Here's what I eat for my real food breakfast every morning:
1) Cottage cheese (Daisy brand, full fat, only contains cultured milk, cream and salt) with homemade jam (organic berries, tiny bit of sugar, even tinier bit of pectin)
2) 1/4 cup orange juice (just enough to swallow my prenatal/DHA vitamin)
3) homemade sprouted wheat cinnamon raisin bread with butter
4) 1/2 cup organic, shade grown, fair trade coffee
---
For breakfast the kids eat a half cup of homemade full fat yogurt with a little bit of homemade organic jam mixed in
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Mascara, Pressed Powder, Face Lotion with SPF
It's been over 2 months since I've posted. Blame the fact that I have 4 toddlers or perhaps that my bathroom is being remodeled. Or the holidays for that matter. Whatever the case may be, I have still been working hard to change the way we live, but I haven't been good about blogging about all our changes. I am making a concerted effort to catch up this week.
I am slowly switching over my make-up as I weed out all the parabens in our house. I use the following things daily: concealer, pressed powder, blush, and mascara. I do use eyeliner and eyeshadow if I'm going out or something, but it's so rare that I'm not worrying about those things yet. So far I've tackled mascara and pressed powder.
Mascara
I used to use whatever was on sale. Often it was Maybelline or Cover Girl. On EWG's database I see mascaras that I've used ranging from a rating of 4 to as high as 8. Not good. A quick summary of the concerns (copied from this article):
I switched to Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara. It scores a 3 (low yellow zone) in the EWG database, due to one ingredient, magnesium aluminum silicate (scores a 4). Everything else scores in the green zone (0-2). I really like this mascara, and it's affordable, too. Technically the entire container is recyclable, but again, that depends on what your neighborhood actually recycles.
The only issue I have is that the brush is plastic and every so often I am an idiot and slip and hit my eye -- the plastic wand HURTS! So just don't be a klutz like me and you should be fine. Other than that I find this mascara to be equally as good as any other brand I've used. I'm not too picky about my mascara though. This mascara is a bit of a compromise because it does fall in EWG's yellow zone (4), but it is only due to one ingredient and to get in the green zone you have to shell out more money. I feel okay with my decision. I'm especially happy to get rid of the parabens!
Pressed Powder
I typically used Cover Girl pressed powder. Sometimes I used Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, but even though that ranks as safe in the EWG database there are concerns about loose powders and inhaling them, so I prefer a pressed powder. The Cover Girl powder I used scores a 5 in the EWG database. There are four ingredients rating a 5 or 6 and two rating a 3.
I switched to Physicians Formula Organic Wear Pressed Powder. It scores a 1 in the EWG database which is comfortably in the green zone. There are no parabens, synthetic preservatives or fragrances. The compact is made of cardboard and can be recycled. It comes with a little brush and when applied feels very light on my face and lasts all day (better than Cover Girl). It was maybe a dollar or two more than Cover Girl, and I did have to purchase it on Amazon because I couldn't find it at the store.
Daily Face Lotion with SPF
I was using Oil of Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer with SPF 15. It scores a 5 in the EWG database, and if you click the link you'll see a very long list of ingredients in the red and yellow zones. Yikes.
I actually had a lot of difficulty locating an affordable day cream with SPF in the green zone. I finally settled on Desert Essence Gentle Nourishing Day Cream, SPF 15 for Dry and Sensitive Skin. It scores a 2 in the EWG database. The SPF protection comes from zinc oxide (mineral sunscreen) only. There are no parabens, artificial fragrances/dyes, SLS, PEGs, phthalates, etc.
This lotion has a drawbacks. It is thicker because it is a mineral sunscreen, so it is harder to spread and you use more because of that. It doesn't moisturize as well although it's not horrible. The major issue is that it's expensive! It is double the cost of Oil of Olay and you have to buy it on Amazon.
I know there are plenty of cheaper yet safe options without sunscreen that I can explore. I also know that sun exposure has a lot of health benefits in moderation. Once I use this tube up I think I will switch to a day cream without SPF but keep Desert Essence around for days I know I'll spend a lot of time in the sun.
Here's a helpful link to non-toxic beauty products that's worth examining. I like the way it's divided into lists of "Best" and "Good" options. I often choose from the "Good" options because I like to strike a balance between safety and affordability. My goal is to lower our family's exposure to these potentially unsafe ingredients but within reason.
