Experiment: The "eco-friendly" Scentsy Warmer

We've been working on a synthetic-free, non-toxic alternative to scenting your home....here are the initial results of our Way Out Wax and Scentsy experiment! You (and your wallet) will be pleasantly surprised!

Meet the Companies:

Scentsy offers a wide variety of wax tart warmers for any occasion and style, they are extremely popular options for flameless home fragrance. Many of our readers love their decorative warmers, but have concerns about their synthetically fragranced, petroleum wax tarts/bars. The glazed pottery warmers are electric, warming through the use of a single light bulb which also doubles as a nightlight.

Way Out Wax is an eco-friendly, non-toxic company that specializes in 100% non-GMO* soy wax candles that utilize only essential oil blends to create their fragrances. Essential oils do not only scent your home, they actively affect your mood through pure aromatherapy. The candles are created from renewable resources (soy versus petroleum) and all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable! They do not use synthetic colors, dyes, or fragrances in their products.

Method:

To perform this experiment, we used a full-size Scentsy brand warmer ($30), with original 25 watt bulb, and tealight candles from Way Out Wax ($0.85-$1 each). The tealight was removed from it's container (easily pops out). Time was recorded during each stage of melting and fragrance dispersement. Photos were also taken to document the experiment.

Experiment:

5:45 - Placed tealight in warmer and turned on

5:50 - Tealight started to melt (elapsed time: 5 min) 

 6:15 - Tealight 75% melted and wick was pulled out (elapsed time: 30 min from start)

  6:20 - Completely melted (elapsed time: 35 min from start)

  8:45 - Turned off (elapsed time: 3 hours from start)

  8:50 - Wax cooling after 5 minutes off

  Next day 9:45 - Turned on warmer

10:00 - Melting again

Results:

The first day, the warmer was on for 3 hours total. For the second day, the warmer was left on for a total of 14 hours, with full strength scent throughout the home. On the third day, full strength scent lasted for an additional 6 hours. After this point, the scent load was noticeably lower (more subtle though still fragrancing), this phase lasted an additional 3 hours. This experiment was repeated to average results from multiple melts with different scents. A single tealight candle provided scented up to 1000 square feet indoors.

Average total scent time: 25-30 hours  [including 3-5 hours of subtle scenting]

Scent Effectiveness Comparison:

2 Scentsy cubes = 8-13 hours approx.

1 Way Out Wax tealight = 25-30 hours approx.

By using Way Out Wax tealights, your total cost will be only $2-3 for up to 90 hours of pure aromatherapy scenting your home, relaxing your mind, and soothing your soul!

[Assumption: 2 Scentsy cubes are equivalent to 1 Way Out Wax tealight for the purpose of the amount of melted wax required fill the bottom of the Scentsy warmer adequately]

Cleanup: 

Melted wax may be returned to the soil from which it came by digging a hole outdoors or poured back into the tealight container with the wick to be burned as an unscented candle. Easily wipes clean from the warmer.

Further Research:

Soy wax may be assumed safer than paraffin/petroleum based candles if it comes into contact with the skin. Since soy wax requires lower temperatures to melt, further experiment updates will determine whether scents will adequately disperse with lower wattage bulbs to reduce energy consumption. Stay tuned for ongoing updates!

*Non-GMO means that the plant's DNA has not been genetically altered in a laboratory - it is pure and natural, just as mother nature created it!

Shop Scentsy Warmers Website            

Shop Way Out Wax Tealights Website

Kitchen: If You Care

If You Care...
...is more than an environmentally friendly product line, it's a way of living.
Just some of the admirable attributes of their many products: *FSC-certified sustainably harvested *Unbleached *100% Renewable Resources *Petroleum-free *Chlorine-free *Compostable *Vegetable-based inks *Non-Toxic glues *Recycled packaging *Vegan, Kosher, Gluten-free, Allergen-free
We had the great pleasure of trying nearly everything you see in the above photo {with the exception of the cooking twine, cheesecloth, and paper sandwich bags}. And I have to admit, this company makes absolutely WONDERFUL products. Every step in the life circle of these products considers and minimizes impact on the environment. While we've found that going green often requires more effort on your part due to inefficient products when compared to traditional ones, If You Care (IYC) products are actually MORE efficient, MORE effective, and MORE responsible - you gain everything and lose nothing with this brand. I am in awe....honestly.
The FSC-certified household gloves ($2.99) came in handy last month when all three of our children were struck with norovirus, aka the stomach flu. I credit these gloves with saving me {and only me} from acquiring the highly contagious virus whilst the rest of our household suffered, leaving me as the designated cleaner. 
The silicone-coated parchment baking sheets ($3.99) are my other favorite IYC product! The box contains 24 pre-cut sheets and the size perfectly fits a standard baking sheet. Here is where this brand wins the race, even if taking out all the awesome eco-benefits....we ended up using just ONE sheet over and over again to bake over 5 dozen cookies for the holidays!!! So if you only have one dessert baking day per month, a box will last you 2 YEARS. And it worked so well, nothing stuck whatsoever, and everything turned out beautifully, too.
From coffee filters to baking muffin/cupcake cups, 100% biomass firestarters to 100% recycled aluminum....If You Care is a brand you MUST try!
To read more about all of their products, please visit their website: ifyoucare.com/

