clean sweeps

A bit o' news here, a bit o' news there! It's a bit o' method news, everywhichwhere!

+ Some sad news. It looks like method is discontinuing their bathroom le scrub. I'm kinda shocked by this one, since there looks to be no update, or replacement on the horizon. Per method's Facebook page: "sorry to break the bad news, but yes, le scrub will be discontinued by the end of the year." Stock up now, before it's too late! Target has already put them on clearance.

+ I've seen a lot of complaints concerning two method products, and would like to hear your thoughts! Many users of the lemon verbena (or any of the anti-bac line of spray cleaners) find the updated formula scents to be way off, in fact, most say the lemon verbena smells like pee! Ouch! What have your experiences with these products been like? Do you like the new formula?

+ Complaint #2 happens to be over method's replacement for their lil bowl blu (in eucalyptus mint scent) to their new anti-bac toilet bowl cleaner (in spearmint scent.) I think most just don't like the new scent. It's another "what were you thinkin', method?" moment, since the rest of their bathroom line is in eucalyptus mint.

+ And a bit of great news, method has (pretty much) confirmed frosted fir is coming back, and will be one of their scent selections in hand wash for their holiday 2012 line! Pertaining to someone saying how much they lusted the scent, and wondering if it was still available, method replied: "it's great to hear you love frosted fir. it's a holiday scent, which means you might see it back on shelves in november. stay tuned."

+ Finally, I'm noticing most of the latest sneak peek announcements hitting Target shelves, from the Orla Kiely hand wash/dish soap/spray cleaner line (vanilla chai and pear ginger smell divine! Oddly enough, the bay leaf reminds me a lot of the spring sea salt + lime. Am I nuts?! Let me know!), to the spray fabric softener (which replaces their dryer sheets), as well as new smarty dish plus packets with rinse aids and extra cleaning power (for hard water, etc.) Have you picked any of these products up? What are your thoughts? Share in the comments!

doublin' the deals!

method luster Gary sent in some great pics of Target's new Bodega section (it's their miniature Costco style area of the store that's replaced the Christmas/Holiday department. And it'll only be around for a limited time.) Target has done this in the past, and once again method has some great bundled deals available here! Check out the clementine dish soap (with refill package), bathroom set (eucalyptus mint tub and tile and daily shower spray), and the anti-bac set (spearmint bathroom and lemon verbena kitchen cleaners.)

It looks like someone found these special bundled deals and left behind their original selections (see photo below!) So be sure to run on over to your local Target and pick up these bundled deals before they're gone, yo! (Thanks for the pics, Gary!)

o'no?

I decided to take a little strolly-stroll down my nearby Lowe's Hardware today, after lunch - just to see what was what in the method section, and if they still carried the lavender dish soap and eucalyptus mint tub + tile cleaner (the answers are double yes!) But while doing all that (and balancing a ball upon my head, just because you know I like to multi-task like nobody's business!) I came upon a possibly sad sight.

It looks like Lowe's is clearancing out the method Omop! Including the wood and all-floor microfiber cleaning cloths. The sweeper dusters are not on clearance however, but those could be used for multiple purposes (such as dusting cloths throughout the house, etc.) Now, this is just speculation for the time being, but I'm not feeling too good about the ole' Omop at this point. I know, I know, it hasn't been without it's kinks (or snaps, and breaks, mind you.) But what with Target having also clearanced that baby out, like a year or more ago, it leaves people's Omop options very limited - possibly only to the methodhome.com online store! (Does anyone else know if it's available in other retail stores? I haven't seen it anywhere, myself... And yes, I should know this. This is method lust, after all. But hey, I'm not the method God. Ok? I don't know all, as much as I pretend to let on that I do! Ha ha!)

In fact, over on their method Facebook page, an advocate recently asked:

"Do you still have the mop? I can't find refills at my Target anymore! Help!" to which they responded "Lowe's Hardware, or the method online store." So, I guess I might just be a method God after all!

+

In fact, I'm noticing an interesting trend in method lately? Perhaps, just perhaps, they're slowly discontinuing all non-explicit cleaning products (is that the proper usage of explicit, if not, eh, you know what I'm trying to get at!) The microfiber cleaning cloths have slowly been disappearing from store shelves (you know, the ones that were for glass, granite, wood, etc.) In fact, you can't even order them on the methodhome.com site any longer. The aircare went bye-bye (and it had many non-cleaning components, such as the plug-in, and the ring, ceramic oil diffuser, glass bowls, etc.) Now (might) the Omop also be poised for method Heaven?

