Friday, February 29, 2008

beach sage is here!


Great news! I just stopped by my local Target (no surprise there!) and the new aircare lines are starting to show up on the shelves! Not only were the citrus cilantro special edition items out, but also the double packs of the aroma pill refills, cut grass aroma sticks; AND something I had not seen before, method has also released another special edition candle in Beach Sage scent!

So if you love the Beach Sage scent in the bloq body care line, well, this is the same exact scent; in a beautiful pale blue/grey candle! As soon as I can I'll get a photo up here. (I have yet to figure out how to take a photo with my cellphone, and get it to a computer. Aren't you now amazed I can actually post to a blog all by myself?) And I wanted to take in a digital camera and start flicking pics of the new shelves, but thought that might get the Target police on my rear, so I decided not to. But as soon as I get a photo, it will be here! MMM, go, get! Enjoy!

love leather straight to my heart

(Get the title? Huh, huh? Ok, this title has got to be the worst one I've created yet! I should be whipped for creating such a title! Whipped... with leather. Ok, I'm done.) I took notice today that Target is currently clearancing out their method leather wipes. I'm not sure if these have been discontinued by method; or are only being clearanced by Target. I'll let you know as soon as I find out!

aroma spray recall... updated 2/29/08

UPDATE Notice some of the wording/suggestions have changed (statements in italic are new.) Are you planning on discarding your spray? Do you think method should provide refunds?

(From the method home site:) Why can't I purchase your aroma spray?

We have voluntarily withdrawn our Aroma Spray air enhancer as we discovered a manufacturing defect in the formula and stopped selling it as of February 11, 2008.

During routine testing of our Aroma Spray, our Quality Assurance Team identified a contaminant in the formula. This contaminant is a common bacteria found in our drinking water, food and soils and is very unlikely to cause harm to healthy people. While our test results indicate there is unlikely to be a risk to the general population, there may be some risk to those with compromised immune systems, so we have voluntarily withdrawn our product while we obtain greater clarity around this issue.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause. Our Aroma Spray will be unavailable until we determine the root cause of the issue and the appropriate corrections are complete. We are working with the Consumer Products Safety Commission and similar agencies in Canada and the United Kingdom to ensure all appropriate measures have been taken in this voluntary withdrawal.

We recommend that you discard any Aroma Spray in your home.
Please note that this issue is isolated to our aroma sprays only and does not impact any other Method products. No other Method products are manufactured at the facility that makes the Aroma Sprays.

Please rest assured that we are treating this issue with the speed, care and attention you would expect from us.

If you have additional questions, please contact Method directly:
Katie Molinari - 415.568.4631 / katie@methodhome.com


previous post 2/26/08

Original response: Has there been a recall on the Aroma Spray?

Unfortunately yes. During routine testing of our Aroma Spray, our Quality Assurance Team identified a contaminant in the formula. Initial test results suggest this contaminant is a common bacteria found in our drinking water, food and soils and is not harmful to healthy people. However, there is some potential that it could be harmful to certain people with compromised immune systems. As a matter of precaution, we voluntarily withdrew the product from the market until we are able to fully investigate the potential health impact. As soon as we do get that impact report, we plan to initiate consumer communications as necessary. We have already provided notice to the Consumer Products Safety Commission and will work with them to ensure all appropriate measures have been taken in this voluntary product withdrawal.

This initiative is isolated to our Air Enhancer aroma spray and does not impact any other Method products. No other Method products are manufactured at the facility that makes the Air Enhancers.

Please rest assured that we are treating this issue with the speed, care and attention you would expect from method.

If you have additional questions, please contact Method directly:
Katie Molinari - 415.568.4631 / katie@methodhome.com

Well, now I know at least why Target refused to sell me that bottle of Fig spray I found a couple weeks ago. What do you plan on doing with your spray now? Continue to use it, or discard it? Personally, I'm planning on continuing to use mine; since they state it's fine for healthy people. I'll keep you updated!


previous post 2/18/08

I've just noticed something on my most recent trip to Target that totally didn't click in my mind until now? ALL the method aroma spray bottles are gone! Not only the recalled Fall edition scents, but ALL of them! Hmm? So I started to worry? Are they discontinuing them? I'd just crawl under a bed and cry for, well, a really long time if this were the case! I couldn't imagine, since scented sprays are (at least to my knowledge) very popular.

Then I went onto the method home site, and was checking out the aroma spray section and it states: "sorry, this product is temporarily unavailable online" Hmm? Something is up! I'm thinking they might be redesigning the spray bottle? method loves to update their packaging regularly; and the aroma spray has never had a bottle redesign. I'll post the answer here as soon as I figure this out!

movin' on up!

method has been named one of the 50 most innovative and fastest growing companies in the March issue of Fast Company! Check out the article:

"We canvassed the experts, analyzed the products, and crunched the numbers. From visionary upstarts to storied stalwarts, here are companies that dazzle with new ideas -- and prove beyond a doubt how business is a force for change. We call them the Fast 50.

#16 METHOD
"I describe it as green trench warfare," says Adam Lowry, cofounder of Method, the San Francisco-based company that makes ecologically sound cleaning products. Last February, Lowry and his partner, Eric Ryan, launched an assault against Procter & Gamble's blockbuster Swiffer. Method's Omop, a sleek silver reusable mop, employs sweeping cloths made from corn-based plastic (PLA). Instead of clogging landfills, they're 100% biodegradable -- and just as effective.

This isn't the first time Lowry, a 6-foot-6-inch chemical engineer who founded Method with his highschool buddy Ryan eight years ago, has given the middle finger to the consumer-products playbook. Two years ago, Method rolled out dryer sheets that use plant-based oil instead of the industry standard, beef fat. The company had a triple-concentrated laundry detergent a full two years before Unilever and P&G started crowing about all the water and shipping waste they would eliminate with their own. Meanwhile, Method's were also nontoxic, and packaged in bottles that look more MoMA than Kmart.

Last year's numbers were a landmark for Method, proving to the industry that clean products are as viable as conventional ones and that slick design can transform even the most mundane commodities into objects of desire -- all while priced for the masses. In 2005, Method's sales clocked in at a mere $15.3 million. In 2007, they hit nearly $100 million. Seventh Generation, the green products pioneer, hit $100 million last year too, but it took nearly two decades to get there. The fast-rising Method is on a completely different trajectory.