Home: Scentsy Bars & Gold Canyon Candles (Why we can't review them)

We've received a lot of interest from readers regarding the safety of not only candles in general, but specifically, wickless candles such as Scentsy which utilize a wax tart that is placed in a warmer unit to disperse fragrance into the air. Due to lack of ingredient disclosure, we are unable to determine the safety of this product and will not test/review the Scentsy bars/tarts. For those of you with Scentsy warmers already, we plan to experiment with using the warmer with alternative vegetable waxes and essential oil blends to see if it will work with more natural products. Even though we cannot personally comment on Scentsy bars/tarts from experience, there are some important things to consider when making a choice about purchasing or using a product, this entry may help you with the process so you can decide for yourself if a product is safe or not.


At first hearing about tart warmers, it sounded like a plug-in air freshener just like any other but with messy wax added to the equation. Many studies by many reputable organizations and safety councils have studied and determined that most air fresheners contain or create toxic chemicals.  Everything seems to be a political game of profit, you can find experts on all sides to testify to anything, so it is VERY important to look at WHO is FUNDING the studies...it should be an independent, non-profit organization who does not financially benefit from the results either way. Confusion is often a tactic used in product marketing just as it is used in politics; to avoid being played, always look behind the scenes to determine the reputation of a study.

The ironic part is that most people will think twice about swallowing something they believe to be dangerous, but people slather toxic chemicals all over their skin and inhale their fumes without a second thought.

Let's consider methods of possible toxin exposure...since many people are ill-informed on how you can be poisoned. Inhalation: When you inhale a chemical, it goes directly from the lungs to the bloodstream; this is the worst exposure you can receive as there is no filtration whatsoever - you will receive a full dose. Skin Absorption: The next most dangerous way to be exposed to chemicals is through skin application. Your skin is an organ and although it creates somewhat of a barrier, it is easily penetrated and chemicals will go directly into the bloodstream from what is absorbed through the skin. Ingestion: Lastly, ingestion is another way chemicals invade your body - but with swallowing a chemical, your body has more defenses set up to deal with it, such functions are provided for by your liver and kidneys.


Now back to Scentsy and why we are unable to test their bars/tarts:

INGREDIENTS: (directly quoted from Scentsy website)
"A secret combination of ingredients is used to create a pool of melted wax, which is transformed into a wickless candle bar. Scentsy uses a food-grade petroleum based wax."


In other words, they're not going to tell you what's in there - the ingredient list is secret. What this melts down to is whether or not you trust a company with your life and the life of everyone living in your household. When you buy a product, you place a vote with your dollars to let that company know that you don't need to know what they put in their products, whatever is in there is okay with you, you'd rather remain in the dark. Consumers who buy products without full disclosure typically fall under the "ignorance is bliss" category because they would rather not have to think about ingredients or possible consequences.


Does Scentsy contain phthalates (certain chemicals known to cause endocrine [hormone] problems)? No. Although, this only rules out one category of toxins as the ingredient "fragrance" can hide many, many ingredients under that single term without disclosure, some of which may be toxic or unsafe. Since Scentsy (and many other companies) refuse to openly disclose their actual ingredients, it is IMPOSSIBLE for any consumer to make an educated decision about the safety of their use. 


Beware: Some candle companies avoid the phthalate question. Some companies, like Gold Canyon Candles, are tricky with wording by saying they "do not use phthalates which are known to cause problems" - notice the wording to avoid answering the question - they won't say they do not use ANY phthalates. This is a red flag.


On top of the "secret combination of ingredients" used to synthetically fragrance (read: chemicals created in a lab to make an artificial scent), they admit to using petroleum wax. Petroleum is also what is used to make gasoline. It is not an eco-friendly product in getting to the resource (think about the Gulf BP drilling mess), manufacturing (it pollutes tons of water and creates huge messes to refine it into petroleum from crude oil), or disposal. Although they claim on their website that they were unable to find a vegetable based wax that held their scents, many other companies have proven it can be done and it can be done well! There are plenty of soy and palm wax candle companies whose waxes hold essential oils perfectly for long periods of time. Perhaps the problem is not the vegetable wax, perhaps the problem is the cocktail of chemicals being used for fragrance? Just a thought.




SAFETY CLAIMS: (directly quoted from the Scentsy company website)
"Scentsy Warmers only warm the scent out of the wax - the wax remains in the warmer, thus there is no danger of chemicals being released into the home."


No danger of chemicals being released? Really? Fragrance oils are made from chemicals created in a lab. The fragrance oil is completely released until the wax is unscented. Obviously, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you are inhaling chemicals from the fragrance and CHEMICALS ARE BEING RELEASED INTO YOUR HOME AND BODY.


Already have a scentsy warmer? We're currently testing healthier alternatives to be used in the warmers! Stay tuned....

