new, new, new!

So I got a little confession to make. I adore Christmas. Oh that festive holiday season (hopefully) full of snow, brightly wrapped presents, and gleeful music! In fact, I have an obsession with Christmas music. Christmas records, to be exact. (Psst, I'll let you in on a little secret. I own one hundred and twenty seven Christmas records. Yes, I realize at this point I need an intervention. Feel free to stop by my house anytime, and start one. No, but really.) They're mainly from the 50's thru late 60's/early 70's. I love, love, lust, and lick them! (Ok, I don't really lick them, cause that would be real dirty like. So dirty in fact, I'm not even sure method could clean my tongue properly after that. So no, no licking. More imaginary licking. Ok?) And this week we've had our yearly Hospice Flea Market in town, and I've been stocking up on ho ho ho, Christmas records! And of course, when I get them, I have to play them to see what they sound like. So... it's sorta been Christmas in August for me. Actually, you could take that back to the last few weeks in July as well, cause I bought some at Goodwill, and those had to be played too. Just ask my dad, he was loving it (and no, not in the loving lusting licking way I was, trust me. More in the sarcastic not loving lusting or licking at all way.)

So walking into (here's the point! Whew!) Target today, it was like Christmas came early, what with all the music I've been listening to, and on top of that, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but all new method products! They've arrived! Yay!

No, really, Nathan. You did that entire Christmas intro just to bring in the idea of finding method products like Christmas presents? You did all that, for this? My word, you need help... but you digress, third person voice, you digress...

Here's what you'll be finding (hopefully this week!) at your nearest Target! All the knowns - the new antibac line in spearmint, lemon verbana, and lemon verbana wipes (see photo above!) As well as the new dish soap in those laundry shaped bottles, in clementine, sea minerals and cucumber! And what's this, some surprises! A brand spankin' (Christmas colored! So there, ha, third person voice! I got you back!) new limited edition gel hand wash in fresh currant! (It's sorta a really light berry/cherry-ish scent, or at least that's what I got from sniffing the bottle.) And method luster Bradley was right, they've put out a 25 load laundry detergent in lavender cedar! And it smells really nice! Earthy, but with a little floral, I can't explain it, but I'm liking it! Not sure if this is a Target exclusive, or limited edition, or what, as it had no labeling as such.

I'm gonna hold off on any reviews of course, until I've had a chance to try out the products properly for myself. So the only thing I can give you right now is my first impressions/bottle sniff tests. The antibac line smells really... how do I say this properly? - Medicinal. It's just, it's made with thyme oil (which I think is a big part of what makes it antibacterial) and I think that's what is giving it this scent. I could barely smell lemon verbena or spearmint over that heavy medicinal smell. But, I haven't tried it, so perhaps it will come off differently when you actually spray and use the product! I will be picking up a bottle of the spearmint to give a try, even though I have my concerns over the use of antibacterial products, and see what I think.

The clementine scent is nice. I wish it were a bit stronger, and more fresh. It sorta reminds me of a generic orange scent at the moment. But again, I didn't like the scent of mandarin mango when it first came out, and I gave it a sniff test in the store. Then I purchased a bottle, and tried it out, and really liked the smell! So who knows, that's why I want to wait and give these all tries before I really get into any nitty-gritty.

So that's that! I'm so excited! And we can also expect to see the new fabric softeners showing up this month, very soon (in similar scents to the current laundry line.) And, if that wasn't enough, the new kitchen hand wash line comes out in September, along with the naturals dish soap line. And since Bradley got the lavender cedar perfect, I'm going to bet he's right on these two lines as well, scent wise. He says the hand wash line will carry basil and lemongrass (yum! yum! yum! Lemongrass!) and the naturals dish soap line will carry basil and ginger yuzu.

Let method lust know when you've seen these new items on your store shelves, and what you think of them! Initially, and after you give them a big ole' method try!

