Seventh Generation Spring Cleaning {Spring Event Review & Giveaway #18}

With Earth Day finally here, now is the perfect time to talk about how we can do our part to make a difference, no matter how insignificant it may seem. One easy way to do that is to replace your current arsenal of cleaning products with non toxic safe for the environment options, such as the Seventh Generation product line.

Leading the way with responsible cleaning, Seventh Generation uses herb thyme to kill over 99.99 % of germs (see bottle for details) naturally. The new line of botanical disinfectant cleaners includes a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes.

This EPA registered line of disinfecting sprays and wipes can be used on hard surfaces including counter tops and even children’s toys. They are even effective against the Influenza A Virus, including H1N1.

Seventh Generation has partnered with eco-lifestyle consultant and author, Alexandra Zissu, whose new book, The Conscious Kitchen, discusses what’s good for your health, what’s good for the planet and what tastes great. Her book also includes great tips on maintaining a green and healthy kitchen, including:

* Change is Good
Choosing cleaning products without indoor air pollutants like volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, is a simple and effective way to reduce your indoor air pollution. If you’re not prepared to switch everything overnight, start by swapping out the one product you use the most, and moving forward from there.
* Think before you spray
Residues from cleaning products can last on a surface for longer than we we’d like to know and travel to areas that we sometimes don’t intend them to. Don’t contaminate your food by prepping it on a surface that may contain harsh chemical residues – rinse cleaning products from food preparation surfaces carefully or use botanical disinfecting cleaners that do not require a rinse step.
* Home is Where the Clean Is
Your standard cleaners are good for removing soils and dirt from kitchen surfaces, but to tackle germs you need a cleaner that is effective against microbes like bacteria and viruses. Many cleaners contain ingredients that have antimicrobial properties such as vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, but the germ killing power of these is not necessarily guaranteed. To be sure you are killing germs, use an EPA registered disinfectant. Seventh Generation tapped into the disinfecting power of the common garden herb thyme, to provide a disinfecting cleaner that kills germs* naturally.
* Make the Old New Again
Think twice about the items that you’re using to clean and dry your kitchen equipment and dishes. Use rags (like old t-shirts and washcloths) instead of paper towels. If you aren’t prepared to kick your paper towel addiction just yet, use only recycled versions that are unbleached or haven’t been whitened with chemicals containing chlorine and see how long you can make a roll last.
* The Writing is on the … Sponge
Be sure to read the fine print on sponges and only purchase those that do not contain antimicrobial pesticides. Remember to store sponges in a dry place and frequently clean them by popping plastic sponges wet in a microwave for two minutes or boiling sponges for three minutes in water.
* Mom Was Right, Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after prepping food, and always before eating. So much of what can be potentially harmful in a kitchen can be reduced by this simple act that doesn’t require any harsh chemicals whatsoever.

With spring in full swing, I took advantage of my Seventh Generation products to do some deep spring cleaning. My kitchen desperately needed it and I loved using the Multi-Surface Cleaner. I found the smell to be quite different than what I was used to but not in a bad way. It is hard to describe but didn’t have the usual chemical smell. I appreciated the ergonomic design of the bottle and that it is very easy to spray.

I also like the Disinfecting Wipes which have a slight lathering effect. I found them so quick and easy to clean with that I like to have them handy now for quick wipe downs and to clean up such things as that sticky stuff you can’t figure out what it is or how it got on the floor.  (fun times…)

The only item in my Disinfecting Cleaning Kit that I wasn’t thrilled with was the 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels. I typically purchase the highest quality, super absorbent papers towels. While I know I’m spending more it is just what I prefer. The Seventh Generation paper towels aren’t as thick and can’t pick up the same spills that I typically am able. That being said, these definitely aren’t the worse paper towels I’ve used. In fact, I would consider them somewhere in the middle, above el-cheapo but below my usual expensive brand. If you typically purchase middle of the road (or less) paper towels then you will love these for their environmentally friendliness and not notice a difference in performance.

Buy it: Seventh Generation products are available nationwide at Target, Babies ‘R Us and Whole Foods. You can also purchase them online at Amazon or use their store locator to find a store near you!

{ Giveaway }

Seventh Generation would like to give one of my readers a Disinfecting Cleaning Kit including disinfecting multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner and wipes, a copy of The Conscious Kitchen, a cleaning caddy made from recycled plastic and two rolls of 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels!

MAIN ENTRY: Tell me a change you’ve made this past year to make a difference for the environment.

Want more entries? (Your green side is saying yes!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Spring into Spring! Enter the Duncan Hines Spring Basket Giveaway at The Shopping Mama & tell me below!
-Become a fan/like Seventh Generation on Facebook
-Follow Seventh Generation on twitter
-Become a fan of Baby Loving Mama on Facebook
-Follow my blog publicly
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can do this daily!)

Win a Seventh Generation Disinfecting Kit & do “green” spring cleaning! @babylovingmama @SeventhGen http://bit.ly/bsQ1y8 #giveaway PLS RT!

-Add my button to your blog
-Add my Spring into Spring event button to your blog
-Blog about this contest and link back here and to Seventh Generation (3 entries)

This contest will end on 5/6/10 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S. residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to winning notification email before I draw another winner or do a live giveaway.

Disclosure: I received a sample for the purpose of this review from Seventh Generation through My Blog Spark but no other type of compensation was received. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.