Next time I will update on our adventures in shampoo and conditioner. Other topics to tackle: paper towels/napkins, hand and dish soaps. So much to talk about, so little time!
I am slowly switching over my make-up as I weed out all the parabens in our house. I use the following things daily: concealer, pressed powder, blush, and mascara. I do use eyeliner and eyeshadow if I'm going out or something, but it's so rare that I'm not worrying about those things yet. So far I've tackled mascara and pressed powder.
Mascara
I used to use whatever was on sale. Often it was Maybelline or Cover Girl. On EWG's database I see mascaras that I've used ranging from a rating of 4 to as high as 8. Not good. A quick summary of the concerns (copied from this article):
- Parabens. Mimic the hormone estrogen, which can play a role in the development of breast cancer.
- Phthalates. Chemicals that could damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system.
- Diazolidinyl urea. This chemical releases formaldehyde and acts as a preservative. It could contain carcinogenic impurities and is associated with other significant health problems.
- Ethyl acetate. Prolonged exposure can cause damage to the lungs, heart, kidney and liver.
- Petrolatum. May contain harmful impurities that break down into chemicals linked to cancer.
- Sodium laureth/sodium laurel sulfate. SLS can penetrate into the eyes, as well as brain, heart and liver, and show long-term retention in the tissues.
I switched to Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara. It scores a 3 (low yellow zone) in the EWG database, due to one ingredient, magnesium aluminum silicate (scores a 4). Everything else scores in the green zone (0-2). I really like this mascara, and it's affordable, too. Technically the entire container is recyclable, but again, that depends on what your neighborhood actually recycles.
The only issue I have is that the brush is plastic and every so often I am an idiot and slip and hit my eye -- the plastic wand HURTS! So just don't be a klutz like me and you should be fine. Other than that I find this mascara to be equally as good as any other brand I've used. I'm not too picky about my mascara though. This mascara is a bit of a compromise because it does fall in EWG's yellow zone (4), but it is only due to one ingredient and to get in the green zone you have to shell out more money. I feel okay with my decision. I'm especially happy to get rid of the parabens!
Pressed Powder
I typically used Cover Girl pressed powder. Sometimes I used Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, but even though that ranks as safe in the EWG database there are concerns about loose powders and inhaling them, so I prefer a pressed powder. The Cover Girl powder I used scores a 5 in the EWG database. There are four ingredients rating a 5 or 6 and two rating a 3.
I switched to Physicians Formula Organic Wear Pressed Powder. It scores a 1 in the EWG database which is comfortably in the green zone. There are no parabens, synthetic preservatives or fragrances. The compact is made of cardboard and can be recycled. It comes with a little brush and when applied feels very light on my face and lasts all day (better than Cover Girl). It was maybe a dollar or two more than Cover Girl, and I did have to purchase it on Amazon because I couldn't find it at the store.
Daily Face Lotion with SPF
I was using Oil of Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer with SPF 15. It scores a 5 in the EWG database, and if you click the link you'll see a very long list of ingredients in the red and yellow zones. Yikes.
I actually had a lot of difficulty locating an affordable day cream with SPF in the green zone. I finally settled on Desert Essence Gentle Nourishing Day Cream, SPF 15 for Dry and Sensitive Skin. It scores a 2 in the EWG database. The SPF protection comes from zinc oxide (mineral sunscreen) only. There are no parabens, artificial fragrances/dyes, SLS, PEGs, phthalates, etc.
This lotion has a drawbacks. It is thicker because it is a mineral sunscreen, so it is harder to spread and you use more because of that. It doesn't moisturize as well although it's not horrible. The major issue is that it's expensive! It is double the cost of Oil of Olay and you have to buy it on Amazon.
I know there are plenty of cheaper yet safe options without sunscreen that I can explore. I also know that sun exposure has a lot of health benefits in moderation. Once I use this tube up I think I will switch to a day cream without SPF but keep Desert Essence around for days I know I'll spend a lot of time in the sun.
Here's a helpful link to non-toxic beauty products that's worth examining. I like the way it's divided into lists of "Best" and "Good" options. I often choose from the "Good" options because I like to strike a balance between safety and affordability. My goal is to lower our family's exposure to these potentially unsafe ingredients but within reason.
