E-cloth Review (plus a link to a giveaway)!

I think we are all guilty of it…using paper towels for cleaning. Truth be told, it is often easier and more hygienic than using a cloth repeatedly. Unfortunately, although it may be slightly easier, it can have drastic effects on our environment. Just think for a moment, about the last time you cleaned your bathroom. Did you use paper towels? If so, how many did you use? Now, think about how many reusable cloths you could have used instead. The answer is likely one or two. With the environmental concerns growing in recent years, I really try to do my part to reduce my effect on the environment. In the past few months, I have started taking shopping bags to the store more often and I have switched from chemical cleaners to natural cleaners, etc. In addition, I recently found out about a great new product that has allowed me to switch from using paper towels for cleaning to one simple cloth: the E-cloth.

Review
When E-cloth emailed me and asked if I was interested in trying some of their products, I was definitely interested. E-cloth states that their products completely eliminate the need to use nasty chemicals for cleaning; all you need is their e-cloth and water. Needless to say, after seeing this statement, I was a bit skeptical. I asked myself, “How is it possible to clean something with only water?” It just didn’t make sense...until I received my E-cloth Kitchen Pack.

The E-cloth kitchen pack contains one E-cloth general purpose cloth and one E-cloth glass & polishing cloth. The general purpose E-cloth is made from a thick woven fabric that ensures any mess, even grease, will be easy to remove. The general purpose E-cloth is made to clean virtually any hard surface. For example, stainless steel, laminate countertops, chrome surfaces, etc. E-cloth says that their product can easily “scrape, lift, capture and absorb dirt, grime, water, oil, grease, and residue.”

The first time I used the general purpose E-cloth, I used it on my countertops and my stove. I noticed that it did a great job of removing all the dirt and grime that was left over from suppertime. It even removed a few stuck-on, hardened messes. I was quite impressed that this could be achieved with only using water. The E-cloth was very easy to use. All I had to do was soak it with warm water, ring it out, and start cleaning. After I finished using it, I rinsed it out (again with warm water) and hung it to dry. The reason I usually use paper towels is because after a day or two of hanging my dishrags in the kitchen, they start to stink (and that is putting it nicely). I absolutely hate the smell it gives off and the smell it leaves on my hands. I figure something like that can’t really do a good job of cleaning, and therefore, I hope you understand why I had been using paper towels in the past. I can imagine a few of you can relate. This leads me to the fact that the general purpose E-cloth had a surprising and wonderful benefit! I was able to use the E-cloth consistently for over 2 weeks (using the same process as above), without this “smelly dishrag” problem. After about 2 weeks, it did start to get a bit stinky so I threw it in the wash and my troubles were gone. I have to mention, this aspect of the E-cloth has been a HUGE selling point for both my boyfriend and me. After using this for a couple of weeks, he asked me when we would be getting some more. He is not the type to show his excitement often, so this was a very good sign! We will definitely be investing in a few more all purpose E-cloths in the near future.

The E-cloth glass and polishing cloth that came in the kitchen pack is a much thinner cloth than the general purpose E-cloth. E-cloth makes this product thin, rigid, and knitted to ensure ideal cleaning of hard surfaces. The great thing about this cloth is that is it said to both clean light grease and dirt while polishing your surface. The E-cloth website says that this cloth is perfect for windows and mirrors, but also works on stainless steel and chrome. The best part of all, it that the glass and polishing E-cloth is said to leave your surfaces clean and polished without leaving scratches, smears, or streaks.

When I used the E-cloth glass and polishing cloth for the first time, I tested it on three different surfaces: our glass coffee table, our bathroom mirror, and our stainless steel microwave (the outer surface). When I first tried it on my coffee table, I was surprised by how well it worked. I cleaned it just a few days ago with another natural based cleaner and it didn’t work too well. I came back today, tried cleaning it with my new e-cloth and it did a great job! Much better than the other cleaner (and paper towel) that I used previously. Next, I tried it on the bathroom mirror. At first, I wasn’t impressed. I noticed that after it dried there were large water spots visible. I left it for a while and came back. After giving the cloth a chance to dry a bit, I tried cleaning the mirror again. This time, the response was much better. I realized there wasn’t a problem with the E-cloth, but there was a problem with my cleaning method. Apparently, I didn’t ring it out well enough the first time…lesson learned. I also learned that if your mirror is dusty, it is probably best to quickly wipe it off with something other than the E-cloth. The E-cloth wasn’t able to remove all the dirt and dust at the same time. Finally, I decided to go ahead and try to clean something that was stainless steel: our microwave. Again, I was happy with the results. After cleaning with the E-cloth, the dirt was gone and the microwave was almost as shiny as new.


E-cloth explains that both of their cloths can be washed in the washing machine with hot water over 300 times, while continuing to work just as well as the first day you took them out of their package. By washing your E-cloths in hot water, it “allows the fibers to shed dirt, grime, and kill any bacteria that may have been captured during use.” In addition, “E-cloth can be dried by handing or use of a dryer providing no fabric softener is use.”

As shown in my above examples, the E-cloth all-purpose cloth and the E-cloth glass and polishing cloth are both fabulous investments. You can purchase the kitchen pack online for only $17.98 (that includes free shipping)! Since I will be able to use each cloth over 300 times and eliminate the need for additional cleaning supplies, I can just imagine the money we will save. I am very excited!

Just to leave you thinking, here are some shocking statistics that E-cloth sent me when they first contacted me about doing a review of their products:

-“Using E-cloth® paper towel usage can be reduced by 40 rolls per year per household resulting in savings of $40-$80 (per year, per household).”

-“If every household in the US used E-cloth as a primary cleaning method in lieu of paper towels for clean-up, the United States would reduce its landfill use by 1.6 million tons AND save $54.7 million in landfill dumping fees.”

-Finally, “Using E-cloth® reduces an average household’s use of chemicals by up to 80 percent, saving consumers up to $180 per person, per year.” E-cloth also ensures that you will reduce your family’s exposure to the toxic chemicals that are found in standard household cleaning products.

Do you want to enter to win a E-cloth Kitchen Pack to try in your home? Head on over to Everything 'In the Kitchen' Up Close where I will be giving away an E-cloth Kitchen Pack to two (2) lucky winners!

Good Luck!