In honor of Earth Day, we are trying our best to help the planet and pay attention to the big eco-issues. First step: Switch from chemical-packed cleaning products to "green" cleaning supplies. After hearing all the talk about how harmful traditional cleaning chemicals are on our pets and our bodies, we didn't need much motivation to jump in head-first to our task.

Enter our two intrepid roadtesters: The green novice (Clay) and the eco-friendly pro (Emily). We sent Clay off into her new (dirty) apartment armed with four products from Seventh Generation:

• Natural Dishwashing Liquid
• All Purpose Cleaner
• Laundry Liquid
• Natural Fabric Softener Sheets

Here's what happened...
"Until recently, I have not been as conscious of the environment as I probably should have been. If I could not find a recycling bin close by, I would not think twice about tossing my soda can into the garbage. Now I realize that every small change I make can have a positive impact. Last week I moved into a new apartment in New York. I happen to think that unpacking is worse than the packing process. In the past, I have moved everything – not just clothes and furniture, but all of the random hair products, aspirin, and old makeup that have been sitting in the medicine cabinet for years. I have since learned my lesson, so this move was the perfect opportunity to try out some new cleaning products."

The Product: Natural Dishwashing Liquid
The Result: My plates and silverware were spotless after using just a small amount. I enjoy the lavender and mint smell so much that I prefer to use it instead of hand soap, since it leaves my skin feeling so smooth.

The Product: All Purpose Cleaner
The Result: I have used this to scrub bathroom tiles, marble kitchen counters, and a glass dining tabletop. The cleaner did not leave any streaks on the glass, and left other spaces shining. I prefer the lavender scent of the dish soap, but the green mandarin and leaf smell is pleasant and not overpowering like many all-purpose cleaners can be.

The Product: Laundry Liquid
The Result: I like that this laundry detergent is 2x concentrated, yet the bottle is still a good size – it makes me feel like it will last for a while. I chose the free and clear scent because I do not actually want my clothes to smell like anything other than my preferred perfume. My clothes came out clean, and the detergent removed stains that I was not sure it would be able to.

The Product: Natural Fabric Softener Sheets
The Result: Admittedly, I was very skeptical about the appearance of these. They are not soft and white like I am used to; instead they are brown and paper-like. My clothes did, however, come out feeling just as soft.

Top Pick: The dishwashing liquid, especially since I use it every day. I honestly cannot tell the difference between environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies and traditional products. So I'm excited about trying out more!"

More to enjoy:
10 Quick Tips for Green Cleaning
Shopping for Safer Produce
Easy Tips for Saving Money (and the Environment)