Method Cleaning Products

[GirlinContempt]

Who else uses their stuff?
http://www.methodhome.com/

I really love it all. Their omop is the perfect answer to the swiffer problem. Washable, reusable microfiber 'wet' mop, compostable sweeping cloths, non-toxic floor cleaner.
The dish soap is good.
I recently bought an air freshener, and it's awesome. Not super smelly, not a chemical smell, light and natural.
Their compostable wipes (think like clorox wipes, but not chemically soaked) are great, work perfectly on glass, and are environmentally friendly, or at least more so.
The shower cleaner is great, and has a nice, non-chemical smell.
Basically, it's all great. And natural. And environmentally friendly, compostable, reusable, biodegradable, etc.

No, I am not in the employ of this company :P I just have been really impressed with their stuff.

Anyone else? If not, I'd highly recommend them!

[NewJeffCT]

1. I've used them on & off

seem to be okay.

what is the problem with the swiffer, by the way?

[GirlinContempt]

4. Well, it clogs up landfills unnecessarily.

think about it - every time you sweep or mop your floor, you're throwing something in the garbage. Why? What is so wrong with a broom, or at least something reusable? It doesn't take any longer to sweep than it does to swiffer (I only use my omop for wet mopping, not dry sweeping), the swiffer wets are coated in nasty chemicals, that you then.... throw in the garbage!
It's an unnecessary amount of waste. It just seems silly to me. Admittedly, I prefer my omop to a traditional mop, but it's just a washable cloth that I can use for years, instead of crappy soaking wet nasty things I throw in the trash.
And if you do use the sweeping pads, they can be composted, thus are less icky.

People are just lazy I think. That's the real problem with the Swiffer.

[MrsMatt]

11. I sometimes use flannel cloths

on my swiffer - they can be washed.

[GirlinContempt]

12. Yup, that would do it

:)

I'm just really against all of this disposable nonsense in general, swiffer tends to just have a very obvious ad campaign, but all the floor wipes, counter wipes, disposable toilet scrubbers, etc are just silly to me. I mean, it's a freaking toilet. You poo in there. Yes, the scrubber gets dirty. Thats why it has a handle and you don't touch the bristles. It won't kill you to use a toilet scrubber more than once.

[MrsMatt]

20. I agree.

It's so easy to fall into the disposable mindset because it's just so pervasive. I do better at some things than others! It usually boils down to laziness and time - easier to dispose of something in the trash than to make the effort to wash, dry and put away reusables (old habits are hard to break, but I'm trying).

[GirlinContempt]

22. Every little bit helps

:)

[CreekDog]

27. and flush the toilet before scrubbing it

that will keep the brush cleaner.

:rofl:

[Lorien]

24. Costco sells microfiber auto cloths in a huge bundle

for dirt cheap (can't recall the exact cost). I split mine between myself and two friends. One discovered that if you cut them in half they fit the Swiffer perfectly.

[AlCzervik]

2. i love the Pink Grapefruit all purpose cleaner.

[GirlinContempt]

5. It's good stuff

:) I really like the french lavender products, and the citrusy ones :)

[ordinaryaveragegirl]

26. Me too!

It cleans better than anything else out there. And it doesn't have that obvious, nasty chemical stink.

I'm also very addicted to Method's hand soap. It's one of the few that doesn't dry my hands out in the dead of winter.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. i love them and seventh generation.

[GirlinContempt]

6. I've never seen Seventh Generation

tell me more :)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. here you go

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/our_products/

[GirlinContempt]

9. Cool, thanks

[Muttocracy]

18. Second vote for 7th generation - great stuff

[RedEarth]

35. Some information on Method and Seventh Generation and "make your own" cleaning products

Petrochemicals in Cleaners?
by Emily Main

A reader writes The Green Guide:

What is the difference between cleaning products that use petroleum-based ingredients and cleaning products that don't? I was told that Seventh Generation does use petroleum in their products but that some cleaners don't.

The Green Guide responds:

Ever since the 1940s when scientists discovered petroleum could be broken down and its building blocks combined with other chemicals to create everything from polyester to plumbing pipes, it's become ubiquitous in our homes. And there is no clearer demonstration of this than in household cleaners.

.......

That being said, petroleum ingredients in household cleaners are really hard to avoid, even among environmentally preferable cleaners like Seventh Generation's. But in these cleaners, the use of petrochemicals is a bit different. Whereas conventional cleaner manufacturers will derive an entire ingredient, such as such APEs, from petroleum, companies like Seventh Generation mix a much smaller amount of a petroleum-derived ingredient with another less-harmful vegetable-based (also called "olefin" or "oleo") ingredient to create a new ingredient with fewer health risks and a better environmental profile.

........

Do-it-yourself cleaners made from baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and essential oils are reliable, petrochemical-free alternatives as well. Read recipes for DIY cleaners in our Household Cleaning Supplies Product Report, http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=15.

http://www.thegreenguide.com/docprint.mhtml?i=ask&s=petroleum

...........


Our family has been using a mixture of vinegar and water for general cleaning for several years. It basically takes the place of glass cleaners(Win-dex) and general purpose cleaners like "409". We also use wadded up newspapers to wipe the windows/glass and then recycle the newspaper. Cheaper and works just fine.

........ link on Vinegar, Baking Soda and Lemon..........

