Which Eco-Cleaners Really Work?
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.29.06
The folks over at GreenHome (whom we featured as one of TreeHugger's Best of Retailers) have gotten down and dirty with some of their favorite environmentally-friendly cleaners, and come out with a list of what works best. Published in an issue of Green Home Living (GreenHome's online magazine), cleaners for the entire house are put through their paces, from laundry and dishwashing to glass and basin, tub and tile. Though there are some of the usual suspects present, (like Ecover's laundry detergent), some of TreeHugger's favorites are noticably absent: Seventh Generation, method, Mrs. Meyer's (which we also tested and liked) and B_E_E are all left out of the test. Nonetheless, the test does provide a good review of the products involved, and even have some advice about making your own, something which we're also familiar with. If you got dirt, check it out. ::Green Home Living via ::Apartment Therapy San Francisco
I'd definitely like to see more reviews like this as effectiveness does vary quite a bit and there's usually a bit of a premium to pay for these eco cleaning products.
Thank goodness someone is doing this! Whilst I really want to use eco friendly cleaners, it is just wasting money when things like Ecover bathroom cleaner just don't work! You end up paying out twice and not using the original product.
i am using a product similar to
http://www.emamerica.com/data/products/earth-shine-all-purpose-cleaner/
"Earth Shine All Purpose Cleaner is an eco-friendly cleaner utilizing Effective Microorganisms Technology"
produced in the country i live
i like the idea of enhancing my room with regenerative microorganism
there is also the possibility to cultivate this microorganisms on sugarcane melasse and use the activated em for many purposes such as soil fertilizer, treating wounds
http://emtechnologynetwork.net/eve/personal?x_myspace_page=profile&u=4696053324
What do you use EM-1 for?: drink, bath, cleaning house, laundry, washing car, plants, cuts, our dog
Toronto's NOW Magazine's Ecoholic column did some testing.
The best laundry detergent:
BIO VERT
Our grime-fighting champion! This Quebec-made soap was the only one that elimated all traces of oil and beat Tide on tomato sauce, although, like the others, it only faded wine. NNNN
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-03-30/goods_ecoholic.php
Dish soap review at:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-06-30/goods_ecoholic.php
Best were Nature Clean and Ecover
And all-purpose cleansers.
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-07-14/goods_ecoholic.php
Best: Simply Clean Professional Strength Supercleaner, and
Citra-Solve Cleaner & Degreaser
Of the cleaners I've used for basic kitchen/bathroom and laundry, I've found
PLAIN OLD, CHEAP, WHITE VINEGAR best of all,
with Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Gen. a close second.
Never tried the more "serious" bad-stain removers.
The answer to your question, "Which Eco-Cleaners Really Work?" is vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda.
Anything else dirties the planet.
Natural Choices has some of the most effective natural cleaning products. I've had professional maids be amazed by their products.
What would have been even more useful is a comparison of green cleaning products with their conventional counterparts. In other words, one green product may work better than another, but is Ecover better than Tide? Has anyone seen such a survey?
Okay so I'm a little late to comment. (Heh...a little)
We bought some Simply Clean "Vinegar Plus". Which is simply 5 times concentrated vinegar. It cleans windows better than Windex. Plus it is actually cheaper.
You can't beat that.
You just can't.
I am doing a scince fair project on laundry detergents and i am using Bio Green a test subject. If anyone knows the indreginets that it uses, i would apprieciate it very much.
I am doing a scince fair project on laundry detergents and i am using Bio Green a test subject. If anyone knows the indreginets that it uses, i would apprieciate it very much.
I agree with Linda. A survey or article comparing the Eco products to their less-friendly counterparts would be much more productive.
What Eco product works as well as Tide? Which one works as well as Dawn dish soap? I would absolutely love to see this list so I can jump off the fence.
Has anyone seen any information on products made by Melaleuca? I am currently using them, love the way they work, want to believe what I have heard, but would like to see or hear anyone else's opinion. They have over 400 cleaning, personal care, vitamin and supplement, weight loss and nutrition, medicine cabinet, candle and organic food products.