EcoJarz Review

23 Jun 2013 2 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews Tags: ,

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EcoJarz review- stainless steel & silicone lids for Mason jars, stainless steel straws & spoons & glass mugs with handles. Disclaimer: these are NOT made in the USA! So, why am I reviewing them, isn’t my mission to find only products made in the USA? Not exactly–my mission is to find the safest products on the market for our families, and I always hope that those options also happen to be made in the USA, which many times they are. But there are certain instances where that is not the case, and it almost always involves products made out of stainless steel. It is very rare to find stainless anything made in the US, unless you’re looking at high-end kitchen gear (pots & pans, etc).

When I first started this page a little over a year ago one of the things I was shopping for at that time was a stainless steel sippy cup made in the USA for my one year old. It was such a frustrating search, as I kept finding great cups & getting excited, only to find the small print somewhere that they were made in China. After many hours of searching I realized a stainless sippy cup made here just did not exist, and that is still the case today to my knowledge (if anyone knows of one do share!). Glass is ALWAYS my 1st choice, and now that my babe is a toddler, he drinks from Mason jars, as does our whole family (we used a Life Factory sippy with him 1st when he was around 1, which he broke within a week). So, I’ve been thrilled by the various Mason jar lids on the market, and have been using & recommending both Re-Cap lids as well as Cuppow lids to make your own sippy cups for some time now. Although both those options are indeed made in the US, they are still plastic. Even the fact that they are BPA-, PVC- & Phthalate-free still didn’t thrill me; they are still plastic. I like them, but I don’t LOVE them. So, sometimes we have to compromise, and I’ll take stainless made abroad over plastic made in the USA any day. No, I don’t like the carbon footprint that comes with the additional shipping, but as I said I am able to find most products I need made here, and an exception here & there doesn’t make me lose sleep at night (I also recently shared some stainless steel popsicle molds with you that are made in Hong Kong, the best choice I felt in that instance too).

Where exactly these products are made, from their website: “Ecojarz is a diverse business! We have a close relationship with a small Vietnamese company that provides the raw lids to us, we do all end-processing, finishing and shipping from Upstate NY and IN. We love our partners overseas but for environmental and logistical reasons we are constantly exploring many options to get the lids locally despite the considerable increase expense.” What exactly does that mean? Here’s what the owner, Kirby elaborated: “Ecojarz silicone is produced in Vietnam, then processed, cleaned and packaged in USA.  Ecojarz stainless steel raw material is imported to Vietnam from the USA, Japan, and sometimes other counties, then it is stamped, then shipped to USA to be finished in a tumbler, cleaned and packaged.   Ecojarz mugs come from Mexico and EcoJarz wide mouth is manufactured in the USA.  Responsibly made means that I personally have been inside all of the places producing Ecojarz stuff.   I say places because we work with a lot of very small suppliers that work out of their houses, family business style.” The straws & spoons are also produced through the same Vietnamese relationship.

About the company & these products: “We are a young company focused on challenging the concept of throw-away culture. Our first product — the Stainless Steel EcoJarz Drink Top — is designed  to make reuse the new norm. Because our drink tops fit standard canning jars, they also fit hundreds of other bottles and containers that are disposed of everyday.This drink top will fit any standard mouth jar, whether it’s an empty tomato sauce, salsa, or mayonnaise jar. With EcoJarz, the possibilities of turning jars into long-lasting, always-handy, on-the-go drink vessels are almost endless. We suggest reusing a jar you may already have. In fact that is the whole point for us.  Every time someone uses a mayo jar they are basically saving the planet single handedly. For those of you who may not already have a favorite jar, we also offer glass mugs.”

EcoJarz makes both stainless (my 1st choice) & silicone (my 2nd choice) lids, as you can see in the attached photo. Here’s some info about both the silicone & stainless used in these products, from their website: The Metal lids are made of 304L Surgical Stainless Steel. Silicone is a flexible rubber-like material made primarily from Silicon (sand/rock) and Oxygen. It has many useful properties and is rapidly becoming commonplace in kitchens all over the world as a high-temperature and inert replacement to plastic. It is a great insulator, does not support bacterial growth, is UV stable, does not off-gas, is non-toxic and is highly reusable. You can learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone#Cookware.