Using lemons, vinegar, and baking soda as natural cleaning products in your home
One of my earliest memories is of my mother cleaning with what looked to me like cooking ingredients. She would be listening to the radio as she poured baking soda, lemon, and vinegar combinations on the surfaces of our home. Magically these natural cleaning products kept our home clean and smelling fresh, without stretching an already thin household budget. Here are a few basic household ingredients and items you can use to clean your home.

Vinegar
Uses:

Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don't worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house. Use it in the…

Bathroom - Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the flour in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.
Laundry Room- Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)
Lemon Juice
Uses:

Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home. Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper. Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.

My favorite use for the fruit is to put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.

Baking Soda
Uses:

Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action. Try these three kitchen ingredients as natural cleaning products in your home.

http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/environment/a/alternateclean.htm

.....google search.......

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Vinegar+Cleaning+Products++&btnG=Search

[grace0418]

21. Me too. Seventh generation stuff is awesome.

Thank goodness for products like this.

[The empressof all]

8. I like Caldrea and Mrs Meyers Products More

I love the Method mop but for my money the scent of Caldrea products almost makes cleaning fun. Look for their half price sales. You only use a bit to make a great solution so there is value here. They are pricey but worth every penny. The Basil Blue Sage scent is FRICKEN AMAZING. I use the liquid hand soap and when I'm feeling a little low I go and wash my hands for quick aroma therapy. I use the Lavender Pine on my floors. They use to make a Pinapple scent around Christmas time that I loved but I haven't seen that in a while.

http://www.caldrea.com/inthenews.aspx


I also love Mrs Meyers scents. They have a new Basil "flavor" that I'm looking forward to trying. I usually use their Lemon Verbana. It's very intense and it's great when the dog messes on the floor.

http://www.mrsmeyers.com/

[GirlinContempt]

10. Hmm I haven't seen their stuff in stores before

thanks for the heads up :)

[The empressof all]

17. They are hard to find.

I order the Caldrea directly from the web site when they have their sales. I've seen the Mrs Meyers here in some supermarkets and I think I even saw it at Walgreens. I usually get it in my quarterly Drugstore.com order. (They sell the Caldrea too!)

[GirlinContempt]

19. Neato

I don't know what the laws are about shipping stuff like cleaning products over the border (I live in Canada), but maybe I could find a Canadian site and try to order from them.

I'm a little torn about ordering from my favourite personal care line now, though. Clorox bought them to up their 'green' profile, and it just seems so so wrong that a chemical company bought an all natural personal care line. Apropos of nothing, felt like sharing :P

[fight4my3sons]

13. just used that mint glass cleaner they have

I love the way their products smell! Also, it's nice that I can let the little boys help clean with these products and not worry about it hurting them.

[GirlinContempt]

16. Yeah, they do have a nice smell

that isn't a really heavy fake-fruit or fake-whatever smell :)

That 'orange' scent you find in a lot of cleaning products makes me gag, it is so nasty

[flvegan]

14. I use their soap and at times, their laundry detergent. Highly recommend them.

They work really well.

Come to think of it, I also use the spray cleaner from time to time. Mmm...lavender.

[GirlinContempt]

15. I only have the lavender wipes.

Normally, I don't buy wipes, i just use a damn cloth, but when I saw they were compostable I was tempted :)

[Lorien]

23. I usually use Shaklee or Mrs. Meyers, but Method is good too

I have horribly sensitive skin and the other two, along with earth friendly products, are easiest on me-but Method is always the brand that I reach for when the others aren't readily available. I especially like their wood floor cleaner.

[The empressof all]

25. Mrs Meyers is coming out with a new Basil "flavor"

I use these products quite a bit myself. They are in my grocery store where the Caldrea (my preference) I get by mail. I love the intensity of the aroma of these products as well as the fact they are green.

[Lorien]

28. My favorites are the honeysuckle and the gingerbread

unfortunately they only make those available seasonally. :-(

I'll have to check out the Caldrea.

[The empressof all]

30. OMG I love the Gingerbread

Did they even they have that out this past Christmas...I don't remember seeing it! I think I have a bit left hiding in the back of my under the sink cabinet.

I've seen the honeysuckle but haven't tried it. I'm a lemon verbana lover.

Try the Caldrea... The Blue Basil one is my favorite but the Lavender Pine is great too.

[Lorien]

31. They had the gingerbread on sale at drugstore.com

last month-it may still be there. I bought four sets!

I'll definitely try the Blue Basil. Thanks for the tip!

[The empressof all]

33. The basil isn't on Drugstore.com yet

Only on the web site. I'm hoping to find it at Whole paycheck tomorrow. I'm going to look for the Gingerbread now but I bet it's all gone.

[lost-in-nj]

29. Method products smell so good

and they work!!!


lost

[tishaLA]

32. I use them. And the body wash is great too

I use go-getter, the green one, cuz I'm a go-getter and I can never wake up in the morning. Leaves the skin soft (jojoba oils) and the bathroom smelling minty, but not overly so.

I use the pink grapefruit dish soap and cleanser and the cucumber cleanser in the bathroom. Oh and the laundry detergent too.

[GirlinContempt]

34. How is the laundry detergent?

I haven't tried theirs yet. I've had some troubles with some of the natural source detergents, probably just made bad choices before.

[Orsino]

36. Stanislavski, I'm sure.

"After a long day o' me puttin' up buildin's, Stel gets my tee shirts clean wit' Method detergent, for realistic, gritty colors accordin' to da Napoleonic Code. My tertiary motivation's never been dis clear. Dere's nuttin' stagey 'bout Method detergent."