going green (the hard way)

Uhm, yeah. This story HAS to be read, to be believed. Some people just do not want to change, Hell or high water! Hey, you know what, I use my method dish detergent all the time, and surprise surprise, my dishes are nice and clean. You know what I think is the problem with some people? These people are lazy! (Knock, knock. Oh, hold on, someone's at the door? "Hello? Who's there?" Pot. "Pot who?" Pot, calling your freakin' kettle black! "Oh, about me being lazy?" Yeah! "Well, ok, I am lazy! But hold on, Pot! Listen to what I have to say, ok? Be nice, Pot. Be nice.")

I had a sauce pan recently that had burnt on food. Like, so burnt, I had to, gasp! let it soak! For like, a day! And I used to get really erked when I'd put method floor cleaner on the floor, and have to scrape back and forth on a really nasty spot, and it wouldn't immediately come up! And then I realized, hey, if I put some floor cleaner down on that spot, have a little patience (what is that word? Americans don't use that word any longer? I mean really! The very idea! Patience. What does it mean, anyway... but I digress, as always...) then, tada, it'll easily come right up after it just sits and soaks for five minutes or so.

But today we want our cleaner to go smack dap on the mess, and eat that sucker off, so we don't actually have to do any heavy scrubbing, or waiting, or whatever? Who cares WHAT makes it eat the dirt off (did you know our dish detergent contains baby leeches, which chomp away at your nasty dirt, leaving only clean leech free dishes! They get washed down the sink! But, wait, what happens to them then? Well, they flow into the river, and eat all the fish! But yay, your dishes are sparkling clean!) I mean, my ranting comes from the fact that I've never had a problem with my method dish soap, but these women sound like they're going to die without their phosphates!

Wait, what am I talking about? Well, read for yourself...

"When Clean Dishes Means Smuggling Detergent | By Scott Mayerowitz

Lisa Brewer doesn't consider herself a criminal and she really wants to help the environment -- even biking to work -- but she also wants clean dishes.

Residents in Spokane, Wash. are smuggling dishwasher detergent across state lines because it cleans their dishes better than environmentally-friendly cleaners offered locally. That's why later this week, the Spokane, Wash., resident plans to cross into Idaho and smuggle back some dishwasher detergent.

She's not alone.

Spokane County has banned the use of most common detergents because of the effect they have on area rivers and lakes. The problem is, the environmentally friendly detergents now sold instead just don't seem to do the job.

"I understand what they're trying to do, but when you have to wash a load of dishes twice that's a dilemma," Brewer said. "I just ran out of the old stuff and am going to [Idaho] on Thursday."

Brewer tried a new, eco-friendly cleaner and "my dishes didn't get clean."

"They weren't bad, but the other stuff just did better," she said. "You want to help the environment, but you want your dishes clean."

Most dishwasher detergents in America help get dishes clean with the help of phosphates. The problem is those same cleaning chemicals also lead to algae growth and oxygen depletion in rivers. In Spokane County phosphate levels in rivers and lakes are so high that they are putting fish at risk.

So in July, a new law went into effect banning such water-softening phosphates in dishwasher detergent. It was the first such ban in the country.

But not everybody was happy. Suddenly stores across the border noticed more people with out-of-state license plates stocking up on detergent.

"When Washington first banned, we had a difficult time keeping it in stock," said Randy McIntire, spokesman for grocery chain Super 1 Foods. "I talked to a person who was buying six boxes."

Cigarettes are also cheaper in Idaho and McIntire hypothesized that shoppers are making the trip for a few items, including the banned detergent.

Patti Marcotte stockpiles the normal detergent she buys at an Idaho Costco in the basement of her Spokane home. She says the environmentally friendly brands she tried use more water and energy.

Residents in Spokane, Wash. are smuggling dishwasher detergent across state lines because it cleans their dishes better than environmentally-friendly cleaners offered locally. "I actually had to clean them in the sink, put them in the dishwasher, run with detergent and then run it again to get all the film off," Marcotte told ABC News affiliate KATU.

Shannon Brattebo, an officer with the Washington Lake Protection Association, one of the groups behind the ban, said that she has heard of a lot of people driving to Idaho.

"I don't think people understand why we're doing it [banning phosphates] or why it's important," Brattebo said. "If they did, I don't think the majority of people would mind."

