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Drawing 12/31/09

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Brightly Green Home Cleaning Review

Shane Shirley-Smith of Environmental Booty

See the review yourself!

Read a review fromShane Shirley-Smith about Brightly Green:

Looking for Safe and Non-Toxic Cleaning Supplies that Work? HG-Labs Brightly Green, All-Natural Plant-Based Cleaning Products Make Your Home Shine and are Safe for You and Your Family!A few weeks ago someone said to me, "Oh you must have a ton of green cleaning supplies in your home." It was then that I suddenly realized that I had only one product which would qualify as a green cleaner. Worse yet, I wasn't even sure what was truly in the ingredients as I just picked it up on a whim. I guess I fell victim to greenwashing at its worst: I had no idea about the company that manufactured the green product and I only bought it because of the green marketing. I should have known better so I set out to find a good line of green cleaning supplies I could trust and rely on.

People frequently ask me to review their green cleaning supplies but most of the time they are a part of a
network marketing model and I am not interested. I have had my fun with a well known MLM (Multi Level Marketing) company and though I loved their products, the constant push to sell to my friends and family was a real turn off. I know MLM's work for so many but I make it a practice to stick with companies which are marketing their products via retail outlets or the Internet.

So I was very happy when an on-line friend of mine emailed and asked me to try her Brightly Green brand of Eco-safe, plant-based, environmentally friendly cleaning products. I knew she sold green cleaning supplies but I had never really taken time to look into them or ask about her work. Once we began talking about Brightly Green, I realized that developing and selling these products is not just a business to her, it is her passion. Brightly Green was developed with a desire to bring a quality, non-toxic product to people to help insure a safer and a cleaner home.

Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency, reports that “the air inside the typical home is on average 2-5 times more polluted than the air just outside—and in extreme cases 100 times more contaminated—largely because of household cleaners and pesticides.” Forget about the indoor pollution and just think about how your toxic cleaning supplies are contaminating our earth after they rinse down your drain.

When I opened the package from Brightly Green, the first thing I noticed was the smell. Perhaps like you, I am used to such strong smelling cleaning supplies that I usually start to sneeze right when I begin to use them. Brightly Green is based on essential oils and you can certainly tell with the amazing smells. I pushed the supplies aside until I had a cleaning dilemma. My daughter needed to get to school and her ribbon for her hair was filthy. I grabbed some Brightly Green Dishwash and added the ribbon to a bit of dishwash and water in a bowl. I ran around getting some other things ready for school and when I came back a few minutes later, I pulled the ribbon out to give it a scrub and was totally surprised when it was already clean!

That was my first surprise with these Eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaners. I am in love with their Shower Cleaner. I used to use a spry that you use after your shower to kind of prevent build-up, but it was so expensive and it literally made my skin burn. Now I use Brightly Green after every shower and the shine is great and it stays clean! That brings me to my next surprise with these safe cleaning supplies...the shine.

From the Hardwood Floor Cleaner, to the Stainless Steel Cleaner, the shine that you get with Brightly Green is impressive. Even the Multi-Purpose Cleaner, leaves my old counter tops looking bright. You see cleaning to me is a rather new thing as I have always had a housekeeper. Fast forward to my life now with three daughters who didn't know how to clean and a new, very tight budget and I am responsible (along with my girls) for getting that professional looking clean. I think I have to say that my favorite thing about Brightly Green Eco-cleaning supplies is that incredible shine I always used to see with my housekeepers.

I wonder how a professional cleaning service would like these products? Hmmm...I'll get back to you on that. Until then, you can order Brightly Green's full line HERE. I also would urge you to make a stop at their blog if you have any questions for the creator of these Non-toxic cleaning supplies. She is passionate about sharing everything she knows about non-toxic cleaning and her knowledge is priceless.

Thank you Shane! We are so glad you love Brightly Green All -Natural Non-Toxic Cleaners! 

Please send us any reviews you have and  or questions for my expert cleaning team!

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Kid Friendly and Diaper Safe Laundry Wash

Question from Kane:
Is your Brightly Green Laundry Wash safe for kids and for diapers with Velcro fasteners?
HGL Answer:

Yes, Brightly Green Laundry Wash is formulated with all-natural non-toxic kid friendly ingredients. It is safe and effective for all children’s clothing including diapers with Velcro fasteners.

