Wild Green Dairy Liquid??? (Ecover Washing Up Liquid)

Member Name: themoomin

Product:	Ecover Washing Up Liquid
Date:	15/11/01 (251 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Rum tumty Tum

Disadvantages: Brrrm -Tish!

It is a little-known fact that female moomins don’t like getting their paws wet. Thus in the Moominhouse you will always find Mr Moomin wearing the marigolds, while Mrs Moomin wields the tea-towel. However, this opinion is not about marigolds or tea-towels (you’ll no doubt be pleased to hear) but is about Washing-up Liquid. Well, I didn’t think I should bore you with another ‘my experience of . . . . ‘ opinion! Not for a while anyway . . .

* * *

Being the environmentally-friendly animals that we are, we use Ecover products whenever possible. The Ecover company develops and produces many different washing and cleaning products, including dishwasher tablets; cream cleaner; multi-surface cleaner; concentrated washing powder; fabric conditioner and water softener. Not only do their products really clean, they keep the environment clean as well. Hurrah! Developed and manufactured at the world’s first ecological factory (made from renewable materials {mainly wood}, with a grass covered roof of 6500 m2 and low-energy production facilities) their high quality products are sold all over the world, at health food shops and increasingly at supermarkets. Since Ecover was established in Belgium in 1979, the company has succeeded in bringing economics and ecology together, at an affordable price. The UN has added Ecover to the Global 500 Roll of Honour for outstanding environmental achievement.

So let me tell you about the washing up liquid. It comes in two sizes – 500ml and 1L, and is available in most supermarkets. Us moomins shop in Sainsbury’s, where we buy the 1L bottle for 1.39. Bargain! You’ll find it among the other washing-up stuff – easily recognised by the lovely pine forest and mountains on the label.

It’s not in a fancy container though. Made of 100% recyclable white HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), the only exciting thing about the bottle is the funky gauge on t
he side that lets you see how much is left. Okay okay, I know that on other brands the bottle is see-through anyway, but as the Ecover bottle is white I was impressed. It’s attention to detail that I like. You can tell I don’t get out much.

Anyway, according to the label (also made of HDPE), Ecover washing-up liquid is ‘soft on hands but very effective in degreasing and cleaning dishes and cutlery’. Now, I wouldn’t know about the soft hands, as I hardly ever dunk my hands in a bowl full of the stuff, but I suspect the herbal extracts have something to do with it! Mr Moomin always wears his marigolds (and very fetching they are too) so he doesn’t know either. Therefore, I am in no position to verify that claim, and hereby absolve myself of any responsibility if anyone gets dry dishpan hands after using this product without gloves!

But the second claim I can certainly verify, and say that Ecover IS very good at getting things clean. It copes admirably with all sorts of greasy dishes, including lard-filled frying pans, curry-stained tupperware, and burnt-on scrambled eggs. I find it just as effective as any of the leading brands. The smell isn’t too overpowering either – quite pleasant in fact.

The instructions say ‘Use sparingly. This product cleans effectively without making a mass of foam. Only one squirt (about 8ml) is needed per wash’. And to be honest, what I thought when I first read that was ‘Hah!’. But it turned out to be true – a very small amount of the yellow stuff makes few bubbles, but surprisingly clean dishes. And because such a little amount is used each time, the bottle will last for ages! Mine lasts about 4 months – okay I know there’s only two of us to make washing-up, but I reckon that’s a pretty good life-span for a litre of liquid.

So what else do you need to know? Oh of course – ingredients. Here they are . .
.

Over 30% - water
15-30% - plant based sufactant
Under 5% - milk whey, salt, citric acid, camomile and marigold extracts, herbal extracts, preservative

Did I type that correctly? Milk whey?? Hmmm. Let’s see what I can find out about that . . . . .

*** Whey is a by-product of cheese production. It is hardly used at all in washing agents in our society, but in the Far East it is widely used for cosmetic purposes, mainly during ceremonies. Whey softens the skin and prevents it from drying out. These remarkable qualities are the result of a combination of milk fats, proteins, and lactic acid. Due to its fat spreading properties, whey also has a cleaning action. Whey is broken down quickly and completely and in low concentrations it therefore has no negative effect on the environment. ***

Oh. That explains it! So now you know.

But how is it kind to the environment?? Well, basically because it’s so highly biodegradable. The minerals and plant based ingredients break down very quickly once they enter the water system. According to the label ‘the surfactants (anionic tenside) lose all tensio-activity within 3-5 days’. Now you’d have to ask Sid about that statement, but I’m guessing it’s a good thing compared to other brands. Am I right, Mr Gee??

Any further information? Ah yes – animal testing. ‘Ecover is against animal testing and uses alternative methods’. I’ll leave you to decide what that means, but I am a wee bit concerned. In fact I have contacted the company to ask for clarification of that statement, and will let you know what sort of answer I get!

And that about wraps it up for washing-up liquid. For advice or information on the Ecover range, you can write to:

ECOVER WASHING LINE
169 New Greenham Park
Newbury
Berks
RG15 8JH

or find Ecover on-line at www.ecover.com

Go on – ge
t those gloves on!
And I hope you liked the title . . . !

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