Celebrating Earth Day with Reverie Farms Bath and Body Products – Never Say Die Beauty

Read article : Celebrating Earth Day with Reverie Farms Bath and Body Products – Never Say Die Beauty

Saturday April 22 is Earth Day, and it’s more important than ever to do things to help protect the environment and to advance science to that end. I actually remember the first Earth Day oh so long ago. It was a very big deal because so little was being done at that time to protect our air, water and earth. Many years later, some things have improved but others not so much.

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Using earth and body-friendly products is a small way to do something to help our planet and ourselves, hopefully while doing other more impactful things to protect Mother Earth.

Today, I’d like to talk about a new-to-me brand, Reverie Farms & Soaps.

Reverie Farms and Soaps

I discovered Reverie Farms and Soaps very recently. A few weeks ago, in fact.

Reverie Farms is an actual family farm located in Argyle Texas, not too far from Dallas-Fort Worth. I have a friend who lives in nearby Denton TX, so I hope someday I’ll have a chance to visit the farm myself. They have tours!

In addition to making natural and organic soaps, other bath and body products and laundry soap, they sell their own farm fresh eggs, Nigerian Dwarf Goats and Anatolian Shepherd dogs. How cool is that?!

credit: Reverie Farms

credit: Reverie Farms

Reverie Farms has a nicely edited list of products that they sell:

• bar soaps in unscented as well as in a range of natural scents
• foaming hand soap
• soap savers (at the best price I’ve seen!)
• body scrub
• liquid laundry soap.

I’m a bespoke soap fiend so I was thrilled to get a chance to try out their bar soap and their foaming hand soap.

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Natural Bar Soap

The Reverie Farms natural organic based bar soap is biodegradable, vegan friendly, and made with organic oils of sunflower and/or safflower, coconut, and sustainably sourced palm, essential oils, and rosemary extract. The sunflower, safflower, coconut, and palm oils are certified organic ingredients.

Importantly, the bar soap is NOT made with artificial ingredients like synthetic fragrances, dyes or preservatives. Reverie Farms uses organically grown products whenever possible. The soaps are scented only with essential oils, and they are colored with organic herbs and plant extracts. The soap base recipe is made from 100% certified organic oils.

Their are 10 different scents to choose from:

• Citrus Fusion
• Lavender
• Citrus Lavender
• Cleansing Lemon Twist
• Sage Lemongrass
• Walk In The Forest
• Peppermint
• Sensitive Shea
• Herb Garden
• Unscented.

Reverie Farms Citrus Fusion bar soap, neversaydiebeauty.com" width="807" height="1024" />

I am currently using Citrus Fusion. It has a mild citrus scent that that is gender neutral. It makes just the right amount of lather, and though it is hydrating, it isn’t greasy. Unlike some of the other hydrating bar soaps that I use that make the bottom of my tub really slippery, Reverie Farms Citrus Fusion does not.

The 4 oz. bar soap priced at $6 is a large bar that is going to last me a long time. Some bar soap seems to melt away in the shower, but this one doesn’t. Plus it fits perfectly on my soap saver. Frankly, I wish I had purchased my soap saver from Reverie Farms because theirs is more affordably priced at $3.50.

credit: Reverie Farms

Natural Foaming Hand Soap

I like to keep liquid soap on my bathroom vanity and at the kitchen sink. Lately I’ve been getting into foaming soaps because they’re ready to go when you pump. I was happy to get to try Reverie Farms Natural Foaming Hand Soap. Importantly, the pump itself is wide which makes it easy to pump. The soap comes out in a rich but delicate foam.

Like the bar soap, it is a biodegradable, natural organic-based soap that is biodegradable, vegan friendly, and made with organic oils of sunflower* and/or safflower*, and coconut*, vegetable glycerin*, rosemary extract and essential oils (the * means certified organic ingredient). Formulated for sensitive skin. It feels smooth and moisturizing, though with my dry hands I always follow up with hand cream after I wash my hands.  It has  no synthetic detergents or preservatives, parabens, and it is Non-GMO.

The foaming hand soap is available in several scents:

• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Sandalwood
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Unscented.

I am using Sandalwood. Like the bar soap, it is a mild, gender neutral scent. The Natural Foaming Hand Soap plastic pump bottle contains 8 oz. and is priced at $6.25.

Other Products

As I mentioned, Reverie Farms also sells Body Scrub in 4 oz. jars in about 6 different scents for $6.25 as well as Natural Liquid Laundry Soap in 32 oz. bottles for $9.00. I’d like to try them both next. I really could use the Natural Liquid Laundry Soap because it’s good for sensitive skin, and it is perfect for delicates like my new silk pillowcase.

credit: Reverie Farms

credit: Reverie Farms

So visit the Reverie Farms website if you can’t make it out to Argyle Texas to visit the farm itself. With both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day coming up, I think the bar soaps, foaming soaps, and body scrubs would make for a really wonderful pampering basket of cleansers that are effective but gentle on skin as well as gentle on the earth. Plus you can get 10% off on your first purchase with the discount code for Never Say Die Beauty readers: NSDB417 (the code doesn’t expire but it can be used only once)  😛

Happy Earth Day!

