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New Household Goods Review: Making Cleaning Better for the Home and Environment

Posted on: Monday, 25 February 2008, 06:00 CST

Household goods manufacturers are responding to consumer demands for greener offerings with the launch of more natural-based cleaning products. This month's roundup of new products on the Productscan database highlights this trend, with new greener kitchen and bathroom cleaners reaching the market.

Magic Products has introduced Magic Sheets Dish Cleaning Cloths to the US market. Each pack consists of disposable sheets infused with a proprietary organic blend that is designed to help pull food and debris away from the surface of dirty pans and dishes. The sheets are said to eliminate the need for prolonged soaking, lifting dirt off after being soaked with the dirty crockery for around 15 minutes. A novel element to the sheets is that they are organic, nontoxic and will biodegrade in 21 days, making them suitable for the increasing number of consumers that are concerned about the environmental impact of their cleaning products.

Also making a green claim is Homepride's Pride Bath & Shower, a bathroom cleaning product that was recently launched in the UK and is claimed to be the first in the UK to be 100% recyclable. The box is made of 75% recycled cardboard, while the cleaning sponges can be sent off to the company for recycling if the user's council does not recycle such material. The pads are said to contain no harsh cleaning chemicals, underscoring their green credentials.

Over in Japan, Dainippon Jochugiku has released the Colour Flow Art range of decorative room deodorizing air freshener products. Containing natural vegetable extracts, the products consist of octagon-shaped bottles containing balls of colored jelly in the shape of a bunch of grapes that are suspended in a transparent jelly. The varieties include Purple Grapes, White Muscat Grapes, and Red Wine Grapes, which continue to emit aroma for between six weeks and two months. The look of this product range is quite striking and has a more upmarket appearance than conventional plastic air fresheners.

Also offering a new type of room fragrance is Fresh Bet Home Fragrances, which has launched the Sonoma Sachet by the Yard in the US in two fragrances, Spice and Eucalyptus. These sachets are sold in a long column of fabric, which can either be cut up to make drawer deodorizers or strung together and tied to a closet. This dual use appears to be novel in home fragrances.

Meanwhile, Toyo Aluminium Eco Products has released its Foil Black aluminum foil in Japan. The foil features a black-colored printed surface that is designed to improve heat absorbency and to speed up cooking time, for more juicy and succulent results. The thickness of the foil has also been increased for easier wrapping. Black foil appears to be a new development, and could benefit by having a fashionable appearance in addition to a practical application.

Finally, Down Under Enterprises has launched the FireJel Charcoal & Firewood Starter in the US, which is designed to be used instead of lighter fluid to light BBQs. While lighter fluid sometimes contaminates the taste of barbequed food, the maker claims that the FireJel will leave no residue taste as it is made of corn alcohol. Users are instructed to place the FireJel in the BBQ and wait for around 15 minutes before adding the charcoal. Down Under claims that both the fuel and the container are environmentally friendly, containing no petrochemicals.

Source: Datamonitor

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