Zomsters: Apparel with Earthy Personality

Zomsters is a US-based, mommy-owned company that specializes in unique clothing and art for children! Each item is created utilizing earth-friendly materials and processes including organic cottons, azo-free dyes, and recycled/reusable materials.

"Each Zomsters design has a unique touch of individuality, just like the little Zomsters wearing them! Not only do [the] designs make you smile, Zomsters is also designed to help create awareness...by making small changes in our lives we can make big differences in helping our planet." We certainly admire their mission of creating awareness through responsible consumer products! You can read more about their eco-friendly efforts as a company by clicking here.

Before we dive into the actual product review, we want to share a reminder on our strict testing standards! Since so many times, reviews are not down over time proper testing in real life conditions (i.e. toddlers with food, playing in the mud, and washing their favorite tee for the 10th time today), many reviews on the web lead to severely disappointed consumers. Why? Because the products don't hold up as well on the 80th wash as they did on the first 2! Here at ecoSAFE, we strive to give you the more accurate review of eco-friendly products so that you will have reasonable expectations as to a product's performance in your home. Although doing it this way is incredibly time-intensive (and companies aren't also so keen on waiting months to have their review published), we feel this is the only way to honestly and wholeheartedly stamp our seal of approval on it. Now, on with the show!

The Zomsters tee is a very cute thing indeed! It is sure to make your lil' monster the cutest on your street! With bright, vivid colors and unique imagery, each tee is lovingly crafted with charm in mind. After many, many washes (to the tune of 2 months worth), the tee is slightly faded but still retains it's appeal. The print screened design did not peel or otherwise deteriorate, even with ample dryer time. We did notice that the shirts do tend to run small in comparison with other brands and would recommend, especially since they are cotton, that you buy up one size for immediate wear!


Case in point, these little shirts have lots of personality in a small punch with oodles of eco-friendliness dripping out the seams!!! Check them out!!!

 SHOP ZOMSTERS

Electric Aromatherapy Tart Diffuser: H2O At Home

For several weeks now, we've had the pleasure to try the H20 At Home warmer and essential oil pebble packs to test for this review. It was presented to us as a natural alternative to "Scentsy" products, seeing as H20 At Home only uses essential plant-based oils rather than synthetic fragrances in their scents.

After many uses, we are happy to report that this is indeed a product to consider when scenting your home naturally. While we still believe that a cold diffuser offers the best in the way of aromatherapy delivery, this electric warmer model does strongly scent a large room within approximately 15-20 minutes.

Please note that the warmer should not be used for more than 3 hours consecutively in order to maintain the essential oils; if you leave it on for too long, they put off an unappealing burnt smell. An automatic timer with shutoff after 3 hours is something we'd like to see incorporated into this product's design. On the bright side, the convenient on/off switch located on the cord allows you to put the warmer in places where outlets are not readily accessible.

How long does it last? We have found that a single pebble will last for several uses with no particular care required between uses - it can simply be left at room temperature in the warmer. A single pebble is approximately the size of a quarter and about the thickness of 2 stacked quarters.

What's inside the warmer? According to the CEO of the company, there is a small LED light equal to approximately 10 watts, which is used to produce just enough heat to warm the pebbles and release the essential oil scents from the wax.

Our favorite scent? Midnight Dream. It is a lovely combination of softness and strength, it absolutely sets the mood for relaxation - think candlelit bath in the moonlight!

How much and where to buy? Until November 30th, 2011, you can purchase this warmer with any pebble pack of your choice for $39 US. The item # for this special sale combo is 112002 and can be located through the search option on the company's website or by clicking on the promotions menu from the shop link below. Plus, every order placed from the below link will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to H20 At Home!

Don't forget: If you have children or pets that like counter-top items, put safety first and keep the warmer out of reach of any curious little (or big) ones!

SHOP H20 AT HOME

HOME: Daddy Van's Furniture Polish

A few weeks ago, I noticed a victorian set of end tables in the back of our large item garbage pickup truck. I was really tempted to chase him down and ask for the tables. It's amazing how many wonderful pieces of wood furniture end up in the landfill every year simply because the wood starts to dull. You see, when wood is shiny and new from the factory, it has usually been sealed with a highly toxic varnish coat that helps it retain moisture and color. Through exposure to sunlight, elements, or even just general use over time, the clear coat wears off and the wood starts to experience decay and damage. When this happens, most people either decide to get rid of the furniture altogether or apply a new coat of varnish. The problem is that both of these common solutions involve unnecessary pollution - both in the landfill or in offgassing toxic fumes into your home for months or years to come. In the case of damaged wood furniture, why not take the item apart and repurpose the undamaged parts for new projects? Donate them to a local children's scout troop for crafts? Or donate the piece to an organization in great need (remember, one person's trash can be another person's treasure)?

