Note: for the purposes of this review Eco Touch provided us a complementary Wash and Wax Kit.

The traditional driveway car wash uses an average of 20 + gallons of water and sends all manner of chemicals, soaps and non-biodegradable materials into lawns, storm drains and local waterways. A neat alternative – the Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash. Do the planet and your car a solid – try this waterless car wash product and wax. Eco Touch makes their car care products with natural, plant-based, biodegradable ingredients and they actually work. The Eco Touch products contain no parabens, phosphates, dyes or alcohol. A key to their car wash’s effectiveness is its combination of plant-derived surfactants that lift the dirt away from the car’s finish and Eco Touch’s micro fiber towels (machine-washable and totally reusable) that really suck up dirt.

The test: I recently waited until my car was appropriately grungy from sitting in an open air garage adjacent to our local commuter train station. The vehicle was coated with a nice combo of grit and grime: blotchy black soot from the diesel trains, a variety of dead love bugs, assorted other insects and general road effluvium. I sprayed the Waterless Car Wash product on the car one section at a time, removing the dirt with one cloth to soak up the grime and quickly using a dry, clean micro fiber towel to buff and shine. Tough dirt and sticky bugs required an extra spritz. The end result was an impressively clean, shiny car. The natural polymers in the product leave a nice protective finish. End result: a clean car, streak-free windows and clean rims.

I also applied the Quick Wax product which contains carnauba wax emulsion and beeswax for an extra layer of shine and protection. When all was said and done, the car really looked great. I ended up using about a third of the 24oz bottles – so I figure to get roughly, 3 washes per bottle. If your car is particularly dirty you may want to quickly hose it down before using the waterless car wash – these products aren’t cheap.

Another nice feature is that the car wash works on all exterior car surfaces, including glass and wheels. The Eco Touch Waterless Wash and Wax Kit contains: a 24oz container of Waterless Car Wash and Quick Wax with 2-pack of micro fiber towels all for $34.95 @ ecotouch.net

Note: In addition to its Waterless Car Wash Eco Touch makes a complete line of earth-friendly interior and exterior car care products.

There’s a lot to like about this revolutionary green cleaning product line called bio+green crystals. I just tried their Glass & Window Cleaner, and it does an AMAZING job of cleaning glass and mirrors. No streaks. No funky smells. Just sparkling clean and green. I used it on mirrors in my bedroom and bathroom; glass cocktail table and glass-top desk; and my car windows. WOW, great stuff.

• Manufactured by NBGS (National Bio Green Sciences) it’s the world’s first line of crystalline, vitamin-based household cleaning agents — made in the USA, and safe for people, pets and planet. The Glass & Window Cleaner contains plant derived surfactants and absolutely nothing nasty — there are no: phosphates, petrochemicals sodium lauryl sulfate and VOCs.

• All you do is drop a water soluble sachet of cleaning crystals into a 32 ounce spray bottle, fill it with water and you’re good to go. Whenever you need a refill, simply buy a sachet refill and repeat the process.

• From an ecological perspective, it’s great because the company isn’t shipping heavy products (no bottles filled with water) from manufacturing to market, the sachets take up less shelf space, and they’re lightweight and easy for us to carry home and tuck into the cleaning supply cabinet. Just be sure to recycle the outside plastic package. (No doubt, someday that little piece of plastic will be made from a biodegradable material.)

• Did you know that according to a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, exposure to cleaning products accounts for 15 percent of all asthma cases? The line is endorsed by Doctor Kenneth Bock, a pioneer in children’s health advocacy, and one of the founders of 4-A Healing Foundation, which assists families with children affected by Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies. A portion of Bio+Green profits are donated to the foundation.

• Non-toxic, eco-friendly, hypo-allergenic and effective … With 7 different products available today, we’ll be keeping an eye on this company’s future developments.

Learn more about NJ-based company founder and father of 6 children, Nikolaos (Nik) Renieris, and find more info & pricing @ biogreencrystals.com.

full disclosure: I received one bio-plastic spray bottle and one packet of Glass & Window Cleaner for the purposes of this no -strings-attached Tried and True Green Product Review. It retails for $5.99/per packet.

Since our first trial of Vaska in ’09, I’ve been a fan of their laundry detergent (review here) – it’s one of the best green laundry detergents available. So when I was recently offered a free bottle of Spotoff spray for testing purposes, I said sure. This past weekend, armed with the advanced botanicals spot remover, I put it to the test on a white organic cotton hoodie that was covered with all sorts of stains, including red ink, tomato sauce and soy sauce. (I know, what a slob.) Poor hoodie – I thought it might be headed to the re-use bin but much to my amazement all the ugly stains were lifted in just 2 easy steps.

