The truth of the matter is that we need to be eco-conscious about every product we purchase, and that includes household cleaning essentials like sponges, brushes and towels. Today’s Tried and True Green Products Review is focused on a company whose tools of the trade, so to speak, are stylish, planet-friendly and effective.

the backstory - Full Circle is an eco-minded company offering a complete line of kitchen cleaning products derived from sustainable and renewable resources: scrub brushes with bamboo handles, plant-based sponges made from cellulose, fully biodegradable pot scrubbers as well as kitchen towels made from a blend of bamboo and organic cotton. Here’s a quick look at the products we tried:

• scoop sponge – comes in a set of 2. They’re called “extra large” but they’re not industrial/car wash size. Perfect for kitchen counter clean-ups and designed with a curve to dry quickly and keep bacteria off your counter. I’m on my third month of using sponge number one and there are no signs of wear and tear. To clean, you can use dishwasher, microwave or boiling water; I put it in the dishwasher.
• dish brush – this is a real work horse. Great for scraping dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. As you must know, rather than washing by hand, running a full load of dishes with an energy star rated machine & non-phosphate detergent is the most eco friendly way to get dishes clean today.
• high & dry is a scrub brush with some nice features: it’s angled to reach into tight corners and stands on end to dry faster. The bristles are a combo of natural plant fibers which absorb & hold soap and recycled plastic for durability and tough scrubbing. One of the materials utilized is Bonterra, derived from cellulose and starch in plants. This scrubber works great on floors and any funky tight spot.
• magnetic kitchen towel – perhaps my favorite item. Not all bamboo towels actually dry hands well but this one does, perhaps because of the inclusion of organic cotton. Love the ability to toss onto the fridge’s surface and grab as needed. The magnet is made from recycled materials; after many spins in both cold water and the dryer, it still works.

the takeaway – Full Circle’s mantra is: “when choosing any material that goes into our products we ask ourselves two questions: where does it come from and where will it go?” Their products function well, last longer and generate less waste than conventionally-made items. The company is a member of Green America; textiles are EKO-certified sustainable and cotton is OCIA-certified organic. What’s not to like? We give them our green thumbs up.

In addition to the items we tried, they also offer a slew of other smart supplies: cellulose cleaning cloths to help you curb your addiction to paper towels, cleaning mitts, brushes to clean veggies, loofa scrubber sponges (alternatives to Dobie pads) and a kit to help you make your own cleaning solutions.

Thanks to Full Circle for providing us with a handful of their sustainably-made products to put to the test for this review. To purchase, you can find the products at amazon.com; visit fullcirclehome.com or look for them in local retailers like Bed Bath Beyond.