Sustainability and Self-Reliance: Get Those Youngsters Cleaning

During the flu season, my students often get a little worried about all the empty seats in our classroom--who's got the "flu," a stomach bug, or the sniffles. Worse yet, did they miss the mass text that it is "Senior Skip Day"?

When the sniffles get to going or the artistic desk doodles get too irritating, I just go get my WARHORSE Multipurpose Cleaner (I like the mint scent), a bucket of water, some rags, and start cleaning the desks, computer keyboards, and tables. I always have a few students to jump in and get going. No fumes, no bleach residue, no chemicals on their hands--just a nice soft feeling from my glycerin-rich soap.

Just before Christmas break, Coach Claussen sent a student down to my room for some WARHORSE. The plans were to clean the girl's weight room. Apparently, the mats on the floor were filthy and underneath covered in mold and mildew. This little cleaning job turned into a big one once several of her students got to pulling up the mats and moving the equipment. They came back later that day and asked for more glycerin cleaning soap. I just sent the rest of my container when one student said, "Oh my gosh, it's so disgusting...." I applaud these young ladies for helping clean the weight room



Chores are important for teaching young children and teenagers responsibility and independence. Working along side "experienced clean freaks" is better than having youngsters do chores independently. Kids need to know how things are done correctly from start to finish.

Get your kids to cleaning: Our WARHORSE can eat the grease off your stove, the soap scum from shower doors, wash dirty hand prints from the walls, AND soften your skin in the process. It's LOADED with a natural degreaser and softener. Get little Nate to clean his own bathtub because our cleaning soap has no fumes or harsh chemicals. Yes, your three-year old can start learning responsibility with our WARHORSE. Safe for all ages and most washable surfaces.

• Our soaps foam and clean without sulfates or phosphates.
  

• Our soaps are concentrated with soap and glycerin--not diluted and thickened.
  

• Our soaps have an amber or dark color because the oils have undergone high temperatures. However, we don't use artificial dyes or whiteners to change their color, similar to brown rice, raw sugar, honey, nuts, and whole wheat flour. Most often, beauty and body products are artificially colored with synthetics.
  

• Our soaps are made from a sustainable and innovative process that produces glycerin-rich products
  

• We're proud that every batch is handcrafted from scratch.
  

Be Kind Soaps are kind to you, your family, your pet, and your planet.

WARHORSE Cleaning Soap Logo Born 10 Months Ago....WARHORSE T-Shirts Have Arrived!

Visit our website warhorsesolutions.com

Warhorse Solutions' backyard handcrafted WARHORSE Cleaning Soap was conceived a while back... Yes, my WARHORSE was born before the movie was announced.

In fact, WARHORSE was conceptualized on paper over 9 months ago by Polk Co. High School art teacher Jeff Thomas. Jeff's art room is directly across from my classroom, and he's been cleaning art department and home with my soaps for several years. Jeff drew several logo options for my aggressive, sustainable, glycerin-rich cleaning soap.

Since it's birth, the WARHORSE has gotten so much attention I needed to share his story. BTW, if you haven't looked closely, WARHORSE has 3 birds hidden in it, and some declare he was born in Troy; some say he's Native American. I just know I love him! Yes, he is stoic, tough, and beautiful. And Jeff is someone I admire and respect. Just ask his plethora of past and present students--his art of teaching is part of his art. For many reasons, this WARHORSE is truly spectacular, just like his designer and the products he represents.

Now that my WARHORSE has been analyzed, criticized, labelized, and idolized, I have some WARHORSE t-shirts for sale. They are awesome because they stand on their own--they're just a DANG COOL SHIRT--Guildan's ultra heavy weight cotton--a quality shirt. American Designs in Landrum did the distressed print--thanks Tim and Molly. Tim does the WARHORSE bottle labels for me as well. Just telling you all, there's lots of local expertise around. So far, be kind has been able to hire all ex PCHS students for research, graphics, web and blog design, marketing, and distribution. And if I can spend my little company's money close to home, then I will.

If you are interested in seeing the full line of be kind solutions soaps and cleaner, visit Mountain View Barbeque and Cafe in Columbus (just head toward Tryon on Hwy 108, through the roundabout, past Bi-Lo and KFC, then look on the left).

