Wise Bread Picks
Usually, when I review a product, I choose one item. Since I was looking for eco-friendly soap products in general however, and these guys have an entire line of things that help out with healthier grey water, I gave them a call.
The product rep was very helpful. I explained that while I would eventually like to address all areas relating to green household consumables and cleaning products, right now I was focusing on items that would enter my home’s grey water supply. Since my husband and I are addressing ahead of schedule the separation of grey and black water systems, I felt I was in a unique position to give a thorough and detailed review. She agreed, and sent the following product samples to be implemented immediately into our various household routines.
1. Dish Soap.
I received the lavender floral and mint scent, although they have others which sound equally yummy smelling. This stuff is absolutely divine. While I’ve been relatively pleased with all of the Seventh Generation soaps products I’ve tested, I’ve found their liquid dish soap to be particularly fantastic. The scent is nice, it cuts more than its fair share of grease, and is plenty sudsy.
2. The Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
My sample was the emerald cypress and fir scent. (Do they have great scent combos or what? They also have a free and clear line for those who can’t handle any scents at all.) Since my own toilet is on the fritz right now, I took the product along on a visit to my mother’s so I could clean hers. No arm twisting there. The results? I found this product to work pretty well, with a scent that was nice but not overpowering. No dyes are used in the cleaner, but the suds make their presence known. For me this was a good thing, because while I was going for the no dyes thing to begin with, I still needed some suds along to know if I was covering the cleaning area properly. So I was grateful for the eco suds.
3. Delicate Care Laundry Wash.
Also plentiful enough on the eco suds front. I used it for hand washing some delicates, but it appears to also be designed to go in either a regular or HE washer. Personal opinion? No heavy scent and very effective.
4. Liquid Fabric Softener.
This one’s scent? Blue eucalyptus and lavender. Since there’s no dryer here, I felt the fairest way to test it was the way I most often use fabric softener anyway. In a homemade wrinkle releaser spray made with water and a small amount of the product. Results of the test? I found the scent to be nice but not sneezy, and the effect from the releaser spray was comparable to other store bought versions I’ve tried, as well as to my standard homemade versions using other fabric softeners. Was I pleased? Sure. Remember, one of my main goals in researching products during my current plumbing crisis is to find products that do the job as well as their chemical laden counter parts.
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I do need to point out to those who are trying the homemade release spray for the first time, that these sprays are no substitute for an iron. They work best on light wrinkles only, when you would otherwise need a slight touch up on a blouse or something. That being said, I noticed the release process starting on the blouse I pulled from the closet in less than a minute. Definitely comparable to the mixes I’ve whipped up with other liquid softeners.
5. Regular Liquid Laundry Soap.
This one comes with a white flower and bergamot citrus aroma, and was also recommended for HE as well as regular washers. On a side note, I have to say I like that about the two Seventh Generation laundry detergents I’ve seen thus far. Other companies want you to have to buy an entirely separate product if you switch machines for a certain reason. But I digress. Back to the product test. Since this product worked fine here in our portable spin dry machine on wheels, I decided to go the extra mile and test it in my Mom’s new OMG machine as well. Hey, I was down there to scrub her toilet anyway, right? Since hers is an HE machine, I figured it would add another level to the product review. As promised, the product worked fine in the high efficiency washer with absolutely no over-bubbling.
6. All Purpose Cleaner.
My sample was the green mandarin and leaf scent. In a word? Fresh. I gave it a whirl on counters, inside the fridge and on the stove. I also used it on a few surfaces in our bathroom, just to be thorough. If you are someone who prefers to purchase multi-purpose cleaners rather than make your own, and are looking for an eco-friendly alternative, this could fit the bill. Particularly if you prefer, as I do, not to have the aroma of a ton of chemicals around where you are preparing and eating food. This is one of the main reasons I like to use a vinegar, water and citrus oil mix in a janitorial spray bottle as my cleaner of choice in food prep areas. At least for the most part. So I found the scent with the Seventh Generation spray to be very much within my comfort zone.
There you have it. A review of the Seventh Generation items I’ve reviewed thus far, as objectively as I know how to write it. I’m looking forward to reviewing their paper products, trash bags and women’s products as well in future posts. Thus far, I’ve found this company and its products to be worthy of note. They even provide downloadable MSDS sheets for those considering going green at the work place. Another Bonus? They use recycled plastic in their product containers.
I also love their motto taken from the Great Iroquois Confederacy: In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.
