Seventh Generation Giveaway!

Replacing what’s currently under your sink with products that are non-toxic and safe for the environment is easier than ever with Seventh Generation’s environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Leading the “responsible cleaning” charge for the past twenty years, Seventh Generation has tapped into the disinfecting power of the herb thyme, to introduce an EPA registered line of disinfecting sprays and wipes that kill germs* naturally! The new line of botanical disinfectant cleaners includes a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes.

I had a chance to try out some Seventh Generation cleaning products, including a disinfecting multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, wipes and two rolls of 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels.

First off, I love the paper towels, because who needs bleach in their paper towels, for heaven's sake? All it does is make them white. These paper towels are brown, and that's fine with me. I'm going to use them to wipe up stains, after all!

The bathroom cleaner and disinfecting multi-purpose surface cleaner definitely do the job.

One caveat: the scent takes some getting used to. I don't care for it, myself, but knowing that it is thymol, a component of the herb thyme, that can be used on hard surfaces including counter tops, plastic cutting boards, highchair trays as well as children’s toys makes it more palatable. I like the idea of going as natural as possible with cleaners, especially for anyone who has kids and pets in the home.

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.

Seventh Generation and BlogSpark want to give one lucky Cool Moms Rule! reader a complete cleaning kit! The "Disinfection Cleaning Kit" includes the multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, two rolls of unbleached paper towels, wipes, a cleaning caddy to hold it all, and a copy of The Conscious Kitchen!

To enter:

Comment on this post: What's the best thing YOU'VE done for the environment this year? (required for initial entry).

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Contest Ends Wednesday, May 26th at noon EST.

Good luck!

I received a Seventh Generation “Disinfecting Cleaning Kit” that includes to facilitate this review. This is the same kit that Seventh Generation will be giving away to a commenter on this post.