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What’s On My Plate

It’s April … I feel spring creeping in!  It’s also the month we celebrate Earth Day. I just returned from LA, where I attended Expo West, the natural foods industry’s huge annual trade show. I wanted to share some new products that fit the Earth Day/spring cleaning mindset I’m in.  

I traveled with our Category Managers (CM), the talented team that researches, tastes, tests, and sources every product on our shelves. I’ll let EN May, our Grocery CM, tell you all about these innovative cleaning products. 

I’ve been with Healthy Living since September 2011. I started as a grocery stocker and over the years worked my way up to Center Store Category Manager. I love curating HL with the best products out there and being the first to introduce our guests to new innovations! 

Healthy Living is committed to providing not just the best food for your body, but also the best cleaning products for your home. We only sell eco-friendly cleaning supplies because we believe in total health, both inside and out. 

Here are some of my favorite items:

Tru Earth Laundry Strips: I have two young kids, so my washer is running daily. I switched last year to using Tru Earth laundry strips as a way to cut back on the plastic waste coming out of my home and prevent the inevitable detergent spills that happen with liquid and powder. 

These strips have kept up with everything I’ve thrown at them—from food stains to potty training accidents, the strips work! The other perk is they are easy to travel with given their small, flat packaging. 

We recently took a trip to CA for a wedding and were able to fly with our laundry detergent to use at the rental house. It’s a game-changer! The detergents are pre-measured, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, phosphate-free, and work with all high-efficiency washing machines.

Caboo Paper Products: I’m trying to reduce plastic waste and my impact on deforestation, so I’ve recently made the switch to Caboo sustainable paper products. All of their products are tree-free and made of sustainable bamboo—no chemical pesticides or herbicides are used. 

They use far less water to produce as well. Recently, the brand came out with plastic-free packaging. No more plastic overwrap to throw away! While reusing rags is the greenest way to go, there are some situations that still need a paper towel. Trust me, these hold up with the best of them!

Be.Blum Cleaning Tabs: If you haven’t noticed a theme, I’m working on cutting the plastic out of my household waste where I can. Be.Blum makes cleaner concentrates available in convenient tablets. 

All you need to do is fill your favorite spray bottle with water and drop them in. I do a lot of cleanup on a daily basis (remember, I have 2 young kids!), so I can say with certainty that they do work. Not to mention all the space I save under the kitchen sink not having a bunch of bottles knocking around.

Compostic Compostable Products: Plastic wraps and snack bags are items I just need in my house. There are always leftovers to cover and snacks to stash for the kids. 

Compostic makes compostable versions of those items, so I don’t have to worry about them breaking down in the waste stream or backyard compost barrel. They recently came out with freezer storage bags as well. All their products are reusable, and once added to the compost, they break down in just 24 weeks.

Woeber’s White Distilled Vinegar: It’s old school but using white vinegar with water is a tried-and-true way to clean your home, even your appliances like the dishwasher and laundry machine. The ingredients list doesn’t get any simpler, and it’s extremely economical. 

It can tackle smells and stains at their core much better than most conventional “do-it-all” cleaners can, which mostly use fragrances to make you think you’ve cleaned (but you really haven’t!).

Charlies Soap Laundry Powder: Another old-school product, laundry soap is the OG of laundry detergents. Sadly, it’s harder to come by as mainstream manufacturers have moved toward harsh detergents. 

If you’re looking for a gentle, hypoallergenic laundry solution that will help your clothes last a long time, this is the product for you. It’s fragrance-free, septic-safe, and works on all fabrics, including baby clothes. No need for stain removers either, this soap can tackle those too!

BACK TO KATY:

Thank you so much, EN for your info! 

I saw a zillion new products at Expo West…and once again I felt this industry’s deep commitment from the very beginning to the environment, sustainability, local agriculture, and the earth. 

And that is one of the reasons I’ve been overjoyed for almost 40 years to be part of it!

Happy early spring!

KATY