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Copyright 2017 Never Say Die Beauty

Bathroom products – bubbling over

Read article : Bathroom products – bubbling over

10-Feb-2011

The bath and shower products market increased nearly 6% between 2008 and 2009 and manufacturers have tried to maintain this momentum throughout the past year with a diversified offering, reports Julia Wray

The bath and shower products market increased nearly 6% between 2008 and 2009 and manufacturers have tried to maintain this momentum throughout the past year with a diversified offering, reports Julia Wray

Whenever consumers are forced to slash their beauty budgets they are far more likely to opt for a cheaper shower gel than switch their foundation or anti-ageing cream. But despite this danger in the face of continued economic instability, the global bath and shower products market enjoyed another year of steady growth to reach over $31bn in 2009, according to data from Euromonitor International.

“The global bath and shower industry has fared well in recent times, putting in a respectable 6% growth from 2008-9,” comments Euromonitor’s industry analyst, beauty & personal care, Carrie Lennard. “This growth rate was the same as the previous year despite the commodity status of bath and shower, meaning that the threat of trade down to cheaper brands and private label was greater than for most beauty and personal care categories.”

“Bathroom products are usually split into two sections – basic essentials and pampering, or special, products. The basics are everyday requirements at affordable prices – cheap and cheerful to get the job done,” adds Herbie Dayal, ceo of KMI Brands. “The trend is definitely to more luxurious products, with consumers demanding better fragrances, richer formulations, more exotic ingredients and more effective products.”

Bath & shower	31079.2	5.9
Bar soap	12412.2	8.5
Bath additives	3285.3	-2.3
Body wash/shower gel	9172.6	3.1
Intimate hygiene	1493.9	8.4
Liquid soap	3441.6	12.9
Talcum powder	1273.6	3.5

In terms of retail value growth was driven by increased sales in emerging regions such as Latin America (+20.1%) and the Middle East and Africa (+15.1%). More established markets experienced less dramatic expansion. “Western Europe saw just 2% value growth in 2008-9 as bath and shower is a very mature category,” says Lennard. “Growth in body wash and shower gel is expected to be slower than for other regions because household penetration is already high, leaving fewer users to convert from bar soap.”

World	31079.2	5.9
Asia Pacific	8469.3	4.8
Australasia	348.4	6.0
Eastern Europe	2115.9	2.8
Latin America	4438.6	20.1
Middle East & Africa	1770.5	15.1
North America	6030.1	2.5
Western Europe	7906.4	1.8

Standing out

As is often the case with commodity sectors, bath and shower product manufacturers sought to boost their brands’ profiles through a variety of initiatives. Radox ran a competition challenging customers to name its new Radox Shower Smoothie – due out in March.

Meanwhile Original Source (PZ Cussons) sponsored annual UK-based bike challenge Mountain Mayhem; the rationale being that after a muddy day’s mountain biking, participants can clean up with Original Source shower gels.

Other brands put the weight of their name behind CSR projects. Soap & Glory, for example, aimed to educate consumers about the issue of water shortage by encouraging them to take part in a 2-minute Rinse project.

“The earth’s biggest problem will soon stem from a shortage of water,” Victoria Montrasio, Soap & Glory’s global sales & marketing director explains. “Anyone who is able to reach out to a number of people has a responsibility to try to make a difference – I think a lot of companies are doing a great job educating consumers and giving back.” And although Montrasio notes that the success of such campaigns is “hard to judge quantitatively” she describes consumer response to the 2-minute Rinse as “amazing” and says it will definitely be repeated in 2011.

“Many new product launches now carry some type of environmental claim, although it need not always relate to the ingredients,” says Lennard. “Jo Malone’s range of bath products for French Connection, launched in November 2010 (although actually formulated by Malone 15 years ago), features the organic additive Eco Pure in its plastic packaging, which reportedly allows plastic to be fully biodegradable to water and carbon dioxide within a few years.

“And a new line of bath and shower products is set to launch this year called Stop the Water While Using Me (www.stop-the-water-while-using-me.com). Its environmental credentials are that the products are made using natural ingredients, have biodegradable packaging, and are sustainably manufactured. The product’s USP however is that it reminds people to turn off the tap when using the product, in order to help the environment.”

Sustainability was also on the agenda for Trevarno Organic Skincare, which launched a collection of palm oil-free soaps.

“The ever increasing global demand for palm oil means that even ‘sustainable’ producers can be contributing to devastating environmental damage in the continuing expansion of this industry,” explains Trevarno’s manager Richard Cox. “As palm plantations encroach further on forests and peat land this in turn is causing destruction of communities, biodiversity and contributing to climate change. We felt the only solution was to remove palm oil to help lessen the demand for this ingredient.”

Available in Nourish and Revitalise, Soothe and Calm, Cleanse and Protect, and Indulge and Relax categories, the soaps contain a blend of natural butters and oils as an alternative to palm oil.

Dove	Unilever Group
Lux	Unilever Group
Palmolive	Colgate-Palmolive Co
Nivea	Beiersdorf AG
Safeguard	Procter & Gamble Co

Dermatology crossover

Efforts by manufacturers to rise above the competition in a crowded marketplace has led to increased segmentation in bath and shower.