"Method changed consumers' viewpoint from 'This [cleaning product] is something necessary and not good-looking' to 'This is something that's almost an art object that I want everyone who walks into my house to see,' " says Lynn Dornblaser, who tracks consumer-product trends at global research house Mintel. "They've lured shoppers who hadn't thought about environmental cleaners by getting them to come in through the back door." Method's minimalist bottles of surface cleaner, detergent, soap, and air freshener -- originally designed by Karim Rashid, now designed in-house -- can be found everywhere from Whole Foods and Target to Duane Reade and Staples. Last year, Lowry and Ryan opened their first European office, in London; in January, they launched a television show on the Home Shopping Network; and in May, they will release their first book, Squeaky Green, a home-detox guide that reveals some of the industry's nastier secrets.

None of it has been easy. Ryan, a former ad guy who sports skinny ties and metal-frame glasses, explains that in 2005, when they first set out to create the Omop, he and Lowry met with every U.S. manufacturer of Swiffer-style cloths. "Every single one of them said you cannot make [the cloths] out of PLA," Lowry says. So the duo scouted out a factory in China that was willing to take on the challenge. Now that Method has proven the formula works and there's consumer demand for it, Lowry says, the manufacturers who snubbed them are crawling back.

The trench warfare with the majors is only going to intensify, though. Last December, Clorox launched Green Works, the first entirely new plant-based line to emerge from one of the dominant firms. Instead of heading for cover, Lowry and Ryan plan to stay ahead of the competition as they always have--by using ingenuity to feed the product line. "When we started this company, we had a saying that we were never going to try to out-Clorox Clorox," says Ryan. "We shifted the playing field where now companies are trying to out-Method Method."

Great article! And guess who is #17? Target!

bamboo is better

Check it out, the method omop has just gotten itself some new, earth-friendlier (is that a word?) packaging! Here's the low down, via the method home site, from Colleen Reilly:

"When we launched the omop last year, hundreds of you called and emailed us to tell us about your newfound floor love. That’s right, mopping the floor was actually fun, thanks to the ergonomic design, compostable sweeper dusters that grabbed everything in sight, reusable microfiber cloths, and yummy-smelling non-toxic floor cleaners. Some of you even said the omop was “sexy.” Imagine our delight!

Besides bringing sexy back, we also love to make cleaning as guilt-free as possible. To that end, we’re introducing new, totally innovative packaging for the omop. And we’re not the only ones who think so! We’ve just won the Institute of Packaging Professionals’ (IoPP) AmeriStar award (scroll down to the Household Products category to check it out). The new packaging, made from 50% bamboo and 50% recycled paper, is recyclable and compostable.

When we say that bamboo is “planet friendly,” we really mean it. It’s one of the fastest growing plants in the world – some varieties grow several feet a day! – and you can come back again and again to the same plant to harvest more shoots. For tons of information about bamboo and its environmental benefits, check out Bamboo Living.

Start checking for the new omop on store shelves in March. And once you’re done admiring the packaging – not to mention the omop! – remember to recycle it with your mixed paper or compost it via municipal composting facilities. (That’s the packaging, now, not the omop. We don’t make a compostable mop. Yet.)

If you know of any great packaging innovations, tell us about them!"

Great news! I've already seen the new omop packaging in my Target store for at least a month, so it's out in some areas before the March date.

The omop is amazing. Just FYI, mid last year method started seeing some omop problems with the handles of the mop snapping off during usage. I actually ended up having one of these mops. I'd had it for a while, then one day snap! Here's what method says on their site:

"We're truly sorry about the trouble you are having with your omop. We've learned that the handles on a small percentage of our omops are breaking, and we're working diligently to get this problem resolved. In the meantime, please contact us at info@methodhome.com or at
1-(866)-9-method for resolution."

Now I believe the omop issue has been solved. I sent them an email, and all they requested were some digital pics of the broken mop. Once I'd emailed those, they sent me a brand new omop! And it's working great! This is a wonderful product, so if you don't have one yet, well, what are ya' waiting for!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

read it and weep!

Weep with joy, that is! Coming this April, Eric Ryan + Adam Lowry have written a book! Check it out:

"When Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan founded Method, the environmentally friendly brand of cleaning products, they used packaging stylish enough to showcase on the countertop and pleasant aromas such as green tea and cucumber to transform household products into must-have lifestyle accessories. And when they coined the phrase "People Against Dirty," they weren't just talking about the stuff you track in on your shoes—they also meant the toxic chemicals that make up many household detergents. Packed with helpful tips and surprising facts, their first book, Squeaky Green, is a totally informative and completely entertaining room-by-room guide to giving dirty the boot. Squeaky Green is rehab for chemically dependant homes. "

The book will be a 158 page paperback, and will retail for $16.95. (A steal! But uh, don't, ok. It's just the nice thing to do.) The book will see an April 1, 2008 release date! I can't wait!

this one goes out to you...

Here's a question one method luster asks: "Does Method make anything comparable to Febreze?"

Ah! Quite the question! Unforunately, the answer is no (at the moment.) But I was thinking, (and we're going back a couple years here.) Does anyone remember the method offshoot brand, Vroom? Target was really excited about the new method brand, and made a request for them to make a brand of cleaning supplies for your car, which would be marketed towards women (and undoubtedly, gay men! Cause come on, we want pretty scented car things, too! Yes we do.) Anyway, it was around for a few years before being discontinued by method. - More on Vroom another time.

My point is, they had these upholstery sprays in Basil Verbena, Mandarin Melon, Lavender Vanilla and Seaflower (my favorite!) that you could use on your car fabrics. I asked if these could also be used for your home, as a Febreze type product; and they told me they could indeed be used in that manner. So I started thinking then, MAN, why don't they just come out with the method version of these products, and put them up against Febreze. Febreze pretty much has a monopoly at the moment on upholstery odor removing sprays (do they not?) So upholstery spray + aircare = method's own Febreze!

What do you think? Would you pick up this product? Do you think it would be a good addition to the method family?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

scrub a dub-dub

UPDATE New product image added to this article

More news pertaining to the new Lil' Bowl Blu and Le Scrub bathroom items coming in March from method! (From the method home site, by Colleen Reilly:)

"Here’s a quiz: What has historically been the top-requested new product among method advocates?