Brightly Green has two Laundry Wash formulas that you may purchase online at our store. One is formulated with essential oils  and is called  Brightly Green Lavender and another laundry wash has no essential oils and is called Brightly Green Pure and Free. These laundry products are available in several sizes for your $avings.

Both are effective for cleaning and safe for your children as well as your sensitive skin and lungs.

Thank you for your questions. Please go to Brightly Green‘s Website and submit your questions. If you want to know, others will too!

 Win $100.00 Cash!  Go to the $$$$ Brightly Green Monthly Cash $$$ Giveaway for Info!

Green Gifts

Brightly Green All-Natural Plant-Based Household Cleaners make great gifts!

Give a gift of "Healthy Living" products.

Feel good about your gift as well as your Environment.

Brightly Green Gift Baskets and Gift Certificates

Just Because You Care!

Shop for Brightly Green Non-Toxic Cleaners in Gift Baskets and Green Cleaning Gift Certificates!

$$$ Brightly Green $100.00 Cash Giveaway!

Brightly Green $100.00 Cash Giveaway!

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No purchase necessary!

Cyber Monday Brightly Green $aving

It's Cyber Monday! Buy One Brightly Green Cleaner and Get One FREE! Sign up for the Cash Giveaway! Brightly Green Website Shop Now! $$Green $avings! Use Code 5252

Are Brightly Green Products Safe for Septic Systems?

Diane’s Question: I have used the laundry products (love them), but is it safe for my septic system?

HGL’s Answer: Septic systems function by the action of “good” bacteria in the system. The bacteria digest wastes and break them down into harmless compounds. It is important to keep strong chemicals out of your septic system. Brightly Green products are formulated with all natural ingredients that will not harm the “good” bacteria in your septic system. As a matter of fact, the enzymes in Brightly Green Laundry Wash are beneficial to the microbes in your system. The plant-based ingredients are great food for your “bugs”.
Thank you for your questions. Please go to Brightly Green‘s Website and submit your questions. If you want to know, others will too!

Why Can't I Just Add My Own Essential Oils?

Deanna's question (part two):

Why can’t I add my own essential oils to my household cleaners?

HGL’s Answer:

Essential oils are of course (oil based) and are not soluble in water. The good old understanding about mixing oil and water apply here. Therefore, to provide the cleaner with a natural aroma from essential oils, emulsifiers must be used to get the essential oils blended into the solution.

If you add an essential oil to your cleaner, it will just float on the cleaner. If you are dispensing with a spray bottle, the essential oil will remain floating on top and will not be released until the bottle is almost empty. Even if you shake the bottle, unless you shake the bottle the whole time you are spraying. You could put on some Mexican dance music and go for it! I’m tired thinking about it!

Brightly Green has concentrates and combos that $ave Green as well as ready-to-use spray bottles with a generous amount of essential oils in each one. The exception is our Brightly Green Glass Cleaner. We do not want anything between you and your view! Brightly Green’s household cleaners keep your cleaning safe, effective and convenient. You will know you home/business is clean and naturally fresh!

Tomorrow’s Question:

I have used the laundry products (love them), but is it safe for my septic system?

Thank you for your questions. Please go to Brightly Green‘s Website and submit your questions. If you want to know, others will too!

Make Your Own or Buy a Natural Cleaner?

Question from Deanna:
Why purchase all-natural household cleaners when you can make them yourself?
HGL Answer:
My mother was “Green” before her time. Growing up during the depression, she was by habit, thrifty. We were required to turn off the lights when we left the room, wear a sweater instead of turning up the thermostat and turn the water off while brushing our teeth, etc. Just to think, I had no idea she was "Green", I thought we were just monetarily challenged. Growing up during Mom, I am by habit, thrifty, too! In any economy, it is wise to follow some thrifty practices. I grew up also making our own household cleaners. This was cool until I looked into the chemistry of cleaning.
For a household cleaner to work properly it needs to have ingredients that perform two functions.
1) Solvency: to dissolve oily residues
2) Wetting: so the cleaner can get to the surface so it can lift soils.

