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Seventh Generation disinfectants

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Spring cleaning season is upon us! This year while you’re freshening up your home and sorting through the clutter, why not toss the toxic cleaning supplies, too? 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 botanical disinfectant cleaners, including a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes.

The disinfectants contain thymol, a component of the herb thyme, and can be used on hard surfaces including counter tops, plastic cutting boards, highchair trays as well as children’s toys. According to the company, these new products supposedly kill over 99.99 percent of germs naturally and are effective against the Influenza A Virus, including H1N1. I’ve used the bathroom cleaner and the multi-surface cleaning spray this past week, as well as the wipes, and am very happy with the results. The Lemongrass & Thyme scent is lovely!

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, like the Seventh Generation brand of cleaning products.

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.

BUY IT!
Seventh Generation disinfecting products can be found at retailers nationwide, including Target and Babies “R” Us. Visit the website for a full list or a specific store location.

WIN IT!
I have a Seventh Generation “Disinfecting Cleaning Kit” to giveaway! Pictured to the right, this includes a disinfecting multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, wipes, a copy of The Conscious Kitchen, a cleaning caddy made from recycled plastic, and two rolls of 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels. It’s a fantastic prize! To enter, please leave a commenting telling me what the best thing is that you’ve done for the environment this year.

For extra entries:

  • Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
  • Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway (one time): Giveaway! Win a Seventh Generation disinfecting prize pack from @ohMariana! https://tiny.cc/7thgen
  • Grab my button (at the bottom of the page) and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.

Seventh Generation provided me with the free products and information above, as well as an additional prize pack to give away through MyBlogSpark. Contest ends April 17th, 2010 11:59 pm EST. US entries only. One person per household may enter. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Reusuable lunch bags, containers and SS water bottles for all the kiddos taking lunch to school has been a great “green” step for us.

  9. The best thing I’ve done this year for the enfironment is take my own bags to the store……..no more plastic. Yaaaahhhhh

  13. The best thing I’ve done for the environment this year is to begin buying in bulk and making from scratch, reducing the packaging. I’ve also started making some homemade cleaners, though that’s still a work in progress!
    .-= Evelyn´s last blog ..March’s Last Shopping Trip =-.

  25. We do so many things we don’t buy water in bottles we drink filtered tap water.

  28. I have recycled/reused LOTS of paper! We always use both sides and I always take home a tonnnnnnnnnnn of used paper from work to use the other side of instead of it being thrown out. I also either recycle my magazines and use scraps from them to make crafts.

  41. I changed every darn light bulb in this house even the outside lights too with more energey effecient ones and stopped using harmful chemicals to clean with.
    tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

  44. The best thing I’ve done was plant trees and switch to all eco friendly cleaners!
    .-= Kim´s last blog ..Happy Easter! =-.

  47. The best thing I’ve done for the environment is adopt a raw food lifestyle.

  48. I subscribe to your feed by e-mail.
    .-= Amanda Thomas´s last blog ..Lambda sister raises money for brain tumor research =-.

  50. The best thing(s) I’ve done for the environment this year are a) continued cloth diapering my little girl; b) eliminated the use of paper towels in our house in favor of cloth ones; and c) built two rain barrels to water the garden.

  51. I recycled some paper that a company had already recycled for my son’s eater basket. I refused to by Easter grass! Thanks for the chance. bekki1820cb at gmail

  53. The best thing I have done for the environment this year is to decrease the plastic that leaves our home for the landfill.
    I have started faithfully bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. I have started keeping my clean coffee cup in the car for my morning coffee. I have started bringing my recyclable plastic into town to put it into the recycle bin at work.

  57. The best thing my family and I started doing for the environment this year has been recycling. No better time then now to start and the kids join in too! We recycle our aluminum cans, newspaper, plastic milk jugs, and cardboard food boxes. I do home daycare and am also excited to incorporate lots of Earth day projects in this month!

  58. I recycle and just by volume this is probably the biggest impact. But I’ve also switched to phosphate free dishwasher detergent.

  67. The best thing I have done for the environment this year is to cut my driving in more than half….now my feet do the traveling!

    Thank you. 🙂

  71. I couldn’t copy your button but I added you to my blogroll that gives a snapshot of your home page when the cursor is placed on it

  73. The best thing I’ve done for the environment this year is becoming a Vegan. It’s great for the environment and my body!

  77. We ride our Harley whenever possible to save gas and reduce our carbon footprint.
    We buy organic when possible and shop at the local farmers market.

  83. My family planted trees this year- one per family member: Myself, one in my husband’s memory, 5 daughters, 4 Son inlaws, 17 Grandchildren, 3 Grand in laws and 3 Great-Grandchildren- whew. 2 more great grandkids on the way,
    so a total of 35 trees were planted.

  84. I got out my clothes line and also walking the kids to school instead of driving. Spring is here!!!

  85. I helped create a green committee at my workplace and started a recycling initiative. 🙂

  86. Hearing a lot about Seventh Generation here late. A green product, I understand. Haven’t tried it yet but would love to since I am environmentally friendly.

  91. we started paying for recyling pick-up instead of throwing everything away

    autumn398 @ yahoo.com

  94. The best thing I’ve done so far is pick up all the trash at my apartment complex.

  95. The best thing that I have done is reducing the amount of trash by not buying a lot of stuff that would be thrown out later.

