Please peruse our frequently asked questions, search for your question using the search field (above right) or contact us.
Q: Do green cleaning products really work?
A: Yes. Today's green cleaning products are in many ways just as effective and even more so than the mainstream harsher alternatives. Plus, our earth friendly cleaning products smell so pleasant that it can make cleaning seem like less of a chore.
Q: Do green cleaning products help relieve allergies?
A: We have had several customers comment that allergy sufferers notice an immediate difference after using our products. Let's face it; toxins aren't good for anyone, but especially those with breathing difficulties can benefit from our green cleaners. All Green-kits products have a Hazard Rating of "0" or "1" (minimal to slight).
Q: I'm pregnant. Should I switch to green cleaning products for the health of my baby? Will the cleaners be as effective at killing germs?
A: Pregnant women should avoid toxins of any kind. Our cleaning products are completely non-toxic, biodegradable, and earth friendly. There is, however, a difference between "cleaning" and "disinfecting". You should not rely on most green cleaning products to disinfect an area, particularly when the danger of a particular bacteria (such as salmonella) is present.
Q: Is the all-purpose surface cleaner safe to use on my marble countertops and other natural surfaces in my home?
A: Our non-toxic surface cleaners may be used on all types of surfaces, both natural stone - such as marble, limestone, and slate - and manmade surfaces such as Corian, Earthstone, Florenata, Topstone, Silverston, Wilsonart, and concrete. Our cleaners are safe enough for any food prep surface since they are non-toxic, non-acidic, non-abrasive, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.
Q: Will you be expanding your product line to include other green cleaning products?
A: We continually research available products to ensure our kits contain the best brand products on the market. If you have any specific recommendations for new cleaning product types that you would like us to consider, please send us an email and let us know.
Q: How do I know if a cleaning product I use is "earth friendly"?
A: If you purchased it on green-kits.com, you can be confident that it is not only earth friendly, but house friendly too. This market is not currently regulated (similar to organic foods several years ago), so you do need to shop with caution and not just choose cleaning products that claim to be "earth friendly" or "green". A good rule of thumb is to choose products that voluntarily print the ingredients on their labels (which they are not required to do) and make sure they only include plant-based and non-toxic ingredients (they never should contain bleach, chlorine, or dyes). All products represented by Green-kits conform to this policy.
Q: How is shopping on green-kits.com different from what you may be used to in a supermarket?
A: Have you ever asked yourself, "Why is there an entire aisle in this store dedicated to laundry detergent?" or "Why are there so many different options when all I want is 'clean'?". Companies know that variety can be a competitive edge, but that variety can confuse a lot of shoppers in the process. Consider that most companies pay for their product placement, and you'll no longer assume that a product at eye-level is the best one for you. We've heard these complaints -- and have experienced many of them ourselves -- and have tried to take most of the guesswork out of it for you (if what you are looking for is a safe, natural, healthy clean, that is).
Q: How long does it take to receive my order?
A: Green-kits are built to order and will be shipped within 3 - 7 days from when you place your order. Transit time will vary depending on your location. All kits ship from Virginia. Transit Map Please note USPS Parcel Post takes up to 7 days to deliver and does not offer tracking updates. We do not recommend Parcel Post when shipping time-sensitive orders.
Q: What if I need my Green-kit faster than your standard turnaround?
A: Just drop us a line in the comment box during checkout. We will do everything we can to ensure that your order is shipped out as quickly as possible and at no additional charge to you. You may also choose an expedited shipping method to decrease the transit time.
Q: Is sales tax charged on my order?
A: A 5% sales tax is applied to any orders that are shipped to an address in Virginia.
Q: How can I find out how much my shipping will be?
A: The price for shipping is provided when you complete your order (on the check-out page) because it is based on actual UPS or FedEx expenses depending upon the weight of your order and its geographic destination. No "handling" fees are charged. You may still cancel or adjust your order at the check-out page if you find the freight options are not what you expected.
Q: What kind of materials do you use when shipping my order?
A: Green-kits uses only recycled, biodegradable packaging materials. Our boxes are a minimum 30% recycled corrugated material printed with non-toxic inks. Our padded envelopes are 100% post consumer waste recycled fill. Our tissue is 100% recycled content. We use EcoFoam 100% biodegradable cornstarch packing peanuts. Our packing tape is water-activated recycled kraft paper printed with water-based inks. Even your packing list is printed on 100% recycled (post consumer waste) paper.
Q: Do you wholesale your products?
A: Green-kits is a direct-to-consumer company, which is why our prices are low! We do offer modest discounts to those that wish to resell our products in retail stores, fundraising programs, or for those purchasing bulk ($250+).
Q: Can I place my order over the phone?
A: Unfortunately we can only accept orders placed online at this time. All products are inventory controlled online making phone orders prohibitive. Feel free to email us with questions prior to placing your online order.
Q: I am local. Can I pick up my order?
A: We do not have a retail location or a warehouse that is open to the public, so pick-ups are not possible. This allows us to keep our costs as low as possible! If you are local and feel that shipping is too high, please email us and we will see if we can find an even better rate.
Q: How can I keep my reusable grocery bag clean?
A: We recommend spot cleaning as necessary. If the need to wash arises, be sure to turn the bag inside out and hand wash using cold water. Because our bags are made from 100% natural cotton, some shrinking and/or wrinkling can be expected. If this happens, feel free to use a warm iron.
Q: Are your cloth tote bags made in the USA?
A: The cotton Ecobag and TerraTote are printed in the USA. The raw materials and bag manufacturing process occurs in India. All manufacturing follows fair trade and fair labor practices. (All labor is 100% child-labor free) Also, our bags are "Anti-Terror", meaning the manufacturers comply with C-TPAT regulations regarding national security.
Q: Are your cloth grocery bags made from organic cotton?
A: We have an organic cotton line of both TerraTotes and EcoBags in addition to natural (non-organic) unbleached cotton. Organic options are clearly labeled.
Q: How are your reusable grocery bags printed?
A: Our bags are printed in the USA using 100% non-toxic inks applied by either a heat transfer process or direct inkjet process. We do not screen print our bags (which uses non-water-based inks and requires chemicals in the clean-up process). The result is a vibrant and soft print that lasts for as long as the bag.
Q: What kind of inks are used on your cotton bags, i.e. water-based, plastisol, petroleum based?
A: Our bags are printed using a direct-to-garment process. The inks used are water-based and earth friendly. They are cured onto the cotton using heat. Best of all, there is no clean-up required (so none of those dangerous clean-up chemicals that screen printing requires).
Q: Are your bags sold in stores, or are they only available online?
A: Currently our reusable cloth grocery bags are available online and some TerraTote styles are available in select retail stores nationwide.
Q: Why are your bags so inexpensive? Are they lesser quality than other bags on the market?
A: No! We're a small company that stores, prints and ships these bags directly to the public. Although the bags are of the highest quality and as durable and long lasting as other bags on the market (even more so, we think!), we sell directly to you, so there is no unnecessary mark-up. And yes, you can even find our president folding, packing and shipping your order with care.
Copyright © 2010 Eco-Logics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.