The typical homemade cleaner is made with vinegar and/or baking soda. Although, vinegar and baking soda are adequate cleaners, they do not provide wetting. Also, if you are interested in using plant-based, sustainable cleaners, baking soda does not fit the bill. Baking soda is derived from ingredients that are mined from the ground and therefore is not sustainable.

For soap scum our products have naturally derived surfactants and an organic acid that will neutralize soap scum. To adequately remove soap scum from a surface, the cleaner has to get below the deposit and lift it off the surface. This requires a surfactant. Our Brightly Green Daily Shower Cleaner and Brightly Green Bathroom Cleaner both have a natural surfactant and are safe, effective as well as convenient. Brightly Green has concentrates and combos for $aving Green and time! Mom would have approved!

Tomorrow’s Question:

Why not add your own essential oils to your household cleaners?

Thank you for your questions. Please go to Brightly Green‘s Website and submit your questions. If you want to know, others will too!

Are "Regular" Household Cleaners Really Harmful?

 Question from Mike:  Do “regular” household cleaners really give off fumes that harm my children, pets and the Earth?

Most "regular" household cleaners that are not made from natural ingredients can be extremely harmful to the lungs and skin of people and pets. Some ingredients such as alkaline salts, chlorine, glycol ether solvents and synthetic acids have been shown to be hazards to the skin, lungs and eyes of all living beings.

A good natural cleaner will clean household surfaces as well as “regular” cleaners like HG Labs Cleaners. Why take a chance?

Send your questions to our experts. Go to Brightly Green and submit your questions.  If you want to know, others will too!

How Do You Kill Germs Effectively?

Question from Diane:  How do you kill germs effectively?

Disinfectants made with chlorine (benzyl ammonium chloride) kill germs. Chlorine molecules kill germs effectively. The downside of chlorine is that it is toxic where it comes in contact with human cells, it kills them also. Prolonged exposure to chlorine is extremely dangerous to human health.

How can we have it both ways? We can’t!

There are natural ingredients that will kill germs. One of the most widely used compounds ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is made from corn. Most hand sanitizers are made with 62% ethanol which kills germs on contact. They also evaporate quickly leaving no residual protection.

Other natural chemicals such as certain essential oils can kill most germs but will not kill all germs. What essential oils? There is research being done using eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint and clove essential oils. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is considered a natural green product that is effective for killing germs on your skin. It gives up oxygen and evaporates. Pure oxygen is a good germ killer.

I guess it just comes down to a trade off; are you more comfortable with germs or more comfortable with chlorine? Test strips will tell you if your surface has chlorine or not.

If you have questions for our experts, go our website Brightly Green and submit your questions. We will post your answers in this Blog.  If you want to know, other will too!

HG Labs $$$100.00 Give Away

Go to our website for our $100.00 Cash Give away! Brightly Green or HG Labs

Baking Soda...Earth Friendly?

A frequently used product for household cleaning is Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate). This product is ok for a list of uses but is not environmentally sustainable. The raw materials are mined out of the ground and are not plant-based. It is however, safe and non-toxic. I know personally because my Mom gave it to me for  tummy aches, but it is not necessary Earth-Friendly and good for the sustainability of the environment! Other products for "household cleaning" in many instances are superior and like Brightly Green and our HG Labs products are sustainable, safe and effective!


The Mining of Sodium Bicarbonate

Naturally occurring deposits of nahcolite (NaHCO3) are found in the Eocene-age (55.8 ± 0.2 - 33.9 ± 0.1 Ma) Green River Formation, Piceance Basin in Colorado. Nahcolite was deposited as beds during periods of high evaporation in the basin. It is commercially mined using in-situ leach techniques involving dissolution of the nahcolite by heated water which is pumped through the nahcolite beds and reconstituted through a natural cooling crystallization process. Natural Soda, Inc., the only North American processor of natural sodium bicarbonate, is owned by AmerAlia (AALA) and The Sentient Group. The operation is located 54 miles northwest of Rifle, Colorado. The Natural Soda facility has changed ownership several times over the last decade, it proving difficult to turn a profit. All other North American producers base their production of sodium bicarbonate on trona found in the Green River Formation of Wyoming.

