SHE’S GREEN JOHN BURKHART
HE’S GREEN HOME
Product reviews from our eco-conscious couple John & Jennifer Burkhart
JENNIFER BURKHART
We think any time is a good time to bring more eco-friendly products into your life, but why not especially during “spring cleaning?” Open those windows, air out the house, and make some healthy changes by purging some harmful products from your home. Not sure where to start? Read on for a few easy switches to a healthier abode.
U KONSERVE
FOOD KOZY REUSABLE WRAPS HE SAID: You need to be a bit of an origami master to utilize these
properly. Fold them up wrong and you'll be letting air in. I also found them a tad small—I wasn't able to fold around anything longer than six or seven inches. These were great for sandwiches or muffins, and the best part is that they double as a plate once you unfold them. Nifty!
TWIST
SCRUB SPONGE HE SAID: I totally went all slasher flick on one of these to see how durable they were. Held up pretty good, not a single cut in the sponge. But they were still vulnerable to the dreaded sponge funk smell. I felt like these started smelling quicker than most sponges. I also kind of wish they weren't bright white. They quickly looked (and smelled) funky.
GRAB GREEN
POWER DEGREASER, KITCHEN, TANGERINE WITH LEMONGRASS HE SAID: This Grab Green was a convenient kitchen cleanser, but calling it a power degreaser is like calling a Ford Pinto a Ferrari. Sure they both do the same thing, just one does it way better. It took two passes to remove light stovetop grease. I did really enjoy the bright lemongrass and tangerine scent though.
SHE SAID: I loved this design for sandwiches! So much
easier to get the food in and out, and the transformation to a plate is just so convenient! I did have a bit of trouble wrapping smaller items, due to the durable thick plastic and Velcro not lining up quite evenly. However, these are still an awesome choice, and kept a sandwich fresh for at least 24 hours.
SHE SAID: Ok, so, not the most exciting thing to talk
about, but roll with me here. Anything that makes doing dishes less of a chore is a-o.k. in my book. This biodegradable sponge made quick work of the dish pile, with lots of lather and scrub power from natural cellulose fibers. They are even hand sewn! The only negative is what John mentioned—they were quick to smell icky (but stayed white, actually. Let's face it, I do more dishes... and rinse the sponge, ha!).
SHE SAID: So, I never think to clean those tiny, good-for-
tall-people-only cabinets above my stove, but they're the worst for caked-on grease and dust. Well you know what? They're clean now! I also put this degreaser to the test on the worst neglected nooks and crannies of my white stove. Yup, finally, that super stubborn, ugly film—gone. The downside? The fragrance started to irritate my nose. Must have been the “safer(?) man-made ingredients” listed on the label (what does that mean??). Just buy the fragrancefree to avoid those.
FRESH WAVE
ODOR REMOVING GEL HE SAID: This one doesn't make sense to me on a scientific
level. The main ingredient is highly absorbent polymer, but its already very saturated with water and essential oils so I don't see how it can absorb ambient odors. I consider this one more of a long-lasting, slow-release air freshener. It gave off a faint, pleasant scent that sorta reminded me of ginger beer. When you're done with this don't throw it out. It holds moisture very well, which makes it a good garden soil amendment.
42
greenliving | March 2020
SHE SAID: With four males in the house—two of them of
the senior canine and feline persuasion—you can imagine the daily battle for fresh air around here. The dog bed area is especially odorous, so that's right where this “can of hope” was placed. The woodsy/leather-bound-book scent wasn't my preference, but I could only smell it if I was right next to it. I did notice a reduction in the dog funk over the following few days, wahoo! It works, and is non-toxic too.
greenlivingaz.com