Wait for it … wait for it …

If you guessed “toilet bowl cleaner,” pat yourself on the back. It was a tough one to crack, so we’re very excited to introduce you to Lil’ Bowl Blu.

Mainstream toilet bowl cleaners usually include phosphoric and/or sulfuric acid. Those will definitely eat up nasty stuff in your toilet, but with equally nasty results. Phosphates in our water contribute to the growth of algae, which in turn depletes oxygen levels, killing our water-dwelling pals. And sulfuric acid – well, that’s battery acid. Enough said.

Lil’ Bowl Blu uses lactic acid, which is found naturally in the body, as the cleaning agent. As a result, it’s many times less acidic than conventional toilet bowl cleaners, and by our figuring that’s many times better for you, your bowl and the planet. Combined with xanthum gum, a natural thickener commonly found in salad dressing and ice cream, it hangs onto your toilet and busts up tough stains.

Lil’ Bowl Blu’s partner in the fight against dirty, Le Scrub, rounds out our yummy eucalyptus mint-smelling spa bathroom collection. It uses milled marble as a natural abrasive and purified clay and xanthum gum as thickeners, and it’s safe on ceramic tile, grout, stainless steel, and formica. Use it when you need a bit of muscle for tough stains, soap scum and grime.

And of course, in addition to getting the job done in our non-toxic clean kind of way, this duo looks and smells great. When we launched the omop last year, we had hundreds of people tell us that we’d actually made it fun to clean the floor. We can’t wait for them to call back and say that it’s just as fun now to clean the bowl and scrub the tub. Now that would be a breakthrough!

Look for the newest additions to the method spa bathroom collection in stores in March – and on our web site in April – and let us know what you think!"

Are you as excited as I am? (Ok, well, maybe you're not. That's probably a good thing, trust me on that one...) I'll let you know when I see them in the stores!

let's go crazy!

So you've decided to go on a method shopping spree to end all shopping sprees! Visions of luscious scents lingering in gorgeous products are swirling around your head! You've got your comfortable shoes on, and a giant reusable tote ready to fill up like Santa Claus on Christmas Eve! (I know, I know, my brain is still living in the holidays. What can I say, they fly by too quickly!)
But where will you go? How will you get your method lust fix?!

Well, here is a handy little list of the best spots to search out your method products:

United States: drugstore.com, amazon.com, Target, Costco, CVS, Office Depot, and Lowes.

United Kingdom: John Lewis, Tesco, Waitrose, Beauty Naturals, and Green Apple.

Canada: Office Depot, Safeway, and Shoppers Drug Market.

These are the major listings. There are many more retail locations depending on what region you live in these countries. To see the entire list, go to: method home

sale, sale, sale!

Having spoken about holiday scents and products yesterday, I just thought I'd let everyone know that right now method home is having a holiday sale! You can stock up on Cinnamon Bark, Peppermint Vanilla, and Hollyberry aroma beads, aroma sticks, plug-in refills, ring refills, soy candles, dish soap, hand wash and cleaning spray! All at 20% off! Get it before the getting gets gone! (And remember, these scents are no longer available in retail stores.)

On a similar note, with method having just recalled their spray line temporarily; I'm curious if this had anything to do with the spray line being absent from the Holiday editions this past year? I have my doubts, but just wanted to express my disappointment at not being able to purchase the holiday scents in aroma spray. They released holiday aroma sprays in 2006; so I'm not completely sure why they decided not to this past year. One reason could be there were simply too many holiday products to choose from, and they decided to leave them out this time. Either way, I hope they make a return in 2008! How about you? Did anyone else miss them this past Holiday?

Monday, February 25, 2008

oh my!

Just a little fun here for a moment. Did you know you can keep track of keywords people use to search for (or just end up finding by way of) your site on the web? (Scary, now isn't it!) You know, things like "method home", or "method scent", and the such. But hey, don't be too frightened as you don't know who's doing the searching, just the phrase or keywords they've used to hunt out your blog. Well, here for your reading enjoyment has GOT to be my favorite keyword search of the moment, for this site (I swear I didn't make this up):

dirty stories for my man


home for the holidays

I've had a few questions concerning what's happened to some of our favorite scents, and/or products. Unfortunately, in many of these cases, the items are holiday oriented, and we forget to realize that once the holidays are gone, so go our new found favorites (and stock up, people, stock up! Who needs cabinet space for food items, when instead they could be brimming over with wonderous method products! Eating has always been rather overrated, don't you think?) So just in case you're wondering where your favorite has gone, here is a checklist of Holiday edition scents that are no longer in production:

Holidays (Christmas): Mistletoe, Snowy Days, Hollyberry, Spiced Pear, Frosted Cranberry, Peppermint Vanilla, and Cinnamon Bark

Fall Editions: Fig, Gingerbread + Spice, and Pumpkin Spice

The following scents have made return visits (so who knows, your favorite may make a comeback one day, as well!) Hollyberry (2007), Peppermint Vanilla (2006, 2007), Gingerbread + Spice (2006, 2007, and I'm hearing it will be back in 2008)

The only holiday product that is currently not in normal production are the aroma beads.

If I've missed a holiday scent, drop me a comment and let me know! What is your favorite holiday scent you'd love to see return? Or what new scent would you love to see for the holidays?

Friday, February 22, 2008

swivel for me, baby...

Ok, a couple questions concerning the aroma plug-in!

Q1: Who would love to see a "swivel and lock" on the method aroma pill? You know how ingeniously the plug swivels sideways for crazy outlets (and I have one!), but because of my additionally crazy light switch directly above the outlet, I constantly hit the pill, and it rotates sideways slightly each time. Small issue, I know - But annoying none the less, as I'm straightening the pill every time I flip on the bathroom light switch. If it just had some internal notch that lightly "locked" the swivel plug into place when it was turned, it would not rotate/move if it were accidentally hit. What do you think? Or should I just take a Xanax and call it a day?

Q2: And another question, I read a post where someone mentioned this, and I think it's a great idea. What if method added a small night light to their pill? (Some of the "Big Brands" already have this option.) Would you be interested in this? Let me know!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

method retrospect

method creamy body wash and shower gel

Every once in a while I'm going to take a look back at a wonderful method product that is no longer with us. (Cue sad music, and a moment of silence, please.) Today's product would be the creamy body wash and shower gel line! This line has since been replaced with their bloq body care line.

