Archive for June, 2009

According to the Environmental Paper Network, half of the planet’s forests have already been burned or cleared and 80% of the forests that remain has been seriously degraded. Deforestation is a huge problem on our planet and helps to contribute to a wealth of other issues, including loss of animal habitat and erosion.

Already known for using high amounts of post consumer recycled content in its Sunrise toilet paper line, Marcal is committed to helping to reduce the impact of the 800 pounds of paper the average American uses per year. This reduction of paper could help to sustain better homes around the globe, with less of an impact on the forests our planet so desperately needs.

The new line of Marcal products, known as Small Steps, offer an alternative to papers made from virgin fibers. Instead, these are made from 100% recycled paper. According to the company website, Marcal uses recycled paper gathered from communities in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New England. Old magazines, junk mail, office paper and newspapers are turned into paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, and napkins in the brand new line. Plus the manufacturing process is free of chlorine bleach, dyes, and fragrances – making it safer for our planet and for those with allergies.

The best part: they’re just as strong, soft, and absorbent as other popular brands. No scratching, irritation, or thin construction. Just greener paper goods for you and your family.

In a previous lifetime, I used to work for great catering company that taught me what it really means to do hard work.  In my time there, one of the most hated and dreaded tasks by the staff was always scrubbing the greasy grill top and cleaning the grimy oven.  We would ACTUALLY pick straws to determine what unlucky soul’s duty it would be to perform this necessary evil.

Recently I discovered Mr. Muscle Oven & Grill Cleaner.  Like its name suggests, it conveniently does all the muscle work for you, leaving your job to just spray and wipe.  I was amazed at how an aerosol can could be so powerful!

Its institutional level formula clings to the toughest grease and grime, breaking it apart and thus allowing for a quicker, easier scrub down.  I’d recommend this for use on any oven, grill, broiler, hood, pot, pan, or even fryer. If this product had been around in that previous lifetime, I would have considered myself the lucky one to pull that shortened straw at the end of the night.

One of the things that sets us apart from our competitors is our belief in eco-friendly living. We advocate for the greenest cleaning supplies and want to make an industry that is associated with harmful chemicals more environmentally aware.

That’s why we enjoy reading the Easy Eco Blog. “Our goal,” the authors state, “is to help the environment, while saving you money and improving the entire world’s quality of life.” The site is full of great advice on going green and saving green while doing it. This week, they’ve been posting about choosing and installing solar panels. Easy Eco Blog is always informative and well worth adding to your RSS reader of choice.

You know these stains well. Their green, they smell like the lawn, and they’re the result of a great game or a tumble

Stain Fighting Tips for Laundry Day

down the hill. Grass stains are a part of life, but just because they get on your clothes doesn’t mean you still can’t go out and play. Getting rid of grass stains can be easy and effective and for every stain, there is a solution. So don’t worry. You can easily get it out and get those play clothes ready for more action.

First, apply a prewash treatment product to your stain and let sit for about 15 minutes. For a more natural approach, you can use a solution made up of one part white vinegar to two parts water. Use a toothbrush to work the liquid into the area. Finish with a quick wash using an enzyme detergent, which breaks down proteins and lifts the stain from your garment. For nonwashables, apply a store-bought stain fighter like Shout or Zout and let sit for about 15 minutes. Next, use an eyedropper and vinegar to remove any remaining color. Finally, flush the area thoroughly with cool water.

Sounds easy, right? Give it a try on your next load of laundry.

Did you ever think that next to your copiers and printers you’d find a toilet paper machine? Thanks to Japanese ingenuity, a new machine is letting offices turn their paper waste into toilet paper as a better way to utilize resources and recycle paper.

Tokyo-based Nakabayashi offers everything from bookbinding services, child car seats and office products, but its newest venture into toilet paper has audiences around the world excited for this eco-friendly and resourceful TP maker.

So how does it work? Well, the toilet paper machine is able to produce two rolls per hour from around 1,800 sheets (or 7.2kg) of used A4-sized paper, which would have usually been just thrown away. Right now there are few details, but all we know is that it’s set to be released in August in Japan with a price tag of about $95,000.

So what do you think? Would you be willing to recycle those extra copies to fill your bathroom needs?

Until then, remember you can get all of your office’s toilet paper needs from ToiletPaperWorld.com.

At ToiletPaperWorld.com, we have a passion for toilet paper, as well as this product’s interesting history. In a recent article in the Washington Post, reporters described the unique and sometimes uncomfortable history of toilet paper. Some highlights include:

• The first recorded use of toilet paper appears to have occurred in China around A.D. 851. After that, nothing much was written about the practice until the 14th century rolled around. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) special sheets of toilet tissue were fashioned for the imperial court.

• While Chinese royalty was lucky, there were many alternative methods to using toilet paper which made themselves known around the world. Some favorites include: pages from books, newspapers, grass, hay, perfumed wool, saltwater soaked sponges, corn cobs, lace, leaves, and the frayed ends of old anchor cable.

• TP finally came on the scene in 1857, when Joseph Gayetty sold medicated paper packages. Though this didn’t quite catch on, it did set the stage for a company we now know and love: Scott. In 1890, Scott Co. came out with the first edition of household toilet paper, which has since developed into the soft sheets we now know today.

To learn more about the unique history of toilet paper, be sure to check out ToiletPaperWorld.com’s official Toilet Paper Encyclopedia.

When my father launched ToiletPaperWorld.com in 2001, a PR company suggested he write a short history of toilet paper as a marketing ploy….well, the King of Toilet Paper doesn’t take his top product lightly.

This short blurb turned into a much bigger deal. From history dating back to ancient China, to detailed descriptions and comparisons of the top toilet paper manufacturers, to funny stories about this bathroom supply, more and more information was added. Finally it grew so large, it needed to be hosted on it’s own separate website- hence the Toilet Paper Encyclopedia was born.

There is a TON of great information on this site. Whether you’re doing research for a project or just filling up some spare time in between trips to the throne, check it out. See something you think is interesting that’s not on the site or have questions about anything toilet paper? Shoot my dad, Kenn, an email here. He loves to talk about TP. You can only imagine what bring your dad to school day was like for me growing up….