Next time I will update on our adventures in shampoo and conditioner. Other topics to tackle: paper towels/napkins, hand and dish soaps. So much to talk about, so little time!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Popcorn
I have been feeling wary about microwave popcorn lately. First of all, the lining of the bag can release PFOA, (a chemical related to Teflon) into the popcorn oil after being heated. PFOA is carcinogenic in lab animals. Then there's the artificial butter that often contains the chemical diacetyl. Workers in popcorn factories (exposed to large amounts of it) have contracted bronchiolitis obliterans, a life-threatening form of lung disease (often called popcorn lung because it can happen to these workers). Even without the diacetyl issue, artificial butter isn't good for you.
I know I can just pop popcorn on the stove and sometimes I do, but sometimes I'm lazy and don't feel like it. I just came across a method for popping popcorn in a paper bag in the microwave. You put 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in a paper bag, fold the top (accordion-style) twice, then put a piece of scotch tape in the middle to keep it closed. Microwave as usual. Melt 1 Tbsp butter with some salt in a glass Pyrex measuring cup and pour over popcorn.
Yum!!
We were getting Orville Redenbacher's Natural Butter popcorn at the store, but it was insanely expensive (3 packs for about $3.50). That was 7.5 Tbsp (unpopped) for $3.50. We bought a thing of plain kernels for $5.99 (63 Tbsp). I even found organic popcorn on Amazon (for next time around) that is significantly cheaper than the plain kernels we got at the store.
The taste is way better, too. Oh, and you can re-pop any wasted kernels and re-use the paper bag!
I know I can just pop popcorn on the stove and sometimes I do, but sometimes I'm lazy and don't feel like it. I just came across a method for popping popcorn in a paper bag in the microwave. You put 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in a paper bag, fold the top (accordion-style) twice, then put a piece of scotch tape in the middle to keep it closed. Microwave as usual. Melt 1 Tbsp butter with some salt in a glass Pyrex measuring cup and pour over popcorn.
Yum!!
We were getting Orville Redenbacher's Natural Butter popcorn at the store, but it was insanely expensive (3 packs for about $3.50). That was 7.5 Tbsp (unpopped) for $3.50. We bought a thing of plain kernels for $5.99 (63 Tbsp). I even found organic popcorn on Amazon (for next time around) that is significantly cheaper than the plain kernels we got at the store.
The taste is way better, too. Oh, and you can re-pop any wasted kernels and re-use the paper bag!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Chicken stock (bone broth)
I started making my own chicken stock a couple of months ago. I had been using Herb Ox Sodium Free Chicken Granules (No MSG added). Yeah that doesn't sound like real food.
Ingredients in those granules:
Sugar, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Monoammonium Glutamate (basically MSG), Gelatin, Dextrose, Chicken Fat, Turmeric Color, Dehydrated Parsley, Flavoring, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate, Silicon Dioxide (Anticaking Agent).
The point is, I can do better than this, and I can do it using stuff I was throwing away (so for nearly free). Chicken stock (bone broth) has all kinds of goodness in it, including easy to absorb minerals and gelatin.
It's super easy to make, too. Here's what I do:
1) Roast a chicken. I use this recipe to keep my chicken nice and moist (chicken is in a covered container). Save all the juices that collect in the container.
2) Pick off all the meat. Shred and freeze what you don't need right away (in a freezer bag). It will still be fine for any recipe except eating it just as is). We just did this yesterday and used the chicken to make white chili and chicken and bean sauce for the kids (they devour it).
3) Unless your chicken is organic/pastured (as in, you trust your source) discard the chicken skin as well as the organs. If it's from a trusted source, toss this stuff in your crockpot.
4) Put the bones/tendons/scraps in your crockpot. (Alternatively, you could freeze them in a plastic bag til you've collected even more bones or have time to deal with them.)
5) Add any juices from the roast chicken, then cover bones with cold, filtered water.
6) Add a couple tablespoons apple cider vinegar and let sit for an hour or so to draw the minerals out of the bones.
7) Toss in scraps of vegetables (I keep a freezer bag of celery tops, carrots, and old veggies that would have gone bad before we got to them, etc. except for broccoli). I quarter an onion and add a bunch of crushed garlic (usually cloves that are older just to use them up). Add more water if necessary to keep stuff submerged.
8) Simmer broth in crockpot on low for up to 24 hours. I usually go about 14-18 hours. Skim anything off the top in the first hour if you see stuff there.
