Category: Cleaning

#EcoHinching – Small Changes Add Up To Huge Results 🌍

Use the hashtag #EcoHinching to be in with a chance of winning

The Best Image will be chosen and a winner announced on the 12/05/2019

How To Enter 🏆

Upload a photo to your instagram grid with a caption explaining one thing you do in your home in an attempt to be environmentally friendly, use the hashtag #EcoHinching to be in with a chance of winning! 🏆📷

Why are we doing this? 

After the recent ‘Climate Change The Facts’ Documentary with David Attenborough, climate change is at the forefront of our minds. The documentary empowered me to believe that no matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. You’re never too small to make a difference. 💪

The climate is changing so why aren’t we? There is no planet B.

@anahardesign

You don’t have to be perfect (or anywhere near perfect!) We want to celebrate many people making just ONE small, realistic change. If everybody made one of the below changes, just imagine how that could add up to create a huge impact.

👊Small changes add up to huge results! 👊

With the help of the wonderful accounts listed below, we’ve teamed up to see if we can encourage other Instagrammers and hinchers to make one easy change to their routines:-

@greanercleans, @littlemissdarlingx, @girl_upnorth, @serenehomelife, @mrs.m.cleans, @lesswastestillglam, @TheOneCoCheshire, @lavana_cosmetics @hubbleandbubble, @beanandboy, @fauveldn

Some Ideas For Your Entry:-

  • Try cleaning sometimes with just cloths or water (no product). Maybe try an e-cloth
  • Swap out wipes and replace with washable cloths
  • Use a washable, reusable duster
  • Reuse plastic bottles that can’t be recycled (great for watering plants!)
  • Replace empties with recyclable cleaning products
  • Use chemical-free products such as TruWash and Tincture
  • Buy products produced in the UK, such as Astonish
  • Use bamboo cotton buds
  • Use biodegradable bin bags
  • Cut down on Beef and Lamb consumption, or purchase from local farms who use traditional farming methods.
  • Recycle carefully
  • Only buy what you need
  • ‘Pop’ your wax melt out instead of using a cotton pad. Light the melt for 30-50 seconds and press down at the corner, it should pop right out.
  • try a natural alternative to scent your cushions instead of tumble drier sheets

Nobody is born ‘woke’

I’m a hincher and a huge fan of Mrs Hinch, and my Narnia! Hinching has seen me through one of the toughest times of my life and I continue to enjoy it. As time goes on, I’ve spent some time researching and learning about the products I’ve chosen to ‘hinch’ with, and sadly the research is sadly making me realise that I could cause harm to our planet, if I don’t make some changes.

I love my cleaning trolley don’t get me wrong but after watching ‘Climate Change The Facts’, I can’t help but notice it really is overflowing with ‘back-ups’ of products, products that are not ecologically-friendly.

Many of the products I chose to purchase are non recyclable and contain harsh chemicals ⚠️ I’ve simply not been concerned with the ecological impact of my cleaning products before now. Remember nobody is born ‘woke’ and we can all learn as we go!

I love looking at images of people’s Narnia’s, but it’s time for me personally to make a change and fight the urge to stockpile and hoard cleaning products.

From now on I will try to make some changes. I will take ecological concerns into consideration when purchasing cleaning products… without judging others for their choices! I’m a hincher through and through, I’m not perfect and don’t claim to be. I don’t think I can live without my CIF stainless steel or my Bloo flower burst so let’s just take this one step at a time eh!? Let’s celebrate every small step that people make towards a cleaner more sustainable world! 🌍

Astonish V Method – Bathroom Cleaner #HendyHeadToHead

Both the ethical claims and performance-based claims of these two products can leave people wondering… What’s the difference? That’s where I come in! With my #HendyHead2Head I break it down, step by step…

Pricing

Method – 276ml per £1 spent 👎

Astonish – 750ml per £1 spent 👍

On the surface, it appears as if the Astonish product offers far greater value for money, however, many of my followers claim that Method products last an extraordinary amount of time!

This could easily be due to the fact that Method bottles contain 828ml, whereas the Astonish bottles contain 750ml. Naturally one will last longer than the other and give you a false perception of value. Personally, I’ve found that you need to use the same amount of each product to achieve the same outcome. Therefore Astonish offers far greater value.

Ethical and Ecological Claims

Recycling

  • Astonish bottles can be recycled 🌏This includes the trigger head. Unfortunately I can’t find any information to let me know that they have also been made from Recycled plastics
  • Method bottles are ‘cradle to cradle’ certified – made of 100% recycled plastic and are easily recyclable 🌏 They have the edge over Astonish on this one

Cruelty Free?

  • Astonish – Cruelty free 🐇
  • Method – “Cruelty free”. Yes, Method as a brand are cruelty free, however, they are owned by SC Johnson who do test on animals. Astonish have the edge on them here.

Production

  • Astonish – Manufactured in the UK 🇬🇧
  • Products are made in their “clean, green factories” in Belgium, France and the US with the large majority of UK products being produced in europe. As a UK customer, Astonish win for me here.

Use of Chemicals

All cleaning products contain chemicals both natural and synthetic, that’s what gives them the ability to clean.  So whilst we never compromise on cleaning performance we do our best avoid the use of harmful chemicals in the process.

Astonish

‘powergreen technology’ elegantly and effectively combines non-toxic, naturally derived and biodegradable ingredients into advanced formulations. all of which have been independently tested to deliver powerful cleaning.

Method

Astonish Performance…

My Thoughts on Astonish

The good:-

After using Astonish Bathroom cleaner I’ve noticed something that truly set’s it apart from other bathroom products… the shine! It leaves taps and sinks noticably shinier than other products (including Method). After watching some instagrammers visit the Astonish factory I came to learn that the bathroom cleaner contains deionized water, so this could have something to do with that! The scent is not my favourite, but it’s pleasing, it smells ‘clean’ and it’s not overpowering.

The bad:-

The biggest downside to this product is the weak trigger. You need to use a fair amount of effort to spray this around the bathroom, a tiny amount of product just sort of plops out in one small spot. It doesn’t foam up much due to the lack of power in the mechanism. I also find that the bottle looks too similar to the mould & mildew blaster, making it easy to pick up the wrong product.

Their claims…

  • Dissolves soap scum and pesky stains
  • Sparkling clean finish with less scrubbing
  • For use on Showers, tiles, glass, tub
  • Pine Scent

Method Performance

The Good:-

The trigger on this product is more effective and easy-to-use, it also makes a satisfying sound! The spray of the product is further and wider. It’s fairly easy and quick to use as you don’t have lots of suds to wash away, it’s great for a quick spray, wipe and rinse.

The Bad:-

I find the scent of these products overwhelming, similar to ammonia. I also prefer a sudsy product to help me with a tougher clean.

Their Claims…

  • Makes Short work
  • Removes soap scum and watermarks
  • Streak free shine
  • For use on Non-porous hard surfaces, tested and recommended by VEA for use on vitreous enamel

Summary

I put these products to the test in my bathroom. I tested the performance, the suds, the ease of use, the scent and the finish, and I came to my conclusion! Have a look at my story-highlight to see them in action, and see my final decision based on everything we know.