Owners Shane and Holly have kindly allowed us to put our products in their restaurant (BTW, there's lots more than barbeque--blackened tuna and salmon salads and wraps for example. And the smoked burger special is a family favorite with us). Shane uses WARHORSE to clean his entire restaurant, home, and his vehicles. So, we barter--I make cleaner and soaps for Mountain View and Mountain View hosts my products.

Since the WARHORSE is so good-looking and inspirational,

why not put him on a shirt?

Short sleeve is $15.00 and long sleeve is $20.00.
We have ice grey, charcoal grey, black,
white, camel, prairie dust, and sand.
Shirts are preshrunk and can be ironed.

Give us a call or email if you're interested in our products or WARHORSE shirts. 828-817-0350 or tweicker@bekindsolutions.com

Also, stop by Mountain View for products and t-shirts too, and try a grilled tuna salad, wraps, or some barbeque and chips with local Old Mule sauces.

Got some shirts in stock.


Many of my students think I'm a bit "humbug" when it comes to Christmas and "shopping." When possible, I like to make my special salads and jerky for presents. Last time I Christmas shopped in a mall was about 15 years ago. At our house, it's Christmas year round--the boys drive our homemade biodiesel and clean with be kind soaps. They now make the jerky and I make the soap.

I'm grateful for the creativity of PCHS talent and the help of my husband, sister, and friends. Thanks Carl, Amanda, Lizzy, Lyndsey, Anna, Cindi, Jody, Deanna, and everyone who has given my products a go.

Happy Holidays,

Tawana

WARHORSE News From the B. Matthews Eatery in Savannah, GA

Whenever I make a trip back home to Columbus, NC, I always like to stop by Mountain View BBQ and Deli to see how things are going there. As a past employee and chef, I occasionally sneak in the back door during slow restaurant hours to catch up with the owner Shane Blackwell and Jon Hampton. Recently, I was shooting the breeze in the kitchen with the guys when a couple bottles of this brown molasses-like liquid caught my eye. I asked Shane if it was a new BBQ Sauce or some kind of spice injection, and instantly his eyes lit up. "Man you've gotta try this stuff...it’s soap and Tawana Weicker makes it." I had to pause for a minute to let this marinate in my head. The jug of brown soap is made by my high school English teacher. Naturally, I laugh and ask him to enlighten me. So we spend the next 30 minutes to an hour discussing the cleaner’s uses, how it comes from "spent" fryer oil, and something to do with biodiesel. At this point I'm very curious.

The next step was to see if this stuff actually works. Presently, I work in historic downtown Savannah, Georgia at the B. Matthews Eatery, in a building and kitchen that dates back to the late 1700's. After I got home from my NC visit, I call Mrs. Weicker, and she ends up shipping me a gallon of WARHORSE. It arrives. So, I talk up this all natural soap with the guys, who could care less where the soap is from and about the process but just want to know if it works. With great expectations-- and even greater anxiety-- I bring the sample to the kitchen for a “deep cleaning” day, so this was a true test of what WARHORSE could actually do. With maybe 4 oz. of this green cleaner, the crew and I cleaned our entire line (steam tables, coolers, flat top, fryers, oven, etc.) I was shocked at how effortlessly the grease came off of everything! The crew was even more shocked that I found a soap made in the woods of western NC by an English teacher that worked better than any product we have ever used, and it works on every surface in our restaurant!

After a month or so of using WARHORSE, our entire restaurant has switched to this amazing product. From scrubbing floors and cleaning fryers, in one of the oldest kitchens in Savannah, to polishing the antique wood of Georgia's oldest bar, WARHORSE is the most versatile product in our family of restaurants and bars now. Weekly, it seems we find a new use for it, and the most amazing part is how gentle and green the product is. No harmful chemicals and the list of what’s in the soap reads like a recipe. With a much-needed movement towards a more sustainable and planet friendly products, not only in the food service industry but also everyday practices, WARHORSE is a frontrunner in this new market.

I have since visited the WARHORSE "factory" and have a better understanding of the process and people behind the product. Not only does this soap speak for itself, it also is a homegrown, grass roots kind of story with a person in charge that has passion for the product. I am hooked at first because the stuff is the best cleaner I have ever used in a restaurant and second for the person and vision behind it. WARHORSE is an affordable green cleaner that needs to be in every restaurant and home.

-Wes Sessoms

B. Matthews Eatery

Savannah, GA