NOW CLOSED: Talk to Tesco Naturally Powered about environmentally friendly cleaning products - you could win a £100 Tesco voucher

[AnnMumsnet]

You may have seen in store (or on Mumsnet, thanks to the 1000 odd testers who put two of the products to the test) that Tesco have recently launched a new range of cleaning products, Naturally Powered and they would like to know your opinions on buying environmentally friendly cleaning products.

So, if you buy environmentally friendly cleaning products, why is this? Are all the cleaning products you use environmentally friendly or only certain ones? If so what type of cleaning don't you use environmentally friendly cleaning products for and why? Do you find that they are effective in cleaning your house? Think about both laundry and cleaning products.

If you don't buy environmentally friendly cleaning products, why is this? Is there anything that could persuade you to buy environmentally friendly cleaning products? Is this something you think about when doing your shopping?

Are there any cleaning activities where you don't use cleaning products at all, but choose to use 100% natural ingredients? What would be your top tips for using natural products to clean your house?

All those who add their comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive £100 Tesco voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw.
MNHQ

[ShatnersBassoon]

I only buy environmentally friendly products if they're the best value for money, so I very rarely buy them.

I use bicarb for scouring, and after I've squeezed a lemon I use the inside of the skin to polish the taps. And soda crystals for all sorts of things, although I'm not sure if they're relevant to the environmentally friendly element, and they are a cleaning product...

[StellaAndFries]

I use which ever cleaning products are on offer usually but use white vinegar for cleaning toilets and removing lime scale from taps. At the moment I use so zoflora a lot as it lasts for ages as its concentrated and it makes my house smell lovely and fresh.

[Frontpaw]

Hello Tesco people. I buy Ecover as it does the job well, is all 'greeny' and doesnt make me choke when using it. I do, however, buy limelite as I live in London and nothing else seems to shift out limescale. I use vinegar where I can (just buying th 14p a bottle stuff) and baby sterilising tablets to get stains off china.

I have used the Tesco environmentally friendly stuff - MN trial, thank you very much - and it worked as well as the other stuff and din't smell too bad either. I tend not to buy it as I do the bulk of my shopping elsewhere and since Tesco is about to close my closest store, it is unlikely I'd make a special trip to get it, and just stock up on Ecover when they have their special offers.

[twonker]

Like others I am sceptical about supermarket Eco range. I trust that ecover really are environmental, because their entire company is built on being environmental..production methods included. I reckon supermarket Eco products are made in the same way as the non-Eco stuff, and it's more expensive,so it's a con. I have a real mix in my cupboard.....ecover floor soap cos I love the smell, own brand Dettol , bleach and bleachy spray, Eco range spray, just try to use them sparingly!

[Silverlace]

I don't use Eco cleaners as I have tried some in the past and didn't think they do a good job. Having said that I don't use lots of cleaning products, just a few basics. I don't go in for lots of anti-bac, air freshners etc.

I haven't tried Eco cleaners again as I am happy with what I use and think it is a lot of money to spend and find that it doesn't work very well.

I use half a lemon to freshen the dishwasher and fridge and use half a lemon and salt to scrub pans or work surfaces.

[ouryve]

I think sparingly is the key, twonker. I just finished a can of Mr Sheen, this week. I can't remember when I bought it! I usually use a damp duster and just use a little spray every week or so to keep wooden surfaces looking nice and "nourished". A Mr Muscle kitchen spray typically lasts me 18 months because washing up water does the job unless the worktop is particularly grease spattered, when I want something that works. The only things I get through quickly are the very unenvironmentally friendly packs of cif wipes I buy from poundland and keep behind the loo - they have peroxide in them (peroxide is a chlorine free option for those who still want to bleach stuff by the way - it just breaks down to water and oxygen when it works. I think you can still buy it from the chemist)

[GetKnitted]

Unfortunately we make our choice largely on price. Having said that, I am just assuming that there is a difference iin price between the own brand normal stuff and own brand eco stuff. I also feel sometimes, looking at the ingrediants that I don't really understand why a product is eco, what has been left out and are non of the other ingrediants just as bad for the environment, if it was explained clearly it might persuade me. Loooking at all the weird and wonderful cleaning products listed, it strikes me that Tesco should have the mumsnet cleaning products, vinegar, bicarb of soda and coca cola, all together in the cleaning aisle :-)

[lucjam]

I use mainly Method products, they do enviro cleaning stuff and body stuff too like moisturiser etc. I buy them because I don't want to breathe in nasty chemicals, have chemicals on my clothes etc.

