GreenBrig

If it is water that you want to save, then dishwasher is more green than hand washing. Research shows that an energy star dishwasher uses only 4 gallons of water, where as hand washing uses about 16 gallons of water. Now compare that to a non-energy star dishwasher, it still only uses about 6 gallons of water. But don’t be alarmed when you open you electricity bill and find how much your bill is. It is definitely more cheaper to hand wash than use the dishwasher. Typically you can finish hand washing the dishes in about 15 minutes, but the same load can take up to 2 hours in a dishwasher.

In an article from Treehugger there was some research done and here are the facts:

Things that need to be taken into consideration while comparing are – Water use, Energy use and Carbon foot print.

Dishwasher vs Hand washing

Using the Dishwasher uses only 4 to 6 gallons of water depending if it’s an energy star or non energy star appliance. Second the energy used to heat the water. Since it only uses 4 to 6 gallons of water, the energy required to heat is much less than hand washing. Finally the carbon foot print is much less when using the dishwasher, since heating 6 gallons of water emits much less CO2 into the atmosphere than hand washing, which uses 16 gallons of water.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, if you can wash the same amount of dishes with only 6 gallons of water, then that would be the most greenest choice, but in realty that is not possible. Therefore, hands-down using the dishwasher is the most greenest way to wash dishes.

The makers of Clorox have now come out with a natural cleaning products line called “Green Works”. This line of natural cleaning products are made from plant based ingredients and are a 100% bio-degradable. Additionally the bottles are all recyclable. This line of natural cleaning products is perfect for all us who desire a more balanced lifestyle without compromising power. The products don’t leave any harsh residue but still get the job done, as you can expect from Clorox brand products.

Green Works Product line

Green Works carry many different products like:

• Natural All Purpose Cleaner
• Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner
• Natural Bathroom Cleaner
• Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
• Natural Dish washing Liquid
• Natural Compostable Cleaning Wipes
• Natural Laundry Stain Remover
• Natural Laundry Detergent

With this kind of a line-up of products, no wonder others are competing for the Natural Cleaning Product market share.

You can purchase any of their products at your local grocery and drug store, or at Amazon.com

Bissell Vacuum Cleaners are becoming a little bit more greener nowadays by adding more sustainable designs to their products. The biggest product that has gone green is the “Little Green” vacuum cleaner that is made of 50% post consumer recycled plastics. Others include the “Steam Mop” which cleans without any chemicals. This is great, since harsh chemicals can be toxic in a closed environment for children and pets. A lot of their liquid cleaners and formula have the EPA Design for the Environment Certification.

Bissell Sustainable Design Features:

• Designed the cleaners to use 95% less PVC in their products.
• Products are manufactured with polypropylene, which is more easily recycled.
• Both the brush block and solution tanks is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic.
• Packaging of the product is improved by eliminating Styrofoam and using up to 75% recycled corrugate materials for the carton and inner packaging.
• The cleaning liquid that is used in the Little Green contain no heavy metals, optical brighteners, phosphates or dyes.
• Use a “Closed Loop Manufacturing” process where the Bissell parts are recycled and made into raw materials, which is then used to manufacture new Bissell components.

You can purchase one of their products from their main Bissell websites or through Amazon.com

Do you wish that when someone enters your home, they admire the house and not sniff up yesterday’s dinner menu? Well, then EarthCare’s  Clear The Air Odor Eliminators is a safe and eco-friendly way to get rid of all the smells without having to use any chemicals or fragrances. This product works well in a smokers house, or a house with multiple animals. Best of all since it’s made out of natural minerals that is  safe to be used around pets and children.

How Clear the Air Works

Clear the Air products are made from minerals that are non-toxic, non-hazardous, non-caustic, and bio-degradable. All you need to do is sprinkle the crystals near or on the place with the odors or you can hang the bag in the room, then the mineral simply pulls the odor away and neutralizes the smell. This product is great for people who are allergic to fragrances and chemicals. Once the product has done it’s duty, you can simply dispose the minerals into the soil in your backyard. Since it’s all natural, the minerals make for an excellent nitrogen amendment.

For about $10 a Canister of Clear the Air Odor Eliminators, you can end the cycle of using chemicals to mask the odors in your house. Think about it, it is so versitile that you can sprinkle the product on your pets to get rid of any “skunky” smell they have and it’s safe even if they eat it. All of their products are backed by 100% satisfaction gurantees, so give it a try today.

The makers of Shout, Scrubbing Bubbles and Windex are now introducing their new Green line of cleaning products called Nature’s Source. Since they are made of 99% natural material, the only thing that is left behind is the clean scent. This is a great alternative without sacrificing the power of cleaning products that come from S.C. Johnson.

