I recently had the privilege of trying out some products provided by OnlyGreen Organics, a new direct sales company offering certified organic products.  Susie Schiering, an Independent OnlyGreen EcoAdvisor, was generous enough to send me samples of their new shampoo and conditioner, an orange creamsicle lip balm and compostable plastic ware.

The VADA brand shampoo and conditioner are manufactured by OnlyGreen and they work very well.  However, as with most organic toiletries when the sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate is missing the lather is just not as abundant as it is with mainstream brands.  I will say that in the (more…)

Vaska’s Herbatergent, a “revolutionary botanical laundry detergent,”  was a product that sounded intriguing to me.  So with a 48-ounce product jug, provided by Vaska, we put it to the test.

Six loads of laundry later, I’m happy to say this stuff is truly amazing, and their claims are spot on.  The darks weren’t faded, the whites were bright, everything was exceptionally clean and soft — but the best part was how the fabrics actually felt.  As crazy as it sounds, as I touched the jeans and tees, I said to myself, “it’s almost as if they’ve been treated to some extra love — after having been put through the wringer, they seem to have come out of the process unharmed.”  I have to say, I’ve never felt this sensitive about laundry before. (more…)

A Tried and True, Green Products Review…I’m not a clean freak, but every spring and fall I go on a housekeeping tear; it helps clear the cobwebs from my mind.  I love the the line of products I used last week during my fall clean-a-thon. They’re amazing.  Planet-, people- and pet-friendly Better Life cleaning products are 99 percent derived from plants.  No parabens, petrochemicals, sulfates, VOCs, ethoxylates, ammonia, bleach, solvents, dyes, toxins or synthetic anything.

The goods I used: 2am Miracle, Even the Kitchen Sink gentle scrubber, I Can See CLearly, WOW glass cleaner, WhatEVER Clary Sage & Citrus all-purpose cleaner, a Euro Sponge and my favorite, their floor cleaner called, Simply FLOORED.  What’s really gratifying is (more…)

This hand powered portable washing machine is an extremely eco-friendly product providing a cheaper alternative to hotel laundry service if you travel and can’t find a green hotel, enjoy camping or need a break from trekking to the laundromat or laundry room of your apartment building. (more…)

There’s a new Website out there to help you extend the life, and create other uses of all the everyday stuff in your home. “Whether it’s using hairspray to remove ink stains, vodka to clean your eyeglasses, or coffee grounds to fertilize your garden, AltUse taps into the planet’s collective wisdom so you can keep more in your wallet and send less to the landfill!”

AltUse.com lets registered users upload ideas and product info to be entered into the database and onto the site (upon approval). Registered users can also vote for items they think are the most helpful.  You can search by Use or by Product.  Pretty cool.

Odor-fighting spray company, Poo-Pourri, has introduced an innovative, eco friendly bathroom spray that is designed to eliminate bathroom odors at their most stinky source – the toilet.  Nature’s Call is designed to be sprayed into the toilet prior to making one’s deposit.  The spray’s citrus blend of organic essential oils seals the surface of the toilet’s water preventing noxious fumes from escaping, rather than masking the stench like other sprays.

Poo-Pourri makes several other odor fighting sprays, including their “Before You Go” line, “Pooch-Pourri” pet odor spray and “L’il Stinker” soiled diaper spray. (more…)

whether you’re working from home, stuck in a cubicle, or blogging in a loft somewhere, your work space can often impact your productivity and state of mind.
here are a few simple ways to keep that desk area clean and green, get you out the door, and give you a heady sense of accomplishment. (more…)

Jig-A-Loo may have a funky name, but the makers of automotive and home improvement products new eco-friendly line of products, EconoGreen Plastics, appears to be a greener trash bag option.  The EconoGreen family of products include trash bags and drop cloths designed to help consumers reduce environmental waste. The heavy duty bags are 100 percent oxo-degradable, made from 100 percent recycled materials and are said to break down within two years after use, considerably quicker than traditional plastic bags.

