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Chemicals and Washing Powder

Chemicals and Washing Powder

A great deal has been done recently to clean up the chemical industry and yet the sheer volume of harmful chemicals that we are flushing away threatens our environment. One step we can take is to use only washing powders which don't use phosphates. Phosphates clog up rivers and lakes and are harmful to water life such as fish and water life.
When setting your washing machine choose the lowest possible temperature for all but the most stubborn stain.
Use the correct dosage for your washing machine.
Here are a selection of 'green' cleaning products currently on the market:

Asda Eco-Friendly
£1.48, 500ml
FEATURES: No petrochemical-based ingredients; no artificial colours or preservatives; 100% natural fragrance; product not tested on animals; 100% biodegradable ingredients; suitable for septic tanks; all packaging and components can be recycled where facilities exist.
INGREDIENTS: Less than 5% plant-derived non-ionic surfactants; also contains natural fragrance, natural preservative, natural d-limonene.
APPRAISAL: Good all rounder

Tesco Naturally Clean
£1.49, 1 litre
FEATURES: Claims 98% biodegradable; ingredients made from plant extracts; product and ingredients not tested on animals; no phosphates; no bleach.
INGREDIENTS: Non-ionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, soap, amphoteric surfactants, perfumes, limonene, sodium citrate, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone.
APPRAISAL: Good all rounder

Ecover Ecological Squirteco
£1.98, 500ml
FEATURES: Fast and complete biodegrability; minimum impact on aquatic life; against animal testing (approved by Vegan Society).
INGREDIENTS: Up to 30% water, 5-15% plant-based alcohol, less than 5% anionic and non-ionic plant-based surfactants, floral perfume.
APPRAISAL: More expensive but still a good all rounder

Sainsbury's Cleanhome
85p, 1 litre
FEATURES: Only UK own-brand cleaner to be certified to the performance and environmental criteria set down by the European Ecolabel and Swedish Falcon Good Environmental Choice label. Minimum impact on aquatic life and the main packaging materials are recyclable where possible and, when they are not, they are made from recycled materials.
INGREDIENTS: 5-15% anionic surfactants, less than 5% soap. Also contains: perfumes, benzisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone.
APPRAISAL: Good all rounder

Method
£3, 828ml
FEATURES: Biodegradable formula; naturally derived cleanser; 100% recycled plastic bottle. (Stockists include John Lewis and Waitrose.)
INGREDIENTS: Corn- and coconut-derived surfactants, soda ash, potassium hydrate, biodegradable surfactant, fragrance oil blend, colour, purified water.
APPRAISAL: Nice smell but not as effective

Marks & Spencer Naturally Derived
£1.99, 500ml
FEATURES: Gone to amazing lengths to find ingredients that are really effective, without the need for any petrochemicals, artificial colours or preservatives not found in nature; approved by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection; bottle made from 30% recycled plastic; uses a fusion of bergamot oil and South African lemons with a fresh hint of ginger root.
INGREDIENTS: 5-15% soap, less than 5% non-ionic surfactants, also contains limonene, linalool
APPRAISAL: Poor performance

Natural House Surface Spa
£5, 500ml
FEATURES: Made with 83% Soil Association-certified organic ingredients; approved by the Vegan Society; contains quillaja extract, a naturally occurring soap sustainably harvested from the bark of a tree from South America, and coco glucoside, a gentle degreasing agent made from coconuts and tea tree extract; made entirely in England. (Stockists include John Lewis and Waitrose.)
INGREDIENTS: Aqua, organic wine vinegar, coco glucoside, organic grain alcohol, potassium sorbate, natural quillaja bark extract, organic witch-hazel hydrosol, organic tea tree essential oil, natural rosmarinic acid (extracted from herbs of the Labiatae family including sage, rosemary and oregano), ethanol, natural hop extract.
APPRAISAL: strong smell of vinegar


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