Seventh Generation Review + Giveaway

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, the 4BabyAndMom team was given the opportunity to try the new Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaning Kit. The cleaning caddy came packed with Multi-Surface Disinfecting Spray, Wipes, Bathroom Cleaner, two rolls of recycled paper towels, and the book,The Conscious Kitchen.

Seventh Generation is a 20 year old company based out of Burlington, Vermont that is notorious for their all natural non-toxic cleaning products. They not only give back to their planet, but they give back to their community.

I hate to clean, but with two kids and a dog, I find myself cleaning almost all of the time. The choices I make reflect on my household, and recently I've been trying to take the steps to a "greener" home. Choices that are healthy and safe for my family and my pet. One of the struggles I've had is finding products that kill germs, because my kids touch everything, and tend to have their fingers or hands in their mouths often.

Seventh Generation has created a line of naturally disinfecting product recognized by the EPA using the oil from thyme, Tymol, to kill germs that lead to common colds,influenza, salmonella, H1N1, and more. They disinfect as you clean, and leave no harmful residue on any surface germs can get to.

Most "green" cleaners say they cut grease and grime just as good as the products our mother's used, but I can honestly say that I was very impressed with the quality of clean left behind. The Multi-Surface cleaner I abused all over the kitchen, and the wipes were heaven-sent. The bathroom cleaner was great on the tiles in the tub. I liked the paper towels because of the fact that they were made from 100% recycled paper, and that they were unbleached. They worked relatively well for cleaning, but weren't tough enough for my kids spills or dog accidents- which is the major use of regular paper towels in my home.

The scent is very strong in this line of products. For me, it wasn't unbearable,  but for Marissa it was completely different. It has a very strong "ben-gay" style scent, which she found very overwhelming. I used my products in moderation and spread out, so I wasn't overwhelmed, but I could definitely smell it. We both would prefer trying other scents if made available.

The book, The Conscious Kitchen by Alexandra Zissu gives great tips to be good to both the earth and your body. This book covers topics like cutting energy bills, avoiding pesticides in food, and recipes for tasty, healthy meals.

From the book & MyBlogSpark:

• 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.

*Refer to product labels for full details 

Our friends at MyBlogSpark is giving one of our lucky readers the opportunity to win a prize pack of their own!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

This giveaway is open to residents of the US. This giveaway will end on April 25, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, and all winner information will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE and on this post. Any unclaimed prizes will be redrawn accordingly and at the discretion of 4BabyAndMom. Disclosure: I received this product to review at no cost from MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generations to review and share my own opinions on. I received no monetary compensation for this review, and any opinions expressed are 100% my own. Your experience with this product and company may differ.