{Seventh Generation} Review & GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

I always wondered where Seventh Generation got its name from, and I recently found out. Apparently it was inspired by the Great Law of the Iroquois, which declares, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." This, of course, gives great insight as to the integrity of this company.

I'm sure you've heard of Seventh Generation and are at least familiar with a few of their products, although, I myself must confess, I didn't realize how expansive their line of products was until recently. Along with their household cleaning items, they also carry both a feminine and baby product line.

Here are some remarkable traits of some of the products of this company, which was established 20 years ago:

*non-chlorine bleached products
*recycled products
*phosphate-free cleaning products
*organic products

Essentially, Seventh Generation uses only ingredients that are not potentially chronically harmful to our health and that are environmentally safe. And furthermore, Seventh Generation donates "10% of its profits to non-profit community, health, environmental, and responsible business organizations working for positive change." And I shan't forget to mention that at the time I'm writing this, they have also saved 361,154 trees and 922,000 gallons of petroleum. Not too shabby.

I recently received their Healthy Home Starter Kit on my {somewhat dreaded} "cleaning day" {yes, I have a self-declared cleaning day each week...for now anyway; once baby #2 arrives, that will all change, and cleaning will be done only when it can...here and there}, so I was actually stoked {for once!} to get started cleaning! Whoo-hoo for cleaning inspiration! The Healthy Home Kit includes their Kitchen Cleaner, All-Purpose Cleaner, Glass & Surface Cleaner, Shower Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Tub & Tile Cleaner, Brown Paper Towels and their Tote Bag {phew!}. It's an awesome kit to get your own home up to speed on being green {and clean, for that matter!}, not to mention a fabulous Home Warming gift, if I do say so myself.

Now I had already been using their Glass & Surface Cleaner (which is a delightful scent of Ruby Grapefruit & Herbs}, and I fully love its versatility to clean both glass and surfaces alike. This is such a time-saver for a Mom on the dreaded "cleaning day" since you don't have to start with the glass cleaner, then get the surface cleaner {not to mention a different rag} to clean both the glass items and surfaces. Any 2-for-1 product is always a plus in my books {particularly in the bathroom & kitchen, where you can just clean the {chrome/nickel/etc.} faucet fixtures and countertops at the same time}.

The Toilet Bowl Cleaner was next. It's a natural cypress & fir scent, but very mild smelling - not harsh at all. It was pretty clear {due to lack of dyes} and worked like a charm. It also has a nice tapered spout for easily reaching under the toilet bowl rim. Great to use in small spaces like your bathroom, where cleaning fumes can easily overpower you.

Next I tried the All Purpose Cleaner, and tackled my son's potty chair with it. Now, this may be TMI {too much information} for those of you who haven't dealt with a potty chair yet, but this was a task. Don't get me wrong - I rinse it out, and clean it with product after every "number 2," but it still seems to hold that pee smell. So after some good sprays of the all purpose cleaner, guess what? No smells. And when I say NO smells, that's what I mean. My point being, I wasn't just covering up the bad smell with a good one - all smells were simply gone. The All Purpose Cleaner I was sent was actually from their Free & Clear line, meaning it was free of both dyes and fragrances. And I have to say, it was so strange and eye-opening for me to be able to clean something without some overpowering "cleaning" {chemical} smell taking over me and the room ~ loved it!! {Their products from the Free & Clear line would be fabulous for Moms who are sensitive to smell {obviously} or for pregnant moms with ultra sensitive senses. I would have LOVED to have had my hands on this when I was in my first trimester and every single unnatural scent {i.e., chemical-ridden} made me nauseated!}.

Then I moved on to the Tub & Tile Cleaner and Shower Cleaner. Now, I have to say that being as much of a type-A personality as I am, I never let our showers/tubs get that dirty. We squeegee them down after every shower and all.... That being said, that nasty pinkish moldy stuff still manages to hide under certain crevices, and inevitably there are water spots on the chrome and soap scum on the shelves that hold our shampoos and such. So I took the cleaners to them, and all scum, pink nast & water spots came off, and pretty easily, might I add. The Tub & Tile Cleaner had a natural cypress & fir scent, while the shower cleaner was green mandarin & leaf. The scents were oh-so-mild that, for the first time ever, I actually didn't have to turn on the bathroom fan in order to clean out the shower! And when I was done, the room didn't reak of overpowering chemicals!

Finally, I tested out the Kitchen Cleaner in its {again} very mild scent of wild orange and cedar spice. This was great for cutting down kitchen grease and grime, and worked quite effectively around the stovetop.

All in all, I was really quite impressed with the line of Seventh Generation products I was sent. What an absolute revelation to be able to clean without all those overpowering, unnatural chemicals filling the air! And to know it's getting clean, but not harming my family {or the environment, for that matter} while doing so is just that much more of a bonus.


BUY IT: Visit Seventh Generation today to see their full line of products and to make a purchase there (or find a local retailer by you who carries them).

And now for the part you've been waiting for...

WIN IT: Seventh Generation has generously offered one very lucky Haute Tot and Baby Couture reader their own Healthy Home Starter Kit {valued at $38.99}! To enter, you must be {or become} a HTBC blog follower (1 entry). THEN once that requirement is met, please visit Seventh Generation and come back and comment on either one thing you learned about either the company itself or one of their products, or tell me some fact you learned about conservation {1 entry}. Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through March 17th. Winner to be chosen March 18th, 2010. {Contest open to US residents only}.

Want More Entries??
Once you've completed the mandatory above step, do any of the following for more entries! {Again, please be sure to leave your email address in each entry!}

*Subscribe to our blog (2 entries possible; via google - 1 entry, via email feedburner - 1 entry (must be activated to count as entry)).
*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL (must leave link to
your blog in comment - 1 entry)
*Sign up for the Seventh Generation newsletter (upper-right hand corner of their site - 1 entry).
*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry).
*Become a Seventh Generation Nation member to receive coupons and more! (1 entry).
*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet (copy and paste), (1 entry - can be done daily):
"Win the Seventh Generation Healthy Home Starter Kit @adamsblankie! Enter at www.hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com!"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s!).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie Etsy shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).
*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post (3 entries).

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly my own, and no one or nothing else has influenced me in my review.

Have a product you'd like reviewed?
Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com
www.gourmetplay.etsy.com