The line came in four scents: Lavender/Thyme, Olive Leaf (this scent has since reappeared in their creamy hand wash line), Mango Mint, and Cassis Flower. My personal favorites were Lavender/Thyme and Olive Leaf!

The original statement for the product was: "Live clean. Be beautiful. method Creamy Body Wash contains natural actives from tropical oils, that restore your skin back to its optimal condition, and leave it perfectly moisturized every time. What's more our formula is biodegradable, dye-free, and never tested on animals. Now that's a clean you can feel good about inside and out."

And there you have it! This was their first foray into the body care line. (excluding the hand wash soaps they've had since the beginning.)

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

one two punch!

Alright! I want to hear from you, the readers! In the comments section below, tell everyone:

ONE! What is your favorite method product? (I know, I know! Just one?? How could you choose just one! But try hard, I know you can do it!)

TWO! What is your favorite method scent? (I know, I know, see the question above.)

Let yourself be heard! Don't be shy, comment away! I'll get things started!

sneak peek!

Ok, first I have to confess I discovered this information on Danny Seo's blog. He works for them as a "healthy home partner", as he calls it. So thanks Danny!

What surprised me is, I saw this image days ago, but didn't think twice because the packaging is so different for method! And today I stumbled upon it again, and about choked! New products coming in March from method! According to Danny's blog: "These really fun bathroom cleaning products are coming out in March... "Le Scrub" is an all-purpose, creamy scrub that even comes with a mini microfiber towel that can stash right in the bottle's cap. It has finely milled marble in it to act as an abrasive to really scrub away tough stains in the bathroom. The cute little elephant shaped bottle on the left is Lil Bowl Blu, which uses lactic acid to dissolve metal stains and sodium lactate to remove hard water buildup. They will be around $5 each."

Tada! So cool! We finally get a healthy toilet bowl cleaner! (And I'd listed that as a possible new method product you'd like to see in a poll on this site, not even realizing it was just a month away! The scent is eucalyptus mint. (I actually wish they'd selected a different scent for these; but I also know that's the main scent they use for their bathroom products.)

So there you have it, Lil' Bowl Blu and Le Scrub, coming in March!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

new method lusters: best bets!

method o-mop

How about a great new section for those of you out there just discovering method home products? Not sure what you should pick up first? (I mean, everything! Of course!) But just in case you're a little cautious at the beginning, before heading down the path of crazed method fandom; I thought I'd start a section that would discuss some of the best products, at least in my mind, method has to offer that anyone would find a definite best bet!

First up, the method o-mop! This thing is amazing. Seriously, it's method's take on the Swiffer, and it blows it away! (Again, my opinion. But "shh, we know it's true!") What's great about the o-mop is it uses not only compostable sweeping cloths (which disintegrate in a short amount of time, compared to other disposable sweeping/cleaning cloths, which do not); but they also use reusable microfiber cloths! Just use them, wash them, and reuse them! Over and over! No waste! (Are there enough exclamation points yet?) And, as it states on the method home web site: "The curved pole helps apply more pressure with less effort. Flip it over for debunnying under the couch without a stoop. The oversized cleaning head cleans on a micro level in fewer swipes."

Seriously, I owned a Swiffer sweeper, and a mop version. Took them both to Goodwill after purchasing the o-mop! And the starter kits come with 1 wet/dry omop, 1 washable microfiber mop pad (either for wood or all-floor surfaces - you can choose which kit you wish to purchase, and then simply purchase the additional microfiber pad so you'll have one of each), 3 compostable sweeping cloths, and a 14 fl oz (wood for good or lemon ginger all-floor) cleaner.

The lemon-ginger scent was brought back, after being sent to method scent heaven, for this new all-floor cleaner. I was, happily, so surprised to see it's return. I do wish they'd give us more variety with the all-floor cleaner scent choices (as of right now there is only lemon-ginger. They used to have, before introducing the o-mop, a floorcare cleaner that came in lavender, and rosemary mint scents.) Perhaps down the line they'll introduce some additional scent selections? For the wood cleaner, they've used their tried and true wood for good almond scent.

This is definitely a product everyone can use, and a great start to trying out the method brand! So pick one up today, and sweep your cares away! (Oh yeah, and all that dust and dirt and gunk, too!)

green living

Check out this great new article I just found at gliving.com (which stands for Green Living.) I realize this article is from October 2007, but I personally had not seen it before. And what's really great about this article is it's the first time I've gotten to see the method founders in action (and "live", there's a video section!) - Pretty great, check it out!

Thanks so much!

The method founders, Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry, simply couldn't be two nicer guys! I recently received emails from them both, concerning the new method lust blog:

"Nathan- thanks for spreading the method love and I'm digging the blog! It is really inspiring to read and I think you understand us better than we understand ourselves. Let us know if there is anything else we can do to help your blog and I am sure (you will be) kept updated on the latest. We have a lot of cool stuff coming this year so hopefully (it'll be) worth writing about...

...Thanks again for all the support.  Regards, -ERIC"

and:

"Nathan,
Just wanted to reach out with a huge, huge thank you for all your passion and support spreading the good method word!!  We really appreciate it, and it’s because of people against dirty like you that Eric and I get up every morning and try to do our thing.  Thanks for making our work great!

Adam"

These guys can't imagine how much it means to me to receive these emails, and their well wishes! Thanks!

reed and write

Get the title? Ok, yeah, it's sad. I know, I know. But it's exactly what this post is about. Diffuser reeds! Well, for the most part. And the second half, your input! That's right (or should I say "write?") at the bottom of each post is a "comments" link. If you click that link you can post a comment! Now come on, I know you're shy, or can only type with two fingers at a time! But I see you lurking around this blog (and I love it, please keep lurking!) but I'd also love to hear any comments readers have to say, be it informative, a question, or just you stating "I love method!" over and over and over! So go on, comment away. Your mom isn't reading this! (Or is she?)

