{ Posts Tagged ‘laundry’ }

a greener clean

25 fresh a greener clean

Say goodbye to the clunky jugs and embrace something far greener: Method`s powerful, eco-friendly laundry detergent. Having landed in Canadian stores just this week (Shopper`s Drug Mart, Loblaws and Canadian Tire among many more), Method laundry detergent is well worth foaming over.


The Science-y Stuff

Method`s unique ‘smartclean technology` turns detergent molecules inside-out, leaving surfacants (or cleaning agents) exposed, using less water in the detergent, but working harder to get rid of stains.


The Highlights

• it`s hypo-allergenic and biodegradable, made with 95% natural and renewable ingredients

• it`s 8x concentrated, requiring only ¼ the dose of leading national brands

• the patented bottle and pump system doesn`t allow you to “overdose” on detergent

• the packaging is sleek and easy to store, not to mention environmentally responsible (recyclable and made from 50% post-consumer recycled plastic)

Price: $17/600 mL bottle, $9/300 mL bottle

Available at: (in stores) Shopper`s Drug Mart, Loblaws and Canadian Tire among many more (online) www.methodlaundry.com


YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

Method is offering an eco giveaway pack for one lucky reader! Want to win? Comment below and tell us how you plan to ‘go green` this year.


Contest closes Jan. 31, 2010 at 12 a.m. EST. Open to all residents of Canada, except those in Quebec. Not open to any Transcontinental Media employees, their families, or any other persons with whom they reside.

ecos liquid laundry detergent

ecos ecos liquid laundry detergentWashed with a new natural laundry detergent called Ecos recently, and since my whites turned out white, my darks stayed dark, and my brights were shining  brightly, suffice it to say, I was pretty happy when the laundry was done!

Ecos is a concentrated liquid detergent, one ounce of which will wash a full load of dirty fabrics, and you can use it in front loading and high-efficiency machines. It has a built-in soy-based fabric softener (which works for me, since I don’t used a dryer) and cellulose-based optical brightener (also good for me, since bleach is another no-no).

It’s also phosphate-, petrochemical- and formaldehyde-free, is plant-based, septic and greywater-system safe, 100% biodegradable, has a neutral pH, and the bottle and cap are both recyclable. Whew! That’s a whole lot of green cred goin’ on!

It comes in three scents: Magnolia & Lilies, Lavender, and Lemograss. I tried the Magnolia & Lilies scent, and while I found it very appealing, I also found it a little strong. I think I’ve grown accustomed to other eco-friendly products that are either unscented or quite subtly scented, so to tone it down a little I’d just mix it with some of the company’s Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent (it doesn’t contain any essential oils for fragrance). That way, it would be just perfect for me; others will find it just perfect the way it is!

Available at: www.ecos.com for stores

Price: approx. $18.69/210 oz.

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Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

miele limited edition chocolate laundry set

miele choc laundry v11 miele limited edition chocolate laundry set

I fancy myself quite the chocolate connoisseur. Yup, I love chocolate in all its forms: dark or creamy; in a cake or in a drink; with nuts or with caramel; hot, warm, or cold. Well, my obsession has taken on a completely different meaning now that I’ve seen Miele’s Limited Edition Chocolate Laundry set.

This washer-and-dryer set is available in a rich chocolately shade and comes with all the fixings you could ask for. Its Energy Star rating comes from the washer’s ability to determine exact load-sizes, thus adjusting the water accordingly, while the dryer uses moisture sensors rather than timers to stop the load when it’s dry. Want even more eco-options? High water temperature in the washer allow for powerful cleaning results, meaning you can cut back on your high chlorine bleach. Plus, every machine is tested to last for 10,000 cycles and includes a 10-year warranty.

Don’t think you can resist this chocolate-y goodness? Be quick — these sets are only available while quantities last!

Price: starting from $3,495 a pair

Available at: check miele.ca for retailers

Have a neat gadget or tech accessory you`d like me to feature? Shoot me an e-mail at
techstyle@styleathome.com

read your way to healthier living

housekeepingguide read your way to healthier livingThis entertaining book by Christina Strutt is chock full of interesting information about keeping your home in an earth-friendly way.

Strutt covers everything from saving energy (chop vegetables smaller so they cook more quickly) and stocking a pantry (apples keep for up to 4 months if wrapped individually in newspaper) to keeping a kitchen garden (Epsom salts promote plant growth) and doing laundry (“sun will bleach robust white fabrics beautifully”).

Here are 5 of the ways Strutt lists to put white vinegar to good use.

1 Baby clothes To freshen baby clothes, add one cup of vinegar to the detergent dispenser of the washing machine for the final rinse cycle. This will break down the uric acid and soapy residue on the clothes, leaving them soft and fresh.

2 Brass, copper and pewter To make an effective polish, mix 1 tsp of salt and 1 cup of vinegar, stirring in enough flour to make a paste. Cover the item with the paste and leave for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water and polish with a soft dry cloth.

3 Cigarette odours To remove the odour of cigar or cigarette smoke, leave a saucer of vinegar in the room overnight.

4 Deodorant stains To remove deodorant stains on coloured clothes, rub with a soft cloth dipped in vinegar and wash as usual.

5 Insects If you have trouble with insects (silverfish, ants, etc.), wipe down kitchen surfaces with neat vinegar to deter visits. This will also disinfect the surfaces.

Available at: book stores across Canada

Price: $23

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email Laurie at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

dirty secrets

laundry beauty champagne machines black cabinetry dirty secretsYou know what it feels like – pulling a favourite sweater out of the wash only to find that it’s morphed into doll’s clothes? Or that it wasn’t quite as bleachable as you’d originally thought? We’re not alone, my friends. A new study suggests that one-third of us have ruined favourite pieces of clothing because of guesswork in the laundry room. Guys are even more likely to need a laundry refresher, as only 14 per cent of men surveyed in the survey said they knew exactly how much soap and water to use for a load… That’s why I’m so excited about the new GE Profile SmartDispense Frontload Laundry Pair. It takes away the guesswork by selecting the required amount of water and detergent based on each load’s size, soil level, fabric type and water hardness. No more guesswork, and no more frantic calls to mom on how to deal with “accidental felting”… 

GE Profile SmartDispense Frontload Laundry Pair in Champagne

Price: $3,698 (for Champagne and Vermillion Red); $3,598 (for White)

Available at: GE Appliances or 800-361-1100 for retailers.

earth-friendly cleaning products

attitude blog earth friendly cleaning productsUsed to be that environmentally friendly products were a scarcity, hard to find and limited in options. These days, it`s easy to do your part. So think about protecting and preserving our planet. This great line includes products for fabric, dishes, hard surfaces and hand soap, too. I love the laundry detergent. Free of petrochemical derivatives, this concentrated laundry formula is hardworking; a one-litre bottle suffices for 35 loads. I love that this product is hypoallergenic, free of phosphates, dyes and artificial fragrances. Scented with essential oils, the laundry detergent comes in  the following fragrances: Lavender & Grapefruit, Bergamot & Tangerine and Ylang-Ylang & Lime.

For more information, visit: cleanattitude.com

Plus, check out great organizing ideas for your laundry room.