When I started this blog, I had no intentions of doing things like giveaways or reviews of products or anything else like that. The Homestead Project is mainly and will always be a journal and how-to kinda blog for me.
So when I was given the opportunity to try out some ‘green’ products and offer to give some away to a blog reader, honestly… I didn’t really know if I wanted to do that sorta thing here. But the more I thought about it, the more I decided this would be a great chance to try a product I haven’t bought yet and maybe give someone else that same opportunity. Part of simplifying for me is definitely finding ways to save money and finding ways to save the earth. I think anyone who reads this blog for pleasure would agree with that and would be glad for the same opportunity.
Anyway, here’s what’s up.
Recently, Seventh Generation, sent me a Back to School gift pack that included several of 
their products and a nice little backpack. I’ve never used any of their products before so I had no idea what to expect. I tend to be skeptical of larger companies in the ‘green’ industry. Are they just out for money? Tapping into a hot market? Do they really care? These are the questions that inevitably pop into my mind. The result is typically obsessive reading to decipher a motive. Who knows if I ever really get it right, but I have to check, nevertheless. Most of you know by now that we homeschool our kiddos and yet the same yuckies that go around schools are the same yuckies that inevitably make it back to our house. Not as often or as severe, mind you but we end up with a virus or two or three every school season. I’ve learned ways to limit the spreading of all this extra ‘sharing’ of germs but it seems I can never rid it completely. This gift pack included some nice weapons to add to my yuckies-fighting arsenal.
In my package I received a box of tissues, a jumbo roll of paper towels, one spray bottle of Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner, two canisters of Disinfecting Wipes and a drawstring backpack with the Seventh Generation logo on the front. I was so excited to try these products out when they arrived.
Here’s what I discovered from using them. The paper products, the paper towels and the tissues were about what I expected – a little course, not as absorbent as their ‘non-green’ counterparts. No big surprise but I was hoping for something a little better. The paper towels while not as absorbent or thick as I’d hoped did actually work. I’ve not found a brown paper towel that actually absorbed enough liquid to make it useable, but these were not that bad. They really did absorb spills; they just didn’t hold as much of it as your average white fluffy paper towel.
The tissues performed in mostly the same manner. The paper was thin with an okay level of softness. When I’m blowing my nose, I’d like a little more padding though. I find I use two Seventh Generation tissues to every one regular tissue so I don’t think these w
ould be very cost effective for me.
Now, my favorites – the Disinfecting Wipes. THIS is a product I use ALOT. These wipes are absolutely wonderful. I wipe down my countertops many times throughout the day. A plain washcloth with water can just spread the germs around even though it gets up the stickies. As many times as I wipe the counter down, paper towels just don’t seem like a great idea. And when I’m spraying down the counter, food items are usually on the stove and who knows how much overspray makes its way over there! The wipes are a great alternative. The disinfectant is already there – no spraying. The wipe itself is very sturdy. Rarely do I need two for wiping down the entire counter and sink area. With paper towels, I use between 2 – 4 every time. This is a product that is now used regularly in our house.
The last product is the Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner. I really like this spray for things like my plastic cutting boards, the refrigerator doors, bathroom sink, all those non-porous surfaces that the kids tend to touch on a regular basis. Let’s face it, kids don’t wash their hands like they should! I don’t kow 
how many times a day I have to say, “did you wash your hands? Go back and wash your hands.” Of course by this time, the child has already touched about ten different things just on his way out the bathroom and to the living room! *sigh* Anyhoo, the Multi-Surface cleaner smells just as wonderful as the wipes (a lemony thyme scent) and is another favorite for me.
While all the ingredients aren’t listed on packaging of these products, I did find a complete list on the Seventh Generation website. Right away, this makes me like the company. They fully disclose what’s in their products – a very rare thing today. While I’m not thrilled to learn that my two favorite products contain Sodium laurel sulfate (palm kernel or coconut-derived cleaning agent) I’m still very pleased with these products. If you have time, I would suggest spending a little time reading about the Seventh Generation products and company on their website.
The Giveaway
I’m very glad Seventh Generation has offered to send one of these gift packs out to a reader. Overall, I was very pleased with the products and thankful for the opportunity to try out something new. One of the biggest disappointments can be spending money on a product you just know you’ll love and end up hating. OR never spending money to try a product you would absolutely fall for because your afraid you’ll be disappointed. Been there, done BOTH of those things!
So here’s your chance.
Leave a comment below with your best ‘keep the sickies away’ tip and on Friday I’ll select a winner randomly. For extra entries you can also a.) subscribe to this blog, b.) blog about this giveaway, c.) post a link on facebook to this giveaway, and/or d.) tweet this giveaway.
Be sure to leave a comment for each entry!
*the Seventh Generation product, gift pack, and additional gift pack to give away were all given to me from Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark
-knittingprose
I’m really big on prevention. Hand washing, LOTS of vitamin C and (brutal honesty time) avoiding people I know are sick.
I am of the more traditional mindset that the best way to stay healthy is to feed your immune system a little something to fight off once in a while. No, not purposefully, but also don’t worry about it. We have always washed our kitchen counters, several times a day of course, with cloth towels and tap water. We get sick no more often than anyone. I feel that normal healthy people are actually doing themselves a disservice by using disinfecting products all the time…you’re not allowing your immune system any access to the “newest” germs around. Our bodies are built to take in a few baddies, fight them off, and then learn from the experience to defend against the hordes.
My best bet on keeping the sickies away is training my children to wash up. Not just their hands but the house too! Also, my daughter got very ill when she was three and was hospitalized requiring surgery. She does not want to go back there for needles! 🙂 So I remind them when they are not wanting to eat healthy, take their tinctures or garlic, that they could end up in the hospital again. Smiles and pleasant compliance always ensues!
I always carry a travel-size hand sanitizer in my bag at all times. And I always wash my hands right after I get home. And vitamins and a healthy diet is extremely important as well.