I sprayed the garment with Vaska Spotoff, let it sink-in for about 30 minutes, and then tossed it into the washing machine with a load of whites. I used my usual Vaska Herbatergent (liquid laundry detergent), which I buy on a regular basis. When I hung the hoodie to dry I almost hugged it. It was spotless. Freakin’ aweseome. Needless to say, you’ll never see another bottle of Shout on my shelf.

Spotoff is biodegradable – derived from natural ingredients, and formulated to treat spills and stains on clothing, rugs and upholstery. Safe on colors, whites, natural and synthetic textiles. The company tells me it’s potent enough to remove wine stains, which I’m sure will come in handy (perhaps after that New Year’s bash).

ingredients: botanical surfactants, natural blending agents, lavender extract, alcohol and filtered water. Contains no dyes, chlorine or fragrances.

Body- and planet-friendly, find Vaska at Duane Reade in NYC and online at amazon.com; (priced at about $10 per 22 oz & worth every penny).

full disclosure – I received one bottle of Spotoff for the purposes of this Tried and True Green Product Review – no strings attached.

We love shopecogoods.com … AltCon readers receive an exclusive 20% off on all purchases by entering code AC20 at checkout. Rather than showcase items made of BPA-filled plastic and non-renewable resources, their beautiful selection is comprised of biodegradable materials and/or materials that have been recycled – helping to keep things like plastic yogurt cups and milk jugs out of our landfills. (All items pictured above are created from recycled materials.)

Prices are affordable, and with eco-conscious collections of useful items for you, your family and your home – it’s a wonderful go-to source for essentials and gift-buying year-round. New to the lineup is an awesome new composter. You’ll also find Olive Green Dog shampoo and healthy pet snacks, home decor, personal care items, cool gifts and lots more. (Spoon rests, above, are made of biodegradable bamboo fiber, only $1.99/each) @ shopecogoods.com…use code AC20 at checkout.

A Tried and True Green Product Review: we received a 3-pack of Supreme Surface Granite Cleaner & Conditioner + micro-fiber cloths for the purposes of this review. In a word, this stuff is amazing. We love it.

backstory – Did you know that your granite counter-tops need special care to keep them not only clean, but conditioned and protected? Neither did I, ’til recently. It explained a lot – now I understood why my kitchen countertops just didn’t seem to ever look shiny or feel clean. The surfaces always looked rather dull and streaky. So I went in search of an eco friendly solution. When I found Supreme Surface Cleaners – a 100% organic, non-toxic and food-safe option, I asked for a sample to try.

I’ve been using it for the past few days and it’s great. It claims to leave a streak-free shine – and it does. It claims to condition and protect against stains – and it does. No fingerprints. One application lasts a nice long while, too. My countertops really shine and look nourished. Like when you “feed wood” a good natural polish. Just spray Supreme Surface on the microfiber cloth and give that stone surface a good buff. Smells nice, too.

Here’s the body- and earth-friendly cred:

• 100% organic
• non-abrasive, mild pH-balanced formula
• no build-up or residue
• cleans and conditions granite, quartz and marble
• penetrates and fills porous surface with natural conditioners to protect against stains
• non-toxic – safe around children, pets and food prep areas
• biodegradable

From the first application, my countertops not only looked fantastic, but felt really smooth and clean.

Order @ SupremeSurfaceCleaner.com. You can buy 1, 2 or 3, 8.5 ounce size sprays – you’ll probably want to give one as a gift to a pal or sibling. If you want to try before you buy, check out their 4 oz. free sample, $5 shipping.

I picked up a copy of this book at my local library; it’s a great first step in learning how to green your cleaning routine. Intended for both those who may still use some traditional cleaning supplies but need a few green tips, as well as those who already buy green cleaning supplies, but desire to go a little deeper.

Green Clean gently guides you to think outside the box of cleaning products you probably grew up with. The first section explains how our homes have become so chemical-laden. Then it goes through item by item, and details the health risks of each of product found in the average household.

Be prepared to throw out the large majority of what’s under your sink the day you read this book. But don’t just empty the toxins into the waste stream by draining them down your sink. If you don’t want to use up the products, be sure to drop them off at a designated local transfer center so the stuff can be safely discarded. Just in case your cupboards are bare, you may want to be sure to have these three basic items on hand: baking soda, distilled white vinegar and soap (Castile, preferably).