9) At this point you can set your crockpot to warm if you are busy. Otherwise, get a big bowl and put a strainer over it. Scoop the bones and veggies into the strainer and press a ladle against them to squeeze the liquid into the bowl. Toss bones/veggies. Strain the rest of the broth.
10) Let cool down a little bit if your ice cube trays are plastic, then pour into ice cube trays. You could save some for chicken soup, too.
11) Let freeze. Pop out cubes and store in a plastic bag in freezer.
12) I have found that 2-3 cubes (plus 1 cup cold, filtered water) = 1 cup of broth in a recipe. Add salt to recipes as needed.
So yummy!
Ingredients in those granules:
Sugar, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Monoammonium Glutamate (basically MSG), Gelatin, Dextrose, Chicken Fat, Turmeric Color, Dehydrated Parsley, Flavoring, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate, Silicon Dioxide (Anticaking Agent).
The point is, I can do better than this, and I can do it using stuff I was throwing away (so for nearly free). Chicken stock (bone broth) has all kinds of goodness in it, including easy to absorb minerals and gelatin.
It's super easy to make, too. Here's what I do:
1) Roast a chicken. I use this recipe to keep my chicken nice and moist (chicken is in a covered container). Save all the juices that collect in the container.
2) Pick off all the meat. Shred and freeze what you don't need right away (in a freezer bag). It will still be fine for any recipe except eating it just as is). We just did this yesterday and used the chicken to make white chili and chicken and bean sauce for the kids (they devour it).
3) Unless your chicken is organic/pastured (as in, you trust your source) discard the chicken skin as well as the organs. If it's from a trusted source, toss this stuff in your crockpot.
4) Put the bones/tendons/scraps in your crockpot. (Alternatively, you could freeze them in a plastic bag til you've collected even more bones or have time to deal with them.)
5) Add any juices from the roast chicken, then cover bones with cold, filtered water.
6) Add a couple tablespoons apple cider vinegar and let sit for an hour or so to draw the minerals out of the bones.
7) Toss in scraps of vegetables (I keep a freezer bag of celery tops, carrots, and old veggies that would have gone bad before we got to them, etc. except for broccoli). I quarter an onion and add a bunch of crushed garlic (usually cloves that are older just to use them up). Add more water if necessary to keep stuff submerged.
8) Simmer broth in crockpot on low for up to 24 hours. I usually go about 14-18 hours. Skim anything off the top in the first hour if you see stuff there.
9) At this point you can set your crockpot to warm if you are busy. Otherwise, get a big bowl and put a strainer over it. Scoop the bones and veggies into the strainer and press a ladle against them to squeeze the liquid into the bowl. Toss bones/veggies. Strain the rest of the broth.
10) Let cool down a little bit if your ice cube trays are plastic, then pour into ice cube trays. You could save some for chicken soup, too.
11) Let freeze. Pop out cubes and store in a plastic bag in freezer.
12) I have found that 2-3 cubes (plus 1 cup cold, filtered water) = 1 cup of broth in a recipe. Add salt to recipes as needed.
So yummy!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Coffee
Last month we switched from regular bagged, ground coffee to organic, fair trade, shade grown, whole bean coffee (Camano Island brand). Don't freak out -- the price is better than you'd think. Here's why we switched:
1) It's certified organic.
Most of the countries coffee is grown in are very unregulated. They often use toxic pesticides and fertilizers that aren't even legal here in the United States. Coffee is porous and absorbs pesticides very easily. Camano Island's coffee is certified organic. They also require the land the coffee is grown on to have been artificial pesticide/fertilizer free for at least 7 years.
2) It's shade grown.
Shade grown coffee = no rainforests were destroyed to grow said coffee. I will say that shade grown is not always necessary. For example, there may be situations where no rain forest existed in the first place, so it wouldn't matter in those cases. For the coffee I was purchasing, however, its location did mean I needed to find a shade grown source. If you aren't sure just err on the safe side. Some sources say shade grown coffee tastes better, too, because it grows more slowly.
3) It's fair trade.
The farmers are paid a fair wage for their coffee. Now, I do realize that there is some controversy in the way the Fairtrade Foundation operates (as in how much actually gets to the farmers). For a general overview, go here. It's certainly not perfect. In doing research I found a few other coffee companies that seemed even more legitimate than Camano but the prices were outrageous.