“In all beauty markets there is greater segmentation with more brands addressing different needs – high fragrance, naturals, seasonals, stress, spa and so on,” notes Dayal. “This is very marked in washing and bathing but also true in skin care, hair care and other categories. It implies that there is a steady stream of new products being marketed and innovation is what drives trial and continued growth in our business.”

Recently, such innovation has come in the form of bath and shower products claiming effects more usually associated with skin care.

“A significant number of bath and shower products launched by brands like Dove now make claims such as having intense moisturising or dermatological properties,” says Lennard. “It appears that dermatological bath and shower products may now be moving into the mainstream. Unilever’s Dove VisibleCare line of body washes, for example, claims to visibly improve the condition of the skin within three weeks.”

Indeed, Dove VisibleCare Crème Body Wash products contain a trademarked ingredient, NutriumMoisture, said to address lipid and protein damage. Also addressing moisture deficiency, Johnson & Johnson’s new 24hour Moisture Shea & Cocoa line includes two body washes – an exfoliating one and a radiance version.

For sensitive skins, Imperial Leather (PZ Cussons) introduced SkinKind – a range of hypoallergenic shower products, while Sanex launched Sanex Dermo Hypo Allergenic Bath and Shower Gels.

At the premium end of the market, Elemis (Steiner Leisure) introduced Elemis Skin Nourishing Shower Cream, which contains milk protein to help create an environment to correct skin microflora and regulate skin’s moisture content.

Launched in September 2010, Connock London’s range of bath and body products (including Comforting Body Wash and Soothing Bath Oil) contain moisturising kukui oil from Hawaii.

According to founder Amanda Connock, the oil acts as something of a dermatological panacea. “It is high in essential fatty acids and is very good at penetrating into the skin, so it gives an excellent moisturising effect,” she says. “The women in Hawaii use the oil everywhere – hair, body, skin – and for conditions like eczema and psoriasis.”

Michelin star cleansing

A recent standout trend has been for fruit scented bathroom products and the gourmand tide is showing little sign of turning. Indeed last year it accelerated with even more savoury and spicy notes added to the mix.

Henkel’s Fa launched a Yoghurt Body Smoothie Douche Créme line, comprising four fruity shower gels in a milk-based formula, while Palmolive (Colgate Palmolive) offered Palmolive Nutra.Fruit Shower Crèmes, containing moisturising cream swirled with fruit extracts. KMI’s Beautifully Delicious meanwhile brought a strawberry and pomegranate fragranced line of products and a limited edition apple & watermelon bubblelicious bath & shower gel to the table.

Spicy pink pepper provided the basis for Molton Brown’s paradisiac pink pepperpod bath & shower product, a feminine counterpart to its best selling re-charge black pepper bodywash. And pepper popped up again in Original Source’s Winter Black Pepper and Cardamom Shower Gel.

In fact Original Source took the food theme to another level with its new Gourmet range. Based on experimental flavour combinations, the range comprises Cassis and Cranberry Shower Shot, Lime and Sweet Chilli Spice and Chocolate and Mint Shower Melt.

New from Soap & Glory was The Breakfast Scrub, a blend of oats and sugar boasting a maple syrup fragrance. “Last winter, one of the Soap & Glory team at HQ used to make golden syrup infused porridge oats every morning and Marcia Kilgore, our founder, would always ask ‘what is that delicious smell coming from the kitchen?’ This was the trigger,” Soap & Glory’s Montrasio tells SPC. “The name of course comes from The Breakfast Club movie.”

Other launches were more traditional. L’Occitane brought out an orange blossom and sweet blackcurrant scented Fleur Chérie Bath and Shower Gel, while Yardley and Woods of Windsor relaunched under new management, an autonomous Yardley division. Yardley introduced a triple milled soap and shower cream in English Lavender as well as triple milled soaps in Lily of the Valley, Peony, Iris and English Rose. And Woods of Windsor now comprises Bath & Body Collections in True Rose, Lavender, Lily of the Valley and White Jasmine.

Spa inspiration

“Unless you live on your own and never go out, taking a bath may be the only part of the day you have all to yourself. So you want the experience to be as enjoyable as possible. You don’t necessarily want to jump in the shower and scrub yourself with a cheap soap that is likely to destroy your skin’s natural pH,” asserts Anna Doyle, founder of new natural spa brand occo.

But as tempting as a relaxing bath may be, consumers appear to have slashed both their me-time and their budget as bath additives took the biggest drubbing of any bathroom product sector, dropping 2.3% to $3,285m.

As Brid Costello, research analyst, Mintel International Group, explains: “The fast pace of modern lifestyles makes showers a more viable alternative to bathing for many people’s daily personal hygiene routine and brands are responding to consumers’ bathing preferences by offering shower products that are often at once convenient and experience oriented.”

Despite the trend leaning towards quick and convenient in 2010, however, those consumers seeking tranquillity were able to choose from several new launches designed to maximise the pleasure of bathing.