She said that the Spokane River violates state water safety standards and that rather than spend billions of dollars to upgrade sewage treatment plants, it was easier to attack the problem at the source.

Brattebo said people are having mixed results. Some brands are better than others, but the key factor depends on how hard your water is. The harder the water, the less effective the phosphate-free detergents are.

Mary Goodsell is one of the lucky residents.

"Truly, it works fantastic," she said of her new gel detergent.

Goodsell has her own well and finds the water is not as hard.

"I couldn't be any happier. It works so much better than the powder for me," she said.

The cleaning supply industry supports eliminating phosphates, but just not now.

The Soap and Detergent Association backed legislation in 12 states mandating a reduction in the use of phosphorus in automatic dishwashing detergents to a maximum of 0.5 percent by weight by July 1, 2010. Currently, most have about 9 percent.

By summer 2010, residents in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington will need to buy phosphate-free detergent. California also passed such a measure but it was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

But for now, the industry admits that it doesn't have a powerful enough phosphate-free cleaner. Dennis Griesing, vice president of government affairs for the Soap and Detergent Association, said his members are working on such detergents and that's why they are supporting the 2010 date.

"In Spokane we had a very full debate on the issue," Griesing said. "We warned them that this would happen, that there would be consumer dissatisfaction."

Head on over to abc.com to read the rest! What do you think? Do these women have a point, or are they just crazy, lazy, and unwilling to change? What WILL it take to make people wake up? Hmm...

+

PS - Man, this is a case where method should send a $1. off coupon for their dish detergent to all the residents of Spokane, Washington! (Yeah, yeah, I'd totally do in a company, as I'm sure that would cost a fortune, but doesn't it sound like a great idea!) Imagine everyone there getting a coupon, and they "have" to try a new non-phosphate detergent, so it might spur them on to picking up some method (and naturally lusting it!)

Oh, and yes, I realize leeches don't actually eat dirt, or fish. Just go with me, ok? You'll enjoy the ride, I promise.

don't forget the glitter!

method goes chair dancing! (No, seriously!) - via methodtweet!

silver and gold (well, really, just silver)

I've been hearing some comments from fellow method lusters that they've been chosen to take part in some special advocate testing of a new stainless steel cleaning/polish product. Apparently method is working on improving their current cleaner, steel for real.

Chosen advocates received two bottles of cleaner, each marked with a different colored sticker, and they are to use each for ten days, write down their thoughts, notes, etc. in a daily dairy they were also given; then send it all back to method! Sounds great, I lust that method chooses advocates to give their new products a test try! I can't wait to hear more about this updated (or new?) product!

Poor Nathan wonders why he wasn't chosen to be a test subject, though? Uhm, he runs this little blog thing called method lust, and would LOVE to do this kind of thing! Yowza. Yes, this is me pandering to method. Ok? I'm not above it. In fact, I'm really way below it. WAY below. Willing to do anything? Ok, well, I'm not sure ANYTHING. You'd have to tell me what it was, then I'd let you know.

(PS - method, please choose me next testing! Oh, purty please!) I'll keep you posted when I hear more.

clean sweeps

+ Peppermint vanilla is coming back for the holidays? Wha? That's the news according to a recent methodtweet twitter announcement! One exception, though, they say it's not going to be available everywhere. More information as I get it! The holidays aren't far away, look for some exciting news on the new method holiday line very soon!

+ Those in the southeast can enjoy a great discount at your local Harris Teeter grocer (I believe they're only in the southeast, but I could be wrong!)Right now, until October 21st, you can get 25% off all method products! That's a great deal! (And I even found a bottle of Eucalyptus Mint foaming hand wash when I was looking! So you might find some surprises, as well as great deals!)

+ method luster Kirby wrote in to say: "I raised a few eyebrows when I just pushed all the beach sage body wash straight into my cart. Yes I'm crazy! Do you have Grocery Outlets in your area?" Only you forgot to mention which grocer, Kirby! Do tell so I can let the others know! Grocery Outlet IS the name of the store chain! I've never heard of it (but wish we had them!) She found a big stash of bloq for only $2.00 each!