Camano Island does help its farmers. Here's a 2008 article in which the author describes the company's "Direct Trade" approach -- dealing directly with the farmers and eliminating the middlemen. This probably helps get the farmers a better price for their coffee beans. Camano Island also offers interest free loans to their farmers to help them get their products up to organic standards. From what I can tell they do seem to be helping coffee growing families increase their standard of living to some extent. The company also donates to Agros International (who helps set up villages land grants, medical care, education, etc.) Part of the price of your coffee purchase goes directly to this cause (in the villages where the coffee was grown).
4) It's an American company, started on Camano Island, WA.
It's always an added bonus to support American companies.
5) It's fresh-roasted, vacuum sealed, and whole bean (although you can also purchase ground coffee).
The whole bean thing took some adjusting to for us labor-wise, but we always knew fresh ground coffee was best anyway. Once we got into the rhythm of grinding it's been great to get that yummy flavor back again. We got a 5 pound bag and froze it in 1 pound amounts. Then we just grind what we need.
6) Free shipping, either on Amazon or on their own website (can be automated, too).
7) It tastes really great! (well-reviewed, too!)
We got the Papua New Guinea Medium roast (we prefer medium or light coffees), and it's fantastic. When we had other coffee (including other organic, fair trade from the store) it couldn't hold a candle to this coffee. Now, some of that is most likely due to the fact that it is fresher (properly stored) and whole bean, but I do feel like at least part of it has to be the roasting process.
8) It's actually pretty affordable!
I really hate Folgers and Maxwell House-type coffee. I mean, I'd drink it in a pinch, but we never buy it. You can't beat that price. The best deal we could get on coffee at the store that we'd actually purchase is when New England coffee is on sale for $5.99/12 ounces. That works out to 50 cents per ounce. When it's not on sale it runs $6.99/12 ounces (58 cents/ounce).
Camano Island whole bean 5lb bags (80 ounces) are $49.90. That works out to 62 cents per ounce (free shipping). That is a totally reasonable price increase for the huge advantages we're getting by switching -- even for one of those reasons I think it'd be worth it!
1) It's certified organic.
Most of the countries coffee is grown in are very unregulated. They often use toxic pesticides and fertilizers that aren't even legal here in the United States. Coffee is porous and absorbs pesticides very easily. Camano Island's coffee is certified organic. They also require the land the coffee is grown on to have been artificial pesticide/fertilizer free for at least 7 years.
2) It's shade grown.
Shade grown coffee = no rainforests were destroyed to grow said coffee. I will say that shade grown is not always necessary. For example, there may be situations where no rain forest existed in the first place, so it wouldn't matter in those cases. For the coffee I was purchasing, however, its location did mean I needed to find a shade grown source. If you aren't sure just err on the safe side. Some sources say shade grown coffee tastes better, too, because it grows more slowly.
3) It's fair trade.
The farmers are paid a fair wage for their coffee. Now, I do realize that there is some controversy in the way the Fairtrade Foundation operates (as in how much actually gets to the farmers). For a general overview, go here. It's certainly not perfect. In doing research I found a few other coffee companies that seemed even more legitimate than Camano but the prices were outrageous.
Camano Island does help its farmers. Here's a 2008 article in which the author describes the company's "Direct Trade" approach -- dealing directly with the farmers and eliminating the middlemen. This probably helps get the farmers a better price for their coffee beans. Camano Island also offers interest free loans to their farmers to help them get their products up to organic standards. From what I can tell they do seem to be helping coffee growing families increase their standard of living to some extent. The company also donates to Agros International (who helps set up villages land grants, medical care, education, etc.) Part of the price of your coffee purchase goes directly to this cause (in the villages where the coffee was grown).
4) It's an American company, started on Camano Island, WA.
It's always an added bonus to support American companies.
5) It's fresh-roasted, vacuum sealed, and whole bean (although you can also purchase ground coffee).
The whole bean thing took some adjusting to for us labor-wise, but we always knew fresh ground coffee was best anyway. Once we got into the rhythm of grinding it's been great to get that yummy flavor back again. We got a 5 pound bag and froze it in 1 pound amounts. Then we just grind what we need.
6) Free shipping, either on Amazon or on their own website (can be automated, too).
7) It tastes really great! (well-reviewed, too!)
We got the Papua New Guinea Medium roast (we prefer medium or light coffees), and it's fantastic. When we had other coffee (including other organic, fair trade from the store) it couldn't hold a candle to this coffee. Now, some of that is most likely due to the fact that it is fresher (properly stored) and whole bean, but I do feel like at least part of it has to be the roasting process.