I gathered a variety of sizes of jars that I had around my house for the photo, 2 regular mouth & 2 wide mouth (the quart has chopped garlic in it, but wanted to show you the variety of sizes these lids can fit). The glass mug with the handle was sent to me by them, and is the only Mason jar I have with a handle, I realized it’s kind of nice! But, both they, and I highly encourage you to use jars you already have. The great news is that all Ball & Kerr Mason jars are made in the US. I’ve accumulated more than a cupboard full over the years, of all sizes, leftover from jellies, etc. They all come in handy, and I’m growing to love the wide-mouths more & more. The EcoJarz lids have a silicone gasket on the inside so they have a nice, snug fit. The straight smoothie straws fit snugly & make a very nice fit, while the straws with the bend in them are slightly looser. If you were to tip the jar upside down with either straw you would get a little bit of leakage. I started my son on a Mason jar sippy with a lid around 14 or so months, and yes we had a spill here & there (usually intentionally), but he got the idea very quickly. He now loves using straws & knows where they are in our drawer & will go grab them himself, especially for smoothies. We both favor the ones with the bend in them, it’s kind of nice not to have to pick up the glass, but we’ve been using both styles & enjoying them. I reviewed some glass straws by GlassDharma a few months ago, and several of you expressed concern over the possibility of them breaking & your preference for stainless over glass in this instance. They also sent me 4 long handled spoons. I unfortunately just broke the last of my nice tall pint jars that I love using for one of my favorite treats: root beer floats, but I will be getting some more soon & those spoons will be perfect for that, a shake, or a thick smoothie, among other things. Here are their offerings & prices. You can mix & match lids & straws & the more you add on the more you save. And, for the international friends of the page:

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, however due to the most recent cost-increase by the USPS, it is getting more expensive than ever to ship over the pond.  While we try to keep our shipping prices as low as possible, please note that the typical price to ship two jars across the ocean is $30 USD.

 

For more info, prices & options please visit their website:

Website: http://www.ecojarz.com/

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/EcoJarz/424371460935290?ref=br_tf

 

One very exciting tidbit they also shared with me is they will soon be adding some new products to their line that will be made in the USA! I thank them for sharing these products with me, and can’t wait to see what the new offerings are!

 

 

 

 

FINALLY, a safe dish soap that actually works!!

19 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living Tags: , ,

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I have a VERY, VERY exciting announcement to make, one I’ve been waiting to make for quite some time–no, I didn’t have my baby yet Poofy Organics has perfected a dish soap!!!!! They had sent me a trial version a few months ago & it just wasn’t perfect. I can do without bubbles/lather in just about anything, but for some reason can’t do without them for dishes. Kristina played around with the recipe, sent me a sample last week, and it’s FABULOUS!!! A safe, effective dish soap is one of the most FAQ I get on this page, and I’ve been very frustrated with the options, even the safest ones have ingredients of concern. The ingredients in this are fabulous, and it works SO well.
The 1st time I tried it was with a tiny sink of dishes, just to see how it worked. I did the dishes, went outside for an hour or more, and came back & there were still bubbles in the sink! Then I let the dishes build up to the point where I had 2 sinks full and put it to the test again, the bubbles lasted through the whole load, and it was a pretty greasy load too! Last night hubby did dishes & without me asking for feedback he said “Wow, this stuff gets them squeaky clean”, and it really, really did. The dishes were so clean, no leftover grease or grime that I’ve experienced with some of the more eco-friendly brands I’ve tried. I cannot recommend this highly enough, and hope many of you are as excited as I am.
Ingredients: Ingredients: Purified Water, Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut, Olive & Jojoba, Decyl Polyglucose ( EWG rating of 0!), Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Xanthan Gum (EWG rating of 0), Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Essential oils of Lemon & Rosemary, rosemary extract. Price=$10.00/16 oz. bottle. Many brands say just use a tiny amount, but I always find myself squirting quite a bit in for desired effect, but you honestly just need a little squirt of this stuff. AND, it has a wonderful, clean, fresh scent!
 The Xanthan gum and Decyl Polyglucose are from non-gmo corn and the glycerine is USDA organic from soy.
Fb thread with comments & questions: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=680411315307845&id=397517646930548

Review of Josiah’s Oils products

15 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews Tags: ,

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Review of Josiah’s Oils products, based in Lancaster Pennsylvania —As all of us have different expectations, of course results will vary. These are my experiences with these products, and I don’t expect any product to satisfy 100% of the people who try it.