However, in many cases that don't involve physical damage beyond color and moisture loss, beauty to wood furniture can be restored quickly, easily, and safely through the use of a natural wood polish product such as Daddy Van's All Natural Furniture Polish. We decided to put this polish to the test on oak cabinets which had been neglected (read: no polish) for nearly two decades. With UV damage to the clear coat, the wood has dried out and the color has dulled. We were not expecting a miracle, but we definitely wanted to add some moisture back into the cabinets. To be fair, we tested one set of cabinets with an olive oil based polish and another set with Daddy Van's All Natural Furniture Polish, which is beeswax based. The olive oil polish soaked in and begged for more, the wood was very thirsty. We soon realized that the olive oil polish would prove to be an expensive and time-consumptive process. The beeswax polish required only a single coat (applied with an old cotton sock, you know, the ones we've been begging you to repurpose into rags) and provided immediate aesthetic improvement!

Being the dedicated testers we are, we wanted to see how much area you could cover with one small container of Daddy Van's Furniture Polish. At first, it took a bit more to saturate the sock with beeswax, but after a few cabinet doors, the sock was primed and it only took very little for each subsequent cabinet. And so we worked and worked on the tester's kitchen long into the night, the next day we went back to work on adjacent baseboards and window sills....yet still there was much more left in the tin. And so, our answer for your inevitable question, "How long does one container last?" is that you can easily do a large kitchen full of cabinets and only use half of one tin. You can easily do all your baseboards in your house with one tin. If you are using this for all of your wood furniture in your house for occassional polishing, you might need one container annually. Thus, this is an absolutely wonderful value compared to vegetable oil based polishes, which require substantially more applications and amount over time. Below you can see the results of our oak cabinet polishing (notice the flash is bouncing off of the left cabinet and it is still dull, but the flash doesn't even hit the right cabinet and it is glossy from the polish - it looks like new):

Daddy Van's is on a mission to create superior products that are non-toxic, safe, and healthful for people and the planet, using ingredients that are as close to nature as possible and that are sourced responsibly and ethically. The beeswax comes from Texas and Colorado beekeepers and is unrefined, meaning that the only processing it goes through is filtering out the debris from the hive (read: no commerical contamination concerns of byproducts from manufacturing). It is then packaged up in Evergreen, Colorado and shipped to customers. That's right, this is a Made in the USA product!

Daddy Van's is a member of the Natural Products Association and has been awarded the Green America Business Seal of Approval. Their products are certified cruelty free by Leaping Bunny and a portion of their profits are donated to Healthy Child Healthy World.

Shop DADDY VAN'S FURNITURE POLISH

Cleaning: Better Life Starter Kit

Okay, so we all know that there are a lot of cleaners out there that claim to be "green" and then you read the label, gasping in shock and dismay. But this company, Better Life, is different!

They aim to do just what their name implies...provide YOU with a better life through more effective, non-toxic cleaning products that make your life simpler, healthier, and ultimately, happier! What you won't find in their products will impress you...Impress me, you say? How's this for starters (and yes, they have the proof to back this all up - we checked on it):

• 
  Proven to remove more bacteria on surfaces than leading natural AND conventional brands! (what-EVER! spray)
• 
  Better at removing soap scum and hard water stains! (what-EVER! spray)
• 
  Proven to biodegrade 2-3x faster!
• 
  NO petrochemicals (...nothing good is ever to come of dead dinosaurs after a million years ;-)
• 
  NO VOCs (easily vaporize into the air you breathe, causing respiratory problems)
• 
  NO ethyloxylates (endocrine disruptor; linked to cancer and sterility)
• 
  NO parabens (endocrine disruptor; linked to cancer and biocumulative)
• 
  NO sls or sles (solvents; toxic to marine life when rinsed down the drain and linked to various skin and lung conditions in humans)
• 
  NO synthetic dyes or fragrances (linked to disorders of the nervous system, cancer, respiratory problems, skin and easily degrades into more dangerous chemical compounds)

• All bottles are 100% recyclable, post-consumer content in all packaging, water-based inks and recyclable film for labeling, and NO dyes or color pigments used in any products, bottles, sprayers, or caps!
• 
  
  NON-GMO ingredients(not genetically modified)
  
  
• NO nanoparticles!

...are you convinced yet? These products are pretty awesome on paper...now for the testing phase. Do they work? We jumped at the opportunity to try their entire product line and test it out on a house full of little boys...could their products handle our all-consuming vortex of daily crud? Here's what our experience was with each product.

What-EVER! All Purpose Cleaner ($6.99) cleans, well you guessed it, whatever hard surfaces you've got on your to-do list for today! Countertops, toilet seats, tables, chairs, sinks, showers, and even the walls...if it's a hard surface and you can wash it, you can spray it with this cleaner. It is available in scent-
free or clary sage/citrus.

This cleaner worked well on everything we triedit on, and we tried it on just about everything! It left our toilets sparkling, my countertops have never felt so smooth and clean (it leaves absolutely no residue or stickiness behind), and handled clean-ups quickly and without effort. The essential oils used to scent the clary sage/citrus really help to perk up your day; a known aromatherapeutic effect of clary sage. So I'm not really sure if it was the single swipe cleaning on every surface or the pleasant aromatherapy treatment I received while mopping up our everyday messes - but using this cleaner made a big difference in my daily routine!