Inspired by ancient Norse rituals, Arran Aromatics created new bath, body and home fragrance collection Eydis, built around a clover, gorse and honeysuckle scent.

Looking further east for inspiration, spa brand Rituals introduced a Tao range, which includes three bathroom products: Wai Wang body exfoliating cream, T’ai Chi shower foam and Wu Wei calming cream bath.

Doyle’s occo also offered a spa experience from home. It launched with 65 skus – including bath and body washes – divided into six ranges named after the locations in Croatia which inspired their fragrance.

According to Doyle, the brand fills a niche for true spa products that are easily accessible. “I wanted the brand to be equally positioned through spas and in-store retail,” she tells SPC. “A lot of products sold in spas are treatments rather than lifestyle products and a lot of retailers have products with the word ‘spa’ on the label, but they’re not true spa products. I felt there was a gap in the market for a genuine spa brand that people could enjoy at home.”

The association between Turkish baths and rose petals was exploited by Lush which launched Turkish Delight, a smoothie shower soap containing rose absolute, rose oil and rose water. Lush also updated its cult bath ballistics (oversized, essential oil-based bath bombs) by adding a top layer consisting of ballistic mixed with shavings of bubble bar to create a foam trail.

Dead Sea Source (KMI) also introduced bath bombs (ginger scented in this instance) as well as a monoi-based product line.

Alternatively, Beiersdorf launched the ultimate in convenience: Nivea Double Effect Shower & Shave. Recognising that that many women like to shave in the shower, Nivea’s new product contains avocado oil, which ensures that the foam sticks to the skin allowing the razor to glide across to remove hair effectively.

And Lennard believes such products will have a competitive advantage moving into 2011.

“The potential for value-added body washes and shower gels remains strong as consumers continue to show a positive response to the most recent product innovations,” she says. Other product categories can expect a less prosperous year. “The bath additives industry is set to contract by $251m as time poor consumers continue to opt for showers. As a result of this habit the main growth in the industry will come from body wash, which is set to see nearly $1.5bn absolute growth by 2014.”

So to stay afloat in the bathroom products market manufacturers would be wise to follow their customers and focus on shower.

Swatting bugs
“Liquid soap sales have been particularly strong since 2009, driven by the H1N1 scare,” Euromonitor’s Carrie Lennard tells SPC. “Starting with the initial H1N1 outbreaks in Mexico in April 2009, sales of hand sanitisers skyrocketed, leading to 6% global growth in liquid soap over 2008-9.”
Manufacturers reacted quickly to the initial swine flu outbreak resulting in a wave of new products with antibacterial and antiviral claims, a trend that continued in 2010 with launches like Dettol’s No-Touch Hand Wash System, which senses users’ hands and dispenses antibacterial soap without them having to touch a potentially germ-infested pump.
The popularity of such products was highlighted by a recent poll commissioned by the American Cleaning Institute and the Personal Care Products Council in the wake of calls by special interest groups to ban the use of antibacterial agents in personal care, which revealed that 74% of US consumers used antibacterial soap.
And renewed swine flu fears over 2010’s winter months mean hand sanitisers will remain a good investment for manufacturers in the near future. “As there are still numerous highly publicised deaths due to swine flu, the scare is set to continue to mark the category out as holding major long-term growth potential for the duration of the flu outbreak,” confirms Lennard.

Shower gel better than soap? It just won't wash

Read article : Shower gel better than soap? It just won't wash

• Eight out of ten people wash themselves with gels costing up to £4 a bottle
• Tesco has 94 gel brands on sale, each with its own name, ingredients and unique smell
  

By David Derbyshire for MailOnline
Updated: 16:16 BST, 17 October 2011

208 View
comments

Cleaning up: Gels first appeared in British bathrooms in the Seventies. Today some 200million bottles are sold in Britain every year

Whoever invented shower gel must lie awake at night — no doubt in a gold-plated, four-poster bed — chuckling at the audacity of it all.

Here is a product that is expensive, packed full of man-made chemicals, difficult to use and wasteful. And yet, thanks to the persuasive power of marketing, bottles of it sit proudly in almost every bathroom in the land.

Once, we cleaned ourselves with bars of long-lasting soap that cost the equivalent of a few pence a week. Today, more than eight out of ten people wash themselves with gels costing up to £4 a bottle.

Not that shower gel manufacturers admit they are involved in the business of washing, of course. Instead, they sell their wares as revitalising foams, honey shower milks and rebalancing body experiences.

Imperial Leather’s Japanese Spa Foam Burst is, it claims, designed to help you wake up in the morning. Palmolive’s Absolute Relax is supposed to send you to sleep.

You will struggle to find a shower gel that admits what it is really intended for: as a way of removing dirt, sweat and grease. Long gone are the days of explicit adverts for Lifebuoy — the soap that said ‘No to BO’.

But if Britain has gone crazy for shower gel, with an estimated 200 million bottles sold in the UK each year, there are signs of rebellion.

Former Tory MP, television presenter and newspaper columnist Matthew Parris recently went on the offensive.

