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Green Host or Hostest Gift: Meyers Cleaning Kit?

11-10-08_meyers3.JPGOur friends recently moved into their new town home and invited us over for dinner. We stopped at our local coop on the way, hoping to find a green gift for their new home.

 
 

Plants seemed a little old fashioned, though some herbs or bulbs would have been nice. Giving cleaning products might seem strange, but the Meyers kit was so cute and came in holiday flavors, that I think it worked out.

11-10-08_meyers2.jpg

The kit we found was Mrs. Meyers Holiday Cleanup kit in Gingerbread, though I read online that it's been discontinued!

They also have kits in:
Peppermint
Rhubarb
Honeysuckle

As I'm sure some readers will notice, there is a good deal of packaging compared with buying a larger bottle - but for someone who may rely on more toxic cleaning products, this could be just the collection to turn them a little more green.

Do you have a favorite green host or hostest gift idea?

Tags

cleaning, gifts, cleaning products

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Comments (7)

Cleaning supplies are great as a housewarming gift, but I don't think that they should be given as a gift under any other circumstances.

posted by Aimi on November 10th 2008 at 12:04pm
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I gave this exact same thing as a housewarming gift (though it was a different scent), and it was warmly received. I think it's a good idea to nudge people in the 'green' direction while they're starting off with a clean slate.

posted by RLW on November 10th 2008 at 3:01pm
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Heh, I hope you mean "scents" and not "flavors" :)

I have been using my gingerbread kit for 2 years!
I keep refilling the spray bottle with a little all-purpose cleaner and it only takes a tiny bit of the cleaner with a lot of water. I clean frequently too!

posted by lisbet on November 10th 2008 at 3:10pm
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pretty dishtowel/tea towels. This is a gift that encourages not using paper towels, and is a great way to ad a spot of "functional" (and fun) art to a kitchen...

posted by fjorlief on November 10th 2008 at 10:35pm
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Nice idea, but am I the only person who thinks that both Mrs. Meyers and Method products are ridiculously expensive? For some nicely designed packaging—which for the most part is stored in your cupboard—people pay a premium price. If we are going to really take going Green seriously consumers must demand that these trendy companies become more realistic with their prices so more people can have access to environmentally safe supplies.

posted by SeattleMike on November 11th 2008 at 6:57am
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SeattleMike: Increased production drives pricing down, so the major producers of cleaning products (clorox, Tide, Comet, etc...) are able to negotiate for super low manufacturing and packaging prices in exchange for volume. Companies like Method & Mrs. Meyers do not yet sell the volume that would enable them to negotiate for lower prices. Plus, you also have to consider that the "big brands" are using cheap chemicals that are mass produced, for price alone, rather than paying attention to the quality in the bottle. These big brand cleaning products are McDonalds of their industry, releasing an inferior product at a perceived value that is really quite damaging to you & your household.

posted by jennyd on November 11th 2008 at 10:30am
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jennyd: You can't tell me that a company like Method, which is carried by Target stores and most major grocery chains nationwide is not a volume manufacturer. Please explain your economic excuses to small businesses which use green ingredients that sell locally for far far less than these high-end products.

posted by SeattleMike on November 11th 2008 at 11:44am
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