Spring Cleaning Month - Seventh Generation™ Disinfecting Wipes

Disinfecting wipes make getting rid of germs easier, but the harsh chemicals in many of them do a number on my sensitive skin. In addition, I'm not sure they are the best thing for a house filled with animals and kids.

I had a coupon for $1 off any Seventh Generation™ product, so I opted to try their Disinfecting Wipes. Their website says they kill "over 99.99% of household germs." These are strong, sturdy wipes of a good size. I use them in the kitchen and bathroom all the time.

I didn't like that the label lists the active ingredients as .05% Thymol and 99.95% other, which forced me to visit their website to learn what the remaining ingredients are, but I didn't see anything in the list that would cause concern. The one thing I can say, however, is that these wipes do not have a pleasant fragrance. I don't want a perfume smell for my disinfecting wipes, but even my kids don't like the smell of these. I use them, but I have to wash my hands with soap and water afterwards to get rid of the scent.

Since they work well and don't fall apart, I would still consider purchasing more of these in the future.


I purchased a 35-count canister of this product during my weekly trip to the store. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

Stepping Toward Self-Sufficiency

Some days, I'm fed up. I look at my grocery bill and think--there must be a better way. For years now, I've wanted to put in a vegetable garden and grow fruit trees to make our family less dependent upon others. One day, I picked up green beans from the store and they looked unnaturally green. Not only that, I've gotten spoiled with fresh eggs and honey from our pastor's farm. The turkey he sold us for Thanksgiving was 27 pounds!

While, I doubt I'll ever be raising chickens and turkeys like our pastor does, I want 2012 to be the year our family begins stepping toward self-sufficiency. Not only will it be good for us, it will be good for our environment too.

I hope those of you who have already been where I am are willing to share some advice. Where did you start? What project did you tackle first? Are there products to help us move toward going green and being more self-sufficient that won't cost an arm and a leg? I'll be writing up occasional posts to track our progress.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Looking for Sponsors for Spring Cleaning Month in April

Books, Products and More! is looking for sponsors for Spring Cleaning Month in April. Every year we spend a few weeks in April cleaning up, sprucing up, organizing, and getting the house ready for the warmer weather.

This year, we're hoping to test drive some of the eco-friendly products available and find new storage solutions for the house.

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Product Review: Planet Wise Wet Bag

I won a Planet Wise Wet Bag from Confessions of an Overworked Mom back in May. We've been using it for weeks and I can tell you it is one of the best things I've ever owned.

My daughters take swimming lessons at the YMCA. Last year before our annual trip to the Outer Banks, I bought a beach bag with mesh pockets on the outside and holes in the bottom to make carrying wet towels easier. It certainly did its job, but when I go to the YMCA, I take a book and other items that I don't want to get wet, so I always have to pack a plastic bag with me to carry the girls' wet bathing suits and towels after lessons are over.

With the Planet Wise Wet Bag, I can easily fit both towels and both suits in the bag, which is lined on the inside. The outside has a zippered pouch to fit keys, sunglasses, your wallet, or anything else you don’t want to get wet.

The inner liner dries within seconds of the wet items being removed. There is no odor. And I like the fashionable Dot Tastic print, though they have several others.

Summertime fun will be abundantly easier with a Planet Wise Wet Bag!


* Disclaimer: This review was not requested by Confessions of an Overworked Mom or Planet Wise. These are my opinions based solely upon my time using this product that I won.