Have we reached a point where method is trying to simplify its product line to where if it isn't a liquid-based cleaning product, it's out? While this does sound more green-friendly, it also sends people to their competition (as people will have to buy swiffers, and other cleaning cloths, aircare products, etc.)

Do you think this would be a good, or a bad thing? Keep in mind the Omop thing is just speculation at this point (but again, as far as I'm concerned, it ain't lookin' too good.)

clean sweeps

+ UPDATED Seems the method limited edition waterfall scented hand wash might not be so limited anymore. I took a stroll into my local Target today, and found two bottles of the waterfall hand wash on the shelf, except one of these bottles did not have limited edition written across it (which is what happened to their mandarin mango hand wash!) So while method hasn't made a formal announcement, it looks like waterfall might is now a regular hand wash scent that will stick around!

+ There seems to be some confusion about this next item, but a method advocate recently let me know she saw the tub + tile cleaner on clearance at Target a few weeks ago. I asked method, and they said that it was indeed not going away, but to enjoy the sale! So I figured there must have been some confusion, and it was just a sale price. But then I ran into a Target on my return home from vacation, and indeed, they did have the tub + tile on clearance! At the same time, my local Targets have not put it on clearance, but you know how all Targets work independently of one another. So perhaps only select Targets will now carry the tub + tile, method is revamping it in some manner, or hey, who just knows? My guess is the product is sticking around, but Target has discontinued carrying it. That's not official yet, but I'll keep you updated as I know more info!

+ Also on clearance at Target is method's new 25 load peony blossom laundry detergent. Looks like Target will probably only carry the 50 load bottles down the line, but right now they do still carry the 25 load fresh air bottle. So pick yourself up some clearance peony blossom and tub + tile while you can get the deals!

clean sweeps

+ This is so cool! (I wish I lived in New York! Oh wait, I wish that whether method's there or not! But alas...) Via method's people against dirty blog:

"exciting news! we’re teaming up with Goodwill Industries to offer new yorkers an easy way to spring clean their closets for a good cause with our ‘wash smart, give smart’ clothing donation truck in nyc from may 13 – 15. we don't have any pictures yet, but there will be a mobile laundry room housed in a glass truck that will appear at specific locations, allowing people to drop off new and gently worn clothing. we’ll take care of washing all items before delivering them to several Goodwill locations in new york to be resold.

thursday, may 13
10 AM – 6 PM
soho-- broadway between houston + prince

friday, may 14
10 AM – 6 PM
union square

saturday, may 15
11 AM – 7 PM
herald square -- 35th st. between 6th + broadway

passers-by are encouraged to spontaneously donate an item of clothing off their bodies, and the first 200 people who donate items each day will receive a free 25-load bottle of method laundry detergent. there will also be a photo station, samples, games and prizes, plus a few special guest appearances.

this is part of a bigger ‘laundry smarts’ movement we’re launching to encourage people to re-think and improve the way they do laundry. stay tuned, more to come!"

Ohh, it sounds so awesome! And I'm lovin' the "part of a bigger laundry smart' movement" with even more surprises on the way! And uh, yeah, a glass truck! I repeat, a glass truck!

+ I headed on over to Babys R' Us this weekend (or rather the small section in my local Toys R' Us) and found the new baby products in sweet pea and crisp apple. Here's hoping they make the crisp apple in "adult" scent, cause it was YUMMY! As for the sweet pea, it was as others have described it, a very light rice milk + mallow scent. I personally could smell more baby powder in this variation (but then again I can smell a light baby powder fragrance in the almond wood for good, so either I've got a very nifty nose, or I'm insane. Who knows?)

But I found another product that isn't even listed on the Babys R' Us site! It's a spray cleaner for your baby/kids room, called Play Clean, and is also in the sweet pea scent (though the bottle doesn't mention it as such, it has no fragrance listed, but you can tell it's the same.)

Has anyone tried these new scents? Thoughts?

