Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaning Kit Giveaway

Environmentally friendly cleaning products provide a good safe alternative to toxic cleaners, for an eco-friendly clean home. Leading the “responsible cleaning” charge for the past twenty years, Seventh Generation has tapped into the disinfecting power of the herb thyme, to introduce an EPA registered line of disinfecting sprays and wipes that kill germs* naturally!

It seems to be on the increase that people are wanting to reduce the chemicals in their home. Seventh Generation's new line of botanical disinfectant cleaners includes a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes, for all the surfaces in your home.

Click to read more ...

Soft Scrub Total Giveaway

My bathrooms were pleased to have Soft Scrub Total Bath & Bowl used in them yesterday.

So was I.

It arrived in my home the other day.  I was selected as one of 200 to be a Soft Scrub Club Captain, and along with that choice title, I also got a free bottle of the brand new Total Bath & Bowl.  (Hey if I tell them I’m a “captain” when I board the cruise ship in spring do ya think they’ll let me blow the horn?....)

Click to read more ...

Green Works Laundry

I just love sharing the products that come my way via the Mom Central blog tours. This time it's two of the newest offerings from Green Works. And yes it's something everyone can use, laundry products.

I admit to not having "tough" laundry loads. Meaning that except for food stains (I do have sloppy eaters in my home), I don't have a lot of outdoors or grease type stains to deal with when I do laundry. Maybe that's why laundry is my favorite household chore! It's always a good thing when I can find a detergent and stain removal products that don't just work and smell good, but are also friendly on the environment.

Click to read more ...

Healthy Hands Musical Hand Wash Timer Giveaway

While it seems as if the H1N1 virus is now becoming a background topic rather than the forefront of the news, there is always the seasonal flu to be concerned about, and germs from the common cold and other viruses too.

With the holiday gathering hugging, kissing and cheek pinching that will be happening, it's important to make sure that we help our children understand proper hand washing techniques in order to keep the germs at bay as much as we can.

Well I'm always a sucker for any product that is branded with a Disney character but the Disney Musical Hand Wash Timer by Healthy Hands has its own merit, the Disney branding is just an added bonus!

Click to read more ...

ecostore USA Review & Giveaway

Recently I was able to try a couple of eco-friendly products from ecostore USA.  Completely natural with no chemicals, their products are all safe for your home and family.

 

One of the products I got to try was the Auto Dish Powder.  Ecostore USA's Auto Dish Powder only requires 1 tbsp. to do a full load of dishes.

Click to read more ...

Ultimate Cloth Review & Giveaway

When I clean I generally use microfiber towels. I have ones about the size of a hand towel (but square) and use them for virtually every cleaning task in my home.

I recently had the chance to try the Ultimate Cloth in my home. It cleans all hard surfaces including, glass, granite, steel, painted surfaces etc), and all you need to use it with is....water.

Ultimate Cloth is made from MiraFiber™ Technology, which has open spaces between fibers that act as millions of tiny 'scoops' that pull dust, dirt, oil & other contaminants into the cloth and hold them until washed away with mild soap or detergent. (Can also be bleached for disinfection.)

There is vey little besides water I can use on my countertops in my kitchen, since the granite is not sealed. I can use a mild dish soap, but typically use only water to clean them. The deal is, even with my current microfiber cloths, I have to buff them dry, otherwise I will get waterspots.

Ultimate Cloth really did leave clean, streak free countertops in my kitchen, using only the cloth and water. I didn't have to dry the counters after cleaning them.

I like the fact that it is reusable. Just toss in the washer (if washing with a load, make sure the other items in the machine are lint free), and air dry.

The other cleaning chore that this cloth is awesome for is mirrors. I don't know about your home, but in mine, I often wonder what my Hubby and daughter do in the bathroom, when they brush their teeth. I can not in my wildest imagination even dream of how they get toothpaste where they do on the mirror. It's like they shimmy up as close as they can, and open as wide as possible and then brush, all the while splattering the mirror as they clean their teeth.

Amazingly enough, with just water, Ulitmate Cloth, wins the mirror war. Wow. I just wet it, made sure it was wrung out well, and then cleaned the mirrors. There was no streaking at all, and I didn't need to go over any of it. It was so quick, which in my books is fantastic.

Ultimate Cloth is available to purchase online starting at $6.00 a cloth. But the more you buy the more you save, and I'm pretty sure if you decide to purchase these, you'll want more than one.

Ultimate Cloth America has sponsored a giveaway for one of my readers to win one cloth.

To enter visit http://www.ultimateclothamerica.com/ and tell me what you would use your Ultimate Cloth for.