A little background on this business  “Our products are hand-made for our family & yours! My company is named after my son. Josiah is a precious little boy who happens to have Down syndrome.  Josiah abounds with unconditional love!  Essential oils and green-living have benefited Josiah so much that one of our goals is to educate families about our journey into holistic health. So if you have questions: ask away! A portion of our profits will assist children with special needs (a common theme I’ve seen among many of the small, WAH family ventures I’ve done reviews for is they share a spirit of donating back to organizations of importance to them!). Another tidbit I thought several of you may appreciate is that the entrepreneur behind Josiah’s Oils is a homeschooling Mama of 5!! There are so many reasons that supporting small businesses is great, knowing your money is going to help support a WAHM making great, safe, effective products is definitely one of them!

Preservatives are one of my biggest ingredients of concern in any product. I even avoid using & recommending Sodium Benzoate, a preservative many consider mild & have no hesitation putting on their skin. I will always, always use an alternative that doesn’t include a preservative if one exists, and thankfully they do exist in just about every category imaginable. How does Josiah’s Oils avoid the use of preservatives? I love reading statement such as the following: “We make every product to-order – just for you nothing is sitting on a shelf aging! That way we can promise that your lotion is FREE of un-natural preservatives! Take care of your body – start with your skin!” All products contain numerous organic ingredients.  I also love notes such as this: “Don’t see what you need?  We will be happy to whip up a custom blend JUST FOR YOU!  Just e-mail us!”

I was sent 3 products to sample: a travel-size Insect Away & Hand Sanitizer, and a full-size tube of Sun Stick. A couple of things I really love about Josiah’s Oils website is you’ll find several links to Research Pages and Safety Sheets which share important information regarding the use of an ingredient (effectiveness of Essential Oils), or why it’s important to avoid other ingredients (DEET, Triclosan, etc.). I also love that there are highly concentrated refills available for many of the products such as the hand sanitizer, insect spray and more. Add 10-12 drops of these concentrated oils per ounce of water in a spray bottle & you have a whole new batch! This is both an eco-friendly, and budget-friendly solution that I love to see businesses offer!

Hand sanitizer: Prices vary from $5.65 for 2 oz. travel size- $12.50 for the 6 oz. X-large, with one option in-between. The travel-size is perfect for the purse or diaper bag, and while I always prefer washing my hands to using a sanitizer it’s great to have a safe, effective product on hand for those times when a sink & soap are not nearby. It sprays a very nice fine mist, smells of cinnamon & clove with a hint of lemon are what stand out to me. The website includes an extensive list of ideas for using this sanitizer other than your hands (high chairs, shopping carts, etc). Sanitizer ingredients: “Our Powerful Essential Oils Mold/Virus/Bacteria Killing Blend: Purified, distilled water, Aloe, Organic  Cinnamon [leaf & bark], Rosemary, Lemon & Clove oils.   A tidbit I found informative & interesting: “Also, essential oils do not kill the “good” bacteria we need in our bodies.”

Insect away: Price varies from $4.50 for the travel-size to $12.60 for the X-Large, with a size in-between. AND, this product is on sale: 10% off on their website through the month of June. Ingredients:  ALL-Natural Insect Away Oil made from our tried-and-true Essential Oils Blend recipe including organic peppermint, lemongrass, cedar wood, citronella, eucalyptus & rose geranium!  We live on the banks of a river & have a variety of pesky insects. The gnats have been among the worst offenders thus far, and the mosquitos have just started to show themselves in the evening hours. The 1st time we used this I sprayed my toddler down, sent him out with dada & told him to report back in a few minutes. They came in and Dada said, he got bit immediately and I asked where & he said on his cheek, which was the only place I didn’t put it! I rubbed some on my hands & applied it to his face & sprayed his neck & sent them back out & he had no more new bites! It has also been effective against the gnats, which are more of an annoyance than anything! It produces a very nice, fine mist. Cedarwood & eucalyptus are the scents that stand out the most to me.   Sun Stick- SPF 30. $14.99/ 4 oz. solid tube. Also available in 2 sizes is a Sunny Day Lotion (SPF 30) and pocket-sized (lip balm size) tubes of the Sun Stick which come in a pack of 3 (great to keep in purse or diaper bag). Ingredients: Active: Zinc Oxide (22%, non-nanoparticle – SPF 30) Inactive: Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil, Grape Seed &  Olive Oil, Vitamin E & Beeswax. I like that the Sun Stick comes in a deodorant tube, as it makes for easy application. The 1st thing that surprised me about this product is although it is white like all sunscreens, it goes on completely clear. It has a slightly similar scent to the Insect Away, I can’t really pinpoint anything in particular, but it has a pleasant smell.  I have used this on my toddler several times on his ears, neck & face and once on his arms, back & chest, and not during the time of day when the sun is most intense as it’s his nap time, but I can say he didn’t turn the slightest shade of pink. He actually enjoyed me applying this to him, it seemed like it felt good especially going on his arms, he said “mama do more” vs. attempting to rub in a traditional more liquidy sunscreen that you squirt from a tube, which always is a slight struggle I’m sure many of you can related to. It rubs on very easily like a deodorant, and is not all that greasy, it’s quite convenient! From the website: “How does our NON-Nano particle Zinc work without these harmful chemicals? Our Zinc Oxide works as a physical block – it sits on the skin’s surface; it is NOT absorbed into the skin. In this case, light is either absorbed into sunblock material or reflected away from the skin, similar to a mirror or aluminum foil….Zinc Oxide should be reapplied often at regular intervals to provide continued protection if you’re spending time out in the sun – being especially cautious around the sea or pool and between 10 and 2 pm when the sun is the most intense.”