+ Missing your favorite aircare products? Well, right now (not sure for how long, I'm guessing it depends on the amount of their remaining supply) you can still find the aroma pills (and I think the rings, I can't guarantee that at the moment) at your local Lowe's Hardware! Unfortunately they aren't refills, but rather the starter kits (pill with refill, etc.) but no matter, if you're already going into aircare withdrawal, this might help tide you over! Lowe's hasn't discontinued the line within their stores as of yet, so they're still full price. But as Lowe's supply dwindles, they'll start running out, so snatch some up while you still can!

(And while you're there, don't forget they're one of the only retail stores that still carries eucalyptus mint foaming hand wash!)

to the loo

I'm so behind on this post it's crazy (hey, I might not have much of a life and all I dream about are method products dancing merrily in my head all day; but you know, sometimes laziness, work, or a bit of both get in the way! I think I need a method lust assistant! Ha ha!) But right now method is having all sorts of bathroom goodness going on!

You can download some awesome inspirational bathroom quotes here; place an order for their bathroom kit here (which comes with one each of: lil' bowl blu, tub 'n tile cleaner, le scrub, and flushable bathroom cleaner wipes.) - and use this checkout code: SHIPTOMYLOO for free shipping! Sale ends 2/12/10! So get to buying!

AND finally, there are so many bathroom related contests and things to read, you'll just have to run over to this post on method's official people against dirty blog to learn all about it! (Pictures, Facebook contests, Twitter contests, and more oh my!)

Whew! So get going cleanin' that loo!

lil' more speculation!

Looks like Target has moved the method aircare aroma rings and candles off their designated shelves, and onto the clearance end caps (the ends of the aisles where they always put the clearance/discontinued stuff. I know them so well.) LOL At least they've done this at my Target, so I'm sure yours will happen soon, if not yet.

I'll be curious to see what happens next. The rest of the aircare line is still on the shelves; I guess we'll have to see if it gets consolidated, or if the clearance items are replaced with something new; or if they're discontinuing the line in sections. OH the world of speculation!

+

In other sorta but not really related news, I got a new car two days ago! Yay! (Uh, first time I've ever bought a new car. I think I've gained like, eight ulcers. Gah!) But I believe I must be about one of the only people in the world that really dislikes "new car scent." I mean, people buy things to MAKE their car smell like this?! Wha? And as we know, it's mostly just off gassing and other horrid things occurring in your car that are really bad for you. So I needed a scent enhancer! Cue the aroma ring (and for the record, I'm pretty anti-aroma ring. The rooms in my duplex are just too big for them to work properly for me.) Ages ago fellow advocates had a great idea to place aroma ring refills in your car, to get that wonderful scent! I did this with lavender lemongrass, and WHEW! It was way too strong. That had to go!

But this time around I'm trying out some eucalyptus mint, and you know what, it's working. It actually sorta mingles "well" with the new car smell, while giving it this burst of minty freshness! I like it a lot! So now my new goal is to run around to Big Lots and purchase all those eucalyptus mint aroma ring refills I've seen in there forever, but had no desire to buy at the time! And... go! Do you use an aroma ring refill in your car? What scent?

video review! - bathroom cleaner

clean sweeps!

+ Big Lots blowout! If you haven't taken a trip to your local Big Lots lately, do! It looks like method (or whoever sends these things out? I'm not sure...) has done a big new shipment! Lusters from all over are finding all sorts of method greatness! In fact, I decided to head out this weekend, and found a slew (I'm talkin' slew!) of ginger yuzu hand wash in gel and foaming varieties! As well as some sweet water hand wash (again in both versions), a couple bottles of sweet water laundry detergent, more eucalyptus + mint gel hand wash (again, tons of it!) and let's not forget some almond flower, olive leaf, and white tea creamy hand wash!

Reader Josh found the above hand soap combo packs (which I've never even seen!) in sweet water and green tea + aloe. A mere $6. for 2 bottles and a 25 oz. refill! So definitely head on over to Big Lots, and find some finds!

+ And speaking of finds, Josh is a lucky, lucky man! Check out this photo!

He found this display at his local Wegman's (and I so wish we had this chain in the south east! MAN! Look at all those candles... sniff sniff. And aroma beads. Oh, I'm in pain! Pain, I tell ya! So much lusting, so little time.) He says: "Hand soaps, rings, candles, beads, and sticks were all there (and on sale too! $2.79 for soap I believe, $9.99 for rings, $4.99 for candles or something ...i forget really. the only thing missing was the all surface spray." Oh, Josh, and I think the dish soap is missing as well.