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Our quaint (real estate lingo for “small”) Upper West Side, New York apartment has a lovely terrace that provides us with glimmering sunset views, breathing room in the big city, a place to entertain our friends and, unfortunately, ants. The little critters have been making themselves known as the weather has warmed up, creating a little creepy crawly trail all the way from the terrace door to the kitchen.

I immediately huffed it over to my corner drugstore, on a mission to find a non-toxic ant killer, but trying not to get my hopes up – this particular New York drugstore chain is not known for their extensive selection. To my surprise, (more…)

The surest sign that Earth Day is becoming an official holiday is when there’s a sale associated with it.  In this instance the good folks at Further Soap are offering internet shoppers this deal – buy one bottle of Further Soap at the regular price ($18.50), and get one FREE with FREE SHIPPING on furthersoap.com ALL DAY April 22, 2009.

Further Soap is part of a very green product cycle.  Glycerin, that is created as a bi-product in the process of converting the waste grease from the kitchens of L.A. restaurants into bio diesel, is transformed by Further into a great hand soap.  Upcycling waste grease into both bio diesel and hand soap, a very green endeavor indeed.

Go to FurtherSoap.com to take advantage of the sale and reward yourself with a a great deal and a great green product.

Your local CVS just got a little greener.  With its new Earth Essentials line, CVS is joining the growing wave of retailers who are creating their own eco-friendly product lines.  The pharmacy and retail chain is launching a new line of eco-friendly plates and bowls made entirely from natural and renewable sugarcane. The products are designed to completely biodegrade within one to three months, making it a greener choice for travel, picnics and parties.

The downside to landfill-bound disposable plastic plates and cookware is well known.  Earth Essentials provides a greener option for those times when it’s just not practical to use and transport your best dishes and cloth towels.

Earth Essentials bowls and plates are:  microwave and freezer safe, fully compostable, able to handle hot liquids up to 200° F, sterilized and sanitized, strong, and available in unbleached bagasse.

In addition to the line of plates and bowls, the Earth Essentials line also includes paper products recently endorsed by Greenpeace.  The selection of paper products made with recycled fiber includes napkins, toilet tissue and paper towels. The line is available at your local CVS and on-line @ cvs.com

A Tried and True, Green Product Review:   Last weekend, I tried Arm & Hammer’s new Essentials Liquid Laundry Detergent 2X Concentrated, (Mountain Rain).  It blew my dirty socks off.

Into the wash went everything from sheets and towels to jeans, tees, socks, undies and yoga wear.  Folding four loads of wash, I had ample opportunity to get up close and personal with these freshly cleaned threads.  The smooth, silky texture was phenomenal, and everything smelled amazing.

Eco perks:  made with renewable, biodegradable plant-based soaps; no dyes, no phosphates or bleaches, no petroleum-based cleaners, safe for septic systems. Less packaging: 50 fluid ounces = 26 loads.  Because it’s 2x concentrated, you use half the usual amount, save water and less raw materials are needed to manufacture each jug (#2, HDPE plastic).  The smaller container is, of course, easier to carry, and takes up less storage space. (more…)

A Tried and True, Green Product Review:

Sure, DIY concoctions (distilled vinegar, baking soda, table salt and lemon) can work wonders, but sometimes, due to time constraints, it’s more convenient to grab an off the shelf green spray to fight household grime.

I recently had the good fortune to try Eco Mist, a line developed and manufactured in Canada using colloidal chemistry.  Founder Ted Fagan decided to utilize this scientific approach whereby plant-based, renewable ingredients (in this case — corn, tree sap, processed coconut extract, sugarcane, grass, grains and potatoes) are heated up at various temps to create billions of tiny cleaning agents.  These tiny agents clean grease and grime at a molecular depth — unsurpassed by petro-based cleaning agents found in traditional cleaners.

Extra eco perks:  all of the products are unscented, non-toxic non-carcinogenic, non-allergenic, biodegradable and Eco Options approved. With Household and Professional lines available, we tried the Kitchen Plus household spray and put it to the test on our daily spills and mess. (more…)