The Temptation
We’re all human and occasionally we give in to temptation. Maybe to please others (as in my case) or just to ease the way. As the wise Kermit the frog said, “It’s not easy being green.” Or is it?
Let me tell you my story. I am about to move in with the love of my life. Happy times, right? Well, there was a condition. I couldn’t live with the carpet. Two bachelors, three years, no working vacuum. You get the picture. Not even our green steam was going to make me feel healthy and safe with this carpet. I stipulated that the carpet must go and we would simply seal the concrete beneath the offensive covering. Piece of cake!
What we found underneath was disconcerting, to say the least. Vinyl tile adhered with a thick, black mastic. I frantically started Googling our options. I was in luck! There are natural adhesive and mastic removers! Soy based! Citrus based!
However, I was moving in with a man. A manly man. He recycles and doesn’t overuse or over-waste. Those are his limits. I knew plugging the expensive (by comparison) green products versus the apparently fast acting and amazingly effective, inexpensive chemical counterparts was going to be a hard sell. He’s paying, you see; and so I thought I needed to capitulate. I purchased a gallon of a noxious adhesive remover and guiltily handed it over to my beloved. I felt like I had betrayed my company, myself and my planet.
Three days later, I went over to check on progress and help. My boyfriend (whom I’ll call “J”) had used the product. J described it as noxious, pointed out that it took half an hour of sitting to work and if used improperly, could cause blindness. He was absolutely through with trying it on more of the floor. I was elated!
I picked up the phone and called Eco Wise. I was lucky enough to have the phone answered by Jim Holland. He was caring, sympathetic and very knowledgeable. More importantly, I discovered that he had to remove the exact same type of mastic from the Eco Wise showroom floor. I hopped in the car and went over and retrieved a sample of his citrus based adhesive remover and brought it home.
Jim had instructed me to just pour on a little of the citrus based d’limonene product Orange Tough and let it sit for 10 seconds, then wipe it off with paper towels. Using that many paper towels isn’t very green, but it would take far more sponges or cloths and turned out to be the least wasteful method. I explained the product to J and we gleefully watched as the citrus dissolved the thick, black adhesive. J and I got back in the truck and went to see Jim for two gallons of Orange Tough!
The next week was a citrus scented triumph. Our project was saved and after a conversation with J, I knew he would be more open to trying the green products first next time. Not only is it easy to be green, it is actually easier!
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