Ingredients: purified water, coconut surfactant, vegetable-based surfactant (corn), natural amino acid surfactant, clary sage essential oil, lemon essential oil, preservative (.08%)

Even The Kitchen Sink Gentle Scrubber ($6.99 US) is an odorless, scratch-free polishing cleaner that works well on stainless steel, tile, bathtubs, glass, porcelain, and stone. I decided to test it out on our stovetop, the one that has had oodles of noodles overflow on it, caking starch to the surface repeatedly, and simply put - I've been trying to clean it off for actually 3 months now with bottle cleaners - nothing has worked (and I've been refusing to yank out the elbow grease and spend an afternoon on it with a homemade paste - just not enough hours in the day lately).

Alas, this gentle scrubber was put to work, hard work, cleaning my sticky stovetop. I was so excited about how this would turn out that I took photos of the process...yes, I know, I'm goofy - but you can thank me later when you discover the magic of these effective products for yourself! ;-) The end result was amazing...the caked-on mess that every other cleaner had failed to clear for months was wiped off with very little scrubbing effort within seconds! It was pretty darn amazing.

Ingredients: purified water, calcium carbonate, corn-based surfactant, coconut oil surfactant, coconut oil, vegetable wax, xanthan gum, preservative (.01%)

Simply Floored Floor Cleaner ($7.29 US) is a ready-to-use, no rinsing required formula that leaves your floors super shiny and squeaky clean! It works on any hard flooring you have (given that it's washable obviously)....vinyl, tile, marble, bamboo, hardwood, laminate. Despite having a crawling infant, as long as the ingredients are safe and it removes the gunk, I'm good with it...alas, I've given this one the green light! The slight spearmint scent that lingers around the house after cleaning with this also makes it rather soothing!

Ingredients: purified water, coconut and corn-based surfactant blend, vegetable glycerin, spearmint essential oil, grapefruit essential oil, bergamot essential oil, preservative (.08%)

I Can See Clearly, WOW! Glass Cleaner ($6.99 US) is unscented and a little bit goes a long way! It wasn't as effective of a cleaner as what-EVER! all purpose cleaner in our testing, so if you have toothpaste bits on the kids' bathroom mirror, I would recommend a quick spritz of what-EVER! first and then following up with this glass cleaner to polish it up to a streak-free shine! Other than that, it will leave your windows and glass absolutely sparkling.

Did youknow that you can reduce your energy bills by angling your blinds for the sunlight to shine into your house on the floor during the day? But if even the tiniest dust particles or residue are on the windows, it will reflect the light back out and you lose that heating advantage and energy savings. Yet another awesome reason, beyond aesthetics, to clean your windows regularly with a streak-free cleaner like this one!

Ingredients: purified water, coconut surfactant, vegetable-based surfactant (palm and corn), preservative (.08%)

2am Miracle Nursery Cleaner ($6.99 US) is a multi-purpose, multi-surface cleaner that's specially designed to clean cribs, toys, changing tables, car seats, highchairs, diaper pails, and nursery walls/floors. It can also be used as a deodorizer and on clothing as a stain pre-treatment! Perhaps, most importantly, this cleaner has been proven to remove more germs and bacteria off surfaces than conventional disinfectants!

As a parent, I cannot stress enough the importance to have anursery cleaner on hand at all times in your house (or if you have room, take it with you in the diaper bag - changing stations in public restrooms are disgusting, having your cleaner on hand will allow you to change the baby without covering them in all sorts of nasty germs). Actually, I wish they made this nursery cleaner in a travel size for that very purpose (hmmm...time to email product development with my suggestion/request ;-)! And I'm not going to go into details on this one too much, I'll just reference their motto for this product, "3P's: Pee, Poop, Puke. Just spray, wipe, and go back to sleep," and agree -- yep! It does all of that and more!

Ingredients: purified water, natural amino acid surfactant, coconut surfactant, vegetable-based surfactant, botanical extract (undisclosed), lavender essential oil, chamomile essential oil, preservative (.01%)

 SHOP BETTER LIFE PRODUCTS

Want to win your own starter kit? Contest coming soon in February...watch our facebook page for details!

Laundry: True Green Washer & Dryer Balls

True Green Laundry Dryer Balls ($7.99) are 30% larger than other dryer balls and are scientifically designed to allow more air penetration when drying clothes. Made from medical-grade plastic as opposed to PVC, they contain no phthalates and were not made with toxic hydrochloric acid.

Among the many cost-saving benefits of reduced drying time, they reportedly:

1. Reduce ironing, static and creases

2. Reduce drying time by up to 25%

3. Naturally soften fabric

4. Non Toxic - No chemicals

5. Will last approximately 6 months

And now....for our review, we have used these balls for 4 months (approx. 2-3 loads daily) and I have noticed that our dryer loads are done about 10 minutes earlier than without the balls (approx. 17% less). They do make a more noise in the dryer than without them, but it's not as loud as a pair of shoes and if you can close a laundry room door, it's not a big deal. The tips darken over time if you wash a lot of denim, but I don't think this affects their performance - though it does make me wonder why the color transfer is happening (if dye is transferring on, are plastic particles transferring onto my clothing as well). I have found that they soften our clothing a la massage/kneading/pounding method and prevent clothes from twisting up and causing major wrinkles, though small ones are still there. Perhaps my favorite result from use of these balls, however, is one the company doesn't even mention....they remove all loose threads, strings, and long hairs from your laundry! I definitely think this is an amazing benefit, it may work well with pet hair as well {we didn't have any to test}....wouldn't that be wonderful! And to be honest, for $16/year...these balls pay for themselves through their energy savings, fabric softener savings, and time savings!