8) It's actually pretty affordable!
I really hate Folgers and Maxwell House-type coffee. I mean, I'd drink it in a pinch, but we never buy it. You can't beat that price. The best deal we could get on coffee at the store that we'd actually purchase is when New England coffee is on sale for $5.99/12 ounces. That works out to 50 cents per ounce. When it's not on sale it runs $6.99/12 ounces (58 cents/ounce).
Camano Island whole bean 5lb bags (80 ounces) are $49.90. That works out to 62 cents per ounce (free shipping). That is a totally reasonable price increase for the huge advantages we're getting by switching -- even for one of those reasons I think it'd be worth it!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Dishwasher detergent
We almost always purchased Cascade until a couple of weeks ago. Sometimes I'd go for those pre-packaged little squares of dish detergent in whatever brand, but for the most part Cascade was our detergent of choice. For over a week we've been using Biokleen Free & Clear Automatic Dish Powder.
The ingredients in Biokleen's dish detergent:
Natural oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) - scores a 0
Vegetable fiber
Natural anti-corrosive agents (I found a journal article discussing these as various plant extracts)
Grapefruit seed and pulp extract - scores a 0
Soda ash (sodium carbonate) - scores a 0
Sodium citrate - scores a 0
Readily biodegradable nonionic surfactants (proprietary??)
The ingredients in Cascade:
Sodium carbonate (soda ash) - scores a 0
Sodium sulfate - scores a 1
Water - scores a 0
Sodium silicate - scores a 3 (irritant)
Sodium percarbonate - scores a 0
Modified polyacrylate - no score, a skin and eye irritant although non-toxic if ingested?
Alcohol alkoxylate - no score, a nonionic surfactant ... MSDS sheet said to avoid it seeping into sewage systems so that can't be too good
Polyethylene glycol - scores as high as a 6
Hydrozincite - no score, a mineral, reduces metal tarnishing
Amine Cobalt Salt - no score, uncertain of its function
Protease - scores a 0, an enzyme
Amylase - scores as high as a 3, an enzyme
Perfume - scores an 8 (under fragrance, a catch-all term for any number of ingredients)
Cascade used to contain phosphates, but it doesn't anymore. Phosphates help soften water and suspend dirt, but they also are bad for the environment. They get into our rivers, increasing algae growth which then inhibits the oxygen needed for healthy aquatic life. Not good!
Also, it's hard to say if dish detergent is 100% removed from dishes after the rinse cycle, so I'd like to use one that is as safe as possible should I accidentally consume some residue. I doubt that's a problem once but over time that can't be too great.
I can't tell a difference between Cascade and Biokleen. They both work great. I have even tested out using half a tablespoon of Biokleen (instead of one) and my dishes still look good. I also like that I can't smell any fragrances. I have a pretty good dishwasher and do pre-rinse (just slightly), so your results may vary depending on your dishwasher and tendency to rinse.
Cost comparison on Amazon:
Biokleen Free & Clear 32 ounces (64 loads ... double this if you can get away with half a scoop): $12.50 (39 cents/oz, but you can double the load # and it goes down to about 20 cents/oz)
Cascade Complete Powder 45oz 2pack (so 90 ounces): $16.93 (19 cents/oz) -- the directions say to fill the entire 2 chambers of your soap dispenser. I only fill one chamber and it takes 2 Tbsp. to clean my dishes (I could maybe get it down to 1 Tbsp). Essentially I need double the amount of Cascade.
1 ounce = 2 tablespoons. So for each ounce of Biokleen I can do 4 loads. 32oz x 4 loads/oz = 128 loads for $12.50. For each ounce of Cascade I can do 2 loads. 90oz x 1 load/oz = 90 loads for $16.93. 90oz x 2 loads/oz = 180 loads for $16.93.
So if I use half a tablespoon per load with Biokleen and 1 tablespoon per load with Cascade, Cacade is 2/5ths of a cent cheaper per load. However if I use 2 tablespoons like I normally do with Cascade, then Biokleen is cheaper.
Phew! That was a bit lengthy, sorry. =)
Convenient access:
It is much easier to get Cascade than it is to get Biokleen. This is often the case with green products, but it's easily purchased on Amazon if you're willing to venture online.