With that out of the way, I have a small question I'd like to poll people on. It concerns the method aroma sticks (and the aroma beads, possibly. I'll get to that in a moment.) First, how many people have bought their aroma sticks? They rock, don't they! And they're great for, ok, I forget how long they last, it has to be two months or so, and they do a great job! Then the scent starts to fade, and you run into your nearest (Target) to get a refill, and... well, they don't have a refill. What?? Never fear, you can always purchase another set, which includes the vase. But my question to you is, would you like to see refills for this product? And if the aroma beads are released down the line in non-Holiday scents, refills on those as well? I'm voting for a big ole' YES! I think it'd be really easy to do. Now mind you, I know nothing about shelving space in stores, the cost of doing it, etc. and I know that plays a part. But I think it'd be really easy to package the vase separately, and the reeds and their scents together, both in smaller packaging than what it's in now. I just feel that the $12.99 (at least here in NC) is a bit steep each time you want to "refill" your aroma sticks. AND you end up with all these ceramic vases, which while they're great, especially at holding, oh I don't know, lavender in your bathroom (see below); after a while you're drowning in ceramic method vases! When instead you could just go out and purchase a new refilll pack for the vase you have at home. And the pricing could still justify the initial sale (such as, $5.99 for the refills, $5.99 for the vase; or such?) Same for the aroma beads. First purchase is of the set, then you can go out and pick up the small aroma bead refills once you've filled your house all up with method scented goodness!

So what are your thoughts? Am I just over thinking this? Am I just too darn cheap? Or am I on to something? I'd love to know how many people out there buy these products, if the pricing deters you from future purchases, or if you have other ideas? Drop me a comment! Thanks!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

target police

Ok, so get this. Yesterday evening I decided to run over to a Target near where I work, in order to procure one final bottle of Fig aroma spray (have I mentioned how much I love the Fig scent? At this point that question is sarcasm, because yes, I have. Oh have I.) But alas it's from the Fall edition, so it's being discontinued to make room for the Spring editions. So, I go over to the method area, and it's totally cleaned out. All the spray bottles are gone. ALL of them! How odd, I think? I just saw some there the other day (yeah, let's not discuss how many times I go to Target in a given week, shall we? It would be very scary.) So I decide I have to go to the one near my home, and see if they have any left. At this point I'm panicking (oh, no! (breathing hard, short breaths) I must have my final Fig spray! What shall I do?? Have faith, have faith!)

So I stop by the next Target near my home. CLEANED out! No more on the shelves! Man, at this point I'm starting to get all dizzy and light headed and I can't speak properly and I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through without my Fig fix and I start creating run on sentences and then I think AHA! check out the end caps. End caps (for those that don't know) are the ends of each shelf in a store, and Target is well known for placing sale items on their end caps. So I rush to the end cap, look up and down the aisle, and spy ONE bottle! A couple of Cinnamon Bark plug-ins look at me, as well as ONE bottle of Fig spray! Cue angels singing "Hallelujahs" coming down from the Heavens, I grab it up, and run to the check out aisle! Dreaming of all the Fig spraying I'll be able to get into before the evening is over, the woman rings up the bottle, and the register spits out a piece of paper, and she turns to me and says:

"I can't sell this to you."

Ok, so my eyes slowly open and I'm feeling all weak, and the woman is standing over me with an ammonia stick in order to awaken me from my fainting spell (or I could maybe be making all of that last sentence up, but you know, it COULD have happened, you know?) and I say "why?" and she calls over a manager, and I'm still standing right there, customer at check out. He sees the paper and says "Oh, yes, this is being recalled. Ok, no problem." and I'm thinking finally sanity has returned and he's going to override the register so I can purchase this. And he plugs in some numbers into the register, and says "ok." and looks at me like "oh, are you a customer?" and I say "ok, but so I can't buy it." and he says:

"No."

And I walk out. Ok, ok, so I'm not angry (and they weren't mean about it or anything.) It's more a "don't you love how people do things now look at all the red tape we create in the world" cause you know, many discontinued method products end up at Big Lots (a discount store, I think it's nation wide?) so I can bet you money the Fig spray (which was only recalled due to new product coming out, not due to issues with the actual product) will show up at Big Lots within six months, and I'll grab some up. But really, the price tag was on the product and all, and I couldn't buy it. Instead they'll ship it off to somewhereville, then ship it to Big Lot ville, and I'll buy it then. - red tape. But seriously, I think it's more funny than anything else! (And it's not like I didn't have a bottle in my discontinued method stock at my house, so I'll just put in my super secret pass code, and slide open the vault door, and wisk out the Fig spray from my "discontinued stash" and spray away! Just don't make me show you where the vault is... or I'd have to kill you later. (Cause well, you know, it's a secret and all, and well, you get it, right? Ok...)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

sneak peek - aircare!

Check it out, the first sneak peek for method lust! Coming home this evening, I was SO surprised by a package sitting at my doorstep! And it included a brand new method aircare candle! Check it out (man, I wish I could shoot photography shots like all those amazing food blogs you see! But you know, it just doesn't appear to be happenin' for me! Ah well!) This is the brand new (not yet on the shelves of your local Target but SO close; I noticed this evening all the remaining Fall edition items have been removed and lots of open space is awaiting great new products!) ...stop rambling, man, and get on with it! This is the brand new "Special Edition Fragrance" (as the label says) Citrus Cilantro candle! Mmm! I've already got it burning! I love that method is now promoting the item as "Special Edition"! I think this will get even more people to give it a try! Special Edition always says "buy it now before it's gone!" and I hope they continue this idea with the Fall line as well.

It has this very bright citrus note to it, as well as a light undertone of grassiness. I'm going to have to burn it for a few evenings, and then I'll post a better review of the new scent. So get ready, run to Target, cause it's almost Citrus Cilantro time!

a little note


Sarah, you ROCK! Thanks so much!

confession time

Alright, I have a confession to make. I never purchased the method aroma beads that came out this past Holiday. WHAT? Should we take your method lust crown of glory away? The very idea!

Ok, ok, I deserve that one. But it wasn't like I didn't WANT to purchase them. Oh but I did. But I tried to reason with myself, and I knew there were like fifty other method Holiday items I wanted to pick up for sure (can you say Hollyberry dish soap, oh yes! Hollyberry, you've finally come back to me! I thought you lost so long ago, but alas, you've returned! Please don't ever leave again for I shall fall into a crumpling heap of... oh, I see, you're already gone. Well, it was good while it lasted, Hollyberry...) ahem, excuse me. So I decided I had to sacrifice the aroma beads. Man, I wanted to pick them up, but there was also that Holiday issue with being poorer than dirt (how poor is dirt, really? Where did that phrase come from?) So... that's how the aroma beads bounce every now and then.

