Because we don’t think about future generations, they will never forget us. ~Henrik Tikkanen
Many of you know that my son was the main reason I started becoming more purposeful about the products we use in our home. We were living in Edinburgh, Scotland, and on one particular afternoon as we were preparing to go home, my husband started cleaning our flat. The chemicals he was using were so strong, I became nauseated from the smell and took a walk to get some fresh air. I ended up at the local library and started doing some research about cleaning products and pregnancy. I was astounded at what I was reading…afraid even that the small amount of time I was in our flat could have possibly done something harmful to our unborn baby. I haven’t used a conventional cleaner since that day, five years ago.
Five years ago, finding “natural” alternatives to conventional cleaners was challenging because for the most part, there weren’t many companies offering greener options and finding those product was equally difficult. Today, my biggest challenges include finding “green” products that are effective, and sorting through the abundance of options available to find products that are in fact better for our family and the environment.
We are long-time users of Seventh Generation’s greener, safer products. Both of our children have grown up using the diapers and wipes and their Free & Clear laundry detergent is a favorite in our household. Their cleaning products are effective and easy to use. I also find that they last a long time, making the investment that much more valuable. In the last couple of years, I also started using their personal care products and feel better about what I’m using in and on my body.
In the spirit of Earth Month, I was asked to participate in a cleaning challenge where I would replace my conventional cleaners with Seventh Generation’s cleaners. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Seventh Generation has partnered with The Lorax to help bring Dr. Seuss’ message of sustainability to today’s modern families. You’ll find an image of The Lorax on many of the brand’s products, which was purported to remind families of The Lorax’s message and inspire environmental awareness as well as a love for reading.
Since we already use Seventh Generation’s products in our home, I thought I would go a step further. Initially, I received Seventh Generation’s Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Detergent, Disinfecting Wipes, Natural Dish Liquid, Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner, and Bathroom Cleaner. We also received a copy of Dr. Seuss’ book, The Lorax. Since we do a LOT of laundry around here, I wanted to see if there was another way I could make my routine efficient. While shopping at Sprouts a few weeks ago, I picked up Seventh Generation’s new Natural 4X Laundry Detergent. Could this little bottle still get me the 66 loads I can get with their full sized, 2X detergent? Ok…so I didn’t count the loads, but the detergent lasted forever! Thankfully, I have a setting on my Whirlpool Duet Washer where I can adjust the concentration of the detergent using the Precision Dispense function. The machine does all of the work and I felt like the detergent lasted a long time…well over the month.
The other step I took was to introduce my mother to some of Seventh Generation’s products. While she has dabbled a bit in greener cleaning products, she’s never made a commitment to purchase them. I gave her the Bathroom Cleaner and Multi-Surface Cleaner to use over the month. She is very sensitive to smells, and despite the botanicals used, never felt like the scents were overwhelming. After cleaning her bathroom and kitchen each week for a month with the products, she never felt like she had to use additional products to achieve the type of clean she prefers.
My husband and I are committed to raising our kids to be environmentally aware. My son knows the importance of turning lights and water off and putting trash in its respective place. We’ve been dabbling in gardening as a family and my husband and I are leading by example. When The Lorax was released in theaters, we read the book as a family nearly every night. We love it’s timeless message about being conscious of how our decisions impact the environment and really feel like greening our clean is one simple way we are making a difference.
For more information about Seventh Generation’s products, or to learn more about what you can do, visit their website (they also have a blog!).
Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.
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