It makes my tiny little cardboard stand at my Harris Teeter look so puny in comparison. And speaking of said cardboard stand, my fears were true! No restock! I just went yesterday, and the stand was gone! Gone. And I found two little bottles, one cinnamon bark, and one peppermint vanilla, just shoved on an end cap, with cereal. LOL The poor cinnamon bark bottle is all banged up and dented. And no one loves it. Didn't they see Rudolph? Don't they know about misfit toys? Won't someone take in this little sad bottle? So anyway, it looks like you definitely need to be picking up these last year finds while you can, cause when they're gone, they're gone! ...Unless you have a Wegman's, it looks like. Then you can swim in method holiday products. Sigh!

+ Josh (he's popular in this post!) also asked if anyone has seen any method dryer sheets. As he's been looking everywhere, but no luck. Unforunately, as far as I know Josh, the only place to find them right now is on method's site. Target pulled the wet dry sheets ages ago, and they've since been discontinued (I swear, if Big Lots shows up some lavender + juniper wet dry sheets, I'm buying out the LOT! I'm so not joking! Oh, I lust those things...) method is replacing the line with the new wet dry sheets in sweet water, rice milk + mallow, and go naked. BUT, I haven't seen those anywhere yet. And the original dryer sheets were gone long, long ago (in a galaxy far away!)

spa fresh!

you may now kiss the method

How about a wedding gift that the couple will actually use? Wow, what a great idea! And if you're on a thrifty budget, well, method lust reader Kristin has a great idea! Check it out:

"...I'm writing because I have an idea that I'm so proud of that I'd like to share it! I figure you would probably appreciate it more than anyone else (my family thinks I'm crazy and who can blame them. Who goes crazy over cleaning products?!?)

I'm going to a double wedding tomorrow afternoon so I needed to buy 2 gifts. I'm strapped for money, so I had to get creative. Method! Of course, who won't use cleaning products, right? Since I've taken on a personal mission of converting the world over to Method (at least my world), it seemed appropriate. So I bought each couple Le Scrub, Lil' Bowl Blu and a couple of sponges (since my Target is out of the LE Le Scrub w/microfiber. WAAA!). Now for the wrapping. Hmm. Gift bags are upward of $3 and usually get tossed after the first use. I went on a quest through Target to find an alternative, more useful form of gift wrap. I ended up buying a plastic bin in a color that complimented the Method bottles. Filler... hm. I could buy recycled-looking shredded paper... hm. Nope! I ended up cutting up old Trader Joe's paper bags (I've since converted to reusable totes) and used that for a filler. Tied with raffia twine and voila! An eco-friendly, attractive (I think) and PRACTICAL gift for just over $10. I wish that I had received a gift like this when I got married. Just doing my part!

BTW, if you have any influence, please tell Method that we want those microfiber sponges back! I don't care if they're sold separately, they're so fabulous!"

Thanks for the wonderful idea, Kristin! And HEY, method, are you listening? More microfiber sponges, please!

losin' it?

Ok, so have I lost it? I went roaming through Target last night, noticing a bunch of the new method packaging is hitting the shelves (and honestly feeling rather 'eh' over it. It just looks so dark and dull next to all the bright, photo inclusive method bottles that remain. I'm thinking maybe they should have gone the direction they took with the aircare line - all white, clean with beautiful/simplistic imagery. SO sorry to whomever did the design work over at method, nothing personal, k? Please don't hate the luster! But I digress as usual...) But I noticed the Tub + Tile cleaner is $4.29, while the spray cleaners are $3.29 (they've gone up recently about thirty cents.) Ok, so has the Tub + Tile cleaner always cost one dollar more than the other spray cleaners, cause though I've only bought it a couple times, I swore they all cost the same price. The T+T spray cleaner is now the same price as the lil' bowl blu and le scrub bathroom items.