My question to you is, did YOU pick them up last year? Holiday 2007 was the debut of this product, and I'm curious what your thoughts were on it? How did it burn, was the scent strong, was cleanup a cinch? Do tell! Throw me your method aroma bead "one man (and woman) review"

And if anyone has an extra aroma bead set (uh, did I hear Cinnamon Bark?) just sitting around from after Christmas sales, that they just need to get rid of, well, email me, ok? I'll make sure I give you my mailing address. I think I have just the spot for it...

candid method!

Check out this candid method pic from Shawna! She says "...I thought you might get a kick out of what I called my "method closet" in my old house. I've been buying method products for several years now, and I will continue to until they make me stop (I keep waiting for the restraining order)..." Thanks Shawna! And might I say you have some oldies but goodies in this closet! Rosemary Mint floorcare, Lavender floorcare, Magnolia dish soap, and a Magnolia scented candle (and those were before method had a designated aircare line!) All great stuff!

Remember to send me a pic of your method lust, and I'll post it here!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

candid method!


Here's my Frosted Cranberry (Holiday 2006 line) aroma reed diffuser bottle being used as a great vase for some lavender. These bottles/ vases also come in the current line of aroma reed diffusers in the method aircare line. (And no, those method Green Mint Bloq body line items in the background weren't put there for staging, I have them on the bathroom counter with the lavender... and some method hand wash, and...)

empty thoughts

So here you are, burning your favorite method candles, filling your rooms with all sorts of luscious scents, and you look over at your countertop and think "Man, what am I going to do with all those empty method candle containers?!" Actually, I'm curious, what are you going to do with those? I've seen some posts from blogland taking these ceramic containers and using them for coin jars (which is what I'm currently using an old Cinnamon Bark candle jar for, it works great!), votive candle holders, all sorts of things. In fact, recently a great friend of mine (we'll call him Sam, cause well, his name is Sam!) noticed I had like, a zillion of these (I burn through those babies fast!) and asked if he could have them? I said sure, what were his intentions? Well, he's using them as coffee tea mugs!

I think that's a great idea. I had cleaned them all out really well, and apparently he loves them! I can't think of any really big problems with this solution (if anyone directly from method is reading this, and thinks otherwise, please drop me a comment to this article.) method is after all an environmentally friendly company; so I can't imagine there's any sort of horrible things making up the simple ceramic containers. Other than getting your hands burned (cause there's no handle, and no cardboard sleeve! Wait, we could make our own cardboard sleeves! Or just reuse one from your favorite coffee/tea shop?) it all seems kosher to me. And I'm glad they're working out for him! Invite me over for coffee tea sometime, please!

So I'm curious what everyone else out there is using their empty candle jars and aroma reed diffuser bottles for after their intended purpose is over. Let me know, drop me a comment here! Email me a pic, and I'll post them to the blog! Right now I've got some beautiful lavender I picked from my backyard, and it's sitting so bonsai like in an aroma reed diffuser bottle. I'll see if I can't take a pic and post it up here!

it takes two to tango

Thought I'd let everyone know of another item that Target is currently clearancing out, and those are the method plug-in refills in all scents. NO, I hear you screaming, not those?! What will I do to make my home smell wonderful?? Well, you need not worry, as they are not going away. method is simply replacing all single refills with double refill boxes. We've seen these recently with the Holiday line (Cinnamon Bark, Peppermint Vanilla, and Hollyberry), as well as the Fall editions (Fig, oh Fig, I shall miss you most! and Gingerbread + Spice.) This will result in less packaging being used, and a better environment as the result! Great move on method's part!

it's a sad day for koala bears

You know, I've barely begun posting to this blog, and already the titles are simply ridiculous. But I just can't help myself, method brings out the silly in me! Plus, come on, who doesn't love a cute little koala? I mean, really? Now, a crying Koala, well that might be what we have here. I know they're coming fast and furious, but I wanted to let people know Target is currently clearancing out the Eucalyptus Mint air care line. This includes candles, spray, aroma rings, and plug-ins.

What I'm curious to find out is, while the Fall editions are being replaced with Fresh Lychee and Cut Grass (from last Spring) what will this scent be replaced with? Or is method planning on rolling out a new product (such as aroma beads in non-Holiday scents) and simply needed the shelf space in stores (including Target.) As soon as I find out more information, I'll let you know! Until then, run out and pick up some Eucalyptus Mint. And fret not, because while Target seems to be clearancing out many a method product as of late, this can mean only one thing. New products/scents will soon be on their way!

Friday, February 8, 2008

come clean

Now this is just the coolest thing! I stumbled upon this while roaming the internet for some method photos. I've got to say I'm not sure if this is legit method marketing, or just a fan having fun! I've never personally seen it before now... http://www.comeclean.com/

UPDATE: Aha, I've just discovered some information about this. Apparently the CBP Group "...launched a viral campaign for Method with the Come Clean website. This viral website lets people start fresh by letting them confess to things they have done -- it captures people's confessions and then streams them in a screensaver and on the website. When confessions are entered a woman's voice reacts to the confessions and tells you how what you've done is wrong but that you are forgiven." Ok, so perhaps I've been, gasp, out of the loop on this one! I mean, apparently method once put out pumpkin spice hand wash during the holidays, and I've NEVER seen it. It's like the holy grail of method "rarity" products. (Ok, ok, actually that would be the method bamboo and coral cleaning spray. But I am WAY digressing here...) anyway, this rocks! It's so much fun! Make sure to stop on by at http://www.comeclean.com/, and download your own personal screensaver. Then start the hand washing fun (and the come clean confessing!)

who is this method you speak of?

No, this post isn't some simple way to get in a hot shot of a naked guy holding a bucket of method floor care in front of his special parts. (Though I'll say this is one of my favorite method advertising photos, cause, well, it's just hot! Oh, and yes, there's a woman in the shot as well, but we usually forget she's there, which is all the better as I like to imagine I've just walked into the door of our home after a long day at work, and my honey has been startled by me, having been dutifully mopping our floors, dancing away, naked! Oh but I digress...)