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While we're at it, method has released a press release on their new antibac line, to give everyone some more information into what makes it, well, do it's antibac thing! Via csrwire.com:

"Method, the leading innovator in premium, eco-friendly household and personal care products, introduces its first line of botanical household disinfectant sprays and wipes. The Method Antibac assortment of antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial products is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency and consists of two cleaning sprays, one formulated especially for the bathroom and the other for the kitchen, and all purpose cleaning and disinfecting wipes.

Method has partnered with CleanWell Company, makers of the thyme-based disinfecting technology, to create a patented botanical formula that kills 99.99 percent of household bacteria including E.coli, salmonella enterica, influenza A and H1N1 virus on hard, non-porous surfaces.

"In the past, we were unwilling to develop or promote antibacterial cleaners because we had not yet found a technology that met our strict ingredient standards and aligned with our principles," says Adam Lowry, Method co-founder and chief greenskeeper. "We recognize that some people prefer to use antibacterial cleaners for high-contact surfaces like toilets and sinks, and we're excited to offer a line of disinfecting cleaners that utilizes CleanWell's botanical technology."

The bathroom spray is optimized to target soap scum and hard water stains while the kitchen cleaner is designed to cut through grease and grime. Both of these products are effective at killing 99.99 percent of household germs on hard, non-porous surfaces throughout any room in the home.

With vibrantly colored bottles and nature-inspired scents of lemon verbena and spearmint, Method stays true to its unique design + fragrance differentiation with its antibac line, which starts appearing on U.S. store shelves this week at Target and other retailers across the country.

About CleanWell Company
CleanWell Company's mission was born over a decade ago from a family's need to find cleaning and disinfecting products that could be used around the founder’s severely immune compromised son. The CleanWell scientific team was the first to discover how to blend thyme oil to kill 99.99% of germs naturally. CleanWell is passionately committed to developing innovative solutions that offer consumers a way to clean and disinfect without compromise."

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PS - (Are you still with me?) I have a feeling this is why the tub + tile cleaner has been discontinued, as the new antibac line is formulated for bathroom (and kitchen). I would have preferred they just left them antibac without specifying an in-home area, but alas. I really liked the eucalyptus mint tub + tile cleaner, so I'm surprised it's gone (or at least gone from Target.)

And again, let me know what you think about all the new products! I can't wait to give them all a try! Ho, ho, ho, merry method (in August!) Yeah, I had to tie up the ending with the beginning. I realize it was a stretch, but come one, give me a little credit here, ok? Ok, well, maybe next time...

dishing the dirt!

method has recently announced their new dish soap and anti-bac line, and the news is BIG! So big in fact, the products will start hitting Target shelves today/this week! First, the new dish soap scents will be clementine, sea minerals, cucumber, and two "natural exclusive fragrances" (what that may mean exactly, I'm not sure. I think these will match up with their new upcoming kitchen hand wash line) in basil (yum!) and ginger yuzu.

In the anti-bacterial line (which states "Kills 99.9% of household germs botanically",) two all purpose spray cleaners in lemon verbena and spearmint (both, wow! Yum!) and all purpose wipes in lemon verbana. The dish soap will stay at $2.99 at Target locations, and the spray cleaner and wipes will also be $2.99. Look for the naturals (basil and ginger yuzu) dish soap to hit stores in September, when I would also place a big bet on the new kitchen hand wash line showing up.

Now for some mixed news. All the old dish soap has been discontinued. No more lavender or pink grapefruit. (I love the lavender, so I'm really disappointed; and I'm totally shocked they canned the pink grapefruit, since people seem to pee their pants over that scent. No really, someone told me once they peed their pants over that scent. You think I'd just make this stuff up? Never!)

The biggest, and possibly controversial news comes in the wipes area. All of their multi-purpose wipes (in go naked, lavender, and pink grapefruit - uhm, I think that's all the scents they come in) are being discontinued, and the new anti-bac wipes will replace these. So, if you want to use all purpose method wipes, you have to use the anti-bacterial variety now. I really, really want everyone's thoughts on this, since even though it's by method (and naturally derived) many people still have big concerns about anti-bacterial products.

