dry your kitchen equipment and dishes. Use rags (like old t-shirts and washcloths) instead of paper towels. If you aren´t prepared to kick your paper towel addiction just yet, use only recycled versions that are unbleached or haven´t been whitened with chemicals containing chlorine and see how long you can make a roll last. (I have been doing this since the end of last year. We are going through so much less paper towel.)
The Writing is on the ... Sponge
Be sure to read the fine print on sponges and only purchase those that do not contain antimicrobial pesticides. Remember to store sponges in a dry place and frequently clean them by popping plastic sponges wet in a microwave for two minutes or boiling sponges for three minutes in water.
Mom Was Right, Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after prepping food, and always before eating. So much of what can be potentially harmful in a kitchen can be reduced by this simple act that doesn´t require any harsh chemicals whatsoever.
Seventh Generation has tapped into the disinfecting power of the herb thyme, to introduce an EPA registered line of disinfecting sprays and wipes that kill germs* naturally! The new line of botanical disinfectant cleaners includes a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes.
The disinfectants contain thymol, a component of the herb thyme, and can be used on hard surfaces including counter tops, plastic cutting boards, highchair trays as well as children´s toys. Best of all, they kill over 99.99 percent of germs* naturally and are effective against the Influenza A Virus, including H1N1.
What I Can Tell You: We use a lot of Seventh Generation products. They work just as well or even better than what I usually purchase and I feel better knowing that they clean with natural botanicals instead of toxic cleaners. I really like the wipes. They are thick and don't break.
If you would like a chance to win this great giveaway, fill out the form below.
To Enter: Leave me a comment telling me what is the best thing they´ve done for the environment this year by Midnight, April 17, 2010
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Disclaimer: Seventh Generation products, information and additional prize pack to give away are all provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.
The many many natural cleaners
ReplyDeleteNot sure where i'm supposed to post for the give away..but i am following you on twitter
ReplyDeletenot2rawnchy
sorry i this is wrong
I grow my own veggies.
ReplyDelete