What's your favourite green cleaner?
| Image: John Bucher | Published: June 09, 2008
I'm not an early adopter. I'm indifferent to new consumer electronics (still no iPod, thank you), I seldom go to films on the opening weekend, and I've been slow to replace my caustic household cleaners with their more progressive, less damaging, "greener" cousins. Truthfully, I quite like the smell of Windex, and, for me, the crunch of Comet under a sponge connects deeply to the idea of cleanliness.
All of which is to say, I wouldn't sing a song of praise about my dish soap unless I felt it. I bought this bottle of VIP about five months ago, when I moved into my new apartment. It is, by a healthy margin, the best dish soap I've ever used.
But forget efficacy; most standard soaps work well enough. On the VIP label are three claims to the its "greenness": that it's biodegradable, cruelty free, and septic safe. To my understanding, that means it:
a) returns its atoms to the earth like a banana peel would,
b) wasn't squirted into the eyes of any cosmetics-tester rabbits, and
c) can be used at summer cottages and other remote places without sewers.
Can Sunlight can make those claims? I don't know. I have a hard time imagining lab assistants squirting soap into the eyes of rabbits as a way to test its grease-cutting ability, but I guess it's possible. The point for me is that the VIP suds up nicely (I find Sunlight too slimy), smells like someone just peeled a Christmas orange, and, with just a bit of hot water, makes wine glasses bark charmingly in my hands.
Your turn: What's your favourite "greener" cleaner?
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Comments
Sherlock Holmes
By sherlockholmes, July 9, 2008 at 21:21Sherlock Holmes
Lavender & Mint dish soap by
By Anonymous, June 13, 2008 at 15:45Lavender & Mint dish soap by Seventh Generation is like Seventh Heaven! Smells fab and works amazingly - all while being eco-friendly! Also, their Clementine & Lemongrass dishwashing soap is by far the best smell in our kitchen! I wonder if they make salad dressings?!
;)
Wow, D. Mercer, you are a
By Shannon, June 12, 2008 at 16:57Wow, D. Mercer, you are a fountain of knowledge -- I've written all of your recommendations down and will take them shopping with me. I never know which cleaners to buy -- now I do. Much appreciated.
I also just wanted to point out how much I am absolutely hating the Method dish cleaner I bought ages ago. The good thing is that it has lasted ages ... if it worked, I would be delighted. But it doesn't. You have to use tons of it and everything still feels greasy. Plus is gets all clogged up and icky and I have to clean off the top nearly every day. It doesn't even smell that nice, even though it's purple and says it smells of lavender.
(I know you are wondering why I can't just throw it out, but I just can't. I watch bad movies to the end too. Perhaps it's a form of masochism. Or in refusing to throw out things that are still at least slightly useful, I can just call it a 'green' impulse, right?)
There, it's good to get that off my chest.
Oh and John, you're really missing out on the iPod thing. Seriously. There must be someone recycling those things by now.
Sherlock Holmes - iPod
By sherlockholmes, July 9, 2008 at 21:15Sherlock Holmes - iPod recycling....perhaps see a firm like "Happy Sam's" in Port Coquitlam, my favourite recycling depot. Friendly, knowledgeable and can recycle a huge range of stuff including electronics.
Yes the E-cloth is a
By Anonymous, June 12, 2008 at 09:46Yes the E-cloth is a microfibre cloth - there are lots of different microfibre cloths out there - and they all work pretty well but the E-cloth is of the highest quality. It lasts the longest and gives the best cleaning results. They have one cloth for glass, mirrors, stainless steel etc and another for general cleaning (it works wonders for removing grease from stove tops etc & makes a great duster). They even have a mop system!
I have been changing over
By Anonymous, June 11, 2008 at 21:29I have been changing over the last 3 years to Green Cleaners.
Favourite laundry detergent - Biovert w/ soy based softener (sometimes add extra Biovert softener for some fabrics).
Favourite dish detergent - 7th Generation 'free' (I have scent allergies), cleans dishes really well in the sink.
Favourite dishwasher detergent - Ecover's dishwasher tabs. Works just as well in my new Kitchenaid as did the more caustic dishwater tabs.
Favourite dishwasher rinse aid - 7th Generation (works just fine, thank you).
Favourite scrubby cleanser so far - baking soda. Favourite disinfectant - tea tree oil added to wash bucket or spray bottle....these will also have water and 7th Generation All purpose cleaner.
Favourite countertop disinfectant - pure pickling vinegar.
Favourite shower spray to keep mildew at bay - 7th Generation Natural Shower Cleaner (I spray this on bottom corners etc. after I've squeegeed and towel dried my tile shower...prevents a lot of unnecessary scrubbing!).
Favourite non-toxic, biodegradable specialized hardwood floor /tile cleaner - BonaX (some flooring companies sell this) I use this on hardwood, I use 7th Gen. All purpose on tile. All these products work just as well or better than the toxic stuff that's pushed on us.
—D. Mercer, Pitt Meadows BC
D. Mercer: that's the letter
By jbucher, June 12, 2008 at 09:23D. Mercer: that's the letter of the day, thanks! I'm interested to try out some of those products. Is there one for which you have a particular affection?
John Bucher
Editor, Granville Online
Sherlock Holmes - Oh dear,
By sherlockholmes, July 9, 2008 at 21:19Sherlock Holmes - Oh dear, it's like choosing between loved children (almost). I really like the Ecover dishwasher tablets as well as the Biovert Laundry soap w/ softener. I recently gave my 80+ dear Mom some of the Biovert to try, as she's been using not so friendly Sunlight for years in the laundry.....she couldn't believe how clean the Biovert got her clothes, and how little she had to use!!! She wants me to 'supply' her now....almost makes it seem like some sort of illicit product! Next, if I can just get her weened off ammonia for windows (I use pickling vinegar, H2O and a little all-purpose cleaner) and those heavily scented dryer sheets.......
without doubt my favorite
By Anonymous, June 11, 2008 at 17:50without doubt my favorite green cleaner is the E-cloth - it even won the "green product of the year 2007 " award from Good Housekeeping Institute in the UK last year! They are available in Wholefoods/Capers, Choices Markets, Planet Organic and lots of other stores.
Is that the same as the
By jbucher, June 12, 2008 at 09:27Is that the same as the microfibre cloth? If so, I enthusiastically concur. I bought one at the B.C. Home Show a few months ago, and I'm amazed that, slightly damp, it cleans windows and mirrors beautifully—with no streaks. I may have to relinquish my Windex after all.
John Bucher
Editor, Granville Online
Sherlock Holmes - oh yes,
By sherlockholmes, July 9, 2008 at 21:21Sherlock Holmes - oh yes, that's the spirit! if windows are particularly mucky, see note re pickling vinegar (50%), H2O (50%) and natural all purpose lotion (2%). Works wonderfully with microfibre!!
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