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Store Bought vs. Homemade Cleaners, Ecover Assess Both Options

Date: 2012.05.18 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

Chances are you’re here because you care about finding the best ways to care for your family. Part of that is caring for, and cleaning, your home; you would never put dangerous chemicals at arms length from your children or pets. At Ecover, we don’t think that leaves room for dangerous mixes in the form of cleaning products in the kitchen and bath either!

We all know that we can clean just as well without the chemicals, so why use them? Compare a stroll down the cleaning aisle full of conventional cleaners, versus a stroll down the cleaning aisle at a store that stocks only ecologically made cleaners. The difference is not winding up with watery eyes, an itchy nose and perhaps nausea and dizziness!

It has been widely researched that homes are typically the most polluted places we inhabit all day, due in part to those cleaning products under our sinks! (Other culprits are carpeting and furniture, yikes!) Enter the great household eco-cleaning debate of the moment: making your own cleaners or buying from the pros? Some people do make their own green cleaners, and Ecover truly salutes those who take extra time and efforts to make less of an impact on the environment. Of course, there are pros and cons to the steps we take towards greener pastures. Making your own cleaners has pros, including: cost, health and peace of mind. But at Ecover, with over thirty years into the science behind our products, we know about the cons, too.

One of the biggest drawbacks to brewing home cleaners is that it’s not necessarily more convenient. Being able to pull out that surface cleaner when you’ve got a nasty spill in the kitchen, or worse, when the dog pees on the floor, is no small luxury! Additionally, some tout homemade cleaners as cleaning “just as well” as the premade stuff… while this may hold true for minor solutions (like baking soda to get out a stain in a jam) hoping that the vinegar in you cupboard will get your bathroom tiles nice and shiny may leave you sorely disappointed. There have been years of science invested in formulating products to clean up life’s messes.

Another con often overlooked with home-brewing cleaners is the potential for putting you and your family in serious danger. Some combinations of innocuous ingredients can become quite literally explosive! The same goes for storing some homemade alternatives; many become increasingly dangerous the longer they are enclosed in air tight containers.

Not to say that your cleaners need to be loaded with harsh and dangerous chemicals. That’s where the science bit really comes in, and the benefits of the ingredients and formulations that Ecover has developed, like completely and quickly biodegrading, and using the cleaning power of nature! Because they are mineral and plant-based ingredients, they can go back into our waterways without detriment to aquatic life. Additionally they can be used for grey water systems as well as septic tanks. That means you can take your waste water from washing dishes or doing laundry and use it to water your lawn or plants!

The biggest challenge these days is the misconception that natural cleaners don’t work. This is left over, we think, from the big environmental push in the 1980s when the green cleaners didn’t do as much as today – but that was over thirty years ago! Innovations since then have been huge (we didn’t even have the internet way back then)!

So go ahead: trust in the Power of Nature to do your toughest household cleaning jobs! Ecover is Feel Good Cleaning.

First Image via Al Power on Flickr
Second Image via Keith Williamson on Flickr
Win Natural Beauty Booty In Ecover’s May Sweepstakes!

Date: 2012.05.09 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

Are you a natural beauty? We think you are so please enter our Beauty Booty Ecover Sweepstakes which starts today! Make sure to enter for your chance to be our Grand Prize Winner of $150 worth of amazing products from the eco-conscious beauty experts at Mineral Fusion! A second lucky winner will take home a beauty bundle of five Ecover products for naturally clean and soft clothes and hands. Enter until May 14^th for your chance to win one of these beautiful prizes!

We’re so excited to highlight Mineral Fusion, a fantastic line of naturally effective, healthy and safe mineral cosmetics and personal care products. They’re packed with skin-soothing botanicals, antioxidants and revitalizing minerals to protect and nourish skin and hair. And we know you’ll also appreciate what they don’t have: gluten, parabens, talc, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates which are Not pretty! Look for a Mineral Fusion retailer near you, and check out the awesome Mineral Fusion Facebook page for all the latest “minerals on a mission” product news and promotions.

Your Grand Prize includes the following full-size Mineral Fusion products (total value $150):
The second prize includes the following full-size Ecover products (Total value: $30.27):
To enter, “like” Ecover on Facebook, then click on the sweepstakes tab to the left under our profile picture and follow the instructions. The winners will be selected at random on May 15th.

