How environmentally friendly are all our common cleaning products such as washing powder ,washing up liquid , floor cleaner ,car wash etc ?
How much legislation is in place to ensure the minimum damage to our waterways and seas ? Sorry if this is a daft question, but it’s just popped into my little brain now that I had not really given this much thought before and that we all pour these products down the drain by the bucket full constantly .

Try Ecover they are pretty good and don’t harm septic tanks if you have one.
I use some of there products because I have sensitive skin so try to stay away from some of the chemicals , also can’t use rubber gloves as I have a latex problem. Found Ecover good few years ago,started off using there washing up liquid etc and have stuck with it ever since.

Thanks Carol Ann
I must admit I haven’t looked at E cover produce for a while ,I remember thinking they were rather expensive in comparison to other cleaning products last time I looked .Having said that if not enough people buy them they will always stay a niche product . So it’s probably time to put my money where my heart is and make sure I’m buying what’s in the best interests of future generations .

I have used that product and many similar products for years and years, every little helps as they say. Shop around for the best price, most large supermarkets stock it now so you don’t have to go down the route I started with – i.e. confined to health shops.

Shirl

We’ve lived with a septic tank for the last 20 years and it certainly makes you think about what chemicals we pump down the drain. It took a while, but the lovely Mrs Alf realised that bleach in any form is death to our sewage system! We used Ecover products for a while but Mrs A stopped buying these as she felt they were not effective enough. We do use biological wash powders (not the Ecover version) and have found that we now need to have the septic tank emptied far less frequently. Neither of us have ever suffered any kind of adverse reaction to wearing clothes washed this way. In small quantities bio powders are also good for cleaning other things including the loo and yucky drains. OK, the enzymes may take longer to break down in the environment, but used sparingly I’m not aware of any major issue with them. I understand that from this year, European regulations will require that all washing formulas must be biodegradable and phosphate free.

Alf

Alf, have you tried Ecos washing liquid? I found it at an online healthfood store, (and I think Holland and Barrett stock it sometimes) I think it does a better job than Ecover.

__________________
"The earth is our mother…that which we put into the ground she returns to us." Big Thunder (Bedagi)

I’ll certainly look out for it and will mention to Mrs A.
Alf

Google Ethical Superstore, it’s an online company which sells a huge range of ethically sourced, sustainable products. If you’re looking for eco-friendly, not tested on animals, Fairtrade etc, then that’s the place to look.

I’ve used their Bio-D range of washing up liquid, washing liquid (they also have washing powder) and fabric softeners for years.

Another company I use for toileteries, cosmetics, toothpaste etc is Lavera, a German company, Ethical Superstore sell some of their range, as does Holland and Barrett. I’ve used their products for years as well.

Regards, Audrey.

__________________
My Flickr Site
Inverness Botany Group