Green products from the beginning to end

S.C. Johnson has always focused on the environment, even before it was required by law. They removed CFC propellants from aerosol cans before it was required by law. They even started using renewable energy sources to run their plant. Their ‘Greenlist’ process indicates the environmental impacts for 95% of the raw materials they use, such as -solvents, propellants, insecticides, packaging and more. Also all of their Nature’s Source cleaning bottles are recyclable.

Nature’s Source Products

There is no industry standard on what is called “Natural”, hence S.C. Johnson has made sure that at least 99% of their ingredients come from the nature or be derived from natural sources. The only parts that are not natural are the fragrances, dyes, stabilizers and preservatives. And best of all their products all are Kosher certified. These natural products get the same job done as their non-natural partners do but are bio-degradable as well.

Some of the natural cleaning products that they carry are:

• Windex® Nature’s Source® Glass Cleaner
• Scrubbing Bubbles® Nature’s Source® All Purpose Cleaner
• Scrubbing Bubbles® Nature’s Source® Bathroom Cleaner
• Scrubbing Bubbles® Nature’s Source® Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• Shout® Nature’s Source® Laundry Stain Remover

Note: All of the products above contain more than 99 percent natural and naturally derived ingredients.

You can find most of these products in your local grocery store. Most of them run from about $5, but you can find better deals on Nature’s Source cleaning products at Amazon.com also.

Give it a try, and hopefully you will love the results.

Sunshine Maker’s Simple Green All purpose Cleaners has got more than just a fresh Green Apple smell. They have been recognized by Good Housekeeping Magazine also. With so many “Green” cleaners coming into the market, this product has stood the test of time. They have been around for over 30 years now and have always wanted to focus on being environmentally friendly. Their products are made of non-toxic, bio-degradable, non-flammable, and non-abrasive formulas. Bottom line, their product works, and millions of consumers stand by it. Even their plastic bottles are made PETE spray bottles (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) drums. This means both are 99.9% recyclable and they use recycled material to begin with.

House-hold Product Uses

Some of the well known products from Simple Green are the All purpose Cleaners that is widely available in your local grocery stores. But the other products range from Pet Stain Cleaners to Degreasers. They offer customized cleaners for each occasion, but according to Amazon.com reviews of their cleaners, looks like the all purpose cleaners takes care of most of the everyday mess that needs cleaning up. I’ve never used it, but after buying 15 different cleaners to clean the house, this product seems it’s economical and would get the job done on the first try.

They can get the job done in your:

• Kitchen & Bath
• Kids
• Pets
• Laundry
• Outdoors
• Garage & Car
• Floors & Carpet

Best of all, most of them only cost about $5.99 for a 32 oz bottle and you can dilute them to make gallons of cleaning liquid. This means you don’t need to buy many bottles of this product, but only one for a very long time and it means you are saving money and throwing away less plastic bottles.

All Natural Simple Green Cleaners

Simple Green Naturals are 100% naturally derived, with ingredients from nature: chicory, coconut, corn, palm, naturally occurring minerals, salt and sugar, and water. Even though their products are 100% natural, they have not lost their greasing fight powers. They still get the job done. Even their labels are made of soy products and the bottles are 100% recyclable.

So next time your in the store, pickup that Simple Green product and give it a try. I’m sure you will love it and be satisfied with what it’s made off.

Finally with 3M’s introduction of their “Greener Clean” products, there is an option for all of us who cannot spend $5 on a bio-degradable scrubbing sponge. At only around $2, this new products seems like the light at the end of the tunnel. Many manufactures are giving consumers alternatives to their regular products, ones that are more eco-friendly with the added bonus of being easier on the wallet. You can find these “Greener Clean” products at Walmart, Target, and Shop3M.com. It isn’t available at all the stores, but the more consumers demand these types of alternatives, only then will it become mainstream.

There are basically 4 types of this “Greener Clean” products available. First is the Scrubbers that is available as a non-scratch sponge or pad. They are made with 50% natural Agave plant fibers, and even the packaging is made with recycled material. These can be used to do the dishes or clean the bathrooms. Second is the Soap Pads which are basically scrubbers with green  soap loaded on them. The soap is biodegradable and phosphorous-free. The soap pad is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Apparently a 12 oz plastic bottle can make up to 6 of these pads.

Third is the Bamboo Cleaning Cloths and Wipes. Since Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the Earth, this is a great use of material. The product is absorbent and washable. Finally the fourth product is one of my favorite the Sponges. One of this sponge can almost replace up to 30 paper towel rolls. Best of all they can be cleaned in the dishwasher or in the microwave.The fact that you can wash and reuse them, is such a great idea.

You no longer need to buy paper towels in bulk for $16 and find a place to store it. With only a $2 sponge you can do all the cleaning you need in a day. This saves money and the environment. Also use these products with greener cleaning products like Seventh Generation and you will be doubling your savings.

3M has always tried making innovative products for all of us, but they have also been very conscious about the environment. I’m glad they are stepping up and leading this cause. I know that green products can be expensive for the average household, but when products like these are available you should definitely try to spread the word around.