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7 Eco-Cleaning Products To Keep Handy At Your Lovely House

You do not have to recycle every day or join a protest to shut down the local factory in order to go green. Sometimes the simplest ways to help the environment is right inside your own home. So how can you make your home a little greener? Simply throw away all those window cleaning, anti-bacterial, wood polishing or surface cleaners away and replace them with eco-cleaning products.

Start by replacing that “Pledge” or “Old English” cleaner with the Murchison-Hume Furniture Spritzer. It sprays just like its competition and cleans just as well but it does not have any of those harsh chemicals that can weaken the ozone layer.

If you are looking for a surface cleaning product that cleans something other than wood then try the Laundress Surface Cleaner. It has a nice and soft scent and its ingredients are bio-degradable so it will not leave any chemicals behind that could make you or your family sick. Best of all you can use it on any surface you need to wipe down.

When the time comes to do laundry, you should buy the Free & Clear Laundry Detergent from Greenworks. You will likely find this at your local Wal-Mart easily. It contains a natural formula and none of the harmful chemicals of conventional detergent. So your skin will thank you for switching to this and so will Mother Nature.

Of course carpets usually require a lot of TLC, especially if you have pets which pee or crap all over them. So get the Everyday Stain & Odor Remover product. It contains plant derived enzymes that attach themselves to organic stains and breaks them down. The product is so gentle however that you can even use it to remove stains from clothes too.

If you are one of those people who simply does not have time to spray and wipe then buy Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender Surface Wipes. They are pre-moistened and can get rid of dirt and grime on surfaces in your home, car or desk at work. What is even better, these babies are biodegradable too.

Windows are often a pain to clean because of all those fingerprints and streaks that seem to appear out of nowhere throughout the day. By using the J.R. Watkins Aloe & Green Tea Window Cleaner, you’ll be able to clean even the toughest smudges from windows, glass tables and mirrors using nothing but of the best ingredients that nature has to offer.

Finally the product you’ve been hoping existed is here. I’m talking about the Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwashing Pacs. Simply put one of these detergent cartridges into your dishwasher and you will rest comfortably knowing that your dishes, cups, and utensils are being washed without the use of synthetic fragrances or chemicals like chlorine.

Not every eco-cleaning product is available at your local supermarket so you might have to do a little digging. I know it seems like a big change to commit to.  But in most cases you can go to Wal-Mart or order them online on amazon.com or the manufacturing company’s website. While this might seem like an inconvenient at first I am sure you will agree it is definitely worth the hassle to help the environment.

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4 Tell-tale Signs of Greenwashing

You may have heard the term, but wondered how exactly greenwashing is defined. Greenwashing occurs when more time and financial resources are spent on advertising, labeling and marketing green products than is spent actually implementing environmentally sound practices. Unfortunately, the terms “natural”, “non-toxic,” and “eco-friendly” are often misused. Here are four tell-tale signs of product greenwashing to be aware of:

  • Fluffy or Vague Language. Terms like “all natural” or “free of (insert toxic chemical name)” are not regulated by the government and are unverified.
  • Partial or Absent List of Ingredients. All ingredients should be listed to provide 100% transparency.
  • Unverified Health Claims. Sad, but true, many companies do fabricate claims or data. Request to see supporting scientific studies.
  • Questionable Parent Company. If a product is marketed by a company that is known for toxic outputs, the chances are good that the product’s formula has not undergone the proper level of greening.
Source:  These tips were in part provided by actor, author and pioneering environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. who is a prominent figure in the green movement. Begley’s Earth Responsible Products are plant-based, sustainable, and made from rapidly biodegradable ingredients.