  101. The best thing we’ve done for the environment this year is that we began gardening organically. We compost our kitchen scraps as well as yard and garden debris to enrich the garden soil! No organic chemicals in our yard/garden!!

  114. I bought a big compost bin and we are using it to make compost for the garden, and I’ve been bicycling or taking the bus to work instead of driving. Both should be a big improvement in our impact on the environment.

  116. We are avid recyclers in my house!
    .-= Amanda´s last blog ..you can lead a giraffe to water and then make fun of him when he drinks =-.

  117. I have begun using reusable bags instead of plastic ones when I go in a store. Just the beginning but much better!

    Thanks!

  120. Well…I’m not sure what the “best” thing is but I have started using Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products which are earth friendly. We recycle our food, in a way, by feeding all leftovers to our chickens who then give us eggs! We also have a couple sheep to eat some grass for us rather than use a weed eater! 🙂
    .-= Katy~The Country Blossom´s last blog ..Are You My Mother? =-.

  122. I have always been big on my yard. I love that it’s green and lush and filled with beautiful bushes and pretty flowers. I never thought twice about the chemicals I used or the amount of water it took to keep it looking that way. This year, I’ve decided to try to go green! I have a composter and a rain barrel and I’ve picked up some eco friendly fertilizers. We’ll see!
    .-= Cori Westphal´s last blog ..Bounce House anyone? GIVEAWAY at Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House =-.

  123. I’m an email subscriber, coriwestphal at msn dot com.
    .-= Cori Westphal´s last blog ..Bounce House anyone? GIVEAWAY at Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House =-.

  126. This year, (so far) I’ve written more than 50 articles spreading the world on eco-friendly products, services, and people.
    .-= Yona´s last blog ..Giveaway – Yummy Earth Organic Pops (150-Count Bucket) (ends 4/30) =-.

  127. Following your RSS feed (via Google Reader).
    .-= Yona´s last blog ..Giveaway – Yummy Earth Organic Pops (150-Count Bucket) (ends 4/30) =-.

  129. We bought good bicycles for the whole family so that we can ride all over town instead of driving.

  142. We started recycling this year..it’s super easy and amounts to about half our garbage being recycled now!

  146. The best thing I’ve done for the environment this year has been quitting cigarettes. It may seem small, but secondhand smoke affects more people than firsthand does.

  147. I think the best thing we’ve done is to make the kids school lunches with as little waste as possible. We are using reusable sandwich holders and reusable drink containers. Thanks!

  149. The best thing we have done for the environment this year is making a commitment to walk more and drive less

  154. We bought a filter for the faucet, so that we do not have to buy bottles of water anymore!

  156. we’ve started using reusable containers for my husbands lunches instead of baggies

  157. We have started recycling as well as eliminating paper towels. I am also look into more natural cleaners.

  159. I recycle and have Our own garden….and I take less magazines and catalogs and use the internet….

  162. I’m trying to restart old habits of hang drying clothes, recycling, and using cloth diapers.

  169. We made the commitment to cloth diaper my son and have done so for 13 months and counting!

  172. We recycle everything we can. We’ve eliminated paper towels almost completely and we are moving towards more green and ecofriendly decisions at all turns.

  178. My best thing so far is that I’ve been switching to environmentally safe and family friendly products for household use. But in May my teen son will be doing his Eagle Scout project and will plant 300 saplings as part of it!!! We’re proud of him!

  182. The best thing that I have done for the environment this year is making the switch to buying organic and locally grown produce. I joined a Community Supported Agriculture group so that made it a lot easier and cheaper, too!

    apsychmommy at gmail dot com

  189. We’ve replaced all our paper towel usage with cloths and re-use bags to tote our groceries. Every little bit helps!

  192. The best thing I have done for the environment is to teach my kids to respect nature. They pick up trash wherever we go, and recycle as much as possible.

    rlgrady[at]yahoo[dot]com

  196. I’m really trying to recycle more and make sure I bring the reusable bags every time I go shopping.

  197. Thanks for the giveaway…we switched from buying bottled water to a faucet mounted water filter & reusable bottles for our “on the go” water needs.

  200. I have eliminated plastic bags, bottled water, and paper towels at my house.
    .-= Dina´s last blog ..The Spring Green #20: Organic Coconut Flour from Tropical Traditions Review and Giveaway (Ends 4/27) =-.

  202. Subscribe to your feed
    .-= Dina´s last blog ..The Spring Green #20: Organic Coconut Flour from Tropical Traditions Review and Giveaway (Ends 4/27) =-.

  203. blog roll
    .-= Dina´s last blog ..The Spring Green #20: Organic Coconut Flour from Tropical Traditions Review and Giveaway (Ends 4/27) =-.

  205. i use cloth bags instead of plastic, i buy jars instead of plastic containers of food and re-use the jars for leftovers,i planted a garden, i use green cleaners and more!

  207. The best thing I’ve done for the environment this year is that we’ve gone organic for most of our groceries and we feel so much healthier! tylerpants(at)gmail.com

  211. The single best thing I have done is to stop making special trips to do errands. I pay bills online, shop on the way to and from work and plan a route that will use the least amount of gas.

  216. I’ve started a new regime with my laundry.
    I only do it twice a week, to save water and energy.

  223. I played A Beautiful Place Game with several kids, teaching them concepts like conservation and respect for wildlife.