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steel for real streaks?

by annab, October 22, 2009

 

todd our resident “soap operator” aka consumer response guru told me recently that we get many steel for real streak concerns. fortunately for us todd has a design within reach stainless steel desk so he has ample practice cleaning it and he knows of some simple things you can do to prevent or treat the streaking.

 

here are todd's tips:

 

1.    use the spray really sparingly (a little goes a very long way)

 

2.    make sure to spray the steel for real spray directly on a micro fiber cloth, paper towel or cleaning towel. don't spray it on the surface first.

3.    if you’re seeing streaking, what you have is a build-up of product in a particular area. to remove streaks just apply a damp cloth with warm water or use our stainless steel micro fiber cloth and buff it out.

4.    our glass cleaner also works to remove the streaks.

5.    remember to always clean with the grain of the stainless steel this helps prevent streaks.

so tell us.  do you have any tips for streaky surfaces?

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fish fish i got my wish

by annab, October 20, 2009

 oh, ahh, it’s back! our beautiful 96-ounce hand wash refill in sweet water and sea minerals is available again, this time at Bed Bath & Beyond.  go check it out, and if you are feeling a bit crafty after you finish the bottle,  we have an idea for what you can do with it.


we are all about creative reuse here at method.  some of our favorite upcycling projects involve our own method bottles and containers.
take a look at the double-decker fish tank rudi (one of our packaging engineers) rigged up! complete with its own filter, duel levels the swim between and a fishy waterfall.  so far, macgyver (the fish) is still alive and thriving.

 

 

 

 


tell us.  are you crafty?  what would  do with our 96 oz. bottle?

happy global handwashing day!

by annab, October 15, 2009



here at method, when we think of our favorite holidays, a quick list comes to mind:  thanksgiving, independence day, christmas, passover, martin luther king day, dia de los muertos and, of course, global handwashing day.

 
while global handwashing day might not have hallmark card status (yet), it is important nonetheless.  global handwashing day 2009 takes place on october 15 and is the centerpiece of a week of activities that will mobilize millions of people in more than 70 countries across five continents to wash their hands with soap. sounds simple right?


a coalition of public and private organizations have come together to highlight global handwashing day because the simple act of handwashing with soap and water can save millions of children’s lives.  contaminated hands are a common way that illnesses are spread – including pneumonia and diarrhea, which are the leading causes of death in children worldwide. about 3.5 million children in developing nations lose their lives to these preventable illnesses each year.


handwashing with soap is a low-cost and highly effective way to keeping children (and us grown-ups) healthy. in fact, handwashing with soap, when done before eating and after using the toilet or changing a small child’s diaper, can reduce illnesses like diarrheal disease by up to an estimated 40 percent.
so, what can you do? make sure you wash your hands before and after meals, riding public transportation, working with children, going to the bathroom, preparing food, sneezing or coughing…you get the drill: keep those hands clean!


and if you’d like to learn more about Global Handwashing Day and a UNICEF/WHO report highlighting handwashing as an effective way to prevent diarrheal disease for children in developing countries, visit the following sites:


http://www.globalhandwashingday.org/About.asp
http://www.path.org/news/pr091014-unicef-diarrhea.php

is your state phosphate free?

by rachel, October 13, 2009

(photo copyright villoks via flickr.com) 


in august 2008, we introduced the world’s most brilliant phosphate-free dishwasher detergent, Smarty Dish.


at that time, only 2 counties in Washington state had formal bans on phosphates, but since then, the number of states banning phosphates has continued to climb. it’s now up to 15 states: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington state. let’s not forget our lovely neighbor to the north; Canada has announced a ban on phosphates taking effect in 2010 (specifically, all laundry and dishwasher detergents will contain no more than 0.5 per cent phosphates by weight).  this trend is bound to continue  across the U.S, could your state be next?


and what is so bad about phosphates, you ask?

 

when sent into the waterways (via our household waste water, for example), phosphates cause an overgrowth of algae, resulting in slimy and smelly lakes and rivers. other than the eyesore and stink, these algae deplete the water of the oxygen that fish and other creatures depend on, creating ‘dead zones’ in rivers and lakes. all in all, phosphates are not something you want in your water system! to read more about phosphates, check out this treehugger article.


not to pat ourselves on the back or anything, but method Smarty Dish continues to test as the best of the phosphate-free brands. first Consumer Reports, and now the Philadelphia Inquirer.

 

at method, we’re about helping you do right by the environment without having to make sacrifices. Smarty Dish is a powerful dishwasher detergent that WORKS – without harmful stuff like phosphates and bleach.

 

so tell us: do you live in a phosphate-free state?  what do you think of the ban? is it an inconvenience, or are you starting to see more phosphate-free detergents available?


**deal: receive free shipping with the purchase of method pink graepfruit smarty dish (pouch only) on methodhome.com. enter the promo code “cleanH2O” (make sure to capitolize the H and O) at checkout. valid through 10/21 midnight pst.**
 


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method eco-maniacs play farmer at Slide Ranch

by annab, October 7, 2009

 

our eco-maniacs* team was at it again a few weeks ago with a volunteer trip to Slide Ranch to help clear some land and learn about sustainable farming. Slide Ranch offers visitors hands-on learning about the impact our choices have on food, health, and the environment, through activities and independent exploration of the farm and coastal wild lands. not only is the ranch educational, but it is beautiful!!!

 


we started out the day milking goats.

 

 

 



moved on to exploring the organic garden…


 


enjoyed lunch.

 



then it was on  to hard labor,, clearing a non-native hemlock from an area that slide ranch personnel are hoping to develop into a visitors’ center.  



 

even our CEO drew fraser got in on the action.



*method gives each method employee 3 days per year to spend volunteering in our community. we can use them either for company volunteer events or for personal volunteer projects.. last year, we did a big clean of Compass Family Center as well as a craft day with Root Division.


Slide Ranch was our second project this year, the first being a non-native species removal with Save The Bay.

 

  

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