So there you go! Now it's your turn! Thoughts, opinions? Rants, raves?

target a go-go

Well, everyone has been asking method what's up with the apparent lack of replenishment when it comes to their favorite dish soap being carried by Target! Many Target stores appear to be out, empty shelves, crying for more cute colored bottles! People just can't find their dishy suds! And with method announcing (via their recent Q&A chat session on Inc.com) a new dish soap in their lighthouse/laundry shaped bottle, the answers have finally been revealed!

Target has placed all the current method dish soap (mine still has it on the shelves) on clearance! And I gotta tell you (don't get all freaked out yet, as I don't know the answer) but I'm not sure if the current scents (cucumber, lavender and pink grapefruit) will make the move over to the new line, or not. From the pics we've seen, I'd say we can definitely expect one new scent! Other than that tidbit of knowledge, time will tell. method said we could expect to see the new detergent in September, but with Target already clearancing the current version out, I'd guess it might be more like mid-August!

Now, along with Target clearancing out the dish soap, they're also clearing out the go-naked gel hand wash, and all the multi-surface cleaning wipes! I'm not sure if we're about to see a new line of wipes as well, or if Target is just finished carrying them!

More information to come, don't ya know! In the meantime, I'd stock up just in case, OR there is always Lowe's Hardware for your method dish soap needs, until the new line hits the shelves!

impress your guests

The oh so über cool website, Apartment Therapy, has a nice little write up on hand soaps people have in their homes that help to "impress your guests!" The article goes:

"Perhaps it's a case of the grass always being greener, but it seems that whenever we go over to a friend's house and use the bathroom, their hand soap smells better than ours. Maybe theirs is more expensive or perhaps they just stumbled on the best Method scent or it's just nice to smell something different, but we tend to appreciate this little detail more at others' homes than in our own. Does this happen to you?"

They then go on to mention method hand wash!

"Method Hand Soap in Green Tea and Aloe is the cleanest smell ever, but we can't always find this elusive scent at Target, so when we do, we stock up. It's eco friendly and it's cheap, $4.99"

You can read the complete article here.

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Uhm, if that price is right, I'm glad I don't live in Los Angeles (the area the article is taken; they break up Apartment Therapy by "hip" cities, LOL; San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, etc.) $4.99?! My local Target carries it for $3.29! (Though I'd imagine Los Angeles would be a tad bit pricier.)

I love some of the comments readers left, including this one:

"We have both bathrooms stocked with Method's Rain (or something like that). It's a great smell, and it's clear, so it would go with any bathroom." Obviously they're talking about Sweet water! I just love how they got Rain out of that!

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So, what method hand wash scent do you keep in your bathroom/kitchen to "impress your guests?" And do you think the following comment is true (left by another reader:)

"I always keep bar soap as well as liquid because I've noticed that some people (AHEM, MEN) seem to prefer it, and at least in the case of my boyfriend and dad, don't wash their hands properly with liquid soap. Sigh."

uhm...

So while checking out the last Big Lots in my local area (or the last one I can find, darn it! I'll find you, if you're hiding!) I stumbled upon, oh my word, cinnamon bark, hollyberry, and peppermint vanilla candles! Yes! I was so surprised! (And I did forget to mention something else reader Brit had also found, which was a package set in either cucumber, or lavender (though I've only found the cucumber ones) of dish soap, hand wash, wipes, and multisurface spray cleaner. They used to have these as "college kits" at Target! They come in a wire basket, as well! AND, I found gingerbread + spice candles, too! In the new glass jars, and the old school ceramic ones.) ANYWAY, I got SO excited at my newest method find (me likey some candles!) that I suddenly came to a sobering notion:

"If method products were a movie star, I'd have a restraining order against me."

Yes, yes, it's seriously true. How about you?

brand new at big lots!