In a passionate attack against pointless toiletries, he highlighted the design flaws of shower gels.

long time regarded as the traditional hard soap for middle-class families" class="blkBorder" />

Gels have come a long way since PZ Cussons, the makers of Imperial Leather for a long time regarded as the traditional hard soap for middle-class families

He pointed out that most of the bottles don’t stand upright on curved soap dishes, or they leak when hanging from their plastic hooks. They are difficult to open, easy to spill and hard to apply (how do you use shower gel to wash your feet?)

And most of the gel squirted into the user’s hands slides to the floor to be washed down the drain.

While the secret of soap-making goes back to at least the Ancient Babylonians in 2800 BC, when animal fat was mixed with the ashes of wood fires and melted, the first liquid soap was patented in 1865

Parris — who stopped using shampoo years ago and who claims his hair has never been cleaner — estimates that millions of gallons of gel are washed away unused every year.

Despite these flaws, Britain’s love affair with shower gel is going strong. Tesco, at last count, had 94 brands on sale, each with its own name, ingredients and unique smell.

Most sane people would struggle to come up with 94 different conventional fragrances for toiletries. But the clever people at Unilever and Cussons have got round that by persuading consumers that what they really want to smell like is food: thus we can wash ourselves with Chocolate and Mint shower gel, Milk and Honey shower creme, or Cranberry and Honey shower scrubs.

Evidently, gels have come a long way since PZ Cussons, the makers of Imperial Leather — for a long time regarded as the traditional hard soap for middle-class families — introduced its first ‘Luxury Shower Gel’ in 1978.

Tory MP Matthew Parris recently highlighted the design flaws of shower gels" class="blkBorder" />

Former Tory MP Matthew Parris recently highlighted the design flaws of shower gels

Gels were, in part, a response to a change in bathroom habits that saw showers growing in popularity as our lives became busier and we all became more aware of the need to use water sparingly.

But the rise of shower gels can’t be explained simply by the move from the twice-weekly bath to the daily shower. After all, showers had already become a staple of homes by the Seventies, and for at least a decade after that, most people were happy with soap — or occasionally the more exotic ‘soap on a rope’.

The secret of their success lies in the fact that while they are cheap to manufacture, they are easy to brand as a luxury. By selling them as modern, convenient and indulgent, cosmetic companies cleaned up.

While the secret of soap-making goes back to at least the Ancient Babylonians in 2800 BC, when animal fat was mixed with the ashes of wood fires and melted, the first liquid soap — the forerunner of today’s shower gels — was patented in 1865.

Modern gels are more complicated to make. But their basic ingredient, a detergent that sticks to grease and water, is similar to the detergent in hard soap bars.

'Most of the differences between brands are trivial in terms of what they do functionally — removing dirt and grease. But the real difference — and this is the genius of marketing — is how those small differences, like the fragrance and the associations that come with that fragrance, can be used to create something more than the product'

In order to remain thick, perfumed and coloured, a typical shower gel must contain around 20 chemicals, some man-made, others derived from plants. It will have a couple of plant-based detergents, an array of perfumes, salt to thicken it, glycerine — a clear, sticky liquid used in cough mixtures and icing on cakes — to make the gel silky, film-forming agents, lactic acid (found in sour milk to counteract the alkali and make it pH- neutral), preservatives, agents that reduce static in human hair and natural plant extracts.

Most of these plant extracts have very little practical purpose and are just for marketing purposes so that the gels can have fancy names.

And marketing is what it is all about. From the earliest days of industrially produced soap, manufacturers realised that to sell more soap, they needed to persuade Britons to become more ‘hygienic’: the more people washed, the bigger the profits.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the earliest and most successful advertising campaigns were for soaps.

Costly: Today, more than eight out of ten people wash themselves with gels costing up to £4 a bottle

The English company Lever Brothers created Lifebuoy in 1895 and sold it as an antiseptic soap. The company also invented the term BO for body odour. Pears devised a sophisticated transparent soap and launched the yearly search for Miss Pears.

Yet no marketing campaign for soap was enough to fend off the advance of shower gels.

Those who prefer gels say they are happy to put up with the extra expense for the sake of convenience: unlike soap, they don’t leave scum or mess around the shower, and small amounts go a long way.

But for many, they are a victory of marketing over common sense.

One of the UK’s top marketing gurus, who has worked with many gel manufacturers, said: ‘Most of the differences between brands are trivial in terms of what they do functionally — removing dirt and grease.

‘But the real difference — and this is the genius of marketing — is how those small differences, like the fragrance and the associations that come with that fragrance, can be used to create something more than the product.

‘That value to the brand is real. If a product has associations of being refreshing in the morning or relaxing in the evening, it can be a genuine bonus for the consumer; it might help people feel relaxed or refreshed.

‘Some of that association is intrinsic in the ingredients of gel, but much of it is created through advertising.’

So are we being taken for a ride by the marketing types? The answer is probably yes. But then, how many of us would really want to go back to using half a bar of soap in the shower when we could be reaching for a bottle of that oh-so fragrant Japanese Spa Foam Burst?

 

How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

Read article : How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

(Like what you're reading? Sign up for our newsletter to get health insights, clever kitchen tricks, gardening secrets, and more—delivered straight to your inbox. And follow along on Facebook and Instagram.)