Being such a fan of method products, I simply couldn't imagine someone not knowing about them. But I started to think, if someone comes to this blog not knowing the brand, they might be a little lost here! So this is just a small primer on what method is!

From the method home site: ...Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry were roommates living in San Francisco, having met in high school... "Eric had experience in style and branding, and he mentioned that he was thinking about introducing design to the home care industry. Eric also admitted that he had kind of a lot of cleaning products under his bed. Adam was no ordinary friend. In fact, he was a chemical engineer from Stanford University with a degree in environmental science. As soon as Eric began to talk, Adam realized that he could use his expertise to create naturally-derived, biodegradable formulas for the beautiful products Eric had in mind. And method was born.

Eric and Adam's kitchen was method's first "lab." The goal was to evolve the household cleaner from a toxic object that hid under the sink to an all-natural, biodegradable, and stylish counter top accessory. Method began with a product line of five spray cleaners delivered from store to store on the back of a pick-up truck. The product was such a success that Eric and Adam quickly recruited a talented team to build the business. By 2002, Method had added dish soap, rocketing past generations of conventional bottles with a stunning design and delivery system by Karim Rashid. In 2003, we added hand wash, dilutable floor cleaners, and wipes. In 2004, we have added a complete laundry line and two lines of premium candles. At method, we believe that your home is a reflection of who you are and how you want to live, and we know that you want to live clean."

method is all about environmentally friendly, beautifully designed, wonderful smelling cleaning and air care products that make your home great! Bleach is not the smell of clean. Bleach is the smell of chemicals. method feels (and so do I!) that fresh flowers, cut grass, lavender, and citrus scents are the smell of clean. Scents that come from nature. I could just stand in the aisles where method products are sold, and smell and smell all day long. But I usually get lots of odd stares from fellow customers. And then I'll say "These products rock, buy some, now! No, I mean it, now! Don't make me come over there." and then a new customer is born. (PS - I doubt method believes in bullying tactics, some maybe just gently push a bottle of method spray into their hands, and it'll work itself out from there.) So now you know a little more about method! So go buy some. Now! Don't make me come over there... oh sorry. I get a little excited thinking about new method lusters, just like me!

shop from your couch! (you know you want to)

Just wanted to take a moment to let everyone know that method is now being sold on HSN (the Home Shopping Network, but you knew that, now didn't you? Yes, you did.) The product line was featured on an HSN program titled "Healthy Home Featuring method". The network is featuring method's popular "Detox your Home" kits in four scents, lavender, pink grapefruit, go naked, and variety.

What's even cooler is method is also launching a co-branded reusable shopping tote with HSN (which you can see in the photo.) I love it, as it takes the green tote they are selling on their site, but makes it a nice powder blue and brown! Great new color! And if you're just too lazy to wait for it to show up on tv again, you can always run over to HSN.com and pick it up there! How easy is that! The price is $19.98 (retail value over $50! What a savings!)

method stories, photos, and fun!

Got a great method story to share? Or a photo of you and your favorite method product lounging by the Thames, watching a scary movie with each other, or just uh, cleaning the house together? (Yes, if you have a photo of yourself and a cleaning product, you do need professional help. Just give me a call, and we can go meet the therapist together. I hear two for one deals save money. And we all know I definitely need that help, too!) If you have something not related to a particular post you'd like to share, drop a comment here! And you can email me your photos at artist@nathanaaron.com and I'll add them to this post. Thanks!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

ban the bag, plastic that is!

"Did you know, Americans throw away an average of 16 plastic bags per week. We think that's a dirty habit. Time to kick it. Make a statement against dirty little plastic bags by using your own chic, reusable, market tote." That quote was taken from the method home site, where you can now purchase their hip, fashionable, and just overall cool "Plastic Bag Rehab" reusable bag!

I've become a big "ban the plastic bag" supporter, and just think they've become the scourge of all evil. Ok, ok, perhaps that's a little harsh, but really, they're so bad for the environment. Get this: Each year, Americans throw away some 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags. (Only 0.6 percent of plastic bags are recycled.) And if you're still not convinced, check out this article "...It began with a line of plastic bags ghosting the surface."

During the Holidays, method was giving away their hip new totes with every $20. purchase on their site. While the special appears to be over, you can still pick one of these great bags up. I've made it a goal in 2008 to take NO plastic bags from stores. Not even those small plastic bags in grocery stores you place your fruits or vegetables in. So far, it's February 7, and I'm accomplishing my goal.

Now, while I do have a cool method tote like the one pictured above (designed by Danny Seo, and I love it!), I also want to tout another product, the Baggu Bag. You can purchase them at baggubag.com, and I can't say enough about how great they are! I've purchased three, one holds the same quantity as two plastic bags you'd get in a store, and I use them everytime I go into a store. And if I forget them from time to time, I carry my stuff out in my pockets, and arms. That's how determined I've become! But seriously, these bags come in multiple colors, look great, are sturdy and strong, and they just rock! For all those guys out there that think "tote bags are too girly" pick up the Baggu Bag in either black or smoke grey, and all that thinking will go out the window. I don't even get freaked out anymore at the thought of saying as they ring up my items "Uh, I brought my own bag." It's quickly becoming second nature. Remember, a habit only takes twenty one days to achieve! So pick up either the Baggu Bag, or the cool method tote today!

The method tote is $15.00 US. You can purchase it at methodhome.com

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

one man reviews

wood for good spray cleaner

One of the goals I wish to do on this blog is post reviews of various method products. These are simply my own personal reviews, and experiences with these products, so please make sure to give the item a try, no matter what my final thoughts are. You might end up feeling differently about the product!

First up is a product that has been around, man, for about as long as the line has been. It's method wood for good spray cleaner. The scent they've given this product is almond. Now, I'm simply speculating here, but when I first picked up wood for good oh so long ago, it contained the most Heavenly almond scent! I couldn't get enough of it. So I went through that entire bottle, and then ran out to purchase a new one. After using it I went "hmm, this doesn't smell exactly the same?" It reminded me more of an "almond baby powder" scent, rather than true almond. They state on the method home website: "The almond scent in the furniture and floor cleaners is derived from a synthetic fragrance." - No real almond oil. Now their reasonings are due to nut allergies, and I can understand that. But still, the scent has never really been as amazing as the first go-around.

