I Dream Of Greeny-Cleaning! (Greenwala Feedback On Commercially-Available Natural Cleansers)

Shhhh.  Did you hear that? Wait for it....there...that sound. I've heard it before -- so many times (and so have you). In fact, it's happening in households all across the globe. That's right...little feet (human, fur-covered or a combination of both) pitter-pattering across formerly pristine floors, propelling equally miniature bodies to indiscriminately cast gargantuan goobers, chunky crumbs and general filth in their wake. Not to be outdone, petite button noses are instinctually drawn to immaculate, reflective surfaces in the home the way that moths dance around flames and LED lighting. Whether sweet little schnozolas are attached to wee-bitty humans or furry companions, glass, stainless steel and mirrors collectively recoil in horror as drippy, sticky, Zorro-like snot trails are left on anything within wiping reach.

And so it goes.  Children and pets bring great joy into our lives along with a massive tsunami of cleaning despair. The second we put down that bottle of disinfectant, they've already tossed their cookies on the coffee table (and I mean that in most graphic sense imaginable). In the world of an eco-conscious consumer, the perennial struggle between clean aspirations and the sobering pit of muck that you end up with is made more troubling by that fact that so-called green cleaners can often be unproven, ineffective or just plain phooey. For those who are so exhausted with their perpetual cleaning tasks that the idea of whipping up homemade dirt-blasting formulas could very well lead to a trip to the insane asylum, commercially-prepared eco-potions are an attractive alternative. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the most commonly-available green formulas on the market today, based exclusively on Greenwala community feedback.

1.   Green Works. This bleach and phosphorus-free Clorox product line (especially their Natural All-Purpose Cleaner) was quite surprisingly on the tip of almost every tongue and universally praised for its wide range of cleaning applications.  With 99% natural ingredients (including ethanol, glycerine, coconut surfactants and essential oils), users claim that it effectively blasts through a varied assortment of baked-on, caked-on filthy yuck, whether of child or household pet origin. If you can forgive the company's chemically-laden past and their current eagerness to ride on the coattails of Burt's Bees, then this product line might be right up your alley. Even the greenest of consumers gave this array of mainstream cleaners two thumbs up. 

2.  Seventh Generation. Hardly surprisingly, this trailblazingly green collection of household cleaners made the top 3 list of practically every Greenwala member I chatted with. Praised for its die-hard eco-conscience, comprehensive product ingredient disclosure, and overall admiral corporate stance, most fans seem to revere what Seventh Generation stands for far more than they actually seem to care about the efficacy of their product line. Still, the great majority (when pressed) were able to attest to the effectiveness of their Natural All Purpose Cleaner and their Natural 2X Concentrate Laundry Liquid. All were in unanimous agreement that this collection of cleaners was among the very first that was available to the public and consider it their go-to brand (especially their toilet bowl cleaner), but one felt that their dish soap left a somewhat oily residue.

3.  Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. Utilitarian and no-nonsense, the Dish Soap and All Purpose Cleaner in Mrs. Meyer's vast product collection were both continually cited as being "solid performers" formulated to "do the trick" without requiring much elbow grease. Quite a few fans applauded the Lemon Verbena variety and noted that regardless of one's fragrance preference, just a little Clean Day goes a long way (which helps to justify the slightly higher price point). Eco-ethics appear to be of paramount concern to this company based on their willingness to disclose comprehensive ingredient and product information on their website and labels. Though they may not be the absolute greenest kid on the block (acknowledging the use of some non-natural ingredients), they certainly seem to be one of the straightest shooters.

4.  Norwex. This internet-only eco-friendly product line adheres to strict European formulation standards (that far surpass current American regulations). "Highly concentrated," "remarkably effective" and "surprisingly affordable" are the top claims uttered by Norwex devotees, and while their Super Jet Dishwasher Detergent instantly rises to the top of the list, fans also praise their perpetually reusable Anti-Bacterial Microfiber cloths & mops. Impregnated with an FDA & EPA-approved natural silver-based antibacterial agent that requires just plain water to activate, all of their microfiber products immediately trap germs such as E. Coli, SARS, Streptococcus, Pneumonia and Salmonella on contact and kill them within minutes. One long-term user gushed that "they are re-usable for hundreds of washings......you will NOT be disappointed!"

5.  Method. This widely-available line of sleek-looking household cleaners proves that Target-backed green-lite products benefit with a lot of mainstream mileage. Greenwala users seem to agree that Method products work well, look good and are budget-friendly. Perusing their product line is like being assaulted with irresistible eye-candy, each color-scent-and-package more irresistible than the next, but aside from a flimsy blurb referencing their opposition to animal testing and a breezy comment about their products containing "biodegradable ingredients derived from natural materials like soy, coconut and palm oils," it's hard to tell specifically what we're cleaning with. Particularly eco-minded consumers are quick to point out that the company is not only notorious for failing to fully-disclose the ingredients they use...their formulas are known to contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is a skin irritant. Additionally, some users feel that their hand soaps -- especially their limited edition holiday varieties - are actually kind of stinky (in a Pepe Le Pew kind of way).

Honorable Mentions -

1.   Ecover's  Green Tea & Grapefruit Dishwashing Liquid, Laundry Bleach and Toilet Cleaner are highly recommended.

2.  Shaklee's long-lasting, multipurpose Basic H and their Dish Wash soap are lauded for their ability to cut through grease.

3.  Trader Joe's Next To Godliness Multipurpose Cleaner in Cedarwood & Clary Sage makes one Greenwala member want to marinate their food in it! Seasoning possibilities aside, it is also cited as being affordable and "darn good."

4.  Whole Foods' in-house 365 line of cleaners has been referred to as "perfectly reliable," "way better than Seventh Generation" and "good in a pinch."

If you are swayed to purchase any of the above products, please be aware that many manufacturers, such as Green Works, Mrs. Meyer's and Seventh Generation offer coupons on their websites!  In the vast eco-clean-o-sphere available to today's green-minded consumers, there are far more products and perceptions than can be adequately addressed within the confines of this page.  Still, your recommendations are valued, so if you feel that there is another worthy contender out there, please share your experiences in the comments section below.