Getting back into the flow of review writing - just need to make sure I keep up with the reading now...
Getting back into the flow of review writing - just need to make sure I keep up with the reading now x New review added 23/2/09
Member since:09.07.2007
Reviews:72
Members who trust:31
I have to admit that I have noticed that some of our "environmentalist" friends used this product and I always thought it had to be completely ineffective if it was good for the environment. So I have always stuck to my big brand varieties but at the same time I have been quite aware about the number of chemicals that we have in our kitchen cupboards but to my shame had done nothing about it.
So when we went on holiday and the cottage we stayed in used all Ecover products I felt like I was getting a free sample so I test drove the products and was particularly impressed by the washing up liquid. So much so that when we got home and I needed to buy some more washing up liquid I thought I would ge this product and see how well it lasts.
I have to say that I have been extremely impressed by this product
– it has a wonderful camomile and citrus smell which is light and yet does not linger on your crockery. As far as I can see it does what it claims to with the minimum of fuss. According to the information on the back of the bottle it says:
“Cleans and degreases efficiently using the power of nature. Kind to your hands thanks to plant based ingredients Not based on petrochemical ingredients No residue of unnecessary chemicals left on your dishes “
To test this I did arrange a pan test (merely to satisfy my husband that this product does actually work and I wasn’t jumping on the environmentalist bandwagon) with the remainder of our well known branded washing up liquid versus the Ecover.
Using two dirty saucepans from the night before I put the Ecover in the dirtier of the two and the well known brand in the other. We then put some very hot water in each pan. The Ecover pan only required a little rubbing with the sponge to get the dirt off whereas the well known brand needed a bit of scouring help. Also the Ecover made the saucepan lovely and bright – it looked properly clean. Was this because of the lack of residue you have to ask.
I suffer from eczema on my hands and for years (or so I tell my husband) I haven’t been able to wash up due to my hands becoming irritated. The only downside then to this product for me is that I now have to do the washing up because it doesn’t irritate my hands! But I have no complaints with its cleaning ability and would not hesitate to recommend this product to anyone. And not just anyone with an environmental conscience but anyone who wants an effective washing up liquid.
How much do you need and how long does it last? You don’t get a lot of bubbles with this product but you’re not supposed to – you just get effective cleaning. One squirt is enough for your average bowl of washing up but for more stubborn, dried on dirty dishes a little soaking is required in very hot water. As for how long does a bottle last we have just finished our first one which was bought 3 months ago (please note this is based on two people who wash up straight after dinner so dirt isn’t allowed to dry on much and whose main source of “burnt on” dirt is a cast irongriddle pan which has a protective coating).
Are there any other benefits? Yes all of their products offer the best levels of biodegradability which far exceeds legislative requirements. The bottles and labels are made from polyethylene, the caps are made from polypropylene both of which are easily recyclable in a low energy process. Refills are available although they are not widely available but you can check here for your nearest refill supplier http://www.uk-marketingdatabase.com/ecover/ECOVER.search.show_parms). You can refill your bottles up to 50 times - again positively impacting on the environment. Because the products are plant based there is minimal impact on aquatic life. Ecover are against animal testing And you can use this product in your septic tank (if you so wish!).
Where can I buy this? It is becoming more popular with supermarket chains but can also be found in some health food shops. Here is a link to Ecovers stockists http://ecover.reference.be/gb/en/WhereToBuy/
Price wise it was £1.74 in our local Sainsbury for a 1 litre bottle. I was a little taken aback by this but then 500ml of our usual brand was £0.89 so it was about the same price per litre. You can buy it in a 500ml bottle for £0.99 so in that respect it is a little more expensive but as I soon discovered well worth that little bit extra. The only thing is the products don’t seem to be on offer as much as the standard brands so that is where the standard brands win in value terms. But for quality and effectiveness without ruining the environment, this product wins hands down.
Ingredients (from the back of the bottle with a couple of extra notes) >30% water 5-15% aniomic surfactants (which are plant based) <5& non-ionic surfactants (which are plant based) Milk whey (does contain a small amount of animal product), Extracts of camomile and marigold Citric acid (plant based) Table salt Perfume (type: camomile, contains Limonene) Preservative (0.02%):2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-diol
Who are Ecover? This review has been of this particular product but if you are interested in finding out more about the company click here http://ecover.reference.be/gb/en/About/
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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:£4.87 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
This fruity new addition to Ecovers washing up liquid range leaves your dishes fresh and ... more
sparkling clean. It contains a natural grapefruit fragrance and Green Tea extract which is known for its anti-odour properties. As youd expect our new formula adheres to our strict ecological principles its made with plant and mineral ingredients for minimal impact on the environmentPersonal Benefits:fresh perfume from plant based ingredientscontains Gree Tea extract - known for its anti-odour propertiescleans and degreases efficientlykind to your skinno residue of unnecessary chemicalsEnvironmental 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 AcidParfum2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-13-DiolLimonene
Postage & Packaging:£3.61 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Personal Benefits:* fresh perfume from plant based ingredients* cleans and degreases ... more
efficiently* kind to your skin* no residue of unnecessary chemicals* also 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 testing* suitable 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.* Aqua* Sodium Laureth Sulfate* Lauryl Polyglucose* Sodium Chloride* Citric Acid* Parfum* Limonene* Hydrolized Wheat Gluten* Aloe Barbadensis Gel* Citral* 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-13-diol
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery 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
![Ecover Washing-up Liquid Camomile 500ml Ref VEVWUL [Pack 2]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/76076534.jpg "Ecover Washing-up Liquid Camomile 500ml Ref VEVWUL [Pack 2]")
Aug 14th, 2007
exceptional by (8%):
very helpful by (92%):
![Ecover Washing-up Liquid Environmentally-friendly Camomile 500ml Ref VEVWUL [Pack 2]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/93702172.jpg "Ecover Washing-up Liquid Environmentally-friendly Camomile 500ml Ref VEVWUL [Pack 2]")
