Review It Wednesday -- another Norwex moment

Last evening, I had a Norwex party in my home. I've not been at all shy about my love for Norwex! I love, love, love Norwex. If I was a sales-type person, I would be a Norwex consultant. No question about it. Those of you who know me well, have undoubtedly heard me talk about Norwex products. I've posted a few reviews here on the blog, as well.

Before the party began, I learned I had been doing something incorrectly for the past several months. Oops. It has to do with the Body Cloths, which I use and reviewed a few months ago. The problem is, I use a Body Cloth to wash my face every day ... you're only supposed to use them twice a week. No wonder my face has dried out a bit.

Fortunately, there is a Norwex alternative!! Early into using the Body Cloth, I noticed an increased sensitivity to the area around my eyes. So I bought the Norwex Makeup Remover Cloths and have been luxuriating in the amazingly soft feel of them! So, it looks like I already have a solution to my problem. While I have simply been washing my eye makeup off with the suede antibac cloths and then washing the rest of my face with the exfoliating Body Cloth, I can simply wash my entire face with the Makeup Remover Cloths and leave the exfoliating to just two times a week. Problem solved.

And I'm still head-over-heels in love with Norwex.

The 8" x 8" Makeup Remover Cloths are infused with silver (with its amazing antibacterial properties), just like the Body Cloths. They are super soft and remove even the toughest waterproof mascara! So, if you've been using the disposable makeup removing pads, here is an alternative that is not only better for the environment (for obvious reasons, and some not-so-obvious ones), but is much better for your skin, as well. Plus, in the long run, it will save you money. The cloths come in a pack of three and sell for $19.99. If you order online from Sherri, the Cleaning Queen, there are no shipping charges!

As a reminder to you, I am not a consultant for Norwex. Nor do I receive anything from them, or from Sherri, for posting this. Sherri is the one who introduced me to the Norwex Enviro Cloth and Window Polishing Cloth, when she sent them to me to review back in May. Since then, I have purchased every other Norwex product I have, including the Body Cloths and the Makeup Removing Cloths! So when I write what may sound like a sales pitch, it's simply because I love the products that much!

However, if you are in the Pittsburgh area and want to have a party, or are interested in any of the products, I am closing out my party order on the 11th, so you can contact me and I can take care of it for you.

Wishing you a fabulous day filled with love, joy, and as few toxins as possible,

Hana

Review It Wednesday -- GG's Top 10

I've been reviewing stuff for awhile now ... longer than many of you have been reading the blog. So I decided to do a top ten list of my favorite items I have personally used and reviewed here.

Click on each link to read the reviews.

Green Grandma's Top 10

in alphabetical order



• Crystal -- Body deodorant
• Earth Mama Angel Baby -- Happy Mama Spray
• Eco Nuts -- Soap nuts
• GEM Cloth -- Cloth menstrual pads
• Green Baby Clothing Company -- Bamboo and organic cotton clothing
• Green Beaver Company -- Green Apple toothpaste (from Leaf & Bud Naturals)
• HankyBook -- HankyBook
• Motherlove -- Green Salve
• Norwex -- Enviro Cloth and Window Polishing Cloth and Body Cloth
• Staples -- Evoterra Chair

These are great products, folks, which I highly recommend. Some were sent to me at no charge in exchange for a review, and others were items I purchased and loved. If you have a product you would like for me to review, please shoot me an email and we can discuss it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hana

Review It Wednesday -- head-over-heels in love

I'm in love. Completely. Totally. Head-over-heels.

With a washcloth.

There. I said it. My passion for this particular washcloth just may border on an obsession ... an addiction ... an unhealthy fascination. Except, it's so darn healthy!

Yes, I know I just raved about Norwex a few short weeks ago, but I can't help myself. I have to do it again. And no, I'm not a Norwex rep; I do not sell Norwex; Norwex is not paying me for my reviews and, in this case, I even paid for the cloth!

It started out innocently enough. I got an email asking me if I'd like to try the Norwex Enviro Cloth and Polishing Cloth (the Basis Antibac Package) in exchange for a review. Seemed like a mild flirtation. Surely I would never take it this far! However, the tantalizing feel of the damp cloth in my hands as I wiped away dirt, grime and germs with such ease won me over. As did the sparkling windows.

With her birthday just around the corner, I simply had to order a set for my daughter. So I went on the website and, since I was already there, I didn't think it would hurt to just look around a bit. How easily I can be seduced. There it was, calling out my name, reminding me of my past sins, promising a solution.

You see, I hate to wash my face. Hate it. Really. The washing itself isn't so bad, but rinsing really gets to me. I just don't like water being splashed in my face. Maybe I was traumatized as a child, or something. When I discovered the little disposable makeup remover wipes, I was in heaven. But that was before I had a green conscience. So, that solution fell by the wayside a couple of years ago.

Imagine my delight when I saw this little ditty: "Say good-bye to all those facial cleansers!" The seduction continues: "These antibacterial microfiber washcloths are amazing at removing makeup, even mascara and eyeliner, using only water. Dirt and bacteria are gently removed from skin surface with the silky soft microfiber, exfoliating your skin every time you use them."