How to get rid of mold and mildew

I started by tossing the mats and fabric shower curtains and cotton shower curtain liner in the washing machine and hanging them out on the line, where the sunshine emerged to do its mold-killing magic. If your curtain is a bit musty, you may want to give it a presoak for a few hours, or even overnight, in a bucket of water with a cup of white vinegar added before tossing it into the washer.

Then, I tackled the grout. No matter how diligent you are at giving your bathroom its weekly once-over (and I am very not diligent), the joints where one material meets another are prone to dirt buildup and mildew. A number of natural cleaners are equal to the challenge, but the type and condition of your grout, tile, and other surfaces need to be taken into consideration when you select one so you don’t damage them. Also, steer clear of scrubby pads if you have materials that could be scratched (my surfaces are tough and were marred long before I owned them, so I don’t sweat a little more scrubbing once in a while to get rid of mold. If yours can also take the abuse, you can even use epsom salt to scrub grout).

(Here are two easy ways to clean a cast iron pan!)

A good basic cleaner to start with is baking soda dissolved in water for spraying or sponging (1/8 cup per quart of water), sprinkled dry on a damp sponge, or made into a paste with a little water for tough areas. Baking soda has been found to kill certain types of mildew, and for the types it can't kill, its mild abrasiveness allows you to scrub the stuff away. It's safe for most surfaces, but you might want to test a small area first if you have any doubts. Apply the baking soda, either in spray or paste form, leave it alone for an hour or so, and then scrub with a soft brush (a retired toothbrush is my favorite). Wipe and rinse well when finished. (Here are 9 more surprising uses for baking soda.)

White vinegar or lemon juice (full strength or mixed with half water) are also good for cleaning mildew-stained grout, but they are acidic and can start to eat away at grout as well as certain hard-surface finishes, so be sure to rinse completely; neither is a good choice for natural marble. To use, sponge on, scrub with a soft brush, and rinse. If you can’t get your grout clean with either of these cleaners, you may want to consider looking for a company that offers professional steam cleaning, which is nontoxic and very effective. Just make sure the company is clear that you don’t want toxic chemicals used.

Related: What's The Better Mold Cleaner—Lemon Juice Or Bleach?

In areas where mildew is a chronic problem, you can keep it from growing by applying citrus or tee-tree oil regularly. Put 10 drops of lemon, orange, grapefruit, or tea tree oil and a few drops of dish soap into an empty quart spray bottle, add warm water almost to the top, and slosh to mix. Spray down areas that are prone to mildew once a week or so. (Here are more essential ingredients for making all of your own cleaning products.)

Related: 6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils

How to get rid of hard water stains

Depending on the dissolved minerals in your water, you too may get white, gray, or even rusty stains on bathroom surfaces. If I had a magic bullet that would get rid of hard water stains with no effort, I’d be a millionaire, but I don't. However, with a little trial and error and even more elbow grease, you can take care of soap scum and mineral deposits as effectively with natural products as you could with the latest toxic panacea being pushed on TV (which probably isn’t nearly as effective as they want you to believe it is anyway).

Related: The Only 10 Things You Need To Buy To Make All Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

As with grout, baking soda is a good basic cleaner to start with: Use it dissolved in water for spraying or sponging, sprinkled as is on a damp sponge, or as a paste for tough areas. Apply baking soda to your surface, let it sit for an hour or so, and then remove it with a soft cloth or brush.

Related: How To Wash Your Car Without Nasty Chemicals Or Wasting Water

If baking soda isn’t up to your challenges, vinegar is quite effective at dissolving soap scum and removing hard water stains. Sponge it on full strength (or mixed half and half with water), wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse well. To remove hard-water buildup from showerheads, remove the showerhead and let it soak in undiluted vinegar for a few hours while you're cleaning. Vinegar works because it is acidic, but for the same reason it can also eat into grout or damage the finish of marble, tile, and other surfaces. Check with the manufacturer for advice or test it in an inconspicuous area. (Here are 9 times you should never use vinegar around the house.)

Should both of those fail, a good next step is a product called Bar Keepers Friend (the dry, powdered type). Its active ingredient is oxalic acid, a natural chemical found in rhubarb leaves and various other plants. It is very good at dissolving mineral deposits, even rust stains, without a lot of scrubbing. Just remember that even though it is natural, it can still hurt you if you ingest it, or get in on your skin or in your eyes, so be sure to follow the simple label cautions. (Here are 12 more household toxins you should banish from your home.)

A few other alternatives are Bon Ami cleanser,powdered pumice or a pumice stone, or even very fine wet/dry sandpaper. But as with any other cleaning method, test a small area first to make sure they won't damage surfaces. 

How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

Read article : How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

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How to get rid of mold and mildew

I started by tossing the mats and fabric shower curtains and cotton shower curtain liner in the washing machine and hanging them out on the line, where the sunshine emerged to do its mold-killing magic. If your curtain is a bit musty, you may want to give it a presoak for a few hours, or even overnight, in a bucket of water with a cup of white vinegar added before tossing it into the washer.

