ecover

[sammysam]

are the products any good? and how much better for the environment are they really?

I use ecover in my dishwasher and can honestly say they clean as well as others, but with no awful synthetic lemon smell. I felt it was safer for anything going in our mouths rather than the harsh enzymes in finish etc

We use the washing up liquid; it's really good, although it doesn't lather up very much.

We also use the cleaning products - eg: multi surface spray, cream cleaner - which are lovely.

I haven't tried the washing powder, as it seems much more expensive than other brands, whereas the cleaning stuff seems comparable to others.

I use ecover...

2 of the house where i work only use ecover / enivironmentally 'better' products (eg Lloyd grossman)and they are all clean and sparkling.... hence they have convinced me and i only buy environmentally friendlier in my own home too!

I personally would rather spend an extra £ and not damage the environment unecassarily!

the washing powder is good as you can only use the exact right amount so it does work out similar in price in the long run

it costs more than Fairy Non Bio for example but I replace it a lot less

use the washing up liquid, toilet cleaner, squirtEco spray, and floor cleaner

all good

Capuscreamo.... why can you only use the rigth amount?

me curiouse! I dont understand how you could not use more or less, as i certainly could when i use it! (I often use less actually)

washing powder is good - I use half the recommended amount for ALL washing powders - still gets clothes clean.
I like the fabric conditioner too, but I have started to use white vinegar instead as it is better for the health of my washing machine. (limescale)

i use ecover or tescos own version of ecover for dishwasher, washing clothes and (when i don't run out and need to buy it at wee local shop!) WUL. Must investiage other cleaning stuff too. I've been fairly impressed though I did read something somewhere (probably here) about it not actually being that much better for the environment.

I like ecover because I can easily get the bottles re-fillied at local health food shop... both washing up liquid and the washing machine stuff...

I also really like the foaming bath cleaner thing they do, it is fab...

I try not to give myself tooo hard a time about the environmental issue, but I think at least it is something and not too hard on my septic tank, hopefully!

nanny I didn't mean you were forced into it! I just meant it was easier cos it's all so accurately measured out

Thanks for the comments on the washing powder - I will order some and give it a go. We use the fabric conditioner already, but to be honest, I'm never really convinced by fabric conditioner, whatever the brand.

We use the washing up liquid, multi surface cleaner, toilet cleaner, and the laundry bleach for whites. TBH I didn't really like the washing powder or the liquid detergent - clothes would smell a bit grim.

the only ecover thing we didn't like was t he washing liquid - it didn't seem to get clothes that clean, particularly whites.
but we use the conditioner, toilet cleaner, washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets/rinse aid and they are all good. even the limescale remover works well.

wow-thanks for all your replies! So it looks like i shoul give them a go......but does anyone here know if and how much better they are environmentally?
i'd never get dp to agree with me if they weren't a lot better nut cost a lot more iyswim?

My DH commented on how much nicer the clothes were after I started using the fabric conditioner, so if must be good if he noticed. I love the washing up liquid, and wouldn't use anything else. Check out the ecover web site

I halve the amount of detergent I use but add a handful of soda crystals. I'm sure they tell you to use more so you will buy more!

Holidayss queen... you cant expect the ecover to make whites white, cause it has no 'optical brightners' (aka bleach) in the ingredianst so it wont bleach your whites white!

they also do a laundry whitner for whirte whites.

NB lots of research have optical brightners bad as they bind to the skin, never to go away ever... so its not such a bad thing that they arnt there IMO.

On the plus side they dont blaach your colours, like all other products that contain optical brightners will do over time

NannyL - TBH my normal liquid doesn't make them that white either. I think I'm just crap at laundry!
I might have to switch back and try the laundry whitener.
Anyone know how good ecover liquid is on nappies - having our first baby in March and planning to use reusables. I may switch back to ecover if there isn't much difference in its performance on nappies as it's probably better for the baby and better for the environment if i end up doing loads more laundry.

Holidays queen.... are you using fairy liqudi detreganet or persil non bio liquid? they dont contain optical brightners either and so wont make whites white no matter what you do.

If you want white whites you need to either use any (Bio or non bio) powder (except ecover that doesnt have optical brightners aka bleach in)
Or Bio Liquid (which contains optical brightners)... or some own brands of non bio liquid and some contain optical brightners (aka bleach) and others dont, you need to check the ingrediants

If you are using a product without optical brightners you wont get very white whites

I use most of the products - dishwasher stuff, washing powder (+ washing bleach), fabric conditioner, washing up liq, surface cleaner. As someone else said, the product I struggle with is the toilet cleaner - it doesn't really clean. Trying to at least do some with this cleaner and some with bleach.

I'm baffled... why would you pay more for Ecover washing powder when you can buy Simply for a fraction of the cost?

It does twice the job - and if you read the wesite and do a bit of digging, it actually does less harm to the environment.

I've learnt a valuable lesson in the last few months... DON'T trust manufacturers claims!

Would it surprise some of you to know that Ecover lost its Vegan Society status because it tests on animals? This Simply stuff isn't and says it never will - do a bit of research before you settle on a product.

It worries me that the government allows manufacturers to mislead us like this. Still I suppose it has to be seen to be fulfilling its green quota....

Sorry rant over! xx

Dee3-whats simply and where can you get it from?

Sorry,

Got into a bit of rant there and didn't explain properly...

Simply is a new eco-friendly laundry detergent. I buy it in Sainsbury's but I believe its on sale in Morrisons too, oh and the Co-op.

You can buy online and they also have a dishwash product available on there (I don't have a dishwasher so can't comment). www.simplywashing.co.uk

I've been really impressed by the produst and the no bull information that the company gives you. It definitely highlights the way that others 'fudge' the edges.

Dee x

Dee3.... i think the 'animal' it tests of is a small water flea.... one of th smallest organisms that even exist...

Ok it could arguably be an animal (as its not a plant or fungi or bacteria) but its nothing like a dog a mouse or a monkey for eg!

True, but still... this other manufacturer doesn't even do that - so there must be other ways of testing, but ecover obviously doesn't do that for whatever reason. Money I expect.

But you are either in favour of animal testing or against - I don't think there should be a grey area.

I get your point but it kind of brings me back to manufacturers making various claims and not being 100% clear.

Blah blah blah... I guess I'm just fed up of being deliberately mislead.

Dee x