UPDATE (8/30/13)- SHAMPOO Just in time for the1st buying club order! Shampoo is one of my most frequently asked questions, so I’m so happy to have another safe, effective solution to offer you. I have only used this shampoo a couple of times, as it is a brand new offering by Josiah’s Oils, but I have no hesitations recommending it. It produces a decent lather, not a super lather, but it definitely does lather. I only wash my hair once or twice a week, so it’s a bit greasy when I do wash it. I find with most shampoos the lather/bubbles kind of die once they get in my hair, so I have a hard time telling if it’s the shampoo or my hair/water type. I didn’t follow up with my normal spray-in detangler to see how it felt without it, and I really didn’t need it. The apple cider vinegar is a natural conditioner. I also love that it has sea salt in it. My hair has never felt as healthy as it does after a swim in the ocean, which helps strip any build-up you might have. It smells great, and my hair doesn’t feel oily or greasy when dry. Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside*(from NON-GMO corn starch), Sea Salt, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Unrefined Shea Butter, Organic Rosemary & Orange Essential Oils*. 8 oz. $9.00 or 16 oz. $14.99, both which are great prices!

The website is full of products for all sorts of conditions and ailments. It’s quite an extensive list with absolutely no ingredients of concern which is something we all know is not easy to find. Other products include: foaming hand wash, bed bug spray, lice OFF spray, dry skin, eczema, itchy skin remedies, too much sun lotion, healing salve, UNpetroleum (Earth) jelly, whipped & infused body butters, organic veggie wash, nail fungus relief, lip balms, congestion fighters, healing deodorants, green clean your home, headache relief, poison ivy relief, zit zappers, soaps, foaming baby bath, happy baby Bum paste, Boo Boo stick, vapor rub, lotions, sleepy time relaxation blend, sore muscle relief, yeast relief, several essential oil custom blends and gift sets (and I’m sure I probably left a few things out!).   All packaging is USA made, most of their ingredients are local except for Shea as it comes from Africa.

Josiah’s Oils is offering a 10% off coupon for all new customers: ECOFRIENDLYFIRSTTIME10

Website: http://www.josiahsoils.com/index.html

Fb page: https://www.facebook.com/JosiahsOils

Label Reading

09 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living

So, you all know that my main mission is to get y’all reading labels for yourselves. I wanted to share this experience I had earlier in the week while staffing at my food co-op. A lady came in asking if we had Brown Cow Maple yogurt. I told her we had stocked it for awhile but it wasn’t organic so we quit carrying it, even though it was popular. She said “oh no, no”. I belong to a co-op a few hours away & they only carry organic items, they would NEVER carry a non-organic yogurt. I said OK, it is possible Brown Cow makes an organic & non-organic maple yogurt, but I highly doubt it- just be sure to check out the label.
Well, by the time my shift was done a few hours later she had returned home, checked the label and called to tell me it was NOT organic. She had been eating it for 2 years under the assumption it was, because she trusted her food co-op to provide only organic options!! So, just a friendly reminder, always, always read labels. I’m working hard to make sure my food co-op does provide the healthiest options in every category in the store, but you cannot assume that is the case where you shop- you HAVE to take matters into your own hands!

