Book Review: Seventh Generation's "Naturally Clean"
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island 
on 08.18.06
We decided to mix it up a bit with this latest book review. Because we love Seventh Generation so much (as we are pretty sure you do too) we thought that maybe we'd give you some thoughts from two TreeHuggers this time around instead of just our usual one. It seems we both had the same positive opinions about "Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning." The book is written by Seventh Generation's President Jeffrey Hollender with his daughter Meika Hollender and Geoff Davis, Editor of Seventh Generation's Non-Toxic Times newsletter. We think you'll enjoy reading not only the book, but also our reviews:
Kara DiCamillo's Review from Newport, RI
The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution as one of the top 5 environmental risks to public health. So how clean is your home? No, really, you’d be quite surprised. I thought my house was pretty darn clean until I read Naturally Clean. For me, I’m an asthma sufferer so I found this book to be not only interesting but extremely eye-opening. Did you know that the air inside our homes is most likely more polluted than the air outside? “How can that be possible?” I asked myself. Not only do I clean, vacuum and continually wash laundry, but I make sure my dog is clean and that my kitchen and bathroom is spotless. Plus, I use all-natural products. After reading compelling statistics, there was clearly more that I needed to learn.
The book begins by explaining that so many cleaning products that are on the market today are composed of many unknowns, therefore turning our homes into giant test tubes. The outcome of our exposure to these substances is largely unknown because scientists are just starting to delve into the mysteries that surround cleaning products. They do believe, however, that continuous exposure to these substances is responsible for our epidemic rates of cancer, asthma, hormone disruption and chemical sensitivities that we are all now experiencing more and more. Naturally Clean does discuss a bit of chemistry as to what makes certain household cleaners toxic, but what’s even more interesting is the way that manufacturers cover this up. Who would’ve thought that cleaning products, used to sterilize your home, would be hazardous to your health? Have you really read the label and ingredients of your cleaning products? The truth is, cleaning products are unregulated, untested and ingredients aren’t fully disclosed. “Naturally Clean” lets you in on a few secrets surrounding the industry, even those products that claim to be “all natural.”
While I really enjoyed reading the entire book, the section I clearly liked the most is entitled “A Better, Healthier Way to Clean.” It gives recipes for making your own household cleaners and discusses a more productive way to clean, vacuum and wash laundry. As I stated above, I thought I did a pretty good job at keeping my home clean. What I realized is that not only do I need to think about the health inside my home, but also where my cleaning products are going after I’ve used them. Whether it’s down the toilet or into my carpets, my oven, my floors and my lungs, it became clear to me that I need to rely a little more on Mother Nature.
This book has something for everyone because, let’s face it, no one’s household is 100% clean. It’s nearly impossible. Maybe on one hand you use all-natural cleaning products but what you might not realize is the other sources of serious indoor air contaminants. Naturally Clean can guide you to healing indoor air pollution by zeroing in on what may be affecting it.
With a glossary of terms that you need to know, a resource guide to find additional information and recommendations for products in your home, Naturally Clean is one book you’ll want to reference over and over again.
Sean Fisher's Review from Cincinnati, Ohio
In Naturally Clean, Seventh Generation CEO Jeffrey Hollender and his crew of writers tell you everything you should already know about household cleaners but were never told. Naturally Clean goes far beyond a warning about traditional chemical based cleaners, it tells you how they work and why some can harbor harmful long-term effects. Somehow, Hollender manages to give quick lessons in chemistry without making it boring or hard to read (and that is quite a feat!) The thought of reading a book that deals so heavily with the chemistry and biology behind toxins might send you back to you high school science class, but rest assured this is nothing like that. This time, you will actually pay attention.
About halfway through Naturally Clean, you will most likely try to exorcise your house from most chemical cleaners and replace them with healthier alternatives. Most companies would have used this opportunity to peddle their product, but to their credit, Seventh Generation did not. The last section of the book contains a reference guide of cleaners that pass Hollender’s toxicity test. You would expect Seventh Generation to dominate these lists, and although they certainly do appear, the reference gives you many different healthy commercial alternatives, including some of Seventh Generation’s eco-minded competitors and one or two names that most anyone would recognize. What’s even more shocking though is the plethora of DIY natural cleaning alternatives found within the book. It is clear that Hollender isn’t here to sell, he writes to ensure that you have the knowledge to make your home happier, healthier, and a little greener.
::Available at Amazon.com ::Seventh Generation
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Here's a quandry I just know one of you will help me solve: I am ready to switch to all green household cleaners, with a heavy emphasis on baking soda, vinegar, and elbow grease! The question is what to do with the small amount of Windex, 409, and Lysol that I have left over from my unenlightened days. Go ahead and use them up over the next few months or dispose of them right away?
