Scotch-Brite Slashes Paper Towel Use

As a blogger with a modest following I get all kinds of pitches from every angle. Most of them trying to get me to market their products for them.

I usually prefer to come across ideas for blog posts myself or respond to reader questions...But this one got me:

Hi Peggy -

I wanted to get in touch with you regarding a new collection of cleaning supplies from the Scotch-Brite brand that are more eco-conscious and help consumers save some green…perfect for consumers who are looking to infuse a little fresh living into their spring cleaning routine!

As you know, in these challenging economic times, every penny counts. By making a simple switch to the New Scotch-Brite Greener Clean products this spring cleaning season, consumers can get the cleaning quality they trust while being mindful of the family budget.

The Greener Clean collection of reusable cleaning products combines the cleaning power consumers have come to expect from the Scotch-Brite brand with eco-conscious natural and recycled materials. That means there’s no need to spend extra money on disposable cleaning products like paper towels and cleaning wipes, saving consumers a bundle.

· New Scotch-Brite™ Non-Scratch Sub Sponge and Scour Pads are bio-degradable, reusable, and outlast 30 rolls of paper towels (offering a savings of over $55!).
· New Scotch-Brite™ Soap Loaded Scrubbers are made from recycled plastic bottles. One 12oz bottle has enough fibers to make 6 scrubbers.
· New Scotch-Brite™ Natural Bamboo Cloths are made from 100% natural materials including 60% bamboo, a fast growing and renewable resource.
· Scotch-Brite™ Greener Clean Absorbent Cloth is washable and reusable, with one cloth outlasting 16 rolls of paper towels (offering a savings of over $30!).

Please let me know if I can provide additional information on the entire budget-friendly line of Greener Clean reusable cleaning products for you to share with your readers as they gear up for Spring Cleaning Season!

Any feedback you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Amy











I already use Scotch-Brite scrubbies and sponges in my kitchen and for cleaning projects throughout the house, so I am sold on the quality and usability of their products.

Now they are going green. But, the question is: Are the products in the Greener Clean Collection as good as my beloved yellow scrubbie?

So, I emailed back and asked for some samples to try. Over the last few weeks I have tried most of the new products (except the Cleaning Cloth and Bamboo Wipes) and the scrubbies are just as great as the products they replace, and green to boot!

My favorite is actually something new to me: The Greener Clean Absorbent Cloth really does replace many of the paper towels I use in a day.

As a cook I was a big user of paper towels. It has been a concern in my efforts to green our home. I envisioned the landfill awash in a sea of my used paper towels. Ugh.

Now I am using one Absorbent Cloth instead of many paper towels to do all my wiping and cleaning in the kitchen. I still use some paper towels to absorb fats and such, but my usage is way down. The cloth has lasted for quite a while now...I am actually still waiting to see how long it survives.

Yeay!

Please look/ask for them in your local stores and save a few trees and moolah.

Peggy

Interactive OLED Chandelier by Philips

WOW!

With all the new lighting products in LED and fluorescent bombarding designers these days, I still have to say WOW at the recently introduced OLED lighting by Philips.

You can see and read more at
Philips Showcases OLED Product Concepts at Euroluce

Peggy

Royal Philips Electronics unveiled the first-ever OLED interactive lighting concepts–for both consumer and professional use–during Euroluce International Lighting Fair in Milan. The concepts offer a combination of intuitive interactivity, ultra flat shape, soft light-effect and new design possibilities.

More on Finding an Independent Kitchen Designer Like Me

Q.
Enjoyed very much finding and reading your blogs on kitchen design.

We are going to remodel our kitchen here in Pasadena and would very much appreciate it if you have a contact you could recommend for the sort of service you offer in SF.

It really would be of help to us if you could and look forward to your thoughts.

Kind regards,
Barry

A.
Thanks for your kind words Barry.
Too bad I can't be everywhere.

I'm afraid I don't know anyone in your area like me. Maybe one of the Pros who follow my blogs will come forward.

I was one of the first independent kitchen designers. There aren't very many of us at all, and fewer still who sell no products.

Try searching on the web for "independent kitchen designer" and see what pops up in your area.
Good luck, and remember: You can always employ me "long distance".

I often do projects that I never really see in person (The farthest in Guam and Hawaii). It just takes lots of digital photographs, or video, and careful measurements to accomplish.

You see, we kitchen designers are trained to visualize what we can't see. That's what makes us "designers" and you "you" ;-)

Almost all of my communication with clients is by email and phone. Even when they are close by, I like to just do one meeting to photograph and measure the project and exchange ideas.

Reducing meetings to a minimum reduces the cost of design services dramatically.
Email is a very efficient tool for designing kitchens because everything is documented.

Of course, for those clients who need more hand-holding, I am always happy to oblige.
The important thing, in my mind, is to give people the documents and information they need to move forward.

Planning a kitchen remodel is a daunting task.
You will literally make hundreds of decisions in the process - big and small.

Having someone to help lead you through your decisions in the proper order helps you avoid confusion and build a plan for your remodel that has every detail thought through.

Peggy

Free Stainless Sinks May Not Be So Free

The quote below is an excerpt from a Kitchen & Bath Industry group discussion on LinkedIn.

I emailed the author, Steven Conneen, to ask his permission to quote him here (Thanks Steven).

Apparently, just as in times past when consumers are in a money-conserving mood, the market is being flooded with cheap products to meet demand - in this case poor quality stainless steel sinks.

Think twice about installing a no-brand stainless steel sink UNDER a granite, quartz or solid-surface countertop. The cost of removing it when it rusts or discolors will be FAR MORE than any savings you enjoy today. In fact, it may be impossible to remove it without destroying your beautiful tile backsplash.

Those of you that have grown up experiencing only high quality stainless sinks don't know how bad they can get.

Sinks that are to be undermounted should be ONLY high quality, "lifetime sinks", such as Elkay, Franke, etc. Corian, quartz and Siligranite sinks also can be termed "lifetime sinks".

In fact, you should question ANY free product offered as an enticement to get you to buy, unless the offer is from a manufacturer of the products (ie. Free Elkay Faucet with the purchase of an Elkay Sink, or Free GE Hood with the purchase of a GE range and dishwasher).

Peggy

As a manager of a high end plumbing showroom in the Northeast we have gone to great lengths to educate our plumbing/ contractor and retail customers and that's the key. It takes some work but you have to hit it from all angles. We work hard to educate the architects, designers, builders or anyone involved in the spec about quality and the opportunity to make more money.

It seems like such a waste to spend thousands of $ on beautiful stone counter tops to cheap out on the sink and faucet.

One of our biggest obstacles right now is actually with the granite companies. There has been huge influx of import (sub-quality) stainless steel sinks from Asia which these companies can buy for a fraction of the cost of the Elkay, Franke or KWC sinks. They'll even throw it in at no charge to hook the consumer on the granite purchase.

What the consumer doesn't realize is that these Asian sinks are not true 304 grade Stainless steel sinks with an 18/10 chromium/nickel content. Fortunately we've had some customers come in looking to replace their Asian sink because it is starting to show rust.

I now encourage all of my customers to bring refrigerator magnets with them to the counter places to test the chromium/nickel content in the sinks. The lower the content the higher the concentration of ferrous iron which will cause the magnet to stick to the sink.