Coupon Codes

03 Jun 2013 1 Comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living, Resources Tags: , , , ,

As you know if you’re a “member” of my Facebook page, I just hosted an AWESOME giveaway. There was great interest in many products, so several of the companies have sent me a coupon code as most giveaways only had one winner. Some are good for a week or 2, some for a few months, so hopefully y’all can work this into your budgets one way or another! Several have now expired, here are the remaining ones:

***Organiworks is offering 10% off through July 31 using the code ECOFANS10
***Simply Rustic is offering 13% off through September 1- you need to email your order to Amanda at simplyrustic2011@gmail.com and she’ll give you the discount as PayPal doesn’t allow for coupon codes
***Redmond is offering 15% off through September 7 using the code EcoSummer15 (case sensitive)
***Leslie who offers adorable baby bonnets & more in her Etsy shop Bayou Baby,Inc. offers the following: 10% off any purchase $25 & over with coupon code USA10. Valid through September 30, 2013.

All businesses participating in the giveaway were very impressed with all the interest in their products and hope this helps you fit them into your budget. I know many of you have made comments about shipping being expensive, and it’s true, but I know for a fact these businesses are charging you what it costs them to ship- they’re not making money on shipping. I’ve learned from shipping my homemade deodorant that it is pricey- the PO makes as much as I do off a jar…

You can read my reviews of many of these businesses/products in the review tab on the sidebar of this website

Castile Soap All-Purpose Cleaner

28 May 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Easy DIY recipes for homemade products

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Castile Soap All Purpose Cleaner: While I LOVE my vinegar cleaner (Jess’s recipe) my husband does not like the smell and complains constantly about it. So I decided to mess around with two favorite ingredients: Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Baby Mild Liquid Castile Soap (whew that’s long!) and Essential Oils! In fact this is an adaptation of the foaming hand soap that I posted awhile back…I have tried… this for a week on EVERYTHING from kitchen counters to toilets and WOW it cleans SO well and smells great too…thought I would share!!
***20oz hot water (I feel things mix better when initially warm to hot)
***1/3 c. liquid castile soap
***2 caps full (approx 15-20 drops) tea tree oil
***Mix it up!
Note: I prefer the baby mild because it is unscented and I can buy one large thing of it and use it from hair, face, kids, etc etc and it still cleans well. You can cheat and use the Tea Tree Dr. B’s…that would work as well…or you can use unscented and flavor with a citrus one as those tend to cut grease and sanitize well too!
2nd note: this can get a bit soapy if you use too much, a little goes a long way. After I clean I always go over with a hot damp cloth and dry with a microfiber cloth.
I’m telling you my counters are sparkling, I would let my kids eat off this counter, the smell is pleasant and I am officially in love

 

Who Owns Organic?

23 May 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living, Resources Tags: , ,

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Finally– the updated version of “Who owns Organic” is out, the previous version was from way back in 2009. ALWAYS eye-opening! “The latest update now includes the top 100 food processors in North America.” What does this mean?  I compare it to the fact that Tom’s of Maine is owned by Colgate, and Burt’s Bees by  Clorox. Many feel different about those products when they find that out. I used to buy Back to Nature organic Mac-N-Cheese, until I found out they were owned by Kraft. Big companies buy up smaller organic companies because as we all know organic is big business. I’ve gone back to buying Annie’s organic Mac-n-Cheese, even though it is $.50 more/box. Some of these big companies oppose GMO-labeling (not positive which ones, but I’m sure some did). It goes back to voting with our dollars, and many choose to support independently owned companies vs all our money going back to Haines, Kraft, etc….

Link to chart: http://www.cornucopia.org/2013/05/who-owns-organics-updated/

Link to Private Label Organic brands: http://www.cornucopia.org/graphics/OrganicPLabelJul07.pdf

Link to Independent Organic brands: http://www.cornucopia.org/wp-content/themes/Cornucopia/downloads/OrganicIndJan08.pdf

 

Deodorant Crystals- are they safe?