Have I lost it? I probably have. I can't remember these things...

method insomnia

Take a look at these great videos featuring method on HSN! Come on, we all know watching some HSN at 3:00 a.m. can be a fun thing; full of wit and crazy ad lib; and these videos are no exception (and being really tired but unable to sleep makes things even more funny, right?) And we get to see a little more of Adam + Eric in action! - So enjoy! Also, these items are available on the HSN website, so I've added a link to those as well, in case these video bits make you wanna go shopping!

HSN video featuring the omop!
Order the HSN omop package here

HSN video featuring the squeaky green book!
Order the squeaky green book package here

HSN video featuring the method detox bathroom kit!
The HSN method bathroom kit is sold out! Wow!

HSN video featuring the method detox granite/stainless steel kit!
Order the method granite/stainless steel kit here

ring a-ding-ding

I feel method's never one to shy away from some constructive criticism (that's how you improve upon things, now isn't it?) So check out The Green Clean Review, as it zings the ring.

"I was tempted to title this post "Method Stink Ring", because I'm feeling a bit lazy, and I couldn't remember what it was called. Turns out, I was pretty close. Anyway, my need to stick one of everything scented in my apartment, prompted me to bring one of these home as soon as I saw them. I also nabbed one for my sister's birthday, as she likes the Method "Cut Grass" scent. (She claims it reminds her of the old Gap "Grass" perfume.)

So, two grass aroma rings later, I was home and placing the white plastic ring on my bathroom shelf. I was impressed to actually be catching whiffs of the thing when I walked into our tiny bathroom as well.

Basically, you get two foil-wrapped scent disks per pack, and then you can buy refill 2-packs in any scent as often as you want. (They claim a single disc lasts at least 2 weeks.) You peel off the foil, revealing a thin membrane. It's tempting to poke at the thing, but will probably lead to alien mutations (so I've refrained thus far.) The white ring takes two aroma disks for maximum scent, but I've never used two (seems too wasteful, even to get more scent.)

In our new apartment the thing sits on the back of my toilet, and I swear I've never caught even the faintest whiff of it. I tried the second grass disk and then moved onto a "Eucalyptus Mint" one. (It was the only kind that passed the husband-sniff test at Target.) For some reason, the EM scent isn't on Method's site. Mine is blue like their "Sweet Water" version, but perhaps it's been replaced.

I am honestly about ready to give up on the aroma ring. It reminds me of the "diffuser sticks" I bought at Whole Foods a couple of years ago. Never smelled those either. I'm willing to concede that my small nose (seriously) might be keeping me from properly whiffing the aroma ring. I just put the last EM disk in today... the ring is on its last chance before it gets replaced with some home made potpourri or a cute nicknack. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't chuck it (I may have a change of heart and want to refill it), but it's becoming a waste of space.

I'll have to track down my sister and ask her what she thinks."

Now you know just HOW much I lust for some method, right? But I gotta agree a bit here. Keep in mind everyone has their own opinion, and one persons unending drool fest may be another person's 'eh'. But the aroma ring has just never done much for me. In fact I have one in my kitchen at this very moment, and I barely smell the thing (in lovely cinnamon bark! Mmm!) I've decided (for myself) the aroma pills and sprays are the way to go. The aroma pills get a boost from being plugged into an outlet, the heat giving it the extra bang it needs to disperse throughout the room (and doing so nicely!) The aroma ring reminds me of a previous product method had, the aroma capsule. So cute in design, but the scent never made it anywhere. BUT, I think a big determining factor in whether the aroma ring works great for you or not is the size of the room you put it in. My kitchen is just a tad too big for that ring, I think. I mean, the proof is right here:

"I just got the sweet water aroma ring and use it on my desk at work. I smell it a lot! It's wonderful."
- Allison

So I think aroma rings would work great in smaller places. I think I'll bring in my cinnamon bark, and give it a try at work! What are your experiences with the ring? (and PS - I LUST me some aroma sticks!)

my mama

Don't you talk about my mama! I'll punch you out is what I'll do if you talk about my mama again! I mean it, I do I do! Oh oh, THAT mama! Over on Mama Speaks! Oh ok, sorry. Did you know she gave this really great review on method's new bathroom line? She sure did, check it out:

"Bowled Over
Of all the household chores, cleaning toilets is the worst. It's not that it's the hardest necessarily, just a squirt of cleaner and swipe of the scrubber and you done, it's more that I can't stop myself from imagining what goes in. While completely natural, it's just a little gross when your other end is peering in. What's even worse is all the junk that comes in a conventional cleaner. Prepared to do the dirty work they come chock full of phosphates and sulfuric acid, which will definitely do the duty but takes it's toll on our environment.