OH my! method luster Melane is on a roll! She just sent in a few photos of method products she's spotted about town (including the wet dryer sheets that have shown up at Whole Foods! Man, I wish I had one of those closer to home!) But check out this pic, method's original dish cubes! I know many of you differ on your lust for these (Karin, I'm talking to you... Ha ha!) but personally, I loved them! Oh, lavender! Lavender! That's what I want, method! Dish cubes in lavender. I drool over the new smarty dish! Really, I do... but no lavender. Sniff sniff. So, I about fell out of my chair when I saw this pic! And immediately ran to three different Big Lots, all... with no luck. I'm hoping these are just now making their way to Big Lots the country over, and I'll be seeing them soon, cause really, I need my lavender dish cube fix! Ahh! (Oh yeah, and them came in pink grapefruit and cucumber, too! Sorry, I was "one-scent" distracted there...)

...And here is a photo of the lavender (do you see a theme here?) all-surface spray! But it's a two pack, with a giant refill (in the same style as the shower spray refill bottle) all for only $7! Yowza! Again, awesome! And again, didn't find it at my local store. And again again, praying it makes it's way sooner rather than later. I think this all-surface spray refill idea is great! Though it looks like method only did this as a one time thing, for this special purchase package. These have been mentioned as having been spotted previously (is that even English?), by other method lusters, along with the two bottle pack and refill (the whole package in a similar style to this lavender set up here) of sweet water hand wash (which I DID find! Of course, since I have no personal interest in sweet water. What pain, what punishment, what suffering is this, to find the one item you don't want, and never find the zillion you do?! Oh, woe is me, woe is me!)

So be on the lookout for these new items popping up at your local Big Lots! And let me know if you see them! (And also let my English teacher know I need a brush up, ok? Whew...)

nice and easy

Have a friend who's interested in trying out method products? Want to get a few items for someone's birthday/holiday/no special occasion except you just gotta try method cause it rocks day? Well, Office Depot (I know, can you believe it!) has a few options online (and perhaps in their retail stores, as well. I'm not sure, to be honest.)

They are currently carrying two 4-piece starter kit sets, in pink grapefruit and cucumber! The sets contain dish soap (only in the kitchen pink grapefruit kit), hand wash, wipes, spray cleaner, and shower cleaner (only in the bathroom cucumber kit) - along with a cute little wire "tote" to hold them all! Target used to carry these during back to school months! I loved them! (I loved them even more when they'd go on clearance once school started, and you could get these great kits for a really great price!) In fact, this is how I tried out their wipes. Not really being a wipes kind of guy, I ended up purchasing two kits, in cucumber and french lavender; and each contained a bottle of wipes. So I got to give them a try!

So next time you're looking for a great starter kit for your friends and family, check out Office Depot! (I sound like a commercial, don't I? Hey, yeah, maybe that's how I can make money here! I can start doing product placement copy in my posts! I'll make a fortune! Then I can buy even more method products! Yay! It'll be just like Paul Harvey! You know him, right? Or am I totally showing my age/the fact that my father listens to really old style radio programs? Anyway...)

The pink grapefruit kit is $15.00, while the cucumber kit is $14.39

Oh, and don't forget, while you're running around doing your errands and stopping by Office Depot to pick up your method starter kits, don't forget to stop by Taco Bell for a quick lunch! Mmm, mmm! Taco Bell has just introduced the Big Bell Box! A delicious meal, all in...

I'm so joking, k?

shout-outs

Look at all these great reviews on method's all purpose (now called all surface) spray cleaner!

"I have been using Method's French Lavender All-purpose surface cleaner for the better part of a year and it is great. It smells terrific, and combined with a microfiber cloth it shines up all sorts of surfaces. I even use it for quick touch-ups of my stainless steel appliances and my sealed stovetop. I spray it on the floor to mop and don't have to worry about keeping the dog away from toxic chemicals. Same goes for people and the countertops and tabletops. Unlike a lot of other eco-friendly products, this is available at several "mainstream" retailers, making it more convenient to purchase, and the price is much more reasonable.
- Kate S."