I'm satisfied with this switch, plus the container takes up way less room in the cabinet. One thing to note: you have to provide your own scoop (encourages you to reuse, I guess?).
The ingredients in Biokleen's dish detergent:
Natural oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) - scores a 0
Vegetable fiber
Natural anti-corrosive agents (I found a journal article discussing these as various plant extracts)
Grapefruit seed and pulp extract - scores a 0
Soda ash (sodium carbonate) - scores a 0
Sodium citrate - scores a 0
Readily biodegradable nonionic surfactants (proprietary??)
The ingredients in Cascade:
Sodium carbonate (soda ash) - scores a 0
Sodium sulfate - scores a 1
Water - scores a 0
Sodium silicate - scores a 3 (irritant)
Sodium percarbonate - scores a 0
Modified polyacrylate - no score, a skin and eye irritant although non-toxic if ingested?
Alcohol alkoxylate - no score, a nonionic surfactant ... MSDS sheet said to avoid it seeping into sewage systems so that can't be too good
Polyethylene glycol - scores as high as a 6
Hydrozincite - no score, a mineral, reduces metal tarnishing
Amine Cobalt Salt - no score, uncertain of its function
Protease - scores a 0, an enzyme
Amylase - scores as high as a 3, an enzyme
Perfume - scores an 8 (under fragrance, a catch-all term for any number of ingredients)
Cascade used to contain phosphates, but it doesn't anymore. Phosphates help soften water and suspend dirt, but they also are bad for the environment. They get into our rivers, increasing algae growth which then inhibits the oxygen needed for healthy aquatic life. Not good!
Also, it's hard to say if dish detergent is 100% removed from dishes after the rinse cycle, so I'd like to use one that is as safe as possible should I accidentally consume some residue. I doubt that's a problem once but over time that can't be too great.
I can't tell a difference between Cascade and Biokleen. They both work great. I have even tested out using half a tablespoon of Biokleen (instead of one) and my dishes still look good. I also like that I can't smell any fragrances. I have a pretty good dishwasher and do pre-rinse (just slightly), so your results may vary depending on your dishwasher and tendency to rinse.
Cost comparison on Amazon:
Biokleen Free & Clear 32 ounces (64 loads ... double this if you can get away with half a scoop): $12.50 (39 cents/oz, but you can double the load # and it goes down to about 20 cents/oz)
Cascade Complete Powder 45oz 2pack (so 90 ounces): $16.93 (19 cents/oz) -- the directions say to fill the entire 2 chambers of your soap dispenser. I only fill one chamber and it takes 2 Tbsp. to clean my dishes (I could maybe get it down to 1 Tbsp). Essentially I need double the amount of Cascade.
1 ounce = 2 tablespoons. So for each ounce of Biokleen I can do 4 loads. 32oz x 4 loads/oz = 128 loads for $12.50. For each ounce of Cascade I can do 2 loads. 90oz x 1 load/oz = 90 loads for $16.93. 90oz x 2 loads/oz = 180 loads for $16.93.
So if I use half a tablespoon per load with Biokleen and 1 tablespoon per load with Cascade, Cacade is 2/5ths of a cent cheaper per load. However if I use 2 tablespoons like I normally do with Cascade, then Biokleen is cheaper.
Phew! That was a bit lengthy, sorry. =)
Convenient access:
It is much easier to get Cascade than it is to get Biokleen. This is often the case with green products, but it's easily purchased on Amazon if you're willing to venture online.
I'm satisfied with this switch, plus the container takes up way less room in the cabinet. One thing to note: you have to provide your own scoop (encourages you to reuse, I guess?).
Laundry detergent
Since the babies were born we have been using Tide Free. Last month we switched to Biokleen All Temperature Citrus Laundry Powder (with chlorine-free bleach). All of its ingredients fall in the green zone and a couple are plant extracts (natural but couldn't search on EWG).
The ingredients list for Tide Free HE is long. I didn't put everything into the EWG database, but most of the ones I entered fell in the green or yellow zone. Tide contains borax -- I didn't even know that! Borax (rated a 6 by EWG) is something I want to be cautious of since it can be very toxic in infants (if ingested). It can also cause respiratory and skin irritations. I don't think it has to be avoided at all costs, but I am glad to find a replacement detergent without borax just in case. I also like that it has oxygen bleach in it, so I can stop using OxyClean Free (saves money and time!).
