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SPOTLIGHT: Amanda's Green Cleaning Workshop

"Our Green Cleaning Workshop was a success.
We made 2 cleaners: All Purpose Spray and Creamy Soft Scrub. I also gave attendees copies of the sample scripts to contact legislators and manufacturers. The event was fun and educational for everyone involved." - Amanda, Norfolk, VA

Joyce S. - Newbury Park, CA

"I felt the information was important to spread to my friends."

Marie W. - Rockford, Il

"I sent a text to 4 of the people who were coming and asked them to bring various brands of cleaning products but didn't say why. In preparation, I had the words "asthma", "reproductive problems", "allergies" stuck to my kitchen cabinets. On the inside of the cabinets and out of sight from guests, I had papers stuck with the four chemicals that were listed on the product sheet [from the Household Hazards report]. Sure enough, the 4 guests brought items in three of the four categories...They all thought we were going to be sampling the store bought cleansers with the home made ones! Once I brought the papers to the front of the cabinets and told them what each chemical was known for, their jaws dropped...It was a real eye opener and things clicked. I also passed around the same cleansers that we had just talked about and said, "do you see any ingredient labels"? They were shocked and had never noticed the lack of ingredients listed on the containers!

Finally, we concluded the party with a game/quiz. I bought a gift - eco friendly - and gave it to the winner. I used your list that showed prices for the store brands versus prices for home made products. I left a few blank and asked them to fill in the blanks (answers to choose from at the bottom of the paper). That went over well and was also educational. I think another gift idea could be to buy items like the vegetable glycerin or the castile soap since those can be harder to find depending on where you live."

Liz B. - Seattle, WA

"Before we made our own products, I took my guests on a tour of my house, starting in the kitchen and ending in the bathroom and laundry room, talking and demonstrating how to clean up certain messes. I demonstrated how to clean my oven (which was disgusting and got a lot of laughs), then I ran a lemon through my garbage disposal and cleaned my toilet and bathtub. Plus people were actively throwing tips out to each other."