"I recently purchased the Pink Grapefruit all-purpose cleaner in attempt to be more environmentally conscious. I was replacing my Windex brand product and was a bit wary of how it would compare. I was overwhelmed with the effectiveness!! It smelled great and cut grease and didn't streak up my mirrors. I LOVE it!! I will definitely purchase it again. Not only was it effective but it was friendly on the wallet too.
- Anna A."

"I have a very sensitive nose and most commercial cleaners leave me feeling like someone ran a sharp rake in my nostrils, but not Method. The scents are very pleasing and not overwhelming. I feel more secure using these products on surfaces that my young children touch... I find it more then adequate for everyday cleaning purposes.
- Erin M."

"I am very happy with my Method all purpose cleaner. It smells like flowers, cleans sticky dirt, and makes me feel virtuous.
- Kenna B."

wipe out

Looks like the method wipes will be getting new packaging! I've just taken note that the current line of bottled wipes have been placed on clearance at Target (the general purpose cleaning wipes in cucumber, pink grapefruit, go naked, and lavender.)

With method having recently clearanced their leather bottled wipes, replacing them with new flat pack packaging planned to hit the stores soon (the same packaging currently being used for the tub + tile wipes); and the method wipes in the UK using the flat pack style for their general purpose wipes line, plan on seeing the same flat pack packaging in the US, for all their method wipes varieties. (Can you count how many times I've used the word wipes in this post? Whew, I'm wiped out! Ba-Dum! So sorry.)

dish the dirt

Ah, the method dish cube! So small, so powerful, so smell-tastic (especially the lavender, it made the whole kitchen smell great!), so... well, discontinued?

Why? I've been curious about this for quite some time. Years ago (I'm not sure how long, but it feels like a while), method introduced the dish cube to their line. Dish cubes had begun to gain popularity, and so it seemed natural for them to do this! And they were great! Here's a review of the product from about.com:

"Method dish cubes are convenient, work well, and smell great. Convenience is a great selling point, when consumers are able to drop a little packet into the dishwasher and be done. No measuring, no overfilling, no spilling. The Method dish cubes did a fantastic job even on baked food and grease. (Just don't get the cubes wet or they will dissolve instantly.)

Method's dish cubes are fantastic for our fast paced life. I loved the idea of my son loading the dishwasher without me worrying about spilled detergent, overfilling the detergent cup, or even using too little. He took a dish cube, put it in the detergent cup and started the dishwasher.

I hate prerinsing dishes, but some detergents just aren't strong enough to remove all the dirt on dishes. Method dish cubes did a fantastic job on even baked on food, and especially on grease. My dishes looked great without harsh chemical residue. Running the dishwasher alone with a Method dish cube, left the dishwasher clean and sparkling inside."

Sounds great, doesn't it! Then, poof, they were gone from Target shelves. method home's site states in their FAQ section:

"Where can i find the method dish cubes? - We're sorry. method dish cubes have been discontinued in most retailers. There are some available for sale at methodhome.com." If you do attempt to order them through their quickshop on the method home site, lavender apparenty has been completely discontinued, cucumber lemon is out-of-stock, but you can apparenty still order pink grapefruit, at least it let me add it to my shopping cart.

So my question is, what happened to the method dish cube? Is it gone? Only available on their site? I thought for a time they were refining the product, and going to re-release it. But no go. It seems to leave a hole in the dish washing products they carry. Not everyone washes dishes by hand only; so it would seem natural they'd have a dishwasher variety. To be honest, I had to move on to Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent, since I could no longer find the method brand. (Sacrilege, I know!)

If anyone at method knows what happened to the dish cube, drop me a comment or email! I'd like to know! According to the polls currently going on method lust (check the right sidebar) dish cubes come in at no. 2 (only below hair care) for one of the most requested new items we wish method would produce! So there is definitely still a demand for these! Are you one of those people?