I did like the washing powder I got in the trial and have since bought a box which I am halfway through. I used to use method clothes stuff but it is only available in liquid form which makes your machine stink so I've stopped buying it.

I am a bit of a science no hoper so tend to believe what it says on the packet about the impact on the environment but I see further up this topic someone is commenting on Tesco's eco credentials, I hope they are wrong...

[NaturalNature]

I buy most of my natural products in Tesco as they are the only supermarket where their own brand products are all animal testing free

Tesco stock a wider range of vinegars so I can stock up on vinegars and have a choice, some are good for wood, some not etc. It does take some searching as they're not all together but no other shop has the same availability

I probably wouldn't try a tester due to eczema problems though as even a small flair up can last weeks

Having a natural section would be novel

[SuePurblybilt]

I am VERY CROSS with Tesco as I wasn't one of the 1000s selected to test their cleaners, despite threads asking for more after I applied. I took that very personally indeed

Anyway. I've used eco balls and soap nuts for laundry for years - including on reusable nappies and they're OK. I think 'eco' washing powders are usually a bit of a swizz, perhaps apart from Ecover. One thing Ecover do well is explain what they don't use and why (non-surfactants for eg) or no fragrance - they put this on the packaging. Tesco's version tends to just call itself eco friendly, which makes me suspicious but as I can rarely be arsed to investigate further, I just go with another brand. So I think they're missing a trick there.

METHOD products are lovely but I was told they were imported - which concerned me (airmiles) and they are pricey. Something that nice (lovely smells and packaging and quite effective) but cheaper/more mainstream would go down very well. And stop hiding them in a corner - put them with the other products.

Cleaning without chemicals -I've been hardcore in the past and still try to limit the chemicals as much as I can. I use white vinegar a lot, lemon for sinks and taps, vinegar and paper or an eco cloth for mirrors, chrome and windows. Limiting the products you use is also a good plan - most people tend to buy pre-measured doses of washing powder and you don't need anything like that amount. Find an old fashioned hardware store and buy up their stocks of bicab and beeswax sticks and washing up brushes like little mops

[SuddenlyMadameGlamour]

I said it on the feedback thread already, but I too was unconvinced of the Eco credentials of naturally powered products. Not that i make a point of buying Eco friendly products, but if I were, I would not buy this range, and I probably wouldn't shop in tesco.

[SuddenlyMadameGlamour]

Oh and my environmentally friendly tip is not to clean much!

[QuickQuickSloe]

I use the Eco kitchen and bathroom sprays after getting worried about the parabens in some others. They smell lovely, the bathroom one smells like refreshers. I can't really accept that they are environmentally friend,y though- all that plastic packaging! The body shop used to do discounts on refills if you brought your original bottle back, would something like that be possible?

[turkeyboots]

I do buy environmentally friendly cleaning products fairly regularly. I like phosphate free products and avoid tricolsan (anti baterical stuff) as much as possible. But am a big bleacher of things (guilty face) . Also love the smell of yellow comfort, so despite trying all types of eco versions, have gone back to it. I find all the product I use are as effective as the non eco versions for thongs like bathroom and kitchen sprays, multi surface cleaner.


Generally looking for things which are low waste, low impact on aquatic environment, sustainable. Fair trade and low product miles. Which is a big ask it seems.

[MakeTeaNotWar]

We happen to use ecover detergent and fabric conditioner but I really don't make any special effort to buy green products, tend to buy what's on offer. However this thread has made me think that I don't need to buy many cleaning products really and could make better use of vinegar and newspaper.

