1. smartchoices
The new generation of chemical-free dirt busters really works
Greenand Clean!
Go
By Sara Altshul
Onanyone’s shortlistofcleaningexperts,
I’mnowheretobefound.Ihousecleanlessoften
than your average 10-year-old boy does. Still, I appre-
ciate cleanliness and am very, very good at telling others
how to achieve it. Just ask my husband.
Nevertheless, I jumped at the chance to see if “green” clean-
ing products clean as well as traditional ones. Like many other
people,I’malittlehesitanttoscourmyhomewithproductswhose
labels contain dire warnings not to inhale that are accompanied
by a skull and crossbones. So I hoped these earth-friendly prod-
ucts would do a sensational job of removing household dirt
and grime. I suspected, secretly, that they’d pale in compar-
ison to harsher products because only serious chemicals
can demolish dirt, right? Wrong! As I learned, prod-
ucts made from nontoxic, biodegradable, and
environmentally safe ingredients can be
extremely effective.

2. removed toothpaste smudges and made
my black glass vanity counter sparkle.
Howard Naturals This line includes
all-natural, vegetable-based furniture care
products (said to be favored by antiques
dealers) and a spray cleaner for stainless
steel, which left a smudge-free, soft glow
on my kitchen sink.
Mrs. Meyer’s I love Mrs. Meyer’s inspired
aromatherapy blends. The dishwashing liq-
uid, for example, is laced with rose geranium.
Lavender-scented Scrub Powder demolished
the burnt-on chicken mess in my roasting
pan, and the Countertop Spray in basil is
scented with a blend of basil, black pepper,
parsley, and eucalyptus essential oils.
Planet Twenty years ago, Planet Inc.
worked with an environmental chemist to
develop nonpolluting household cleaners. Its
products are all unscented and un­colored,
a boon to sensitive people who are aller-
gic to even naturally based fragrances
and colors.
Seventh Generation This complete line
of household cleaners comes in scented and
unscented varieties, and there are personal
careandpaperproductsaswell.Weespecially
liked their laundry products, which include
detergent,fabricsoftener,andnaturalbleach,
the results of which compared well to those
of traditional laundry products.
Where to Buy
You can find green cleaning products at
many supermarkets, health food stores, and
natural food store chains; many are sold at
amazon.com.
How We Tested
For several weeks, my husband, Frank, and
I pitted lots of toxin-free products against
cleaning and laundry chores in our Brooklyn
apartment. We didn’t do anything special,
and we weren’t very scientific. Our niece,
Maria (Susie) diPlacido Gottlieb, who has
fouryoungdaughters,testedautomaticdish-
washing detergents on her daily mountains
of dirty tableware.
Our Favorites
Our picks, listed in alphabetical order by
company name:
Attitude These products clean reli-
ably. Susie reported that the automatic
dishwasher detergent cleaned three loads
perfectly and left no odor. Frank liked the
fabric softener’s “stylish bottle” and praised
its softening power.
Biokleen Founded 20 years ago by a for-
mer industrial cleaning chemical sales rep
who became concerned about the dangers
posed by the products he sold, Biokleen has
a full line of natural, aromatic cleaning prod-
ucts. A couple squeezes of Lemon Thyme
Dishwash Liquid handled a sink full of greasy
dishes, and the label says it makes a great
bubble bath or pet shampoo.
Citra Solv This 20-year-old line of natu-
ral cleansers comes in a Valencia orange
scentplusfouressentialoil-basedfragrances.
We were thrilled when Citra Spot Stain &
Odor Remover completely removed our new
puppy’s pee stain from our also new white
bathroom rug. However, Susie reported that
Citra Dish automatic dishwashing gel left
faint food stains that had to be removed by
hand washing.
EcoDiscoveries This line includes a
natural enzyme spray that removes mold
and mildew and one that freshens air and
fabrics sans chemicals.
Ecover The standout here was the all-
purpose glass and surface cleaner. I really
liked its clean-scented spray that easily
It sounds crazy, but they work. The
dried nuts of the Chinese soapberry
tree, native to India, Nepal, and
Indonesia, have been used as soap
for thousands of years. They contain
saponins, which break the surface
tension of the water so that it pen-
etrates fabrics. Then, the agitation of
the washing machine literally shakes
dirt out of clothes. Just place a few
nuts in the cloth bag provided and turn
on the machine. We washed load after
load and were shocked that the nuts
worked so well. You can find them at
www.maggiespureland.com. BHL
Nuts That
Do the Laundry!
Senior Editor Sara Altshul’s apartment
hasn’t been this clean since she moved in.