Good luck to all you natural beauties!
Don’t Miss Ecover’s Celebrate Earth Month Sweepstakes, And Your Chance To Win A Trip To Hotel Mocking Bird Hill In Jamaica

Date: 2012.04.25 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

Have you entered Ecover’s Earth Month Sweepstakes yet? The April 30 deadline is fast approaching, so make sure to enter in time to win an amazing 5-day/4-night trip for two to Hotel Mocking Bird Hill in Jamaica, an eco-chic hideaway overlooking the enchanting town of Port Antonio, the Caribbean coast and the Blue Mountains!

Your prize includes the following:
- Round-trip coach-class air transportation to Jamaica for the winner and one guest, from a major airport nearest the winner’s home.
- Round-trip ground transportation to/from airport/lodging.
- Four nights lodging at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill, including full daily breakfast (one room, based on double occupancy).
- Hotel Mocking Bird Hill contribution of two trees to be planted in the name of the winner and his/her guest, to honor Earth Month!
Our friends at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill have quite a treat in store for you! This idyllic, off-the-beaten path retreat specializes in sustainable luxury and breathtaking panoramic mountain and ocean vistas, just minutes from sandy beaches. And you’ll be able to explore all there is to do in and around Port Antonio, a well-established Mecca for ecotourism. Check out the breathtaking flora and fauna, hike in the blue mountains, and enjoy a scenic rafting tour along the Rio Grande River – to name just a few of the many activities to choose from…when you’re not relaxing on the beach, of course!

To enter, join us on our Facebook page, click on the trip sweepstakes tab, “like” Ecover and then follow the instructions. The winner will be selected at random on or about May 3, so enter today … and happy Earth Month!
Get Ecover Deals Through The EcoBonus Rewards Program!

Date: 2012.04.11 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

Ecover is excited to join EcoBonus, a program that rewards consumers for making sustainable purchases! Not to be confused with an online store, EcoBonus is a one-stop resource for great deals on really cool products that are eco-conscious, natural and responsible. By joining (it’s free!) you gain access to a searchable database of 75,000 qualifying products, as well as coupons and samples tailored toyour individual preferences. We all like that personal touch! Plus, the points rewarded for each purchase can be used for still more savings, donated to a nonprofit group – or pooled among a group like a church or classroom. Very cool!

It’s interesting that this cutting-edge program is actually based on the old trading stamp loyalty programs, dating back to the 1890s – created so merchants could reward customers who paid in cash rather than credit. The rewards are easier today: you simply search for qualifying products, purchase them anywhere you choose, and then enter online the EcoBonus code stamped on the product. Convenient, and much more sustainable than pasting stamps into those little books!

The service is a perfect fit for Ecover’s super-effective, plant-based products that do the job for you every day, and without harmful phosphates. “We’re looking forward to working with EcoBonus,” said Kipling Wagner, Marketing Manager of Ecover US. “We think our customers will really appreciate getting rewards for buying Ecover and other eco-friendly products.

The EcoBonus folks are just as enthusiastic about this new partnership. “Protecting our waterways and aquatic life has always been a major priority at Ecover and it aligns perfectly with many of our members’ values,” said Tiger Beaudoin, founder of EcoBonus. So check out all the great features on EcoBonus, and start racking up those points!
Join Ecover For The Green Rush On April 21st!

Date: 2012.04.09 | Category: Ecover Products, Green Media | Response: 0

This spring Ecover is teaming up with Live Green to celebrate Earth Day in great style. Join hundreds of fellow eco-conscious adventurers in Washington DC for an Earth Day scavenger hunt that is unlike any other. On April 21, teams of between two and five people will charge up, compete in challenges and work towards decoding clues for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize! We invite you to bust out your best green themed costume for all the fun, and for a chance at the Green Spirit Award – and a year of Honest Tea!

The Green Rush is also co-presented by Clean Currents. Live Green and Green Currents are two organizations who make eco-friendly living both accessible and fun. And what better way to show off DC’s fantastic green resources than through our wild and crazy city-wide scavenger hunt? So, grab your friends and get ready to experience DC in a whole new way. Plus, after the race, you can join us in the celebration at our after party at Liv, hosted by Repax. You can enjoy a performance by Tabi Bonney, share tales of your team’s glory, and witness the crowning of the new (and highly coveted!) 2012 Green Rush Champion!