For extra entries (the above must be done first to be eligible for extra entries) you can:
* Become a Fan of Ultimate Cloth America on Facebook
* Subscribe to Three Different Directions
* Follow me on Blogger
* Become a fan of Three Different Directions on Facebook
* Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this contest: RT @threedifferent New Review & Giveaway: The Ultimate Cloth at http://bit.ly/4ELiKK (this can be done daily)
* Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway post and let me know which post you commented on. (2 entries, does not apply to previous comments made)

This giveaway will end on December 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rules declarations and agree to them.

I received a complimentary Ultimate Cloth prior to writing this post.

Marcal Small Steps Giveaway

Today is American Recycling Day!  In one year, Marcal takes 200,000 tons of recyclable paper and makes products for your home from that.  Incredible!

I had seen Marcal on the store shelves in the past, but had never purchased them before.  Then I noticed one time going down the aisle, that it had new packaging and it was called Small Steps, and I thought "Sure, another company jumping on the green bandwagon."

But often my assumptions are wrong, as they were in this case.  After talking with someone at Marcal, I found out more information about Marcal's history and what they are all about as a company.

Marcal has been making its paper products from recycled paper, not trees, for more than 50 years!!  That's right, they've been in the green business since 1950.

Millions of trees are killed each year  to make the napkins, paper towels, tissues and toilet paper we use each day.  The destruction of those trees also destroy wildlife habitats.

Have you ever noticed how "white" your paper products are?  That may be a sign that chlorine bleach was added to them.  Yech.  Marcal doesn't use chlorine bleach, dye or fragrances when manufacturing their products and they are all hypoallergenic.  That's good news for those with sensitive skin.

Marcal believes that products should

• give you performance you can count on
• be good for your home and gentle on the environment
• not cost a lot

Their products include paper towels, toilet paper, napkins and facial tissue.

My family was able to try these products out and this is what we thought of them.

Bath Tissue - If you're used to double or triply ply bath tissue, you'll likely notice a difference at first with Marcal Small Steps.  Honestly, I tend to "double" up when using t.p. anyway (shameful, I know).  I had my doubts as the Small Steps looked thin, but when doubling up, it was strong.  Marcal Small Steps bath tissue is safe for septic systems too.

Facial Tissue - With cold and flu season upon us, you need a tissue that can stand up.  The Small Steps facial tissues have gotten a good workout in our home!  And we can tell you that they handle the strongest out put of nose blowing without tearing.  Again, don't expect plush, triple ply tissues, they look and feel thinner than other brands, but they are strong.  Another fact to note is that since no dyes or fragrance are used, that is nice when you're holding these right up to your face when you don't want to be irritated.

Paper Towels - Cleaning up quick spills or light household cleaning chores is now environmentally friendly when you use these recycled paper paper towels.  I admit to not using a lot of paper towels and opt for washable cloths instead for most cleaning.  Every once in a while though, I find that I want to be able to throw away my cleaning cloth, because I know the mess will stain or smell the cloth up.  When using Small Steps paper towels on greasy messes in my kitchen and not so pleasant tasks in my bathroom, they performed as well as any other brand I've used, and I got to be eco-friendly while using and tossing them!

Napkins - The purpose of a napkin is to wipe away the food lingering on your face and hands.  Obviously unless you're using cloth napkins, they just go in the garbage when you're finished.  As far as napkins go, in my opinion, less is best.  I don't want dyes, fragrance or bleach interfering with my food.  Small Steps napkins actually stood up better than the current brand we've been using, and they are less expensive!  Guess what's on my shopping list?

If you're looking to make small steps in your own home when it comes to living responsibly, Marcal Small Steps products are something to look into.  You can visit their site to find a store in your area that sells them.

Marcal is giving away a Marcal Small Steps Gift Pack to one of my readers!

To enter for your chance to win visit Marcal Small Steps and leave a comment telling me one thing you learned from their site.

For extra entries (the above most be done first to be eligible for extra entries) you can:

1. Join the Small Steps Family.  It's free.  You'll receive their newsletter and get coupons and special offers.
2. Tweet!  Follow @MarcalSmallStep and then tweet "@MarcalSmallStep @threedifferent Green Gift Pack Giveaway at http://bit.ly/4Bhic8" (be sure to leave the link to your tweet)  You can do this daily!

3. Blog about this giveaway, including a link back to it.
4. Subscribe to my feed.

Open to US residents, ages 18+,  ends November 29, 2009 at 11:59 pmcst. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will bechosen. Email must be incomment or available in profile.  By entering this giveawayyou are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and my Privacy/Rules statements and agree to them.

I received complimentary Marcal Small Steps products for the purpose of this review from Marcal.