We also tested the True Green laundry balls ($21.42 /240 loads), which are advertised as the soapless mineral alternative to laundry detergents. We tried to test these but were unable to due to the liability of damage possibility to our front load washer. Every time the load turns over, the hard plastic ball would crash to the other side and during spin cycle, well, let's just say it wasn't pleasant. The ball did seem to work, neutralizing odors in those loads of wash, however, we couldn't do as in-depth of testing as we would've liked. We would recommend the laundry balls to be tried only by those with top load washing machines.

To learn more about True Green eco-friendly products, check out their website!

Home: Soy Aromatherapy Candles from Strega Moon Candle Co.

"Go ahead relax and pamper yourself with an exceptional aromatherapy candle. Unlike most aromatherapy candles, Strega Moon Candles are made with all-natural soy wax and pure, undiluted essential oils; creating a candle that's true to its name. Let one ensnare your senses as it soothes your spirit and touches your soul with the magic of candlelight and nature."

Available in a 5 oz Jar ($9.99) or 2 oz Candle Melt ($1.95).

As the days grow colder and the nights stretch longer, it only seems right to fill my home with the warm scents of the season; I absolutely adore balsam, nutmeg, and cloves! The right scent can put you in the mood for cuddling up by the fire, sipping hot apple cider, reading your favorite book. The right candle can leave you feeling warm and cozy, with no harmful side effects from inhaling phthalates-laden synthetics, air polluting zinc cores or petroleum based waxes. Strega Moon Candle Company offers an aromatherapy line with candles made from 100% soy wax, undyed, scented with only essential oil blends (aromatherapy line only).

We had the pleasure of testing all three of their holiday scents: first snow, cozy kitchen, and holiday spice. First snow is a light to mildly scented peppermint candle; this 5 oz jar burned clean, scented a large room, and lasted 40 hours. Cozy kitchen is a lightly scented blend of allspice, nutmeg, clove, and orange; this 2 oz candle melt/tart scented a large room for 6 hours. Holiday spice is a lightly mildly scented blend of orange, clove, and cinnamon; this 2 oz candle melt/tart scented a large room for 6 hours.

If you prefer to have a hint of scent rather than an overwhelming fragrance, check out the aromatherapy line from Strega Moon Candle Company.

Visit Strega Moon Candle Co.

Home: Reusable Shopper Totes by Petunia Pickle Bottom

Okay, so let's face it...some of us need a little more encouragement to go green with our shopping habits. What better way to promote going green than with convenience and fabulously stylish patterns?

Petunia Pickle Bottom, maker of the famously popular diaper bags (FYI they now have organic diaper bags...stay tuned for a review as soon as we can get our hands on one to test out IRL conditions), has created a line of shopper totes perfect for everything from groceries to clothing to household supplies! What makes these reusable bags different than the myriad of others out there??


They're gorgeous! In traditional Petunia-style, carrying one of these totes feels more like you're walking the runway rather than the bread aisle! We tested their new pattern, Frolicking in Fez, and it's fabulous...as you can see!

One of the biggest problems many of us face with reusable bags is that we simply forget to bring them. Well, this is one tote you can't forget because it is convenient! It folds up to the size of a thin clutch (see photo below), securely fastens with an elastic latch, and easily fits inside your diaper bag or purse!

How many times have you just taken your keys and wallet to the store, perhaps a grocery list, placed them in the bag or basket and had to go digging to find them at checkout? Problem solved! These shopper totes include a generously sized outer pocket that will hold all your essentials right within easy reach!


No more crying over spilled milk! These shopper totes are water resistant - we tested and it seems to be actually waterproof, holding liquid spills on the surface until it rolls off, but we'll go with the term resistant just in case you want to use it as a life raft and it ends up being wet!

Made from 100% BPA-free Polypropylene (#5 plastic) - though we'd love to see Petunia Pickle Bottom go greener by utilizing post-consumer recycled PP, helping to create a market for all those food containers we turn in for recycling!

Oh and by the way, these totes are recyclable in your city recycling program since you can recycle PP curbside just about everywhere within the US!

They're bigger than most others! You can tell in the photo below where I'm holding the tote and my hand looks so teeny tiny at the top of the photo, what you cannot see is that inside the tote are 4 boxes of cereal -- and there's still room for more! Approx. dimensions are: 16" x 15.5" x 3.5"

Last but not least, I know you are wondering, what is the price on these oh-so-wonderful-can't-live-without-one shopper totes? $12 .... yes, only $12 US!