14 May 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living, Resources Tags: , ,

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I’ve had several questions recently about the deodorant crystals, sprays, roll-on’s. I think Naturally Fresh is the most well-known, and I used to use it myself before making my own as I felt it was a safe alternative to Tom’s, Nature’s Gate, etc. It’s readily available at Wal-Mart & other big box stores. BUT, is it safe? Many of the labels list “mineral salts” as a main ingredients. What are these mineral salts? As I’ve stated many times, I’m not a chemist, and always appreciate feedback from those of you who are. I’ve read many conflicting articles on this topic. I always advocate for erring on the side of caution, and since there is a shred of doubt in my mind about these, I can’t recommend them without concern. Here’s some of the issues regarding them, gathered from differing sources:

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal Roll-on: “Aqua (Purified Water), Natural Mineral Salts (Potassium Alum), Zinc Ricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Chamomile Extract (Anthemis Nobilis Flower), Phenoxyethanol (4 rating via EWG).

Naturally Fresh Spray Mist:  Aqua (Purified Water), Natural Mineral Salts (Potassium Alum).

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal: Natural Mineral Salts (Ammonium Alum), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Extract).

From Dr. Mercola’s site: “Some of the most popular natural deodorants are the “crystal” deodorant stones and sprays. But most people don’t know that these crystal deodorant products contain aluminum. The crystal deodorant stones are made from alum. The most widely used form of alum used in the personal care industry is potassium alum. The full chemical name of potassium alum is potassium aluminum sulfate. Let’s get this straight. Even though aluminum is widely distributed in the earth’s crust, it is NOT needed in ANY amounts in your body. All evidence to date points to aluminum as a poison that serves no beneficial role in your body and should be avoided. Aluminum is widely recognized as a neurotoxin, which has been found in increased concentrations in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.Unfortunately, if you use antiperspirants or some deodorants, you are most likely exposing yourself to aluminum. Aluminum salts can account for 25 percent of the volume of some antiperspirants. A review of the common sources of aluminum exposure for humans found that antiperspirant use can significantly increase the amount of aluminum absorbed by your body. According to the review, after a single underarm application of antiperspirant, about .012 percent of the aluminum may be absorbed. Multiply this by one or more times a day for a lifetime and you can have a massive exposure to aluminum — a poison that is not meant to be in your body. Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores that release sweat under your arms — with the active ingredient being aluminum. Not only does this block one of your body’s routes for detoxification (releasing toxins via your underarm sweat), but it raises concerns about where these metals are going once you roll them (or spray them) on.” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/16/aluminum-lurks-in-crystal-deodorants.aspx.

EWG rates it at a 1, but with limited data: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705178/POTASSIUM_ALUM/.

Concerns listed: Organ system toxicity: Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful by Environment Canada Domestic Substance List.

Ecotoxicology: Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative.

From The People’s Pharmacy, a radio program I catch weekly on NPR: “It will probably take many more years to resolve the controversy about any relationship between aluminum and breast cancer. In the meantime, people who seek to avoid aluminum in their armpits will probably want to look beyond crystal-type natural deodorants. Many people find that milk of magnesia applied to the underarm helps against odor, so that may be an attractive alternative:http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/02/06/are-natural-alum-crystal-deodorants-safe/”

From Naturally Fresh’s Website: Do your products contain aluminum? No, Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystals contain the naturally occurring compound Alum (Potassium or Ammonium), not to be confused with harmful processed aluminum (Aluminum Zirconium or Aluminum Chlorohydrate). Technically speaking, aluminum is a metal while Alum is a compound.  Many of these processed aluminum molecules can be absorbed into the skin and bloodstream. Alum molecules create a barrier against odor causing bacteria and contain a large molecule which does not penetrate the surface of the skin.

Another online article: “Potassium alum is a naturally occurring form of aluminum salt. The difference between potassium alum and aluminum chlorohydrate is that potassium alum is a much larger molecule, not thought to be absorbable through human skin.” http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/make-the-switch-to-a-natural-deodorant.

***I AM NOT posting this to sell my own deodorant, I want to share my concerns regarding this product. As one mama put it, she’s eliminated aluminum from her kitchen & everywhere else in her house, why would she roll it on her skin daily? I want you to know that I do make deodorant, which is safe enough to eat, yet the most effective natural deodorant I’ve ever used. It is available to purchase, and I’ll always share the recipe for those that want to make your own!

–Recipe with tons of Q & A: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=537190792963232&set=a.494009763948002.128085.397517646930548&type=3&theater

–Info on purchasing mine: https://www.facebook.com/notes/eco-friendly-babyfamily-products-made-in-the-usa/jesss-homemade-deodorant-and-body-scrub-are-now-for-sale/645692072113103

MamaSuds Review

14 May 2013 2 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews Tags: ,

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Original review of castile & laundry soap published May 14, 2013.

