Flippin' Nora I have sooooo many reviews to read!!! Kate x
Flippin' Nora I have sooooo many reviews to read!!! Kate x
Member since:17.07.2006
Reviews:148
Members who trust:99
ECOVER
Cleaning up The World
As anyone who has read any of my reviews will know, I'm a big fan of natural. Natural colours, natural fabrics, natural stuff in general, and in particular natural cleaners. Doesn't matter whether we're talking recycled loo roll, plant based face wash, or opening a window instead of spraying half a tonne of fake air freshener, it's all the same to me. Natural. Say it slowly. Think about what it means.
So much of what we have around and about us these days is far from natural. We don't seem to mind clogging up the planet for the sake of a bit of comfort in having our "stuff" around us. And everything is so completely dependant on chemicals - I have secret theories that chemical plants and drug companies rule the world, but more about that in a separate review I think!
Using Ecover is a way to stand up and be counted. To say a big. Loud NO to all the companies out there that have got us hooked on chemical based, toxic products to clean our homes within an inch of their
red-brick little lives.
Well, they are the revolutionaries who first stood up and said "wait, there is another way!" In Belgium, in 1980, Ecover was founded, as a pioneering company, selling phosphate free products. As a company, Ecover is very concerned about environmental issues and in 1992 they opened the world's first ecological factory - it has a green "live" roof! This product is actually made at this factory.
Every part of their business is covered by ecological policy, not just the products and production of them, but everything else, like marketing and sales (for example, they will refill your old bottles of washing up liquid, collecting them and delivering them back, free of charge. You just pay for the actual refill - pretty good!) Ecover now have sites in the UK and USA, and sell their products in over 20 countries worldwide.
Now it has to be said that I'm not really the world's greatest fan of washing up. Or drying up for that matter. Dish washing in general bores me silly and I will do almost anything to avoid it! My other half is much better at it all than me, and more often than not lets me do the cooking so he can be chief bottle-washer. It's a perfect arrangement as far as I'm concerned!
I've been using Ecover off and on since Uni, and I just think it's great. Occasionally I'll buy Fairy, if I can't get my hands on a bottle of Ecover, but not often really.
Ecover is to be found in an opaque white bottle, with a pale cornflower blue cap, and ECOVER in big blue and green letters on the front. I buy the 1 litre bottle and find it lasts for ages. The bottle is made of recycled and recyclable plastic, and are designed to be refilled wherever there are the facilities to do this. I have to say, I've never partaken of refilling as there isn't anywhere close that I've found to do it. I just put the bottle out to be recycled with my 2 weekly recycling collection.
The product itself smells glorious. I use the Camomile and Marigold version, and it smells like the garden after a spot of light summer rain. Or even, actually, like my hands when I've been deadheading marigolds in the garden. It's very soft and gentle on your hands, and despite not making a great deal of foam in the washing up bowl, I find a small amount does a very good job of cleaning your pots and pans. The liquid itself is not coloured, it's that same opaque white as the bottle and I think this is great, as it almost proves the point that there are no colour inducing chemicals in it! And because you don't need to use very much, it lasts absolutely ages!
On the back of the bottle, Ecover state their intentions for the product, including telling us that there are no petrochemicals in it, and no chemical residues to be left on the surface of your dishes (and then ingested when you next eat a meal off them…) Ecover are also against animal testing, their products have a minimal effect on aquatic life, are biodegradable, and can be used if you have a septic tank.
This washing up liquid is available in 500ml, 1L, 5L, 25L sizes. I last bought mine at Tesco, where is costs £1.78 for a 1L bottle. To compare with Fairy, a 500ml bottle of Original Fairy costs 98p, and a bottle of Fairy Antibacterial (500ml) costs £1.26. So actually, Ecover is cheaper, better for our health, better for the environment and better all round!
I think this stuff is great. I don't have to worry about excessively rinsing my plates before drying them and putting them away, I don't have to worry about harmful residue, I don't have to worry about putting the odd bowl of washing up water on my plants in the summer, and I don't have to worry about making a negative impact on the environment every time either of us wash the dishes. It doesn't make my hands go all dry and sore, and it cleans the dishes perfectly. I think it compares very favourably financially, and it is certainly my first choice when it comes to buying washing up liquid. So go on. Save the world - buy Ecover!