Cleaning wise, it's great! I use it to clean all my wood items, from chairs to my dining room table, and it works wonders. Add in the microfiber wood for good cloth, and you've got cleaning down for the count! And the cloth is reusable, saving you a fortune on paper towels! (A review on the microfiber cloths will be upcoming.) So I've given the product four and a half (out of a possible five.) The product really deserves a five, but it loses a half due to the scent change.

method goes 100%

Check this out! Via Colleen Reilly on method home's website: "method is now using bottles made of 100% post-consumer recycled content! You’ve heard the term “cradle to grave,” right? In marketing-speak, it refers to the importance of getting consumers hooked on your brand while they’re young so they’ll remain loyal to you over the course of their lifetime. And hey, that’s something we aspire to, although not in a creepy way. Environmentally speaking, however, “cradle to grave” refers to the life cycle of a product, from manufacture (“cradle”) to disposal (“grave”). Putting our bottles and other packaging back into circulation has always been important to us, which is why we encourage all you people against dirty to recycle every scrap of it.

“Cradle to cradle” is even better: new, identical products created from recycled ones. So we’re thrilled to announce that we’re moving to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET (polyethylene terephthalate – “#1” plastics) for nearly all our bottles this year, starting with our cleaning products. We’re the first company in the US to do this for custom designed (i.e., non stock) bottles, so you’ll have to excuse us for patting ourselves on the back for a minute. What we’re up against is pretty daunting. Even though PET is the most-recycled type of plastic, more than 4 billion tons of it ended up in US landfills in 2006; only 23.5% of it was recycled. Expanded recycling programs are having an impact in many communities, but we’re still throwing way too much of the stuff away, while demand continues to accelerate.

This is where using recycled bottles can make a real difference. Recycling plastic containers into new products saves about 50 percent of the energy used to make the same product from new material. And that’s just cleaner – for us, for our kids, for the planet... Keep recycling!" Great news! I'm a recyling fiend (well, I try as much as I personally can!), and you'll be hearing more about recyling and such from me soon.

wet is the new dry

I know there appears to be a theme here at the start of this new blog, but I just wanted to make sure to keep everyone up with the latest. It would also appear Target has decided to clearance the wet dryer sheet method line. A little over a year ago, they clearanced the nectarine blossom scent from their shelves, in order to replace it with the go naked version. The actual product wasn't discontinued, Target just stopped carrying it.

Well suddenly I noticed they had clearanced all of the wet dryer sheet line, so I ran to my method source to see what was going on? New packaging? Discontinued product? No. It appears Target has just decided to fill up the shelves once full of method dryer sheet with more "Big Brand". (My source said they must have just gone wacky, cause the dryer sheets aren't going anywhere! And I noticed yesterday all the method dryer sheet price labels in some of the Target stores have been removed, and new "Big Brand" products have been placed in the space.) So pick them up while you can at Target, because after the clearance is over it looks like we'll have to find an alternative means to buying these (either through the method home website, or perhaps another retailer that carries these. I don't know of any others at the moment, but if you've seen them in another retail store let me know.) Thumbs down to Target for this decision.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

bloq party

Just thought I'd let you know Target is clearancing out all of method's bloq body lotion. Also being clearanced at Target, in the bloq line is the waterflower scented body wash.

I myself am a big fan of the bloq body line from method, and LOVE the green mint scent! The line includes shaving cream, body lotion, body wash and body soap bars. I've gotten a little information as to why the body lotion is being clearanced out at Target, and will post it when I'm given the thumbs up from my wonderfully special inside method source.

UPDATE: I've noticed the waterflower body wash is only being clearanced at select Targets, and I'm not sure why that is.

alas fig, we hardly knew thee

Be sure to stop by your nearest Target to pick up the remaining Fall Editions of method's aroma care line. Fall 2007 saw the premiere of Fig (of which I've fallen head over heels in love with. The scent is this amazing combination of earthy, grassy, and fruit all at once. Divine!), along with a return visit for the second year by Gingerbread + Spice.

The scents have been discontinued to make room for the Spring/Summer line (which I believe will consist once more of Cut Grass and Fresh Lychee.) Gingerbread + Spice will be coming back next Fall, but I've heard through the grapevine that Fig is heading to method scent Heaven. Let's pause for a moment of silence. Man, did I love that scent! (Trust me I've bought out the Fig candle aisle!)

Right now you can find candles, plug-ins, aroma rings and sprays on clearance at Target. What are you waiting for?


mint is my man


Welcome to method lust! I'm so excited to have begun this blog. It's been on my mind for some time, and I've finally decided to get to it. My reason for starting this blog is simple, I'm a method addict! I love the stuff, and I can't get enough. From the amazing scents, to the gorgeous packaging, and the great for the environment products and mentality, I just LOVE it!

In fact, you see pictured above the very first item I purchased from method. I went walking into my local Target store (which most of the products in these posts will come from; also to note: all sales, discontinues, etc. will usually be based on my North Carolina Target store. Target stores in other states may differ. And let me know, if they do!) and saw this end cap of new cleaning supplies, called method. Not only was the packaging so unique, but what caught my attention immediately was mint dish soap. MINT dish soap. Now, I'm a mint fanatic! Crazy about the stuff. If it's covered in mint, smells like mint, tastes like mint, well... I gotta have it! As far as I knew, this was the first dish soap to feature the aroma of mint, and I immediately went crazy and bought it up! Plus the gorgeous Karim Rashid packaging didn't hurt things one bit. And that was the beginning of my, should I say, lust affair, with method.

Sadly, mint dish soap has long been discontinued (you'll soon see a theme here with my favorite scents constantly being discontinued, but alas, life must go on); but if you were brave enough to take a peak into my linen closet, you'd find about five bottles of the Karim Rashid teardrop mint dish soap, as well as one "Bowling Pin" bottle, that I've stocked up on. Like I said, I'm crazy about it!

So check out this blog, if you have stories to share about method and yourself, send them my way. Also let me know of any really early products you may have used or have, or have a photo of (such rarities as pumpkin spice hand wash, or bamboo cleaner spray, or mistletoe!), or have a question, favorite scent... hey, I want to hear them all! Thanks!

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