How Safe Is Washing Up Liquid?

Whether or not we own dishwashers,  the vast majority of us frequently use some variety of washing-up liquid.  But do we actually think about the ingredients and their potential effects both on ourselves and the environment? 
According to the labels,  washing up liquid is made up of surfactants (i.e. detergents) - these are what dislodge grease from dishes by breaking down the surface tension of water.  "Surfactant" is simply an acronym of "surface active agent". 
It is vital that surfactants biodegrade quickly, to avoid damaging the aquatic environment,  Vegetable based surfactants are best from this viewpoint -  if they are not plant-based they are derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource that, as we are all painfully aware, can cause huge damage to aquatic life.
However, washing up liquids can also contain hormone-disrupting phthalates, phosphates, synthetic colourings and musks.  These ingredients do not even have to be listed on the label!   Phthlates may cause liver, kidney and testicular damage in children, and six types have been banned from teething toys. Artificial musks provide the scent in most washing-up liquid. New research from the Netherlands has found that synthetic musks impair the oestrogenic function in fish.  The scientists found that two polycyclic musks used in cleaning products (liable to end up in water) "could be significant endocrine disruptors."  Greenpeace has found them in human breast milk, blood and fatty tissue.  
Ethical Consumer Magazine has reviewed washing up liquids -  which makes for interesting reading.


Personally, I have used Bio-D washing up liquid for well over a year now and have been very impressed  at both its performance and economy.  A massive One Litre bottle retails at £2.49 from my Wikaniko Shop but as a distributor,  I can buy the same for just £1.94!   

The other good thing is that the bottles are recyclable being made from HDPE,  and they can also be re-used for many other things.   Why not give it a try -  the environment and your skin will thank you!

Go Eco Friendly With Real Nappies!

Using washable nappies is a great way to be eco-friendly;  it's been calculated that parents can save £500 or more per baby  by ditching disposables - not to mention being so much kinder to the environmentl.   Can you believe it - 8 million nappies are disposed of daily, in Britain -  isn't that a terrifying statistic?  Each nappy takes hundreds of years to break down - what will happen when there is no more landfill space?  It's time for some common sense.........


Because I am strongly committed to doing all I possibly can to spread the eco word,  I have signed up as a Real Nappy Agent with Screaming Green, and will be promoting reusable nappies in the Bassetlaw and Gainsborough areas to the best of my ability.   This will sit perfectly alongside my Wikaniko Home Business and I'm really looking forward to connecting with parents to demonstrate just how easy it is to save money and have peace of mind with modern washable nappies.  


I did try washable nappies when my children were babies - this was over 20 years ago and it wasn't successful -  but the current nappies are infinitely better, and there is a great deal of choice for parents,  with options available for every budget and situation.


Also,  the majority of county councils now have cashback offers for parents purchasing reusable nappies, giving them even more of an incentive to go green!


Please feel free to contact me for further information on real nappies.

More Concerns Over Cosmetics and Skincare Products

Today's Daily Mail has a revealing article regarding the cocktail of chemicals in cosmetic and skincare products -  why take the risk?  It's so easy nowadays to find products free from all these harmful ingredients.

Visit my Wikaniko Shop to browse a superb range of organic makeup and eco-friendly skincare and toiletries free of 515 risky chemicals!

Eco Friendly Tips For Laundry & Cleaning, From Wikaniko

Rethink your laundry habits. 

• Everything that we put into our laundry in the way of detergents ends up staying on our clothes; some scientists believe that this is why people now have sensitive skin and many more people, including babies and young children, are prone to skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. Even the fragrance used in detergents is comprised in most cases of synthetic chemicals. Wouldn’t it be nicer to use something on your clothes that not only meant that they were fresh and clean but also mean that your skin stayed healthy too?
• The chemicals in detergents get washed away to be dealt with by water treatment plants so that the water can then be used again. However, some of it ends up in water courses where these chemicals cause many problems such as death of aquatic life or the over production of algae. (we’ve all seen those green, stagnant ponds and rivers)
• Sometimes the water is not completely purged of all the unwanted chemicals, so it comes back to us with traces still present. That’s not very healthy, is it?
• There are many options now available to you that get your clothes clean and don’t harm anyone along the way, such as the Bio D range of products that are biodegradable and are totally harmless even if they do make it into the waterways. Or try soapnuts - so natural that they actually grow on trees, and amazingly economical! (see my separate blog post on soapnuts) Why not investigate the Biowashball which will do around 1000 washes for under £25? All are better for the environment, your family, and your purse.
• Washing clothes at lower temperatures means less energy used, so the less CO2 you are producing and the lower your energy bills will be. Most detergents, whether eco friendly or not, are now designed to be effective in cooler washes, so turn it down! Just get into the habit, and you will be pleasantly surprised. Personally I rarely wash anything above 30 degrees C nowadays.