Thank you for reading, Kate x
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Personal Benefits:fresh perfume from plant based ingredientscleans and degreases ... more
efficientlykind to your skinno residue of unnecessary chemicalsalso available as refillEnvironmental Benefits:quick and complete biodegradability(OECD-test 301F full product)minimum impact on aquatic life(OECD-test 201&202 full product)against animal testingsuitable for septic tanksPackaging materialsBottle and labels are made of polyethylene; cap of polypropylene. Polyethylene and polypropylene are 100 % recyclable and can be recycled together using a low energy process.Instructions for useOne squeeze is enough for a sink full of normally dirty dishes. Cleans effectively without producing excessive bubbles.Complete ingredients listThe list below displays ingredients in descending order with those present in highest quantities first.AquaSodium Laureth SulfateLauryl PolyglucoseSodium ChlorideCitric AcidParfumLimoneneHydrolized Wheat GlutenAloe Barbadensis GelCitral2-bromo-2-nitropropane-13-diol
Postage & Packaging:£3.31 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days......
Personal Benefits:fresh perfume from plant based ingredientscleans and degreases ... more
efficientlykind to your skinno residue of unnecessary chemicalsalso available as refillEnvironmental Benefits:quick and complete biodegradability(OECD-test 301F full product)minimum impact on aquatic life(OECD-test 201&202 full product)against animal testingsuitable for septic tanksPackaging materialsBottle and labels are made of polyethylene; cap of polypropylene. Polyethylene and polypropylene are 100 % recyclable and can be recycled together using a low energy process.Instructions for useOne squeeze is enough for a sink full of normally dirty dishes. Cleans effectively without producing excessive bubbles.Complete ingredients listThe list below displays ingredients in descending order with those present in highest quantities first.AquaSodium Laureth SulfateLauryl PolyglucoseSodium ChlorideCitric AcidParfumLimoneneHydrolized Wheat GlutenAloe Barbadensis GelCitral2-bromo-2-nitropropane-13-diol
Postage & Packaging:Check Site. Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days......
Personal Benefits:fresh perfume from plant based ingredientscleans and degreases ... more
efficientlykind to your skinno residue of unnecessary chemicalsalso available as refillEnvironmental Benefits:quick and complete biodegradability(OECD-test 301F full product)minimum impact on aquatic life(OECD-test 201&202 full product)against animal testingsuitable for septic tanksPackaging materialsBottle and labels are made of polyethylene; cap of polypropylene. Polyethylene and polypropylene are 100 % recyclable and can be recycled together using a low energy process.Instructions for useOne squeeze is enough for a sink full of normally dirty dishes. Cleans effectively without producing excessive bubbles.Complete ingredients listThe list below displays ingredients in descending order with those present in highest quantities first.AquaSodium Laureth SulfateLauryl PolyglucoseSodium ChlorideCitric AcidParfumLimoneneHydrolized Wheat GlutenAloe Barbadensis GelCitral2-bromo-2-nitropropane-13-diol
Postage & Packaging:£3.31 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Personal Benefits:fresh perfume from plant based ingredientscleans and degreases ... more
efficientlykind to your skinno residue of unnecessary chemicalsalso available as refillEnvironmental Benefits:quick and complete biodegradability(OECD-test 301F full product)minimum impact on aquatic life(OECD-test 201&202 full product)against animal testingsuitable for septic tanksPackaging materialsBottle and labels are made of polyethylene; cap of polypropylene. Polyethylene and polypropylene are 100 % recyclable and can be recycled together using a low energy process.Instructions for useOne squeeze is enough for a sink full of normally dirty dishes. Cleans effectively without producing excessive bubbles.Complete ingredients listThe list below displays ingredients in descending order with those present in highest quantities first.AquaSodium Laureth SulfateLauryl PolyglucoseSodium ChlorideCitric AcidParfumLimoneneHydrolized Wheat GlutenAloe Barbadensis GelCitral2-bromo-2-nitropropane-13-diol
Postage & Packaging:Check Site. Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Lovely, happy, environmentally sound products Disadvantages: Limited availability for some products and also slightly expensive
Sootica.P.Monster 03.10.2005 (03.10.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Ecover Washing Up Liquid
Advantages: Environmentally friendly, genuinely kind to hands, excellent cleaning ability. Disadvantages: Not available everywhere, supermarkets don't allow you to refill.
jillmurphy 25.05.2003 (25.05.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Ecover Washing Up Liquid
Oct 22nd, 2006
exceptional by (9%):
very helpful by (91%):
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