Review of Castile & liquid laundry soap handmade & bottled by MamaSuds, located in Goodrich, MI. As all of us have different water types & expectations, of course results will vary. These are my experiences with these products, and I don’t expect any product to satisfy 100% of the people who try it…

Laundry Soap- 1 gal= $26, cloth diaper safe. Also a borate-free option for $27. Ingredients: Castile soap, water, sodium bicarbonate, sodium tetraborate. If you’ve been on my page for very long, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of soap nuts. If you’re new to the page, well, I’m a huge fan of soap nuts   However, not everyone who has tried them loves them as much as I do, so I was happy to try out the laundry soap from MamaSuds to have an alternate recommendation for a liquid laundry soap. Normally I don’t use products containing Borax (sodium tetraborate) in my home. Many are fine using it for laundry & even dishes, but the research I’ve done on it has led me to look for alternatives that don’t contain it (many with very sensitive skin have issues with it). However, this recipe uses 1/3 cup per 5 gallon batch, so one gallon has very, very little, and each load has a miniscule amount (many homemade recipes call for equal parts Borax & Washing Soda, so it’s being used in high amounts). So, what’s the purpose of such a tiny amount? Michelle, the mama behind MamaSuds, who was great at answering any questions I had, said this: “it allows clothes to absorb the soap to get out stains and rinse clean (no residue), chemically it raises the Ph of the water. I used a lot trial an error and this was the least amount I could use to get the formula to a 9.5 Ph.”

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I put my soap nuts aside for a few weeks & put this liquid laundry soap to the test on our daily laundry, and cloth diapers. It did a great job! Our daily laundry consists mainly of normal daily wear & tear, and dirt/mud stains this time of year, as Spring finally arrived and we spend a great portion of our day outside. I have no complaints whatsoever about it not getting my clothes as clean as I’d like. It did great on the diapers too. I also was impressed with how soft everything felt when transferring it to the dryer or line, and even after it was done drying (I use dryer balls, not fabric softener). It does not produce bubbles, something I was used to as soap nuts don’t either (bubbles require additional ingredients, I’m fine going without- the fewer ingredients the better is my motto). I used ¼ cup for diapers (2 oz.) and 3/8 cup (3 oz.) for a large load of laundry.  I have a top-loading regular (not HE) machine.

Info about the liquid laundry soap from MamaSuds website: Enjoy a chemical free, all natural laundry soap product made by hand and bottled by hand. We first developed this product to clean our cloth diapers and use it for all of our household laundry. Using our all natural castile soap developed by MamaSuds, we now offer a low cost high quality alternative laundry soap for cleaning cloth diapers and everyday laundry.

For normal loads of laundry – use two ounces of our MamaSuds Laundry Soap per load. For cleaning cloth diapers use two to four ounces of MamaSuds Laundry Soap per load. Do you have a High Efficiency laundry machine? Then MamaSuds laundry soap is a must have – only ONE OUNCE PER LOAD!

Castile Soap- $10.50/ 16 oz. bottle, can add essential oils for an extra $.50. Ingredients: olive oil, saponified lye, distilled water. “MamaSuds Castile Soap is perfect for cleaning ANYTHING around the house… From babies to toilets! 100% vegan, not tested on animals and made of pure olive oil. All natural, chemical free, bottled by hand.”

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I am (and I know many of you are) a huge fan of castile soap. Dr. Bronner’s is the most well-known brand, and what I normally recommend for an all-purpose soap. Several of you have commented in the past that you feel Dr. Bronner’s is harsh on your skin (although many making such comments weren’t aware of the need/ability to dilute it). Dr. Bronner’s does contain Citric Acid (EWG rates it a 2), an ingredient I was happy to see this castile soap doesn’t!  The same size bottle of Dr. Bronner’s (16 oz.) costs a little over $10 on their website, compared to $7 for a bottle from MamaSuds. Dr. Bronner’s does use a combination of 4 organic oils vs. just the olive oil in MamaSuds, but again, less ingredients isn’t a bad thing, especially considering MamaSuds doesn’t use Citric Acid. How does it work? I feel it works just as good as Dr. Bronner’s. I diluted some 50/50 with water in my foaming hand soap dispenser, and was very impressed with the lather it produced. I used it for a few other things I would normally use Dr. Bronner’s for, like shaving my legs, and as a body wash, and it honestly worked just as well. I have no hesitation recommending MamaSuds castile soap, or laundry soap (which has their castile soap as a primary ingredient). I know many of you are looking to support fellow mamas vs. large companies, and this is a chance for you to do so.

