Review It Wednesday Let's get cleaning!

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Sherri Dmyterko asking me if I would like to try out the Norwex cleaning cloths. Sherri is an independent Norwex consultant in Ontario and she ended up sending me The Basic Antibac Package, which included the blue Enviro Cloth and the purple Norwex Window Polishing Cloth. I looked at them and put them aside ... waiting for a non-rainy day so I could get to work on my oh-so-dirty windows.

The test

The day arrived, and oh my ... I never enjoyed washing windows so much in my entire life!! Forget the vinegar (yes, I just said that!), forget the newspaper. All one needs to get perfectly sparkling, streak-free windows is some water and an Enviro Cloth and Norwex Window Polishing Cloth. Seriously. What usually takes hours to do, took me a little over thirty minutes. I simply wet the blue cloth and wrung it out, wiped the windows and dried them with the purple cloth. That's it. Amazing. It looks like I got new windows.

When I was done with the windows, I rinsed out the blue cloth and started to work on the kitchen. Again, amazing. Cleaning was so easy and the appliances, sink and counters were shining in no time. You should see the copper hood above my stove! Grease just literally wiped right off.

But what's even better than the simplicity of it all, is the fact that the Norwex cloths are antibacterial as well. Not antibacterial as in a bunch of harmful chemicals, however. The way the cloths are processed is what makes them superior in the germ-killing business.

The reason why

First of all, the Norwex microfiber blend of polyester and polyamide is made of fibers that are 1/100th the size of a strand of human hair. This is many times finer than regular microfiber cloths. And you feel the difference when you touch them. I hate the way most microfiber cloths feel -- especially if my hands are dry. They seem to 'catch' on any tiny cracks in my skin, almost like Velcro. Yuck. The Norwex Enviro Cloth does not do this. You could rub it across the bottom of rough feet and it wouldn't 'grab.'

What happens when this very fine microfiber is wiped across a surface? Well, the dirt, germs and bacteria cling to the cloth and then are rinsed away. Any remaining bacteria is killed off by the antibacterial silver-bases agent embedded inside the microfiber. Studies have proven (and I've read many of them in the past few days) that this silver agent is effective against pathogenic bacteria, yeast and viruses, including:

• E. Coli
• klebsiella pneumoniae
• proteus vulgaris
• salmonella typhi
• staphylococcus aureus
• streptococcus faecalis
• streptococcus pyogenes
• candida albicans
• MRSA
• SARS coronavirus

In fact, research shows that in a controlled environment, 99.9% of germs and bacteria were removed from washable surfaces and within 24 hours they were completely inactivated. with the silver antibacterial fiber's purification properties, the cloths reduce the possibility of cross-contamination.

Interestingly enough, when I heard about the silver, I knew there was something to this. My husband and I started taking colloidal silver years ago to address a variety of health issues, including my asthma. Let me tell you ... silver is an amazing mineral. Prior to the introduction of antibiotics, silver was used to treat all sorts of infections effectively. Of course, it's costly, and I take less of it than I used to ... and I've paid the price with various illnesses, including my recent bout with the mumps. But back to Norwex.

As in love with these cloths as I immediately was, I still had questions for Sherri.

How long do they last? How often do you wash them? When does the anti-bacterial effectiveness wear out?

The cloths are warranted for 2 years or 500 washings. Sherri said she washes her blue cloth weekly and the purple cloth every other week. And she mentioned she knows some people who are still using their cloths after 10 years! The silver is infused in the manufacturing process, so it does not wash out. However, you should never use fabric softener when you wash or dry these cloths. But you know how I feel about fabric softener -- you should never use it period!!

So, here's the scoop. Are the cloths a bit pricey? Yes. However, when you realize how long they last and how they eliminate the need for cleaning products (even vinegar), this initial investment more than pays for itself. Plus, if time is money, you simply can't affort not to buy them!

Sherri is offering free shipping on her website. The Basic Antibac Package she sent to me costs $33.99 in Canadian dollars, which converts to $34.76 in U.S. currency. There are also other products on her site that offer you a life with less chemicals. If you're in the Cambridge area, you can even book a Norwex party with Sherri.

I'm sold. Oh, am I sold. This very well might be my favorite product ever!

Keeping it green while cleaning,

Hana

For another opinion of cleaning with Norwex, check out what Wanda has to say.