+ Concerning the new method smarty dish cubes, I've noticed the Targets that maintain special method aisle sections (where a majority of the method products are all located in one area, instead of their respective cleaning departments) are retaining the smarty dish line; while the Targets that simply had them on their endcaps during the debut, have discontinued them, and are not going to be carrying the cubes. SO, if you have a special method section in your Target, you should be safe on the dish cubes!

study: some water bottles linked to diabetes

Here at method lust, I like to not only bring you the latest and greatest from our favorite company in the ENTIRE world, method (you guessed that one, didn't you?) But I also like to bring you (did I finish that first sentence? I don't think I actually did. My English teachers would be SO disappointed in me. I mean, how many, incorrect, commas do I use in my posts, anyway? Like, a lot.) Uhm, ok, I like to also bring you environmental and health news, cause hey, that's what method is ALSO all about! And I did mention a while back (part of the plastic bag + paper towel challenge. AH, you thought I'd forgotten about that one, didn't you? Didn't you? Yes, you did.) Bottled water. Those single serving bottles! But alas, I'll hold off on that one. This one is possibly slightly more serious.

"by Lauren Cox - ABC News Medical Unit
An ubiquitous ingredient in plastics has been linked to diabetes and heart disease in adults, according to a study being released today, heightening concerns about the widespread use of the chemical BPA.

A new study has found a link between BPA, a chemical found in some water bottles, and medical disorders, such as diabetes.

Otherwise known as bisphenol A, BPA is the chemical once studied as a synthetic form of estrogen, but more recently known to leach out of some plastic water bottles and baby bottles, and that is found in all kinds of plastic products.

"We're talking about pacifiers, sippy cups, spoons, the bath toys, the chew toys ... everything," said Sommer Poquette, mother of two toddlers and author of the blog Green and Clean Mom.

"It's hard to get a BPA-free product," said Poquette.

The concerns of people like Poquette will likely be heightened by a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association in which researchers found a connection between BPA and diabetes and heart disease in adults. Scientists reviewed the health of 1,455 American adults and found that people with higher concentrations of BPA in their urine were slightly more likely to have heart disease and diabetes.

The researchers also estimate that most Americans are exposed to a higher level of BPA each day than the current Environmental Protection Agency recommendation.

In an accompanying editorial, Frederick S. vom Saal and John Peterson Myers take the government to task, asking the United States and Europe to follow Canada's lead and regulate BPA.

"The FDA and the European Food Safety Authority have chosen to ignore warnings from expert panels and other government agencies and have continued to declare BPA 'safe,'" wrote the authors.

The release of the study comes on the same day that the Food and Drug Administration's Science Board will have an open meeting about BPA.

Stephanie Kwisnek, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said the meeting is being held "in part, to listen to comment from the public." However, members of the medical profession and the public are already at odds over what to do with the information.

Avoid BPA, Label BPA, or Just Study It

"If this does not close the door on the use of BPA in consumer products, I don't know what will," said Dr. John Spangler, professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Until now, Spangler said the most well-known research done on BPA confirmed that the chemical could damage rats and monkeys. But those studies could only hint at danger in people, since humans may process BPA differently than animals.

On that current evidence, the FDA decided in April of this year to not label BPA as dangerous.

"At this time, FDA is not recommending that anyone discontinue using products that contain BPA while the agency continues its safety assessment process," Kwisnek said.

While today's JAMA study was one of the largest BPA studies done in humans, it could only provide convincing circumstantial evidence that, where high levels of BPA lurked, so do diabetes and poor heart health. The study's authors wrote that their work could not definitively prove that BPA had a part in causing the diseases.

For some scientists, that's not enough to convince them that governments should begin regulating BPA in products.

"This type of research is valuable to point to potential toxins in the environment -- only further studies will confirm if this is a concern or not," said Dr. Gordon Ewy, chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Ariz.

However, Spangler and other doctors don't agree with the cautious watch and wait approach when it comes to chemicals.

"There has always been an argument, similar to the tobacco companies' arguments, that a link between this product and adverse health outcomes 'has not been proven,'" Spangler said.

Stanford University School of Medicine professor of health research and policy, Dr. John Farquhar, agreed.

"Cigarette use was not proven to be harmful through evidence gained via a randomized clinical trial -- the gold standard for proof in clinical medicine," said Farquhar. "But through numerous associative studies that were complemented by animal and cell culture studies.

"In issues of human safety, an agent which can be avoided and which has no redeeming features is 'guilty until proven otherwise,'" he said.

For many moms in Poquette's circle, that hint of danger was enough.

"It was actually a few years ago. My father told me not to use the plastic Advent baby bottles," said Poquette. "At first, I didn't believe him ... but you have to do some research and make some decisions of what is going to work for your family."