(also, what are your tips on appropriate disposal of non-green cleaning products?)
I got rid of my mother's toxic cleaners and other toxic waste by going to a hazardous waste collection event. In Los Angeles County, there's a HW collection almost every weekend.
http://ladpw.org/general/enotify/Calendar_Template/Calendar.aspx
You should do a google search for one in your area.
I went to one a week ago in Arcadia, Ca and it was so packed. The most people I've ever seen at a collection site.
Now, I just use natural cleaners that I make myself or eco-friendly products such as Seventh Generation, Method, etc... I can tell that it feels real nice that I don't have to deal with toxic fumes too because before I would be coughing so much to the point of gagging.
hi melissa - i can tell you that from reading the book, just as GA suggested, 7th Gen also recommends taking them to a hazardous waste site. can you imagine? bringing your cleaning products to a hazardous waste site to be disposed of...that just goes to show you what's actually in them.
thanks for writing in!
I'm a Seventh Generation employee ~ and thrilled to read your glowing review of Naturally Clean. Just wanted to share with other treehuggers that all royalties from the sale of Naturally Clean will benefit the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition in their efforts to educate parents about environmental toxins that can affect children’s health, by launching the national Blue Butterfly campaign. Check them out at www.bluebutterfly.org
Along with the support of celebrity moms Laura Dern and Amy Brenneman, CHEC is encouraging people to join the fight for a healthier world for children.
Thanks for the suggestions; I'll go to the next hazardous waste collection.
I checked the book out from my library and it's really useful! I'll buy my own copy now--it's good to have on hand, + that's cool about the royalties.
I'm planning to try Freecycling (www.freecycle.org) my toxic cleaners. Since the people who would take them are likely the people who would buy them in a store and use them anyway, it seems like a better choice than dumping them (even at an HHW collection). Perhaps I'm deluded?
Well, It's been more than a month and I have tried darn near every suggestion in the book, and the only complaint I have is that the eco-friendly dishwashing liquids we've tried just don't seem to work. Our dishes are spotty and grungy, even after running the machine twice (which can't be good for the planet!!) At the moment I'm handwashing a lot, but that's not going to work forever for my growing family. Any suggestions or favorite brands?
Thanks everyone for all your thoughts!!
sunshinecook, we've been having good luck with ecover dishwashing powder (not the pellets). but you might want to call your water company and find out how hard your water is. depending on how hard it is, you might want to experiment with more or less detergent (sometimes less is more), or a natural rinse aid. our portable dishwasher even has a separate container you can add salt to to alter the hardness of your water. you could probably call the manufacturer of your detergent to find out the best amount to use with your water hardness, too.
Sunshine,
It sounds like you may have really hard water, because of the spotting and grunginess. What you may be seeing is the redeposition of hard water minerals on your dishes. Mainstream brands can still legally use phosphates, which do a great job of tying up hard water minerals, and green products use a substitute, because phosphates support algae blooms in lakes and streams. A suggestion would be to use white vinegar in your rinse aid dispenser - it will make a difference! Hard water mineral build up might appear golden to whitish, and can build up over time. A way to find out if that is what it is, is to soak your dishes in warm vinegar water (an hour should be plenty)- if the vinegar water takes it off, it is hard water mineral build - up - if it does not come off, it is something else. Seventh Generation powder (rather than gel) usually works better in hard water situations, with a rinse aid such as vinegar.
I am also starting to convert to "green" cleaning products, as well as vinegar, baking soda & the elbow grease suggested above. I echo what was said above, the Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent (gel) does not cut it. And I have tried the vinegar in the rinse receptacle. Still no good. Not only are the dishes cloudy, but they are down right dirty ...and I'm not pre-rinsing b/c I am living in a drought area w/ tight water restrictions, besides, I have never had to pre-rinse my dishes w/ conventional detergents. Besides Ecover, which I haven't found locally available in my area, does Method or any other brand work any better?
why did seventh generation change its ingredients?
and what is in the free and clear that has a toxic smell?
Naturally Clean provides great natural alternatives to your chemical based household cleaners. However, what remains is that everyone needs vaccum cleaners. And that's the way it should be! You haven't cleaned until you have found yourself the perfect vacuum cleaner. Like, me. I can deal with the most uncooperative of materials. It just takes a little cooperation from the owner. The other day for example a drink was spilt on my hose. But that's another story. - Mr Suckarupparar
sunshinecook, I fill my rinse-aid compartment (reserved for Jet Dry) with white vinegar and my dishes come out sparkling! If you notice a vinegar smell, you could dilute it....1 part vinigar to 1 part water. Plus, vinegar is a good disinfectant so you might even get by without using the high-temp button and save some energy. Good luck!