Why Natural Cleaning Products?

Now that we're open, I will move on to greener pastures (or topics, as it may be).

I currently carry two lines of natural cleaning products. Mrs. Meyer's and Howard Naturals. Between them, you can clean everything in your home! (unless your home is made from cornstarch or some other material that would disintegrate if it got wet.)

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day makes aromatherapeutic cleaners for your kitchen and bathroom. Most come in four fragrances: Basil, Lavender, Geranium, and Lemon Verbena. I have been using these products for almost a year and I love them, which is why I decided to sell them. I carry their full line of regular cleaning stuff--powdered cleanser, counter top spray, concentrated cleaner, dish washing liquid, and window spray. I also have Lemon Verbena automatic dishwasher liquid, chamomile cat litter freshener and Basil laundry soap.

I had been thinking (and reading) a lot about chemicals in the home and it really started to sink in how important it is to get rid of them. The a-ha moment for me was when I was spraying the bathroom mirror with something bright blue (which will remain nameless) and I saw the mist floating gracefully down onto my toothbrush in its cute little chrome holder. Ugh! Then I noticed that when I'd spray my counter in the kitchen, the spray was getting on the wire basket of vegetables and bowl of fruit on there. I wash or peel them before I eat them, but it still really bugged me. Why use something made by Dow or Chlorox when I could use something made by Mother Nature? Or at least Mrs. Meyer with some help from Her. I still try to avoid getting the cleaners on my food and dental tools, but if it does, I'm pretty sure it won't make me grow a third arm or something. My mom pointed out that they now have "green" cleaners at her local grocery store, but they are made by the big chemical companies. I'd rather have my money go to someone who never created the problem in the first place! Most of the Mrs. Meyer's stuff is $4.99. The concentrated cleaner is $7.99, as is the automatic dishwasher liquid. The laundry soap is $11.99. Fairly comparable to the "regular" brands.

Howard Naturals covers all the categories that Mrs. Meyer's doesn't. Like wood, stainless steel, marble and granite, and upholstery. Their wood stuff is amazing! I don't have stainless or marble/granite in my house, so I've asked my customers who do to let me know how they like those cleaners. Their products also smell great. It's amazing what a clean uplifting (and non-chemical) fragrance can do to boost (or calm) your spirits while you're doing your chores!

I'm very sorry that I didn't take before and after pictures of my mom's butcher block table that I reconditioned for her on Mother's Day. I also failed to take any of the oak chair I have in the store that was a little dried out and tired looking before I used the furniture conditioner on it. Jose (fellow business owner in the neighborhood) came by the next day and asked me if I had refinished the chair! He bought the furniture conditioner the first day I was open. I also used it on the wood "floor" of the front window instead of staining and varnishing it.