And just as we were all thinking, "Why don't the folks at Method come out with a toilet bowl cleaner already?!". They do. The latest to hit the lineup of fantabulous products from Method is Lil' Bowl Blu, a tiny little toilet cleaner that knows how to get the job done. Made with lactic acid (vegan sourced) and xanthum gum it can tame toilets and break up tough stains while taking it easy on our ecosystem.

Even better Lil' Bowl Blu has the scent of Eucalyptus Mint and as strange as it sounds there is suddenly a little bit of spa-ness to scrubbing the john. I'll be the first to admit that for the first time ever, I was excited to be on potty duty. You can find my new favorite helper on store shelves now and at Method's website. And if you're looking for something new to tackle the tub you might want to take Le Scrub for a spin."

gohn (method) crazy!

Kelli has a great review of method's bathroom cleaner over on her blog, Gohn Crazy!

"For this week's Works for Me Wednesday I wanted to share with you what I think is hands down the BEST bathroom cleaner. I've mentioned this in passing before but I think I need to highlight it.

Method's tub + tile spray!

Honestly I'm a HUGE fan of all things Method, but to me their tub + tile spray stands out. It's an awesome cleaner. It's worked better than all those harsh yucky cleaners that you think you just shaved a year off your life by breathing in all those super harsh fumes that I've tried. You barely have to scrub and you just see the grime go bye bye. Awesome awesome stuff.

I have been becoming more natural in my cleaning and I have switched to vinegar and water for my floors and some all purpose cleaning type of things, but there are still some areas that I like a specialized cleaner and that's where Method comes in. They are friendly products - friendly to us and friendly to the environment. If you'd like to read more check out Method's Humanifesto.

So if you are looking for a rockin' bathroom cleaner check out Method's Tub + Tile Spray! You'll thank me later. (Get Method products at Target or on their website!)

Oh and if you love Method as much as I do stop by their site and sign up to become a method advocate! Spread the word and help others fight dirty (and you might even score some awesome coupons, freebies, and testers. I did! :)

Method works for me!"

scrubbin' in the uk!

For those of you over on the other side of the pond (that'd be the UK, as far as my understanding of that phrase goes!) you can sign up to win yourself a set of Bathroom Flushable Wipes and a Tub + Tile spray cleaner. The people over at Tesco are currently taking entries, and they have 100 sets to give away! That sounds like a really great chance to win!

The contest ends at 10 am, April 14th; with the winners being announced that afternoon (man, they're fast!) So all you UK people, head on over and sign up now! Good luck!

start spending more time in the bathroom

method's just updated their site! Yay! Check out all the glorious-ness! Currently the le scrub and lil' bowl blu aren't available for online purchase (but I believe that will change. Right now they're listed as available at Target stores nationwide.)

sponge (the) bath

UPDATE You thought I was jokin', but I just noticed in Target the newest shipment of the le scrub bathroom cleaner is already sponge-free! There is room to place your favorite sponge, which is great; but if you want a wonderful (and free!) method microfiber sponge to go along with your new bathroom cleaning line, run out and pick up the le scrub today! Cause the cleaner/sponge combo may all be gone tomorrow!

previously
If you haven't had a chance to rush in and grab up a bottle of the new method le scrub, this might give you extra initiative to do so! Just in case you may not know, apparently (according to the wrap-around holding the sponge in place on the bottle) the method microfiber scrubber sponge is available with this product for a limited time! Meaning when they're gone, they're gone! After that, there will still be a great little "crevice" design in the bottle, allowing you to place your very own sponge of choice in there (or perhaps method will begin selling the microfiber scrubber sponge separately! I don't know, but that would be cool!) But if you're wanting to get the whole package deal, run out and pick one up today.

check out the praise

Here's a few quick articles from over at Apartment Therapy pertaining to the new method bathroom line, le scrub and lil' bowl blu!

Apartment Therapy Los Angeles

Apartment Therapy New York

as well as a repeat article from Ohdeedoh!, now also over on Re-Nest

Apartment Therapy: Re-Nest