So, what are you waiting for? Get your Green Rush 2012 team together, register here, and go for the green!
Win Ecover’s Celebrate Earth Month Sweepstakes With A Trip To Hotel Mocking Bird Hill In Jamaica!

Date: 2012.04.02 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

It’s true: Ecover is celebrating Earth Month with a spectacular Jamaica vacation sweepstakes, starting today! Enter until April 30^th for your chance to win this 5-day/4-night getaway for two, featuring accommodations at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill: a 10-room eco-chic hideaway nestled in 6 ½ acres of lush tropical gardens on a forested hillside. Your neighbors? The enchanting town of Port Antonio, the Caribbean coast and the Blue Mountains! Wow!

We are thrilled to offer such an amazing prize with our friends at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill. This sweet retreat offers panoramic mountain and ocean vistas that are just minutes away from sandy beaches. And we know Ecover fans will appreciate Hotel Mocking Bird Hill’s commitment to sustainability and its ethos of “guiltless indulgence.” The unspoiled location is ideal for a relaxing, eco-friendly vacation away from the main tourist centers. Check out the Hotel Mocking Bird Hill Facebook page to see more beautiful photos. Your prize includes the following:
- Round-trip coach-class air transportation to Jamaica for one winner and one guest from a major airport nearest the winner’s home.
- Round-trip ground transportation to/from airport/lodging.
- Four nights lodging at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill, including daily full breakfast (one room, based on double occupancy).
- Hotel Mocking Bird Hill will also contribute two trees to be planted in the name of the winner and his/her guest, to honor Earth Month!
To enter, join us on our Facebook page, click on the trip sweepstakes tab, “like” Ecover and then follow the instructions. The winner will be selected at random on or about May 3^rd.

Good luck … and happy Earth Month from all of us at Ecover!
Win One Of Two Great Prizes In Ecover’s Springtime Sweepstakes!

Date: 2012.03.14 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

Spring is in the air (and the bathroom!) with our latest Ecover sweepstakes! Enter now through March 19^th for your chance to win one of two fantastic prizes. The first is courtesy of our friends at LOOP who make fine organic cotton bed and bath linens; the second prize features six Ecover products, perfect for maintaining springtime-fresh bathrooms and linens!

Check out the details: the first lucky winner receives 2 sets of LOOP Turkish Organic Cotton Towels (2 wash cloths, 2 hand towels, and 2 bath towels). Long-fiber Turkish cotton makes these towels soft, full and super-absorbent. Expert weavers use 100 percent cotton fiber, low-impact dyes and superior finishing and sewing to ensure years of soft and warm enjoyment! And we love the fact that all LOOP production processes are free from harmful chemicals, so the end product is certified to the highest set of standards for organic textiles (GOTS). Choose from a sophisticated modern color palette: sandstone, white, sea glass, or mountain ridge. Total value: $128, plus shipping.

Inspired to shop for luxurious organic textiles? Check out LOOP’s sateen sheets, duvet covers and pillow shams, as well as a selection of beautifully textured woven blankets and accent pillows.

A second lucky sweepstakes winner will receive the following full-size Ecover products with a total value of $45:
To enter, “like” us on Facebook, then click on the sweepstakes tab to the left under our profile picture and follow the instructions. The sweepstakes ends at midnight on March 19^th, and the two winners will be selected at random on March 20^th!

Good luck … and happy spring!
Ecover’s Dishwashing Liquid And Automatic Dishwasher Powder Win Rave Reviews!

Date: 2012.03.07 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

New product reviews are out from Oprah.com and Family Circle, and Ecover is delighted to see two of our dishwashing products embraced as top picks! Of course, no one is more discerning than you, the consumer; but we realize that these independent evaluations can be extremely helpful when you’re deciding whether to spend your hard-earned dough. Here’s the scoop:

From Oprah.com: Ecover’s Grapefruit & Green Tea Dishwashing Liquid was selected as one of nine cleaning products that “…smell so good, you’ll actually look forward to the dirty work.” The reviewers also highlighted the biodegradability of Ecover’s plant-based ingredients and 100 percent recyclable PlantPlastic packaging.

