Allie’s Answers

It’s easy to assume that if a product is on the shelf, it’s been tested for safety and passed the test. Unfortunately, that’s not always a safe assumption.

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Cleaning the toilet has got to be one of my least favorite household tasks and I honestly didn’t think anything could make it even remotely enjoyable. Enter Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner. (more…)

The good folks at Eucalan sent me a few samples of their No Rinse Delicate Wash. I put the samples to the test right away. (more…)

I just came across the SMELL KILLER, and thought it was pretty wild.

The Smell Killer neutralizes odors in a 400 square foot area - without the overpowering scent of traditional air fresheners - to leave a room remarkably fresh and clean. Effective on cigarette smoke, cooking smells and even mold, the environmentally friendly Smell Killer goes straight to the offending source, neutralizing even the most powerful odors.

It’s made from stainless steel. A few months ago, on Martha Stewart, Martha told Nora Ephron that holding a piece of stainless steel will remove garlic and onion odors from hands. I tried holding a stainless steel spoon in my hands after cooking, and the garlic smell just disappeared. Maybe the SMELL KILLER will do the same thing with room odors.

I have yet to find an Ecover product that I don’t love, but their Dishwasher Tablets went above and beyond my expectations.

I’ve tried several other natural dishwasher detergents before, but I always ended up reluctantly switching back to one of the big name detergents when my dishes just didn’t get cleaned well.  Ecover Dishwasher Detergent cleaned my dishes, and made my glasses sparkle.  I love the faint citrus scent that fills the kitchen while the dishwasher is running.  And I love that it’s completely biodegradable.

Ecover Dishwasher Detergent is not tested on animals and is approved by the Vegan Society.   The box is made from 95% recycled paper and the tablet wrappers are made from recyclable plastic.  In my local grocery store, Ecover Dishwasher Tablets are actually less expensive than the chemical laden name brand detergent I used to use.  I won’t be switching back to my old detergent.

A few weeks ago, I posted a review of Ecover’s Delicate Wash. I’m still in love with it. I’ve been washing a lot of clothes by hand just to have an excuse to use it.

So when Ali7 commented about how much she likes their dishwashing liquid, I knew I had to give it a try. She’s right. Ecover Herbal Dishwashing Liquid is “brilliant.”

A little goes a long way. The directions say that one squirt will clean a whole sink full of dirty dishes. It has a soft marigold scent and actually feels soothing on hands. It cuts grease and leaves dishes squeaky clean.

And the best part - it’s plant based, completely biodegradable, and won’t leave any chemical residue on your hands.

Look for Ecover products in your local grocery store, or buy here.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Our lawnmower kicked the bucket, so I decided to look for a greener mowing option. When I researched the impact gas lawnmowers have on the environment, I was appalled.

PeoplePoweredMachines.com reports:

Each weekend, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants. Garden equipment engines, which have had unregulated emmissions until very recently, emit high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, producing up to 5% of the nation’s air pollution and a good deal more in metropolitan areas.

A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late model cars (or as much air pollution as driving a car for 100 miles).

Well, we’re not quite ready to switch to an old fashioned push mower, so we went electric. After some research, we decided on the Craftsman 37051 Electric Mower, from Sears.

It’s lightweight, much quieter than a gas mower (I rocked out to my iPod without having to crank it up), and adjusts easily to different cutting lengths. It comes with a bag for collecting clippings, but so far I’ve only used it for mulching.

You will have to stop mowing to pull the cord out of the way so you don’t mow over it. Pulling a lever on the handle makes the mower start instantly, so starting and stopping isn’t a hassle. I recommend wearing gardening gloves while mowing. I didn’t, and sliced my finger on some sharp plastic around the start lever.

All in all, I am really happy with this mower, it’s effective and amazingly easy to use. And, since there’s no gas exhaust, you can actually enjoy the smell of fresh cut grass.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

Wood for Good Floor Care from Method has a light almond scent that freshens up the room and smells natural, not chemical.

It did a great job on my old hardwoods, and it’s super easy to use. It comes in a convenient squeeze bottle. Just squirt it on the floor (the bottle advises testing in an inconspicuous spot first) and mop immediately. I rinsed the mop out in my bathtub and avoided the dreaded mop bucket completely.

Method products not only smell great and clean effectively, but they’re non-toxic, biodegradable, and not tested on animals.

You can order Wood for Good Floor Care and other Method products directly from their website, or pick some up at your local grocery store.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

I used Ecover Delicate Wash to wash some bras and a sweater, and was really impressed. It’s suitable for top and front loading washing machines, but I decided to handwash.

It has a very light citrus-y scent and cleaned well. Five minutes was all it took to get my laundry clean. One of the reasons I hate handwashing is that even after several minutes of rinsing there’s usually a soap residue left behind. This was not the case with Ecover Delicate Wash. The soap suds rinsed away immediately.

Here are some of the benefits of Ecover Delicate Wash:

• fresh fragrance from plant based ingredients
• ideal for fine fabrics, silks and wool
• preserves the softness of delicate fibers and protects their color
• safe for your skin thanks to plant based ingredients
• plant based ingredients
• quick and complete biodegradability
• minimum impact on aquatic life
• no animal testing
• approved by the Vegan Society

It’s also gentle enough to use on baby clothes.

Based on the performance of this product, I’m planning to sample the entire Ecover line of products. I found the delicate wash in my local grocery store, but you can order it (and other Ecover products) here.

Ecover is based in Belgium, and has been recognized by the United Nations for their achievements in protecting and improving the environment. Not only are their products eco-friendly, but their factory is too — the roof uses grass for insulation, wood from sustainable forests, and bricks made from coal mine waste. There’s a picture of the grass roof in a slide show on the opening page of their website.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.

I had a set of rechargeable batteries back in junior high when I got my very first walkman. They took forever to charge, and barely lasted long enough for me to listen to Side A of my Rhythm Nation tape.

Rechargeable batteries are yet another example of how greener products have improved in recent years. If you were unhappy with them in the past, it’s time to give them another go.

Duracell’s NiMH charger only takes about six hours to get batteries from zero to full charge. I don’t think the charge lasts quite as long as regular batteries, but they last long enough. I’m pretty sure you could listen to Janet Jackson’s entire discography on one charge.

Buy an extra pack of rechargeable batteries, and you’ll always have some ready when you need them. They can be recharged hundreds of times. And in addition to being more environmentally friendly than traditional alkaline batteries, over time, they’ll save you a bundle.

You can order them here.

Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.