Then, I tackled the grout. No matter how diligent you are at giving your bathroom its weekly once-over (and I am very not diligent), the joints where one material meets another are prone to dirt buildup and mildew. A number of natural cleaners are equal to the challenge, but the type and condition of your grout, tile, and other surfaces need to be taken into consideration when you select one so you don’t damage them. Also, steer clear of scrubby pads if you have materials that could be scratched (my surfaces are tough and were marred long before I owned them, so I don’t sweat a little more scrubbing once in a while to get rid of mold. If yours can also take the abuse, you can even use epsom salt to scrub grout).

(Here are two easy ways to clean a cast iron pan!)

A good basic cleaner to start with is baking soda dissolved in water for spraying or sponging (1/8 cup per quart of water), sprinkled dry on a damp sponge, or made into a paste with a little water for tough areas. Baking soda has been found to kill certain types of mildew, and for the types it can't kill, its mild abrasiveness allows you to scrub the stuff away. It's safe for most surfaces, but you might want to test a small area first if you have any doubts. Apply the baking soda, either in spray or paste form, leave it alone for an hour or so, and then scrub with a soft brush (a retired toothbrush is my favorite). Wipe and rinse well when finished. (Here are 9 more surprising uses for baking soda.)

White vinegar or lemon juice (full strength or mixed with half water) are also good for cleaning mildew-stained grout, but they are acidic and can start to eat away at grout as well as certain hard-surface finishes, so be sure to rinse completely; neither is a good choice for natural marble. To use, sponge on, scrub with a soft brush, and rinse. If you can’t get your grout clean with either of these cleaners, you may want to consider looking for a company that offers professional steam cleaning, which is nontoxic and very effective. Just make sure the company is clear that you don’t want toxic chemicals used.

Related: What's The Better Mold Cleaner—Lemon Juice Or Bleach?

In areas where mildew is a chronic problem, you can keep it from growing by applying citrus or tee-tree oil regularly. Put 10 drops of lemon, orange, grapefruit, or tea tree oil and a few drops of dish soap into an empty quart spray bottle, add warm water almost to the top, and slosh to mix. Spray down areas that are prone to mildew once a week or so. (Here are more essential ingredients for making all of your own cleaning products.)

Related: 6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils

How to get rid of hard water stains

Depending on the dissolved minerals in your water, you too may get white, gray, or even rusty stains on bathroom surfaces. If I had a magic bullet that would get rid of hard water stains with no effort, I’d be a millionaire, but I don't. However, with a little trial and error and even more elbow grease, you can take care of soap scum and mineral deposits as effectively with natural products as you could with the latest toxic panacea being pushed on TV (which probably isn’t nearly as effective as they want you to believe it is anyway).

Related: The Only 10 Things You Need To Buy To Make All Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

As with grout, baking soda is a good basic cleaner to start with: Use it dissolved in water for spraying or sponging, sprinkled as is on a damp sponge, or as a paste for tough areas. Apply baking soda to your surface, let it sit for an hour or so, and then remove it with a soft cloth or brush.

Related: How To Wash Your Car Without Nasty Chemicals Or Wasting Water

If baking soda isn’t up to your challenges, vinegar is quite effective at dissolving soap scum and removing hard water stains. Sponge it on full strength (or mixed half and half with water), wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse well. To remove hard-water buildup from showerheads, remove the showerhead and let it soak in undiluted vinegar for a few hours while you're cleaning. Vinegar works because it is acidic, but for the same reason it can also eat into grout or damage the finish of marble, tile, and other surfaces. Check with the manufacturer for advice or test it in an inconspicuous area. (Here are 9 times you should never use vinegar around the house.)

Should both of those fail, a good next step is a product called Bar Keepers Friend (the dry, powdered type). Its active ingredient is oxalic acid, a natural chemical found in rhubarb leaves and various other plants. It is very good at dissolving mineral deposits, even rust stains, without a lot of scrubbing. Just remember that even though it is natural, it can still hurt you if you ingest it, or get in on your skin or in your eyes, so be sure to follow the simple label cautions. (Here are 12 more household toxins you should banish from your home.)

A few other alternatives are Bon Ami cleanser,powdered pumice or a pumice stone, or even very fine wet/dry sandpaper. But as with any other cleaning method, test a small area first to make sure they won't damage surfaces. 

Homemade Bath and Shower Cleaner {Recipe}

Read article : Homemade Bath and Shower Cleaner {Recipe}

Posted by Cindy  ·  January 4, 2017

This homemade bath and shower cleaner is amazing. This recipe has been floating around the web and I had to give it a try for myself! I couldn’t be more thrilled to have found an inexpensive powerful homemade bathroom cleaner. You problably have the ingredients already at your house. Once again vinegar proves to a a great household cleaner. You can even mix vinegar with baking soda for a great way to unclog a drain.

Homemade Bath and Shower Cleaner Recipe

Measure out equal parts of Dawn dishwashing detergent and vinegar. Heat vinegar a couple of minutes in microwave or on cook top until vinegar is hot. Carefully pour vinegar into a spray bottle. Add in Dawn dishwashing detergent and shake to mix.