Green Clean goes through every room in your home and everything you could possibly need to clean. They provide a slew of simple home concoctions for cleaning. (My favorite staple has become Borax, which, by the way, is not carried everywhere. I found it at the hardware store in the laundry detergent section.) To top it off, they also include lists of the best green cleaning products and a handy index that makes this book a great quick reference guide.

Available at amazon.com for $12.82

The remediation industry exists, in large part, to clean up the messes made by other industries. Most notably, when our buddies in the fossil fuel industry misplace billions of gallons of oil, a remediation company is contracted to clean it up. Unfortunately, clean up technology and methods are a new science, and many seem to harm the environment in the process of cleaning up. On the greener side of remediation is VeruTEK, a small chemical company that has just designed a clean up process without the negative effects.

Green-nano Zero Valent Iron, or G-nZVI, is a remediation catalyst that can clean up sites of chemical contamination without adding other harmful chemicals to the mix. Developed by the combined efforts of VeruTEK Technologies Inc., and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, G-nZVI will be the go-to clean up method for virtually all industrial chemical spills and disasters. The novel aspect of VeruTEK’s new catalyst is that it is a plant-based technology, whereas other remediation techniques involve throwing chemicals at the chemical spill.

G-nZVI is biodegradable and does not require a clean up after it has been applied to a contaminated site. It is also less expensive, less volatile, easier to store and has a longer shelf life than all other remediation chemicals. Remediation is also a booming industry, so the good scientists at VeruTEK stand to be rewarded in kind for their great work.

via: hartfordbusiness.com related: eco science and news

This achievement is no doubt the result of the corporation’s November 2010 Sustainable Living Plan, which intends to bring 50 environmental, social and economic programs to fruition. Set to be achieved by 2020, some of these endeavors included halving the environmental cost of all Unilever products, extracting 100% of the company’s agricultural raw materials from sustainable sources and last, but certainly not least, improving the health and well being of a billion people around the globe.

You already may be enabling Unilever to help consumers worldwide if you happen to use brand names such as: Axe grooming products, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Dove soap, Surf detergent, Lipton tea products and Flora margarine. Be sure to check out Unilever’s website to see the 400+ products and brands that are making strides to lend a hand to our environment.

via: international business times

This exclusive Great Green Giveaway and offer is generously sponsored by Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox.

2 lucky winners will each receive one jar of handmade, eco-friendly laundry detergent; a bamboo measuring spoon AND their choice of one other product from the line that they’d most like to try: Clean, Shine, Sparkle, Soapy or Scrub. All cleaning products are made of people- and planet-friendly ingredients.

Each prize value, $28 plus free delivery to residents in the USA or Canada. You’ll receive detergent for 80 loads (160 for HE machines). Detergent is a unique mix of: coconut and citronella soap, borax, washing soda, baking soda, essential oil blend of lavender, tea tree & citrus oils.

Extra bonus — Mrs. Jones is offering altCon readers a special 10% off any purchase you make for the next month. Simply enter coupon code AltCon10 – offer expires June 5, 2011.

To enter this Giveaway & qualify simply:

• check out Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox and then leave a comment on this post, telling us which Mrs. Jones Soapbox product you’d most like to try
• sign up for our free Newsletter with hip green deals, giveaways & news
• for prize notification, be sure to add the following to your email address book: m at AlternativeConsumer.com

OPTIONAL: how to receive additional entries:

• like Mrs. Jones Soapbox on Facebook &/or follow her on Twitter & leave additional comments
• subscribe to our daily RSS feed & leave an additional comment
• follow us on Twitter & leave an additional comment
• like us on FaceBook. If you’re already a subscriber, etc just let us know.
• tweet about the giveaway (no more than once per day), include @altCon, and leave a comment on this post
• bloggers may post about the giveaway with a link back to this post. Leave a comment here with a link to your blog post.

Winners will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email. Contest ends Friday, May 13 at 11:59p (EST). Winners have 24 hours to claim their prize, or the offer is null and void. Winners’ names will be included on this post. As always, we will not share your email info with anyone. Good luck!

backstory – Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox: this is a cleaner, deodorizer and softener all-in-one. Clothes come out soft and free from the waxy residues left behind by traditional detergents and fabric softeners. The mild ingredients make it the ideal product for babies and people with allergies and skin conditions. You need just one heaping spoonful of detergent for each wash so this product will cost you less and last longer than any other on the market. A little bit goes a long way! And there’s no need to use fabric softener or softener sheets. This is a laundry soap & fabric softener all-in-one so your clothes come out of the dryer soft, fresh and static-free.

Prize Includes:
Detergent for 80 loads laundry (160 for HE machines)
Biodegradable bamboo measuring spoon
75 mL reusable/refillable glass jar

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.