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Gifts: Staple-free Stapler & Puzzle Stacker from ThinkGeek.Com

If you're looking for gifts for "smart masses" - ThinkGeek is the place for you!

Staple-free Stapler ($5.99 US) is a great stocking stuffer for teachers, professionals, parents, even kids! You'll never run out of staples with this nifty office tool because it doesn't use any. That's right, it is completely staple-free. Instead, it punches a small tab hole into the papers and then folds and tucks it through another small hole, fastening pages together without any waste or metal.

I couldn't wrap my head around how this would work until I tried it and it's pretty neat! I took the photo below so you would understand the size of the stapler as well as how it works. The bottom paper is purple on the front side (shown) and orange on the back side. When you press down on the papers with the stapler, it punches an oblong shaped hole (with one side uncut) through the papers and then pulls the paper punch shape through the hole and folds it through another slit - so it basically ends up tucking it in and securing it from coming apart easily. I pulled and dropped the papers, they remained fastened together.

There are a few differences you'll need to adjust to with the staple-free stapler, but we've found them to be do-able (especially since it is so much eco-friendlier and safer without metal staples). First, you cannot "staple" corners, you must do a flat edge of paper - if you put a corner it, it will tear up the corner (see corners in photo). Second, your papers must be at least a few inches long or they will get stuck in the stapler - it punches a hole 1/4" in from the edge. The manufacturer recommends no more than 4 pieces of paper being stapled at a time (though it is possible to do more against their advice).

The Wooden Puzzle Stacker ($24.99) provides a new twist on a traditional toy! Each of the 6 rings will fit together in numerous ways, helping kids to manipulate the pieces however they would like and allowing the toy to grow with them and their developmental stage. Made of eco-friendly rubberwood. Here is what the team over at ThinkGeek.com has to say:

"The typical stacker toy is a bunch of colored plastic doughnuts that go over a white post. Your wee geek does the following with it: attempts to eat it, throws pieces around the room, accidentally figures out how to stack the doughnuts, learns to reliably stack and unstack. After that, it's been there, done that. Sterilize it and hand it off to a friend with a baby. Done.

This Puzzle Stacker can live on longer and build your baby's motor development and spatial logic skills through age 3! Wee geeks are initially challenged to fine-tune motor skills by placing the easy to hold rings on the stacking pole. With that mastered the child begins to enhance spatial logic by interlocking any one puzzle piece to any other; in any order. At this point, there is no wrong answer! Finally, through "solving" the puzzle sequence the child learns color and size recognition."

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Laundry: EcoNuts

After over 30 washes in 1 week (yes, that's right...we have a large family with a newborn), I can confidently say Eco Nuts work amazingly well to get your clothing clean without using anything else in your washing machine. The photo above shows them just before I tossed them out, and to be honest, they were not even used up when I tossed them out but we were done traveling and I didn't have anywhere to store the wet bag of nuts on our trip home.

First and foremost, I have to say that these nuts removed baby poop, unrinsed, from clothing. They also removed all odors from clothing, even some pretty stinky sweat. However, they did NOT remove the yellow coloring of the baby poop so be sure to grab a bar of pure castile soap to remove the poop stains before throwing in a white onesie stained with newborn poop. Okay....enough about poop (sorry, I'm a mom and that's what I deal in).

These offer an amazing value when compared to traditional or even eco-friendly detergents, in fact, these are cheaper than those cheap petrochemical detergents because this trial size box (which erroroneously states it will last 6-10 loads when indeed the company acknowledges it lasts well over 30 in most cases) is only $4! Most households will only need one trial box per month to handle all of their laundry needs.

How do you know when they've been used up? Just run the bag under water and squeeze, if no bubbles appear at all, then the "soap" is gone and they need to be discarded and replaced!

Eco Nuts has an exclusive partnership to purchase these specific nuts which are larger than any others on the market, which means you receive more washes per nut than any other brand! The photos below show the nuts prior to use.

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Laundry: Nellie's All Natural Laundry Soda & Oxygen Brightener (dry)

Description: The scent of clean laundry you're used to may be caused by nasty chemicals (what's the deal with that?!). So why not discover the true smell of naturally clean clothes with Nellie's Laundry Soda? It's hypoallergenic, and leaves your clothes soft, fresh, and residue free. It's also super-duper concentrated, so only one tablespoon per wash is needed, even in large loads. 100 loads

Ingredients: Sodium Silicate, Coconut oil based surfactants

Price: $18.99 US

Most of the laundry products we have reviewed are liquid-based, so I was excited to try the Nellie's All-Natural Laundry Soda and Oxygen Brightener. I've read so many reviews stating how well Nellie's cleaned, especially when it came to messy cloth diapers, and it was important that I tested it for myself to see if indeed the claims were true.


This dry detergent cleans quite well and rinses clean, it does not leave any residue behind whatsoever. However, it cleans so well that it brings out the fragrance residues leftover from previous detergent washes, if your clothes have ever been exposed to detergents with fragrance (our testers had). 