[goinggoinggoth]

Generally try to use Eco-products, either ecover or method (refills are reasonable price) wash liquid, ecover fabric conditioner, toilet cleaner (smells lovely), multisurface cleaner & lime scale remover (it does work)
Have to confess, still keep bleach for stubborn tea-stains (why can't DH wipe spills up )

[poachedeggs]

I don't buy environmentally friendly cleaning products, mainly because of cost and habit I guess. If they were on offer I'd probably buy them.

I use minimal products anyway - bleach, washing up liquid, detergent and softener, and cream cleaner. I tend to use bicarb a lot and find it pretty effective. Oh, and newspaper to clean the windows :)

[NaturalNature]

an equal mix of salt and white vinegar cleans tea stains.

[flamingtoaster]

I use the minimum amount of non-eco products for effective cleaning and they are all the most basic/multi functional and least fragranced I can - but I use vinegar, lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda instead of normal products when I can. I would buy eco products if they were more effective - though I would still use vinegar etc. in preference to them as well.

[aristocat]

I dont buy environmentally friendly products either, I do use as little as possible of everything.

I also tested the laundry powder from Tesco and I quite liked it except that it remained in my detergent drawer but perhaps this is a good thing because it lasted ages! Sadly the clothes didnt always come clean so needed to be rewashed.

[Saritabean]

I buy tesco naturally powered kitchen spray, ecover washing up liquid (used to buy tescos previous version of Eco-friendly washing up liquid before the re-brand, but newer version just looke more toxic yellow and not as good value for money as large bottle ecover...).

Also used to buy previous tescos 'naturally' softener- loved it, but new naturally powered one smells horrid and again a funny colour.... Think they should have stuck to some of their original 'naturally' range before they rebranded it...

[CheeryCherry]

I buy ecover washing up liquid when its on offer but must confess I like the,stronger scented fairy liquid. I use own brand non bio washing tablets as its cheaper. I tend to stick to cif creme cleaners for the kitchen, and get whatever is on offer for bathroom products. I suppose I don't look to eco friendly products particularly as I suspect they will not be as powerful, and as a lazy housekeeper and I want stuff that works immediately!! Saying that I don't buy many products anyway. I use newspaper and vinegar for the windows. I use bicarb paste for stubborn stains and as carpet freshener. I use lemon juice and water to steam clean the microwave. Plus water and micro cloths for dusting. A few special offers may persuade me to try new Eco products.

[FreckledLeopard]

I would ideally like to use natural/eco-friendly products but for a variety of reasons I tend to end up buying the cheapest/most efficient. Having tried Ecover (washing up liquid, laundry detergent, stain remover) I found it really didn't work as well as 'traditional' products in getting clothes clean. Also, I bought soda crystal cleaner before and again found it didn't do the job in the same way as kitchen spray with bleach did.

Same with loo cleaner - I like to be able to put bleach down the loo, leave it for 15 minutes, flush and it's clean (no need to scrub). I've yet to find any loo cleaner that is as efficient as bleach.

I do use flat lemonade/cola to remove limescale because it's something that actually works well. But for me, efficiency is pretty important, as is cost, so am likely to get a BOGOF/multibuy offer rather than spending lots on an eco range that may not do the job as well.

I feel guilty for my shopping choices but try to be ethical in other areas (for example I endeavour to only buy free range or organic meat, eggs etc) which salves my conscience somewhat.

[smurkle]

I use what works, regardless of environmental impact I'm afraid. I work full time, got four young kids so I need products that are effective otherwise I have to spend longer doing the jobs.

For most kitchen, bathroom cleaning I use the orange topped cillit bang, judging by the horrible smell I doubt very much it is environmentally friendly but it works, and works quickly.

For laundry I use powder so I can tailor the amount I use. Generally I buy whichever is on special offer.

So if you can make environmentally friendly, orange cillit bang I'll convert, but I doubt you will.