Soap Nuts - Really? Yep they grow NaturOli!

I am a laundry freak.  By that I mean I ♥ doing laundry.  Yes, it's true.

I first heard about Soap Nuts about a year ago, and they thoroughly intrigued me.  I just never got around to ordering any, because quite honestly, I like the "artificials" that give me the "scent" when doing laundry.  I know in my head that no scent means clean, but my nose needs more convincing.

Then I got the chance to review a number of products from NaturOli (pronounced like naturally), and I no longer had an excuse to not try them.

Soap Nuts do really grow on trees!  When they get wet saponin is released and that makes them a good cleaner.

4 to 5 soap nuts in a muslin bag is all it takes to clean a load of laundry.  I did add some essential oil on the bag to "fool" my nose, but I guess either I didn't add enough, or it wasn't really essential oil, because the clothes came out clean, but with no scent.  That's right no scent (cuz they were clean ☺).

These same nuts can be used again, anywhere from five or more times.  Just keep them in the muslin bag and let them air dry.  When they stay mushy, it's time to put some new ones in the bag.  Oh and don't let the vinegary scent turn you off, your clothes won't take on that smell.

Since they also soften your laundry, no fabric softener is necessary.

The next product is what I like to refer to as Phenomenal Cleaning Powers - itty bitty bottle.

The EXTREME 18X Soap Nuts Laundry Soap and Green Cleaner is produced from pure soap nuts liquid extract.  Just 1/2 a teaspoon (seriously that little), in an HE washing machine will clean a medium load.

I found it a little unbelievable, but after doing 5 loads now with about 1/2 of my 12 load bottle left, I'm a believer.

Personally I'm a fan of this more than the actual nuts in the muslin bag for two reasons.  1.  I don't really want to dig through my wet laundry (yeah I grab and toss into the dryer), to look for the bag and then dry it out and 2.  This is going to be awesome for traveling.

Again no scent to this when the clothes are finished their wash cycle, and really the scent of the product is bearable even in liquid form.

The third product I got to review was the Soap Nuts & Olive Soap Bar.

Well the scent of this product does have something to be desired, but it's not made to be a chain store bath product (if you know what I mean), so for rich, healthy oils in a natural product a compromise on scent might have to happen.

It lathers nicely but without the chemicals that produce lathering in traditional soaps. We have very hard water where we live and I was pleased with how little I needed to get a decent lather on my cloth.

The EXTREME 18x was definitely my favorite of the three, and in difficult economic times that product and the Soap Nuts definitely make sense to purchase.

Price wise they are a great bang for your buck, plus they are all natural and safe for your family and environment.

All of these products and more are available in various sizes at NaturOli.  If you would like to try the three items that I received to review, it is only $8.50 for a sample pack.

I was provided complimentary products of the items noted in this review from NaturOli to use and formulate my own opinion for the purpose of this post.

Smelly Washer Giveaway

Makes Your Washing Machine Smell and Look Great

I am on my second front loading washing machine. After a couple of months with my first one ten years ago, I soon learned that if I did not want my laundry room or clothes and towels to smell all mildewy, I had to leave the door of the machine open after washing.

Front loaders are great at saving water and not as tough on your clothes as a top loader, but the design lends itself to trapped water and residue on and in the door and gasket.

I have never thought of "cleaning" my washing machine. That seems sort of oxymoronic doesn't it, using a washing machine cleaner? I mean by default shouldn't your machine be getting clean each time you use it? Unfortunately not. Detergent and fabric softeners leave themselves behind, the dark damp environment is perfect for mold growth, and then (ick) we throw our clothes in there, and they pick all that up when we're "washing" them. Kind of ironic in a way.

In any case there is a better way to keep that scent and growth at bay then my solution of just leaving the door open and that's Smelly Washer.
To start on a washer that has never been cleaned - take one level cap of Smelly Washer and use your hottest water setting.  (Of course make sure your washing machine is empty first).  Agitate for two minutes and then turn off.  Let it sit overnight, and then in the morning complete the cycle.

Now I didn't have a mildew smell from my washer, since I always leave my door open when it's not in use.  But, I did have some pretty unsightly residue on the inside of the door.

One use of Smelly Washer as detailed above and....

Now to keep a cleaned washer clean you use just a teaspoon in a hot wash or soak cycle monthly to remove any accumulated residue.  Easy peasy.

A bottle of Smelly Washer runs $16.99 plus shipping, but that has 24 uses in it.  So that's less than a dollar a use which I think is worth keeping your laundry from stinking.  If you use the code differentdirections you will get 10% off your purchase. It's also an all natural product so you know there isn't any additional chemicals being put in your machine.