Change your cleaning products as fast as possible!

•  Did you know that due to the amount of chemicals now found in cleaning products, air fresheners and so on, the level of air pollution inside a home can often be worse that outside?
• Also, the amount of chemicals in the home has been blamed by some scientists for the sharp increase in childhood asthma over the last few years.
• We have become so obsessed with clinical cleanliness that we kill beneficial bacteria too! As a result our immunity to the harmful bacteria is decreased, whilst they become increasingly resistant to methods of killing them. (Just think of those “superbugs” that are the scourge of hospitals these days)
• There are many great cleaning products available that are not only extremely effective, but also kind to you, your children, your pets, and the environment.
• Here’s a simple test to see how harmful your current cleaning products are: Go to the place where you keep your cleaning products. Take out the bottles, and read the labels to find out how many hazardous chemicals you are keeping in one place in your home (You can stop at 12, because by then you will get the general idea).
• Now, have a look in the cleaning section of my Wikaniko Shop for some examples of the amazing range of eco friendly products available to you, most of which are designed to perform several functions. Products like the Pink Stuff or the Eco Buddy, or even the magic eraser or the micro fibre cloths that require nothing but water to clean effectively. We also do refills for many of the products, which save you money, and reduce the amount of plastic going into landfills. What could be easier?

You Can Make A Difference - With Wikaniko

You might think that there's nothing you can do to reverse the damage that's being done to our environment -  but wait - watch this video and think again............ it is never too late to make a difference!



"Be The Change You Want To See In The World"

Wikaniko Launches New Luxury Skincare Range

I'm delighted to announce that the long-awaited Luxury Skincare range is now available from Wikaniko.


The 9 new products comprise of 

• Luxury Body Lotion
• Luxury Face Lotion
• Luxury Light Face Cream
• Luxury Anti Aging Cream
• Luxury Hydrating Foot Cream
• Luxury Men’s Moisturiser
• Geranium Toner [Hydrolat]
• Luxury Cleansing Lotion
• Luxury Foaming Facial Cleanser

This range has been developed exclusively for Wikanko by skincare experts and all products are free from Parabens, SLS and colourings. The ingredients include Sea Buckthorn Oil, Jojoba Oil, Red Mandarin Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Frankincense Oil, Organic Coconut, Magnolia, Neroli, Seaweed Extract etc. 

It's well worth reading all the individual product descriptions to see just how much care has gone into producing this fantastic new range.  And the prices are fantastic value as you'd expect.

Visit my Wikaniko Shop to see the new range.  Most of the products are in the Body & Skincare category apart from the Men's Moisturiser,  which, not surprisingly, is in the Men's Toiletries section :)

Want some even better news?!  All nine of these products are available for own branding, so if you know anyone who'd like to sell their own range of luxury eco-friendly skincare,  just get in touch

Cosmetics And Toiletries

Do you use cosmetics, skincare products and toiletries?  I think the answer is likely to be "yes"..........

and do you know what is IN these products that you happily buy at any supermarket or high street pharmacy?

Are you still happy with the products that you use daily for yourself and your family?

Wikaniko provides a wonderful range of organic cosmetics as well as toiletry and skincare products that are free from unsafe ingredients.  It is so easy to make the change!

For example, instead of regular roll-on or spray deodorant, why not try Wikaniko's deodorant stone?  It is free from aluminium hydrochloride and even better ,  it lasts for absolutely ages - I've had mine for well over a year.  

Just go to my Wikaniko Shop to purchase your deodorant stone.

Wikaniko Makes It Easy....

...in so many ways.


