Ecover

[Pieface]

Sapindus for clothes, cheap and clean.

ah - ok - I googled that - it's not wood ash! It's a fruit!

Can you use it to wash hair and if so is it less irritating than shampoo? I can't use anything other than this coal tar stuff at the moment

 

[snorbury]

ah - ok - I googled that - it's not wood ash! It's a fruit!

Can you use it to wash hair and if so is it less irritating than shampoo? I can't use anything other than this coal tar stuff at the moment

I put 6 fruit in the machine, they last for ages. Try an ayurvedic shampoo, with plant oils

 

[Pieface]

will have a go - thanks.

 

[*Miss*Sparkle*]

I like ecover. I use their washing up liquid, surface cleaner, cream cleaner, probably their whole range really. The only thing I don't use is their laundry liquid. I used to use this about 5 years ago and I found it never really got deorarent marks out of my clothes. Eventually I had to throw out a load of tshirts as the armpits had gone really stiff cos the laundry liquid couldn't shift the deoderant. Anyone else have the same problem or have they improved the recipe somewhat? I'd like to move away from using Ariel but not if I'm going to end up gradually wrecking my tshirts again!

 

[innit]

I used Ecover washing up liquid for a very short while....

But I had to use tons of it just to get any bubbles, and I just felt it didn't clean things properly.

So I switched back to normal stuff.

That's terrible, I know....

I do try to lessen my environmental footprint in other ways though, eg. cycling/walking everywhere...<cringes at self>

I'm having the same problem I was wondering if I just don't like it because I'm used to more bubbles, but I've now decided that it actually takes quite a lot of elbow grease (and time) to get stuff clean.

I really like their multi surface cleaner though, very effective.

 

[Maggot]

Maggot, I'm curious - have you tried simply NOT using fabric conditioner? I can't really tell the difference to be honest.

No I haven't. I'll give it a go.

 

[alien nation]

I use Ecover too, but my mum use these special eco-balls in the machine which means no washing powder or fabric softener. They really do work, I've been thinking about using them too. They cost about £34 - but are a good investment.

I found a link, but my mum got hers from the health shop.

http://www.greenwarehouse.co.uk/index.php?p0=detail&id=251

 

[izz]

I like ecover as well. I found that the laundry fluid has actually improved - i reckon about a coupla years ago. I love the fact that the fabric conditioner doesn't have that huge blasty chemical stench that the others do. My partner found some info somewhere that said you should use the ordinary laundry stuff every five washes and i guess i do for his stuff but don't for mine.

 

[story]

I like ecover. I use their washing up liquid, surface cleaner, cream cleaner, probably their whole range really. The only thing I don't use is their laundry liquid. I used to use this about 5 years ago and I found it never really got deorarent marks out of my clothes. Eventually I had to throw out a load of tshirts as the armpits had gone really stiff cos the laundry liquid couldn't shift the deoderant. Anyone else have the same problem or have they improved the recipe somewhat? I'd like to move away from using Ariel but not if I'm going to end up gradually wrecking my tshirts again!

I don't use deoderant - that'll solve that one!
Nope, I don't use antiperspirant either.
Nope, I don't smell bad either.

 

[han]

I thought it didn't clean properly when I first used it but now it seems fine. It does feel weird that it doesn't produce many bubbles, but it cleans everything as well as any other washing up liquid that I've used.

and you don't find you have to use more Ecover than you did with normal washing up liquid?

 

[Herbsman.]

and you don't find you have to use more Ecover than you did with normal washing up liquid?

nope, same amount

 

[LilMissHissyFit]

http://www.earthmatters.org.uk/EcoProducts/index.html

"Ecover is 50% owned by Group 4, the security firm which runs the Campsfield detention centre for asylum seekers and has been severely criticised for its violent handling of anti-roads protests. In addition, Ecover follow a five year rolling rule, which means that they do not use ingredients which have been tested on animals in the past five years. The animal rights campaigners, BUAV, do not support the five year rolling rule as it does not prevent manufacturers from using ingredients tested on animals more than five years ago. So while it is a good green buy, many people avoid it for other ethical reasons. Earth Matters have taken the decision to continue to stock Ecover products in the meantime because of their otherwise excellent green credentials, but would invite customers to inform us of their opinion."

Group 4 also own several other private prisons, including Parc in bridgend
They might be green but they certainly arentv ethical

 

[pogofish]

More suspicious news about Ecover - Seems they are going over to using GM enzymes:

http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Enzymes+extended.htm

'When Ecover started to use enzymes we were able to obtain them from manufacturers who guaranteed the GMO free production process ... Over the years however our sources have either been acquired by larger companies or they have modified their production processes by which GMO has entered our world.

Today the enzymes themselves are generated from a micro organism that has undergone modification to increase its capacity to produce the enzyme. ...

In considering the decision to continue using enzymes when it became clear to us that these were not entirely free of GMO we have considered the views of many stakeholders and we have consciously taken a decision that was in the interest of the largest number of stakeholders of our company, as always with the environment a priority.

So, their stakeholders profits are more important than their enviromental credibility.

 

[Sugarmouse]

I use Ecover too, but my mum use these special eco-balls in the machine which means no washing powder or fabric softener. They really do work, I've been thinking about using them too. They cost about £34 - but are a good investment.

I found a link, but my mum got hers from the health shop.

http://www.greenwarehouse.co.uk/index.php?p0=detail&id=251

I get these too.
I used to use ecover, but they no longer cary the vegan logo

 

[Maggot]

Group 4 also own several other private prisons, including Parc in bridgend
They might be green but they certainly arentv ethical

Compared to Unilever, who make most other washing products, they are saints.

 

[quimcunx]

I've used several of their products when they are available when I'm getting stuff.

I'm sure there used to be products called Down To Earth but I haven't seen them for a long time. Does anyone know them?

 

[quimcunx]

Bah, just realised this thread is years old!


*grumps*

 

[Biddlybee]

More suspicious news about Ecover - Seems they are going over to using GM enzymes:

http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Enzymes+extended.htm

So, their stakeholders profits are more important than their enviromental credibility.

That doesn't sound good

It doesn't say which products, or would it be all?

 

[Maggot]

Bah, just realised this thread is years old!


*grumps*

But the opinions on are just as valid. What's wrong witrh old threads?

 

[quimcunx]

But the opinions on are just as valid. What's wrong witrh old threads?

Nothing, I've just been grumpsing everywhere today. I'm in a grumpsy mood..

 

[Vintage Paw]

I'd rather use them than anything else, tbh. Lesser of lots of evils.

 

[Maggot]

Nothing, I've just been grumpsing everywhere today. I'm in a grumpsy mood..

Fair enough. I've done my fair share of grumpsing on here.

 

[kittyP]

Maggot, I'm curious - have you tried simply NOT using fabric conditioner? I can't really tell the difference to be honest.

OMG! With denim, towels I can really tell the difference in texture.

With all my darks they hold their colour much better with fabric softener.