It was strange switching back to a powder detergent after using liquid for so long, but I don't mind. I put about 1/2 to 2/3 a scoop of detergent in per load (1.5-2Tbsp). We have a front-loading HE machine. I haven't noticed a difference in cleaning power, so I will take that to be a good thing! I also like the light citrus scent, although it doesn't linger after going through the dryer.
Some nice things about Biokleen:
-No artificial fragrances, colors or preservatives (this holds true for Tide except preservatives)
-Manufactured with 100% green energy (wind, I believe? ... 100% according to Biokleen, of course, I can't say for sure ...)
-Rapidly biodegrades/safe for environment (the surfactants in Tide also biodegrade)
-Does not contain SLS or optical brighteners
-No animal testing
Cost comparison on Amazon:
Biokleen 5lb box (75 HE loads): $15.99 (17 cents/ounce). If you subscribe and get a 4 pack of 10lb boxes it goes down to 8 cents/ounce.
Tide Free HE liquid 50 ounces (32 loads): $10.57 (21 cents/ounce). If you subscribe you can get it down to 18 cents/ounce.
Tide Free HE powder 113-ounces (80 loads): $21.99 (19 cents/ounce). If you subscribe you can get it down to 17 cents/ounce.
Convenient access:
It's obviously easier to find Tide Free, but I saw Biokleen at our local grocery store in the organic aisle, so it's not impossible to locate.
The savings in going green with Biokleen are pretty incredible! It is literally half the cost of Tide Free (comparing subscription prices). Even without a subscription it works out to be about the same price per load (looking at Tide powder). You can also recycle the cardboard because it doesn't have a chemical liner like normal boxes of detergent. There is a plastic bag inside the box to help preserve the powder. It is technically recyclable but that would depend on what your area recycles. The only drawback is convenience, but I am finding that once you adjust to Amazon it ends up being more convenient to have your stuff automatically show up at your door just as you're realizing you're running low.
The ingredients list for Tide Free HE is long. I didn't put everything into the EWG database, but most of the ones I entered fell in the green or yellow zone. Tide contains borax -- I didn't even know that! Borax (rated a 6 by EWG) is something I want to be cautious of since it can be very toxic in infants (if ingested). It can also cause respiratory and skin irritations. I don't think it has to be avoided at all costs, but I am glad to find a replacement detergent without borax just in case. I also like that it has oxygen bleach in it, so I can stop using OxyClean Free (saves money and time!).
It was strange switching back to a powder detergent after using liquid for so long, but I don't mind. I put about 1/2 to 2/3 a scoop of detergent in per load (1.5-2Tbsp). We have a front-loading HE machine. I haven't noticed a difference in cleaning power, so I will take that to be a good thing! I also like the light citrus scent, although it doesn't linger after going through the dryer.
Some nice things about Biokleen:
-No artificial fragrances, colors or preservatives (this holds true for Tide except preservatives)
-Manufactured with 100% green energy (wind, I believe? ... 100% according to Biokleen, of course, I can't say for sure ...)
-Rapidly biodegrades/safe for environment (the surfactants in Tide also biodegrade)
-Does not contain SLS or optical brighteners
-No animal testing
Cost comparison on Amazon:
Biokleen 5lb box (75 HE loads): $15.99 (17 cents/ounce). If you subscribe and get a 4 pack of 10lb boxes it goes down to 8 cents/ounce.
Tide Free HE liquid 50 ounces (32 loads): $10.57 (21 cents/ounce). If you subscribe you can get it down to 18 cents/ounce.
Tide Free HE powder 113-ounces (80 loads): $21.99 (19 cents/ounce). If you subscribe you can get it down to 17 cents/ounce.
Convenient access:
It's obviously easier to find Tide Free, but I saw Biokleen at our local grocery store in the organic aisle, so it's not impossible to locate.
The savings in going green with Biokleen are pretty incredible! It is literally half the cost of Tide Free (comparing subscription prices). Even without a subscription it works out to be about the same price per load (looking at Tide powder). You can also recycle the cardboard because it doesn't have a chemical liner like normal boxes of detergent. There is a plastic bag inside the box to help preserve the powder. It is technically recyclable but that would depend on what your area recycles. The only drawback is convenience, but I am finding that once you adjust to Amazon it ends up being more convenient to have your stuff automatically show up at your door just as you're realizing you're running low.
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