It’s also good to know that Consumer Reports has tested this lightly scented liquid and found it “did a very good job of removing food and grease.” Yet another bonus? It’s been dermatologically tested and approved for sensitive skin!

And from Family Circle: In an article highlighting products to help clean fast and efficiently, Ecover’s new Automatic Dishwasher Powder ZERO won praise for making “dishes shine” with its chlorine-free and phosphate-free formula. While all Ecover products are free of phosphates, this powder is also completely fragrance-free, making it a great option for those who prefer unscented cleaning products!

Enjoy these great products – and peace of mind knowing that, like all Ecover products, they are never tested on animals, safe for septic tanks, and made with plant-based and mineral ingredients that really work. You be the judge!
Enter Ecover’s Sweepstakes To Win Big!

Date: 2012.02.08 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

Ecover is celebrating all things “new” with a sweepstakes starting today! That’s right, one lucky winner will receive four of Ecover’s latest and greatest laundry and dish products, plus coupons for two free Ecover products. That’s a total estimated value of $68.15! Enter here until Feb. 13^th for your chance to win. The winner will be selected by random drawing on Feb. 14^th.

Your nifty prize package includes the following!
- Automatic Dishwasher Powder ZERO – 48 oz
  Packed with performance and free of the fuss – no fragrance, no coloring agents, no phosphates!
- Laundry Powder ZERO – 48 oz
  Finally, laundry powder without fragrances, optical brighteners or phosphates. The plant-based and mineral ingredients are strong enough for your piles of laundry with half the dose of regular powders. And this powder is suitable for your high efficiency (HE) machine.
- Laundry Liquid 2.5X Concentrate Sunny Day – 51 oz
  Get the crisp, summery scent of our Sunny Day Fabric Softener in this super-concentrated, plant-formulated laundry liquid that’s gentle on clothes with half the dose. Packaged in our new 100% PlantPlastic bottle!
- Laundry Liquid 2.5X Concentrate ZERO – 51 oz
  All of the above, without the scent. In fact, this concentrated laundry liquid is completely free of fragrances and dyes. Plus it’s been Tested and approved for sensitive skin!
- Plus two coupons for a free Ecover laundry wash product and one other free Ecover product of the winner’s choosing! The coupons can be used at any brick-and-mortar store that sells Ecover products.
Currently, the products noted above are only available in our online store, but look for them soon at a retailer near you!

Enter today … here’s to a fresh take on clean!
Ecover Responds To Questions Regarding Its Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Date: 2012.02.01 | Category: Ecover Products | Response: 0

OK, so maybe cleaning the toilet isn’t our favorite job…we know that no one likes to do it. But why not make the task easier with a product that really works!? Our Toilet Bowl Cleaner is great at removing scale and calcium soaps, its convenient spout makes it easy to use, and its great scent keeps the experience fresh!

Ecover is always happy to answer questions, and here are two about our Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

Why didn’t it remove a pink ring/stain around toilet bowl?

The stain is probably bacterial in origin. Sometimes stains can develop that aren’t scale-based and not readily removed by the cleaner and they often occur at the waterline; with constant contact with both water and air and a fairly fixed location, it’s less susceptible to cleaning (as the product gets diluted the moment it hits the water in the bowl). We would recommend applying the Toilet Bowl Cleaner and letting it rest for an hour or two, then scrubbing it vigorously with a toilet brush.

How come the cleanser “etched” the tile?

The citric acid in our toilet cleaner bonds with other ions to make them soluble. Ceramics are commonly colored by adding certain metals to the clay; so it’s possible that the citric acid has leeched them out of the tile. But product would need to have been in prolonged contact with the tile (not just hours, but days or even weeks) and the tile would have to be of a poor quality. Also, if the tile was conventionally painted, the citric acid may have leeched metallic pigment out of the paint—unlikely, as metal-based paints are becoming rare. The toilet cleaner does not contain any sort of bleaching system, so something (grime, pigment or paint) would have had to have been actively removed from the tile.

More questions about our products? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We love talking about cleaning and helping our customers get the best results!