Why I’m “Going Green”…and the Products that Convinced Me

If I’m being honest, I didn’t really do it to necessarily be more environmentally-friendly or decrease my ecological footprint (these just happen to be great side effects to my decision). And if I’m being totally honest, I didn’t even start doing this due to any conscious decision.

I started using “green” products because it was convenient.

Yeah, you read that right…I made a decision to do something good for myself and the environment for the simple fact that it made my life easier. And it was thanks to a company called Grove Collaborative.

A convenient excuse to switch…

If you haven’t heard of Grove Collaborative (which I’m pretty sure at this point is almost no one, but for the sake of being thorough…), they’re basically an online subscription service that delivers household goods right to your door every month. The caveat to this awesome service, they only offer products that are certified “green” and eco-friendly.

I’m pretty much in love with Grove Collaborative because I’m terrible at remembering to pick up boring things like toilet paper and disinfectant spray. I swear I can make a Target run for the sole purpose of picking up paper towels, leave with a cart full of all the things…except for paper towels.

It’s sad.

So, a service that delivers all those goods to my house every month, ensuring that I never have to scrounge through the junk drawer for a random napkin ever again? Sign me up.

It wasn’t until after I started using Grove Collaborative that I started considering how much better these products were. And not just for me, but for Scott and the fur-babies too.

And Why I Should Have Switched Sooner…

Because, here’s the thing, I put a ton of effort into being healthy and taking care of myself. I try to maintain a solid workout routine. I am mindful of what I eat. I take multi-vitamins and supplements to stay healthy.

So, why wouldn’t I pay more attention to the chemicals I expose myself to on a regular basis?

Listen, I’m not going to cite any research studies about the effects of certain chemicals or argue about what may or may not cause cancer. Because these days, it seems like everything is being studied for potential health risks and I’m not sure how much of it I buy in to at this point.

What I do know is that if I find it necessary to cover my face and/or not breath while I’m cleaning the bathtub? Then maybe the products I’m using aren’t so great. And maybe there’s a better alternative.

Since I first started using Grove Collaborative, I’ve been making a much more conscious effort to trade out all of my everyday products for “green” products (or at least green-er products).

Today, I’m going to share some of my favorite products that I’ve become a little obsessed with.

Mrs. Meyer’s Cleaning Products

Most of the products I order from Grove Collaborative are from Mrs. Meyer’s because I’ve loved everything I’ve ever used from that line.

Due to an introductory offer when I first signed up with Grove, I actually tested out two multi-surface cleaners the first month. One was Mrs. Meyer’s, the other was Method (Mrs. Meyer’s was a free gift, Method was one I had chosen to try). I was not a fan of the Method cleaner. The smell was just too overpowering. Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface, on the other hand, had a lighter, pleasant scent that didn’t choke me. And it easily cleaned up sticky spills like coffee and honey.

At this point, I’ve transitioned to using almost all of Mrs. Meyer’s products for my laundry. My one exception is laundry detergent (my husband puts up with a lot from me…but I’m not sure he’d put up with me making his clothes smell like honeysuckle). I do use Mrs. Meyer’s laundry scent booster and dryer sheets (because Scott won’t use those anyway, so it doesn’t matter if they smell “girly”) and I love them both. During the winter, I noticed a lot less static in my clothes thanks to the dryer sheets.

Seventh Generation Multi-Purpose Wipes

These have become a must-have item in my house.

In fact, I must have at least three containers at all times (one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, and an extra for random places like the car).

I pretty much use these for any small day-to-day messes like wiping down the kitchen counter when I’m cooking or cleaning up spilled toothpaste in the bathroom sink. These wipes have even been great for dusting furniture or cleaning up behind the pups. And for Scott, these are absolutely necessary (He still has a college boy mentality when it comes to cleaning and thinks wipes take care of everything).

Bonus, they’re naturally scented with mint and the result is a very light and pleasant scent.

Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Stain & Odor Remover

One product I couldn’t really find through Grove Collaborative was a good stain and odor cleaner for pets.

Because it doesn’t matter how well-trained your dogs are…eventually, they will make a mess. And when they do, you need a good stain and odor remover.

Since Grove Collaborative didn’t offer any through their service, I had to look elsewhere. I came across Skout’s at PetSmart…and that was the end of my search.

Seriously, this stuff is awesome. It’s taken care of any stains in my house easily.

Case in point: A couple of months ago, our German Shepherd Lola got sick in the middle of the night. And it was horrendous.

And, of course, I had just run out of this stuff.

I didn’t have time to drive out to PetSmart the next day, so I had to resort to picking up a different pet stain cleaner. I used almost the whole bottle and ran our Bissell SpotClean over it. And it still didn’t seem clean. So, I ran out and got more Skout’s, applied it as a pre-treatment, and went over with the SpotClean again. Ta-da…clean carpet. (Check out the review I wrote for the vacuum cleaner I can’t live without and how it helps to keep a three dog household clean.)

The bottle also states that it’s effective against other stains like mud, blood, and wine. Thankfully, I haven’t had to put it to the test to get out blood stains, but I can tell you it definitely works on red wine stains (After 10+ plus years in the restaurant industry, you’d think I’d be smart enough not to wear my favorite white cardigan to work).

Acure Mega Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

Y’all, I have a serious problem with hair care products. I am soooo picky about what I use and I will immediately throw away anything that makes my hair feel funky.

I was a little skeptical about switching my shampoo and conditioner. I’m still trying to get my hair back to a healthier state after a really bad dye job a little over a year ago (Just a little to: If it seems like the hair stylist is leaving the bleach on your hair too long, say something, and don’t just assume they’ve got it under control).

I was worried trying a new product out would make it worse, especially since the Grove Collaborative website didn’t say whether any of Acure’s shampoos and conditioners were safe for chemically-treated hair (they are, by the way).

Now I’m just mad I didn’t try it sooner.

You know that feeling when you leave the salon and your hair is super soft and shiny and you can’t stop running your fingers through it?

Yeah, this stuff is that kind of good.

Acure also has an extensive line of skincare products, and, after the results I’ve seen with this shampoo, I can’t wait to try them.

Other Products

SmartPits Aluminum-Free Sweet Orange & Bergamot Deodorant

I’ve tried out a few aluminum-free deodorants, and this is probably the best so far. One note: Its texture is almost waxy so applying it can feel kind of funky. I’ve found it’s easier to apply right out of the shower when my skin is warm.

Hello Activated Charcoal Flouride-Free Toothpaste

I was skeptical of the whole charcoal toothpaste trend. But, a tube of toothpaste is a lot cheaper than getting my teeth bleached so…why not? And I have to say, while my teeth aren’t blindingly white, they have gotten whiter. For someone with a serious coffee habit, that’s no small feat.

Seventh Generation Wood Cleaner

I’ve been using this wood cleaner to polish wood surfaces after dusting, and it’s pretty effective at cutting down on the dust (in a house with three dogs, that says a lot). Plus, the light, clean scent is way more pleasant than the cloying citrus smell of most furniture polishes.

Mrs. Meyer’s Dishwasher Tabs

So, full disclosure, I can’t really offer an honest review of this product.

Why?

Because my dishwasher is a temperamental pain in the ass. Half the time, it doesn’t release the detergent tab compartment and I end up having to run it twice. (Actually, if I’m really honest, I recently just started chucking tabs in the dishwasher and ignoring the stupid compartment altogether.) While I’m not confident enough to say it’s better than my old dishwashing tabs, it’s definitely performing just as well.

I’m still working on finding greener alternatives to some products (like body wash and glass cleaner).

If you’ve got any recommendations for green products, drop them in the comments!