I've used these paper towels here and there over the years. I think they're a little expensive, so they're not something I buy regularly. I do love the fact that they are unbleached, so depending on what I'm wiping up with, I can toss them in the compost. Seventh Generation also discloses all ingredients, so you really know what you're getting.... read more
I previously reviewed the Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care. Next, I tried the Simple Green Multi-Surface Care. It has the same eco-friendliness as the carpet cleaner, such as being water based and not containing chlorine.
One thing I also like about the Simple Green Naturals line is that they have a full ingredient list on the label. This can make or break a "green" product to me, because when a product labeled as green or natural, if it doesn't have a full ingredient disclosure, it makes me think that the company has something to hide. Simple Green Naturals is open and honest.... read more
Bon Ami is truly the original green cleaner. It's been around for 120 years, which is awesome...this ain't no 21st century greenwashing here. Back in those days, people weren't using harsh chemicals to clean things. They were using simple ingredients, which is exactly what Bon Ami does. Their ingredient list is simple, relatively short, and filled with words that are easy to pronounce! Their containers are also either recyclable or made from recycled materials.
We've been canning our own marinara sauce like crazy these days, which is fun, but messy. I let the splattered marinara sauce sit on the stove overnight so I could test the Bon Ami Liquid Cleanser on it the following morning.
OK, so that's the Bon Ami bottle and the marinara sauce with some of the liquid cleanser on top of it.... read more
We used to use Nature's Gate shampoos and conditioners growing up. We'd go to the tiny neighborhood natural grocery store in my New Jersey hometown to get it, and on the way out we'd get a small mint-chocolate square that came with a trading card of an endangered animal. I think they were called Environmints, and I'm not sure they exist anymore. I kind of miss the days of the small natural grocery stores in the days before Whole Foods...but, that's a tangent and I digress.
My favorite shampoo was always the Herbal one. It's not organic and it does contain some less-than-green ingredients, but it's certainly better than most of the typical shampoos and conditioners. I love the smell of the Herbal shampoo, especially on a cold day. The non-organic products are cruelty-free and vegan.
Now, there are a variety of organic shampoos, conditioners, and lotions also available from Nature's Gate. Their certified organic and locally grown ingredients come from a family owned organic farm in California on land dedicated to growing Nature’s Gate botanical essences. The farm's water source comes from the winter rains and snow of the Sierra Nevadas.... read more
The Pee Test. To pass this, it just needs to hold a small amount of pee without leaking. If a diaper can't pass the basic pee test, it's a useless diaper. The verdict? Passed.
The Poop Test. Can this diaper contain a mass quantity of baby poop? (In this case, some of the messiest baby poop known to man: blueberry poop.) Some diapers regularly cause leaks down the leg and up the back. How did Seventh Generation do? Passed. And the wipes did their job as well.
The Overnight Test. We cloth diaper most of the time, but we do use disposables overnight because all of our cloth diapers result in a pee-soaked baby in the middle of the night, sadly. How did Seventh Generation do with this test? Passed.
I really like this nail polish. The color, The Giving Tree, is amazing -- and they have tons, both bright reds and pinks as well as earthier tones. It's been on for a day now and I have not gotten any chips. I put on two coats like the directions suggest and it looks great and even better, my nails feel stronger!
Sometimes I crave the junk food of my childhood, even if it's kind of gross. I loved Kraft Mac and Cheese as a kid and most organic varieties of boxed mac and cheese just didn't do it for me. I tried all of the Annie's varieties and while they were good, they didn't satisfy my craving of the old-fashioned boxed mac and cheese...until I found this one. It takes me back to my childhood, without all of the gross ingredients associated with typical boxed macaroni and cheese. The ingredient list is refreshingly short. I also gave some to my nine month old, and he loved them as well. ... read more
What's a more perfect way to test out a green carpet cleaner than on cat vomit? After my cat threw up on the carpet, I immediately grabbed the Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care bottle. I hadn't used it before, so I thought this would be a good way to put it to the test.
Well, it worked like a charm. Cleaned it up, left no stain, and that was that! AND, it has no scent, which made my husband very happy. No complaints!
Simple Green Natural Carpet Care is water based and doesn't contain chlorine. It contains some plant-based ingredients, including one derived from palm seed kernels and another derived from chicory root. They have a full ingredient list on the label, which I think is very important because even many green products don't have that, which always makes me question its greenness! It also has not been tested on animals. ... read more
At the risk of sounding totally gross and revealing the fact that I am horrible at keeping house, we had some olive oil build-up on the counter next to the stove. We had a leaky olive oil container, and I'd clean it sort of half-heartedly, and before I knew it, we had a sticky, olive oily mess. When I got the Mrs. Meyer's surface scrub, I figured that the olive oil gunk would put the scrub to the test.
The verdict? My counter is olive oil free. This is far more effective than using the baking soda/vinegar mixture that I fall back on, yet it isn't as toxic or stinky as Comet or Ajax. ... read more
As soon as I smelled this, I put the other liquid soap we had in the downstairs bathroom in the cabinet. It has a light, floral scent, and it's not at all over-powering or artificial smelling. My husband, on the other hand, thinks it has an "old lady" smell to it. Bummer for him, because I buy the soap in this house! Call me an old lady, but I think it smells quite pleasant.... read more
What's a more perfect way to test out a green carpet cleaner than on cat vomit? After my cat threw up on the carpet, I immediately grabbed the 