Once Poquette decided to avoid BPA, she discovered a trip to the grocery store became a lot more complicated. Manufacturers don't have to label goods that contain BPA unless the FDA requires it.

Labeling Danger

"I don't think you're going to get everything out, but you can take steps," said Poquette.

Step number one: Check with online advocates. Poquette recommends reading TheSoftLanding.com for information on products with BPA. Or, people at the store can just text the product into the Z-Recommends texting service and quickly learn whether a product contains BPA.

Step number two: Just eliminate products that are likely to have BPA.
"We have definitely have limited what we drink out of," Poquette said. Now, her family uses glass and stainless steel water bottles. "We just try to limit the canned food that we do buy and just eat as fresh as possible."

Regardless of whether the FDA will decide to regulate BPA, doctors say the practice of avoiding foods that come in plastic containers or plastic-lined cans may have even more important health implications than BPA exposure.

"Unfortunately, in this country, I don't think BPAs in food containers pose a fraction of the threat to heart health as most of the food products that they contain," said Dr. Daniel Edmundowicz, director of Cardiovascular Medicine at UPMC Passavant Hospital in Pittsburg, Pa.

"Said another way -- I think the BPAs in a container of butter pose less risk than than butter itself," Edmundowicz said."

abc news: wipes alert

A (possibly) interesting article over on the ABCnews.com site today, just a little FYI:

Disinfecting Wipes May Spread, Not Kill, Germs
By Allyson T. Collins

The antibacterial wipes that have emerged as a sanitary status symbol in homes, hospitals, schools, gyms and even grocery stores may not be the ultimate answer in hygiene — and they might even spread, rather than kill, bacteria.

Popular antibacterial wipes may not be as effective in killing germs as many people believe. Researchers from the Welsh School of Pharmacy at Cardiff University in Wales tested the cleaning power of three different types of antibacterial wipes containing either traditional disinfectants, detergents or natural antimicrobial substances, such as those extracted from plants.

A team led by microbiologist Gareth Williams used the wipes to clean surfaces that had been severely contaminated with the notorious bacterium Staphylococcus aureus — including the Methicillin-resistant type known as MRSA, which has become a growing concern in hospitals.

The study, presented Tuesday at the American Society for Microbiology General Meeting in Boston, found that natural antimicrobial wipes removed the most bacteria from surfaces, while disinfectant wipes did the best job of destroying bacteria.

"Ideally, you'd want the wipes to kill what they remove," Williams said.

But researchers found that all of the dirty wipes, including those with the disinfectant, still had some bacteria remaining on them. When they were reused, the wipes just transported the bacteria to another location.

"We would recommend that one wipe is applied in one application to one surface, and then discarded," Williams said. "This is in an attempt to prevent the transfer of bacteria to different surfaces."

Hospital Conditions
The conditions in the study were meant to emulate the bacteria-filled environment of a hospital intensive care unit. Health professionals aim to control the levels of potentially dangerous bacteria in these settings through disinfection — in short, the removal of as many microscopic troublemakers as possible.

But disinfection should not be confused with sterilization. Disinfection is not designed to kill all organisms, but rather to simply reduce the number of organisms on a surface, said Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.

"Our bodies are designed to handle a certain number of bacteria," she said. Complete sterilization is unnecessary, especially in homes, which are much less contaminated than a hospital ICU.

"We use way too many antibacterial agents," Duberg said, adding that the overuse of products like wipes, soaps and cleansers that contain these substances can lead bacteria to become resistant to our methods of extermination.

"I personally believe there isn't anything that good, hot soapy water can't clean," she said.

How to Use Antibacterial Wipes
Dr. William Schaffner, chair of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, agreed that people should be careful to use antibacterial wipes appropriately to avoid spreading bacteria around their homes.

His motto for disinfectant wipes: "use it and lose it," especially on highly contaminated surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen. For example, don't use the same wipe to clean both the toilet and the sink. Schaffner called this type of reuse a "false economy," trading the price of wipes for the spread of germs.

But Schaffner added that in hospitals, surfaces are not the primary source of bacteria that infect patients. Other patients and health care workers are the ones who transmit the most germs. "It is hands that are the great transfer vehicle for bacteria from patient to patient," he said.

So the rising use of antibacterial wipes shouldn't overshadow the most important rule of hygiene: Wash your hands."