Smelly Washer is giving away one bottle to a reader here on my blog.

To enter leave a comment letting me know you would like to be entered to win.

For extra entries (the above must be done first) you can:
 
1. Subscribe to the Smelly Washer Blog feed.
2. Become a fan of Three Different Directions on Facebook

3. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway (this can be once per day, please leave the direct link to your tweet in the comments). Just click the birdie.
4. Follow my blog publicly.
5. Subscribe to my feed via e-mail or reader.
6. Blog about this giveaway linking back to my blog.
7. Add my button to your blog.

This giveaway will end on November 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

I received a complimentary bottle of Smelly Washer to use and formulate my own opinion about prior to writing this post.

It's All Too Much - So Get It Together

Less Junk. Clearer Mind. Better Life.

Peter Walsh posts are starting to take over my blog, lol. In case you live under a rock and like my husband don't know who Peter Walsh is...he's the Australian guy who helped people de-clutter their homes on Clean Sweep.  Oh yeah, like my husband says, HIM.

As a token for attending Office Max's Back to School Webinar, hosted by Peter Walsh.  I was sent a copy of "It's All Too Much, So Get It Together".  A book specifically written to teens.

Written in Peter's direct voice (if you have ever seen him on t.v. you know what I'm talking about), he gets to the bottom of the clutter issue in the unique ways that affect teens.

From bedrooms to bathrooms, car trunks to high school lockers, he helps teens think about their stuff and their relationships in a new way.

The tone is upbeat rather than browbeating and the illustrations are entertaining.

This book will likely span the angst a lot of juniors and seniors have as their plates are full with school, relationships and the future.  Along with the possibility of leaving home soon, and where their "stuff" fits into the picture.

This is a very helpful book that hopefully will leave a lasting impression and a clean, clutter free zone for the youth who read it.  If you know a high school student suffering from clutter-itis, I think this would make a nice Christmas gift ☺.

Be careful though, when your teen is finished clearing the clutter from their space, they just might take you to task!

Review & Giveaway of Lysol Products

Lysol Helps Keep My Family Germ Free

Most people consider their bathrooms the germiest room in their home, and they're probably right.  But there are other places that germs lurk, some which we really don't think about.

Both the Lysol Sanitizing Wipes and Lysol Disinfectant Spray work great to eliminate germs, in your bathroom and all those other places.

Lysol Disinfecting Wipes

Each pre-moistened disposable wipe kills 99.9% of germs -- even the bacteria that causes odors -- where you use it.  No bottles, no sponges, no mess.  Effective disinfecting has never been faster or easier.

The Micro-lock fiber construction of the cloths help trap those icky germs.

I like the design of the lid.  If you need to reach in to adjust the cloths, the outer cover is easy to take off, meaning no pinched fingers (yes, that has happened to me before with other brands...).

Not only can you use these in the bathroom but in the kitchen as well.  (Although they are not recommended for use on polished, bare wood or porous surfaces).

You can imagine all the uses these would have in a classroom!  When in the stores last week I took a peek at the school supply lists and there were many schools that wanted parents to purchase them.

I used these in our church nursery last week when doing a quick cleaning.  They were very practical for that purpose, and I know that the diaper changing stations are free from lingering germs.

Lysol Disinfecting Spray

                                                 

This is an EPA registered disinfectant that kills more than 99.9% of illness causing bacteria and viruses including H1N1 and the common cold. 

Door knobs, light switches, and toilet handles have long been places people have sprayed Lysol.  (I remember my mom spraying down door handles with Lysol when I was young!)

Something new and interesting I learned when I was sent samples of these Lysol products to write this review, is that Lysol Disinfecting Spray can be used on soft fabrics as well.

I went to town around our home with the spray.  Bedspreads, shower curtain, handbags, shopping totes and shoes were all sprayed.  The Clean Linen scent wasn't hard on the nose either.

Backpacks, gym clothes, oh there are so many ways you can eliminate the germs using Lysol Disinfecting Spray.

They even have a "To Go" sized spray, which you all know is coming with me when we travel!

If you want to try and ensure a healthy germ free home this school year, be sure to stop by Lysol.com where they have more resources available like:

• The Germ Information Center (www.lysol.com/germ-information-center/) provides useful information to help families fully understand the threat posed by germs.
• Resources & Downloads (www.lysol.com/germ-information-center/resources/) has a variety of downloads including the “Looking After You” series of booklets, which provide practical information and tips for keeping you and your children healthy from pregnancy through childhood. 

Lysol is offering 2 of my readers the chance to win a 12.5 oz Lysol Disinfectant Spray and two 40 ct. canisters of Lysol Disinfecting Wipes – one for home and one to send to the classroom!