the sustainable line : a blog on green building: Your Third Skin

the sustainable line : a blog on green building: Your Third Skin

Question from the Right

Question from Jean:
This is a question I received  by email from my website Brightly Green. I would like some of our followers to gently help me answer her with some encouraging ideas.
Hi, I love your site and products…especially the Granite & Tile Cleaner! Smells and works wonderfully! This is my question?
I’m a conservative who does not want to pollute God’s gift, the Earth, or contaminate my family with toxic fumes. How can I encourage my fellow conservatives to join me? Many of them seem so turned off because they are so "look down on" in the green community. I will never hug a tree but I would like to hug one another. Help, I want to spread the word, not toxic fumes!

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How can you know if a cleaning product is a natural, sustainable cleaner?

David’s Question:

How can you know if a cleaning product is a natural, sustainable cleaner?
HGL's Answer:
Many manufacturers of cleaners today make claims that their products are environmentally friendly. Sometimes that means that their product is less polluting than another or that has a high degree of biodegradability. For a product to be natural and sustainable, all the ingredients must be derived from vegetation. This means that it is 100% biodegradable and is much safer to use than other types of cleaners. It is a myth that a natural cleaner cannot compete with a cleaner with petroleum derivatives. Brightly Green cleaners are equal or better in performance to corresponding cleaners that are not “green”.

Brightly Green: $ave Green with Heating and Cooling Efficiency

Brightly Green: $ave Green with Heating and Cooling Efficiency

$ave Green with Heating and Cooling Efficiency

Survey your home for leaks and cracks. You can see Big Green $avings by air sealing and insulating your home. Estimates by Energy Star are that a knowledgeable homeowner can $ave up to 20% on heating and cooling. Also, changing the filters in your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems regularly as well as insulating your hot water heater with a special insulating blanket will help to make your home more efficient. Use a programmable thermostat to minimize the use of energy while you are sleeping or away from home. These are a few of the ways to $ave the environment inside and outside of your home.

Paper, Plastic or Reusing

Reusing is the greenest choice you can make. You can $ave real green by reusing. However, even reusable materials, like plates, cups, dishes, and silverware, can take a toll on the environment because they have to be washed using water and dish wash. Brightly Green Dish Wash is biodegradable, plant-based, sustainable and a natural cleaning choice. You have to have a holistic approach to green/healthy practices.

That means considering the environmental impact of every product you use and every action you take. Healthy living practices minimize chemicals in your environment. Environmental conservation should include water usage. Use green soaps and detergents, and never leave the water running, when you wash or rinse dishes, that will also $save green.

Why So Many Cleaners?

Sue’s Question for HGL:
Why does HG Labs have so many different cleaners for household use; why not just use a multi-purpose cleaner for all applications?

HGL Answer:

Each of the HGL’s hard surface cleaners are designed specifically for that particular application. Different surfaces require different chemistry to provide optimum cleaning.

For instance, when cleaning granite & tile, it is advantageous for the cleaner to dry quickly. Therefore, our Granite and Tile cleaner has a high level of natural drying agents.

Also, our Wood Floor cleaner is formulated with just enough natural soap to clean soil from wood floor without leaving any residue.

Bathroom and Daily Shower cleaner contain a mild natural acid to neutralize hard water spots and soap scum. Although using a Multi-Purpose cleaner for all tasks would adequately clean the surface, there would be a sacrifice of performance and would not work perfectly for every application.

Concentrates for $avings

Using household cleaner concentrates and reusing a bottle will $ave you/ the earth lots of Green. Be sure the bottle is labeled properly and keep all products (even all natural plant-based products) away from children and pets. Brightly Green Concentrates are used with 9 parts water to one part product. Each cleaner can have a labeled bottle too! We call this our Combo. Combos

Mission

This Blog is meant to equip you with What and How. Knowledge to help you make better decisions about your environment inside and outside your home or business.

My resident (genius) chemist will answer questions about…
What... What’s in it? What makes it better or worse? Lot’s of What’s.

I am going to supply the…
How… How to $ave Green. Everyone wants that!
We are about Brightly saving Green and not totally disrupting our lives while doing it.