Here is a list of uses for the castile soap, from MamaSuds website (not all-inclusive): Can Be Used To Clean Everything! From Babies to Toilets!

•Body Wash

•Shaving “cream”

•Baby Wash – This also works great as a head to toe baby wash. You do have to be a little careful with it around their eyes because it’s not tear-free, but especially if you dilute it, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. •Hand Soap

•Baby Wipes Solution– I use castile soap mixed with water as a homemade solution for my baby wipes. These wipes are great for changing diapers, but also great just to use for wiping hands and faces after eating, for cleaning spots of spit-up or other stains off of clothing, just about anything you would use a disposable baby wipe for.

•Homemade Multipurpose Cleaner

2016: Michelle has greatly expanded her line since I 1st did my review 3 years ago. Other popular items are her toilet bombs and lotions. She also has a pet shampoo, body wash, deodorant, bug spray, sun cream & several other items that are all made with minimal, safe, yet effective ingredients.

From their website: A little bit about us MamaSuds was the vision of a mother of two who was always seeking for an affordable yet safe way to clean her home and family. Michelle (mama) wanted to find an affordable cloth diaper detergent that rinsed, cleaned, and actually got the soil and stink out of the diapers! Michelle started searching detergents and wondered, why is everything that is natural, safe, and chemical-free come with a hefty price tag? After several recipes, she started giving it to friends and family to try. Shortly after Michelle started making all the soap in the house, and her husband Jim thought if their family benefited from the soap, why wouldn’t other families? MamaSuds was born!

How MamaSuds got started. From Michelle: ” I just finished watching the documentary Food, inc., and while it really enraged me at the core, it really reminded me of how I started this journey that I am on. I have struggled a little bit along the way because I didn’t know where my path was leading me, and my Type A mentality was having trouble understanding how to go down a path without having a plan or a backup plan. The journey started when I began learning about essential oils and their natural healing ability. Then I decided to make my own baby food which led me looking into cloth diapers. While I was informing myself about cloth diapers and convincing my husband of all the benefits we had purchased new nursery furniture for our second baby that was on the way. I had left a bottle of Name-brand baby soap on the nursery dresser and it had fallen over and leaked a tiny amount onto the furniture. After I noticed it, I wiped it off to see it had eaten the varnish off of the new furniture. I remember thinking, huh- if it does that to furniture what’s it doing to the skin of a baby. This of course sent me straight to the Internet to research baby soap and I opened a whole world that I was not prepared for! I bought Castile soap off the Internet and was pretty happy with it except for the fact that it was expensive and I thought, hey let’s look to see if I can make it myself (I don’t have enough to do as it is, haha) Turns out, you can make it yourself but it’s daunting (potassium hydroxide is not easy to find or fun to work with) and it takes hours to make. Nonetheless, I made a few batches and was extremely satisfied. At the same time I was trying out recipes for laundry soap that would clean my cloth diapers.

My point is, sometimes you just have to let the path lead you, even when you can’t see around the corner. I just kept “making it myself” because it felt gratifying and it was for the good of my family. So after watching that riveting documentary it made me realize my Journey is really a path of Getting Back to Basics. Our Earth is an amazing place that really can provide us with everything that we need to be healthy! If I can make it and feel gratified and proud to use it on my family, I feel like it is good enough for yours!”

Please check out her website & Facebook pages:

Website: http://www.mamasuds.com/

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MamaSuds/257240647659779

Voting with our dollars

08 May 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living

I say it often– every dollar spent is a vote, I know many of you feel the same. But how do we know our votes/dollars are making a difference? Well, Poofy organics has had so many orders coming in that they’re hiring a 5th person!! They make their products the day they are ordered, as they don’t use harsh preservatives this is very important! They made 200 tubes of sunscreen just yesterday! While I know not all orders are from y’all on this page, Kristina feels many of them are. WE helped create another US job. WE ARE sending a message about the products we want for our families. Change is change, no matter how small!! This all puts a huge smile on my face!!

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