To enter this giveaway visit the Lysol Germ Information Center, then come back here and tell me something that you learned. 

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the above entry.  Please leave each in a separate comment.

• Follow Me on Twitter & Tweet about the contest. (This can be done daily but be sure to leave the link to your tweet in the comments)

• Add the Three Different Directions Button to your blog

• Add Three Different Directions to your Blogroll

• Follow Three Different Directions publicly

• Subscribe to Three Different Directions RSS Feed by Email or Reader
  

This giveaway will end on September 21, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open to U.S. Residents ages 18+. The winners will be chosen by random.org and will be e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or an alternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you are stating that you have read my **About Reviews statement at the bottom of this page and my Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

Clorox College Survival Guide 2009 - Tips & Advice

The Clorox College Survival Guide 2009 is a .pdf featuring advice compiled from current college students and of course their moms ♥. The up and coming freshmen can check this out to find out what to pack for the dorm room, the latest fashions they'll see on campus, and of course what mom has to say. (Somehow if it comes from "someone" else's mom it's worth listening to right?)

It includes useful advice like: The School Part of going to "School", How To Do a 5 Minute Dorm Room Clean-Up, and the Correct Way to Cover Your Cough (so you don't get your room mate sick!) This guide is worth printing off and tacking to the cork board, both while getting ready for and at college.

A National Version of the guide is available at Mom Central, and Regional Versions can be found on the Clorox Survival Guide's Facebook Fan Page, on the left hand side. I've become a fan of the page, because the information is useful even if you don't have a child going off to college.

To give you a better idea of what the College Survival Guide 2009 is about, here's a video introduction from one of the contributors.

If you found this post helpful, fee free to tweet about it and use the hashtag #collegeguide so others can find it in their search for college prep.

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of The Clorox Company and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

This Sheet Works!

I've been intrigued by Purex's Complete 3-1 Laundry Sheets ever since I heard of them. I couldn't resist picking up a package at the store yesterday even though I did not need any laundry detergent. How scary is it, that I was excited to do laundry today? Lol! In all truth though I think this is a great product and as I was doing the laundry I thought I'd show you first hand how they look and work!

If you would like to download a coupon to try it yourself go to:

http://www.purex.com/thissheetworks/ (and really it does!)

Flat Iron Cleaner: Hana Salon

A while ago I did a review on a Hana Mini Flat Iron, which I ♥ ♥ ♥ ! Well those nice peeps over at Hana Salon, recently sent me some of their cleaner to try and share with you what I think about it.

I haven't had my flat iron very long, but regular use, especially when using hair care products tends to leave residue on the ceramic plates, and the moisture in the bathroom often leaves things sticking to them as well.

The same day I received the Hana Styling Iron Cleaner, I made quick work of cleaning the gunk off the plates. Now the gummy junk (hence the word gunk), was not that bad on my flat iron, but I have no doubt that even when it is caked on because I leave it for months weeks it would loosen the dirt easily.

To use, you just spray this safe, non-toxic cleaner on warm plates (not hot, and make sure it's not plugged in). Since my plates were not overly dirty I just used a microfiber cloth to rub it clean. A soft toothbrush would work well for if you have to scrub a little harder ☺.

If you have a flat iron having the Hana Styling Iron Cleaner is a definite investment for it. This will keep it looking and working as good as the day you bought it.

A 6oz bottle is $22.99 and for best results should be used daily. You can find out more information at HanaSalon.com.

This product review was made possible due to It's A Glam Thing and Hana Salon. A bottle of Hana Styling Iron Cleaner was provided to me for use prior to writing this review. Please read **About Reviews at the bottom of the page.

Windex Outdoor All-In-One Review

I am only 4'9" tall. Yes, my 13 year old daughter now stands taller than I. You can imagine the trouble it is for me to reach anything a foot over my head (which doesn't even bring me to reaching up to six feet!). That is why Windex Outdoor All-In-One is wonderful for me to wash my windows. I used this for the first time this year and it is fantastic.

This is how you use it. Spray your window and the cleaning pad with water. Wipe the window with the cleaning pad. Rinse the window with your hose. Voila! You're done.

* Windex's Special Sheeting Action Formula prevents spots and streaks form being left on your windows.
* You can clean up to 20 windows with one cleaning pad (and you can buy refills!).
And by far my favorite feature
* No step stools or ladders for us tiny people! The pole allows you to reach up to 11 feet.

It really cleaned well and there is a reason Windex has been around for ages, that's because it's a quality product.

I was able to test out this kit courtesy of Bzzagent and Windex.

Please read **About Reviews at the bottom of this page.