This Dawn & vinegar cleaner will cut through soap scum, clean sinks, and also the potty. Just spray it on, scrub and rinse. For tough soap scum build-up, spray the mixture on and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. Scrub and rinse.

Do be careful, it does make alot of bubbles, so the tub might be slippery. If there are too many bubbles try mixing two parts vinegar to one part Dawn. Salt will also dissolve the bubbles.

You will be amazed with this bottle of blue magic! 

If you like this cleaner you might like this DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe.

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Vintage Chrome Traditional Crosshead Bathroom Bath Filler Mixer Solid Brass Tap • £75.95

Read article : Vintage Chrome Traditional Crosshead Bathroom Bath Filler Mixer Solid Brass Tap • £75.95

See Details on eBay Watch Contact

£75.95 Buy It Now 3d, FREE Shipping, 30-Day Returns

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 Price - PicClick Insights - Price  Seller - Over 81,181 items sold. 1.2% negative feedback. Top-Rated Plus! Top-Rated Seller, 30-day return policy, ships in 1 business day with tracking. PicClick Insights - Seller Over 81,181 items sold. 1.2% negative feedback. Top-Rated Plus! Top-Rated Seller, 30-day return policy, ships in 1 business day with tracking. Recent Feedback

Global Bath and Shower Products Market Report 2015-2019 - Research and Markets

Read article : Global Bath and Shower Products Market Report 2015-2019 - Research and Markets

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/qgfnzv/global_bath_and) has announced the addition of the "Global Bath and Shower Products Market 2015-2019" report to their offering.

The global bath and shower products market to reach a market value of around USD 15 billion by the end of 2019.

Shower products dominated the market during 2014 with a market share of around 70%. The report predicts this segment to retain its leadership until the end of 2019 growing at a rate of around 4%. This segment includes products such as shower gels, shower creams, exfoliates, body shampoo, mousses, loofah, bath brush, body polishers, and foot scrubs.

The increasing awareness about health and hygiene is the primary driver for the growth of this market. Consumers are being exposed to reliable information about the various bath products through the internet, television, and other sources of information. The rise in living standards and income are also leading consumers to opt for more expensive and aesthetically appealing bath and shower products with different fragrances and effective ingredients.

The increased demand for organic products is also anticipated to contribute to the market growth during the forecast period. Organic shampoo manufacturers are focusing on developing new products by adding value to the basic cleansing action of shampoos. For instance, dry shampoos are available either in spray or powder formats and are used to absorb dirt and oil on the hair and scalp. They save time and effort, and also help in retaining the natural hair oils that are washed out by standard shampoos.

Europe accounted for the largest market share of around 48% during 2014. The evolving buying patterns of consumers is the primary growth driver of the market in this region. The growing affinity of the consumers towards organic and natural bath and shower products with specific ingredients has helped to boost sales of these products.

Product segmentation and analysis of the bath and shower products market

• Shower products
• Liquid bath products
• Bath additives
• Bar soaps
  

Segmentation by retail format and analysis of the bath and shower products market

The supermarkets and hypermarkets segment accounted for 53% of the market share during 2014. Supermarkets store numerous bath and shower products providing consumers with a variety of choices for purchasing.

The top five vendors in the market are

• Johnson & Johnson
• L'Oreal
• P&G
• Unilever
• Colgate-Palmolive

Other vendors in the market include

• Avon
• Bath and Body Works
• Beiersdorf
• Coty
• Estee Lauder
• Henkel
• Kao
• L'Occitane
• Lush
• Revlon
• Soap and Glory

Key Topics Covered:

Part 01: Executive summary

Part 02: Scope of the report

Part 03: Market research methodology

Part 04: Introduction

Part 05: Market landscape

Part 06: Market segmentation by product

Part 07: Market segmentation by retail formats

Part 08: Geographical segmentation

Part 09: Key leading countries

Part 10: Market drivers

Part 11: Impact of drivers

Part 12: Market challenges

Part 13: Impact of drivers and challenges

Part 14: Market trends

Part 15: Vendor landscape

Part 16: Key vendor analysis

Part 17: Appendix

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/qgfnzv/global_bath_and

Hansgrohe Raindance Select S120 Classic Rail Shower Brushed Black Chrome

Read article : Hansgrohe Raindance Select S120 Classic Rail Shower Brushed Black Chrome

Description

Select your shower pleasure. 'Select' is the latest touch button technology introduced in the Raindance Select S120 Classic Rail Shower Brushed Black Chrome by Hansgrohe. Designed by Phoenix Design, the new handshower introduces a unique Brushed Black Chrome finish which beautifully complements the soft lines of the design. The multi-functional 120mm handshower controls 3 spray functions with the touch of the 'Select' push button - Rain Air, Caress Air and Mixed - and includes Hansgrohe's revolutionary AirPower technology, which enriches water with air for a natural rain sensation on the body. The included 650mm classic style rail features a manually controlled slide bar with an adjustable shower angle. The Raindance Select S120 Classic Rail Shower is supplied with a 1600mm Isiflex hose, wall union and soap dish and is designed to compliment the Metris S Black Chrome tapware collection.