Could it be? Something even better than disposable makeup remover wipes and facial cloths? I breathlessly clicked on the link to put the package of three into my cart, the thought of no more buying facial wash that has to be rinsed off and no more looking to find something safe to use on my face thrilled me!

Then, as if that wasn't fulfilling enough, the fact that Sherri, The Cleaning Queen, would ship all these wonderful products to me for free sealed the deal.

A few days later, I arrived home to find this delicious bundle on my doorstep. The neighbors probably thought I'd won the lottery or something. Happy dance time!

And guess what? The experience was as good as the anticipation. These cloths are amazing. I no longer dread the nightly ritual of washing my face. I simply wet the cloth with warm water and scrubbed my face. No need to rinse. When I was done, my skin felt cleaner than I ever remember it feeling. Really. And there was no trace of mascara left, which was a bonus! Thank you, Norwex. Your products are transforming my life!

At this point, I can only imagine what the baby cloth wipes are like. Or the spa socks (amazingly comfy, I suspect). Or the bathroom scrub mitt. Those are fantasies left for another day.

For now, I'm just going to revel in the afterglow of being in love. Head-over-heels, at that!

Reviewing it for you,

Hana

Norwex -- What does Wanda think?



The Cleaner Sweep
designed by Allin Faragalli
of Leaf & Bud Naturals




Many of you will remember Wanda's intimate review of The Diva Cup. Well, Wanda is back again today with her take on Norwex cleaning products. Follow Wanda on her The Cleaner Sweep Facebook page.

I added links to the products Wanda mentions. The links take you to Sherri Dmyterko's website which was mentioned in my review of Norwex cloths.





I've always loved the idea of being domestic... Cooking, washing, folding. But when it comes down to it, I've never loved cleaning. Cleaning has always been a necessity. Add to it all the toxic chemicals that we get to deal with and cleaning has just never been fun for me.

I didn't realize, until a few years ago, that those same chemicals that made cleaning so stinkin' unhealthy also made it harder for me to clean. They have the appearance of cleaning a surface, but they leave so much unhealthy residue behind that the dirt clings to it even more next time around. So when a friend of mine introduced me to cleaning cloths that work with just water, no fancy spray or toxic chemicals, I was at first skeptical and then elated.

I love cleaning now! I love it so much that I started my own cleaning company using these products. And I want to tell you about them. But if I do, it may start to sound like I'm trying to sell it to you. I promise I'm not. I just love these products so much that I get a little excited about them.

Let me break down the basics for you. The company is called Norwex. It was started in Norway when hospitals there were battling “super-bugs.” A group of scientists came up with this mirco-fiber cloth which, in hospital tests, proved to reduce harmful bacteria better than conventional cleaning products. These cloths are used all over Norway now, in hospitals, schools, businesses and homes. They are different from your typical micro-fiber cloth though. The typical micro-fiber is the size of a hair split six times. These Norwex cloths are the size of a hair split 100 times. They have much more surface capacity for grabbing those nasty germs. Once the cloth is saturated in water and rinsed, the fibers are flooded and release the germs. But beyond that, many of their cloths (including the all-purpose cleaning cloth, called the Enviro Cloth) also have silver in them. Cells cannot survive when in contact with silver, so your silver-lined cleaning cloth kills any germs that don't get washed away as you rinse your cloths.

Are you still with me? That's the very basics of how all this got started. Don't worry, there won't be a test at the end of this blog.

I have found Norwex to have a comparable (if not better) cleaner for nearly every job in my house. (I'll tell you the one thing I cannot clean with Norwex at the end.) Here are my favourites that I use weekly with the Enviro Cloth:

The dusting mitt is amazing. I always hated dusting. I would dust and then the next day all the dust that I just dusted would re-settle in the exact same spot. This micro-fiber mitt has a static charge to it that grabs the dust and honest-to-goodness holds onto it until I'm done. Sometimes, I'll have to bang it against the gate outside my door if I haven't cleaned in quite a while, but that just bangs all the dust off and I can go at it again until my whole house is dust-free.

The window cloth may very well have saved my marriage. Okay, that's a tad dramatic since I love my cleanliness-loving husband and our marriage has never been in trouble. But when it comes time to clean the windows I have always dragged my feet. Windex stinks and I have to use about 4 paper towels to get one window clean. I would always put off windows as long as possible. With Norwex I can wipe down the window with the Enviro Cloth and then shine it up with the window cloth. It gets rids of streaks so easily. But if you realize that you missed a spot, you just wipe it off. No need to spray more Windex. The window cloth is also great for shining faucets and mirrors after they've been cleaned.

Those are the three must-haves if you ask me: the Enviro Cloth, dusting mitt and window cloth. There is a whole range of products that you can purchase and I could tell you about them, but you would be sitting here reading till next Tuesday if I told you about everything. I know they can't all be favourites, but the Oven and Grill Cleaner, the Carpet Stain Buster and the Cleaning Paste are also high on my list.

I'll be around Green Grandma's Faceboook page, so if you have any questions about Norwex products or about purchasing, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Oh, and the one thing Norwex can't clean so far? The black mold in the grout of my shower tiles. If you have something other than bleach that can get rid of that, please let me know.

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.