More and more people nowadays are beginning to take thought for the future of our planet, and wondering if there really is anything an individual can do to prevent the downward spiral of global warming, pollution, destruction of the ozone layer etc.  Some of you probably think that it's hopeless,  that it's not worth trying to change your habits because you can't make a difference - the damage is too great already.


Well, it's time to get out of that mindset because if we all believe that we CAN'T make a difference,  then we WON'T!


One of our favourite quotes in Wikaniko is this:


"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can take on the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has……"

I am proud to be one of these committed people - who would like to join me?

Please feel free to contact me via any of the various links on the right, or simply email me to find out more.

Why You Should Consider Joining Wikaniko

There are many home based opportunities that you could take on – some

great, some not so great. Some cost a lot to join, some not so much. Some

have damn good products and services, some have cheap plastic rubbish or

dubious services. The directors of Wikaniko took a look at all of them, and out of the pot have created the absolutely perfect home business, with every element you need to become successful. But at the end of the day, it all boils down to this: If you join a business that provides goods or services in the hopes of making some money, a few may possibly achieve that. However, if you join an opportunity that has a real purpose - and Wikaniko’s purpose is to help reduce the massive damage that is being done to our world – you’ll become wealthy as a result, both in mind and potentially in material terms.

That bit happens naturally, and the more passionate you become about your

business, the more your income will rise. Put it this way. Your customers will

gain. As a result, you will gain. As a result, the environment will gain. As a

result, Wikaniko gains and gives it all back to you, to help you do even more

good.

Join us today. When you do, the world will never be the same again.

We're helping the planet one small step at a time.

Eco Cleaning Tips

I came across this great tip a few months ago and was a bit sceptical that it could be effective - but it works brilliantly!

We all know that it can be difficult to get sweaty smells out of clothes - even those harsh biological detergents don't really work because all they do is cover up the smell with a strong synthetic perfume.

But, all you need to do is simply spray the "sweaty" area with white vinegar,  rub it in and just leave for 10 minutes or so,  then wash as normal.   Of course "normal" for me means using no "big brand" detergents - I use the totally eco-friendly alternative, i.e. soapnuts!

Here is a great video that explains how to use soapnuts:



If you'd like to try them just get in touch and I'll send you a FREE trial pack,  enough for up to 2 weeks' worth of regular laundry.  Or you can buy soapnuts in packs of various sizes at my Wikaniko shop

Want more green cleaning tips?
Click Here!

New Year's Resolution For The Sea - Stop The Plastic Pollution!

A Wikaniko colleague shared this the other day and I wanted to post it here - it sends a very powerful messaage.

PLEASE consider giving up using all plastic bags other than the totally degradable type - we all need to take action as soon as possible to stop this senseless killing of wildlife and pollution of our oceans.

Feel free to pass this video on to anyone!

Make it a Green New Year!

Happy New Year to all!

Why not make 2011 the year you take some positive steps to save the planet, reduce your carbon footprint,  live in a more sustainable way,  or however else you'd describe becoming more eco-friendly?
Read below to find out how to do this.......


Wikaniko (We Can Eco) is a new, different, exciting company, based in the UK, and owned by experienced Home Business entrepreneurs.
The work from home business promotes eco friendly products including toiletries, cosmetics, gardening, home, etc. There are around 900 products in all, reasonably priced, and designed to ensure repeat ordering.
Apart from helping to save the planet, Wikaniko offers a unique method whereby distributors receive a share of the company profits via a Co-operative Marketing Plan. There are a dozen routes to market, enabling you to choose a method that is comfortable to you. Free training is provided, and the Wikaniko support system is legendary. Furthermore, there is an Income Guarantee Plan that locks in an income which you can enjoy, every month – for life. It is better than any pension plan and a lot more lucrative.
It is an opportunity to earn a potentially substantial extra income, whilst doing something extremely worthwhile at the same time. And you can take advantage of the company’s in house bookkeeping system, along with numerous other facilities that are unique in the UK home business arena.
It would be beneficial for anyone to investigate this opportunity. Quite simply put – if you investigate this now, you may find yourself ahead of the game for once.
Ask for a no-obligation information pack, and discover this amazing income generating business for yourself.
Wikaniko - "The hardest thing about our business is trying to say the name....."