It is scent-free, meaning that it will remove body odors from your clothing but will not deposit any new scents. Your clothes will smell like...well, just like wet fabric. If you are looking for a cloth diaper detergent and bleach alternative whitener, definitely consider this brand of products for your needs. 


They also carry "nuggets" which are pre-measured, which may have better suited me because the one complaint I had with this brand is that they do not include a measuring device. The tin cans are reusable and old-fashioned adorable, but beware, UPS is rough on them in transit and both of mine arrived badly damaged - one could barely stand upright. The company quickly offered replacement, but for review purposes, I was still able to take photographs from the front so this wasn't an issue for me. I'm just saying, if you want them for the cute tin boxes, you might want to request extra packaging materials or be prepared to file a claim with UPS.

Shop Nellie's All-Natural Laundry Soda

Home: 100% Recycled Aluminum Foil by Reynolds Wrap

Best Price: $3.40 + free shipping (Alice.com)

While we always try to utilize reusable containers and washable bags when we pack lunches, sometimes our food storage needs demand a disposable option. Since many plastic wraps, even biodegradable varieties, are not realistically compostable under normal landfill or compost conditions, our family generally uses tried-and-true aluminum foil for our disposable option. Until recently, an eco-friendly version of foil did not exist and then the geniuses at Reynolds Wrap found a solution for all those soda cans and other aluminum we've been recycling for the past two decades...100% recycled aluminum foil food wrap! Available in 50 sq. foot rolls (approx. 12 months of use in our family).


Why did it take them so long? Well, they were perfecting the quality of the foil to ensure a consistently high quality supply of recycled aluminum that is just as strong, durable, and performs just as well as their regular foil. And let me tell you, this is definitely superior to every generic foil brand I've ever tried and is just as strong as the regular Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil - but better because it is eco-friendly! Below are some of the highlights from their website that answers common questions regarding this product:


Eco-friendly features:

• 100% Recycled Aluminum
• 100% Recycled Paperboard Packaging
• Water-based inks

"Is Reynolds Wrap® Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum safe to use with food?

Aluminum foil made from recycled aluminum is as clean and safe to use with food as foil made from new, also referred to as virgin, aluminum. The process of melting down the recycled aluminum requires heating the metal to more than 1200°F, which burns off any debris in the metal. Once it turns into a molten liquid, the aluminum is sent through a filtration process, poured and rolled into thin sheets.

Can the recycled aluminum foil be recycled again after use?

Yes, Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum has the potential to be recycled. However, you will need to verify whether your local recycling facility accepts aluminum foil. Consumers can visit www.earth911.org for locations of recycling stations or contact your local municipality for more information.

What are the environmental benefits of buying Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum?

There is an 80 percent reduction in the amount of energy used during the process of turning recycled material into foil, compared to making the foil from new, also referred to as virgin, materials. Manufacturing and buying recycled-content products create a circle, or loop, that ensures the overall success and value of recycling. The process also produces fewer emissions, including greenhouse gases, and reduces the amount of landfill waste."

VISIT REYNOLDS WRAP WEBSITE

Art-inspired, Stainless Steel Bottles from Earthlust

Hydration with style.

Description: All bottles are custom designs - not stock bottles - mostly limited edition - new art is always arriving! Each bottle comes with a high quality carabineer (hook to attach to belt loop, backpack, or bag strap). Optional sports tops are available for all sizes.

Ingredients: Stainless steel (18/8), non-toxic paints, BPA-free polypropylene caps

Available sizes: 16 oz, 20 oz, 1 liter

Prices: $16/ 18/ $21 US

These days, everywhere you look, there is a reusable water bottle on the shelf at the store. Most people assume the toughest decision they need to consider when buying one is the price and what pattern they want. The problem is, they are NOT all created equally as far as quality and materials go. In fact, many are coated with plastic (no, you cannot tell just by looking at them), decorated with likely toxic paints, and most people cannot tell the difference between aluminum, stainless steel, or other mixed metals. The problem with this being that there are safety and contamination concerns with many mined metals. Case in point, you are likely going to be using this item quite often and you don't want to be drinking tainted water.


Earthlust is a well-known and trusted company that not only supplies uncoated, high quality stainless steel bottles, but they are stylish as well! You can effectively have your cake and eat it too (or drink it)! For our review, we stored away our beloved Kleen Kanteens and used Earthlust's 20 oz bottle in green parsley (shown) for two weeks. Immediately, we noticed several key benefits to the Earthlust bottle:

• Earthlust 20 oz bottles are tall and skinny! This means they easily fit into standard cupholders where many other brands of reusable bottles do not!
• The cap doesn't have any hidden internal ridges, so it's much easier than other brands to clean and it doesn't collect dirty water/particles in the dishwasher!
• With the included clip, it never got left behind because it was attached to the diaper bag, purse, backpack, or belt loop always!

On top of the differences mentioned above, we also found that the Earthlust bottles do not dent as easily as most others we have tested,  the external paint coating does not chip easily, and the artsy design really is appealing. You can display your personality and mood by selecting the best fitting water bottle for that day, much like you would accessorize with a pair of shoes or purse, you can now express yourself with your water bottle!

 

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