GreenBrig

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.

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.

Now a days there are many companies advertising their cleaning products as ‘natural’ and ‘green’, but beware that there are no standards set to measure if they truly are natural. Just having the word ‘natural’ and ‘green’ on the bottle doesn’t mean they were produced using organic or non-toxic material. More studies and standards are being established to help the consumers from being misguided.

If you haven’t, you should think about changing to organic and non-toxic cleaning products. Especially those of you who have children and pets. One of the most serious injuries that regular cleaning products cause is that children mistaking consume these cleaning products thinking they are fruit juices. Also when dogs or cats lick the freshly mopped floor, some of the residue from the cleaning products could get into they digestive system and cause harm. Also toxic chemicals around the house can increase your chances of infertility.

Lately, there have been many commercials for Seventh Generation natural cleaning products. I was definitely interested and started reading about them. Looks like they are really taking the initiative to educate people and to create natural home care products that truly are organic and non-toxic and mostly made from plant based extracts. The packaging also uses much less material than most traditional products. This is very important when thinking about waste disposal.  Their website had forums and blogs that you can join, get coupons and useful tips on how to make natural cleaning products at home.

I haven’t used any of their products, but will be testing out some soon to see if they actually get the job done. I’ve purchased natural cleaners before, but they didn’t clean the surfaces as well as the traditional brands do. From the forums and blogs, looks like the natural cleaning agents do work and are worth your money and time. The prices on these products are very reasonable too. If you want to think about the long term affects of artificial chemicals in our everyday life, then small steps like these can make a big difference. You don’t have to anymore hold your breath as you clean the bathroom.

Hopefully all the other major companies start providing us with non-toxic, natural home care products as part of their portfolio moving forward and a big part of that movement is us. They will only change if we demand for it. So go ahead and start changing and the other corporations will follow you.