My biggest complaint about all cleaners is they seem to now use the cheapest unreliable plastic sprayers that often don't last long enough to even finish out the bottle. A decent plastic (glass breaks too easily, and it's slippery if you're cleaning and have wet hands) spray bottle that will last for years and hundreds of refills only costs a few bucks at your local hardware store. They are also much more comfortable to use. Fill it with whatever you want, label it with a Sharpie.
Agreed - I have several hardware-store-bought spray bottles that have withstood years & several moves. Now I'm just waiting to finish the last of my 10:1 Simple Green mix to switch to one of the eco-friendly options. Glad though, that the Method option is indeed viable from a cleaning-ability angle. When in a pinch (vs Grove or other options), they're easy to purchase at several local stores.
you must have some amazing luck bc no hardware store level stuff lasts anywhere beyond one to a few months. the nozzles, is rly what i mean. ..everything is crap nowadays thats made to sell for a quick buck, break and buy more. i've even bought from a higher end source--Granger-and that didnt' last more than 6 months. thing built to last are exceptionally rare
@@akogarehouse I've had mine for several years, some more than 6. TBH I haven't purchased any recently because the old ones are still fine. Shop around, there's still quality stuff out there -- it just takes some searching and a few bucks more.
A friend of mine is a biochemist and he warned me way back in the 90s not to use antibacterial products as the default, only to use them if there's a situational need like a sickness in the house or a specific cleanup job that required it like chicken juice, but otherwise to use regular cleaners for day to day stuff. His job was finding counteragents for biochemical warfare, he told me if I knew half of what he knew I would never buy anything antibacterial ever again, that was over 30 years ago.
We have been very pleased with the Grove cleaners. The spray bottles have lasted quite a while with no issues. So nice to avoid plastics and use glass.
Dr. Bronners Sal Suds is my go to for everything, including laundry. A little in a spray bottle, heavily diluted, perfect for everyday cleaning and smells wonderful! Love seeing everybody's go to.
Same! I add a little 90% isopropyl alcohol if I need an anti bacterial. Perfect for stone countertops instead of pricy stone cleaners and does a wonderful job. I’ve even bathed my dog with Sal Suds when she rolled in something stinky!
I was going to say the same thing. I'd also like for them to test the claims they make about eliminating 99% of bacteria. (I do love my e-cloths, though)
@@elisebrown5157i use the e-cloths and i think they work really well. Especially the glass/window and the stainless steel. Clean way better than any product I’ve ever used and i am PICKY. They also keep my toddlers busy when they “help clean”. Just water so no worry!
Can't imagine using any kind of strong chemicals in a microwave. Was always taught to put a bowl of water inside, turn it on for a few minutes, and it breaks down anything, just wipe it clean. For the rest of the kitchen, I love Meyers products - great scents, and they work well.
I do the bowl of water to. But I also add a quartered lemon to the bowl, giving those quarters a lil squeeze in the water. It really is great for refreshing or removing stale smells from a heavily used microwave.
Agree that the Method sprays work very nicely-Ive been using the anti bac recently. Grove was fine, too. But for 15-16 years, the product I keep going back to for cleaning almost everything in the house has been Sal Suds by Dr Bronner, diluted in a spray bottle (the ones with the red and white sprayer that looks like a goose head last the longest), or for floors, in a bucket. It’s great for the whole kitchen, on our 80 yr old tub, tiles, wood floors, cabinets,etc.
Method products are toxic. They even got sued for greenwashing claims, which they had to pay out $2.5million. Pls, stay away from them. It’s best to stick to your Dr bronners. They are actually safe and non toxic. 😊
Thank you! I so appreciate your testing so I don't waste my money trying these alternative cleaners that purport to be something they are not. 🎉❤ Greatly appreciate your diligence on the his topic!
Since soap isn't formulated for that, it doesn't have a preservative package that will work when diluted. I like simple green or Sal Suds since they're EPA Safer Choices and have dilution instructions so they should prevent microbial growth when diluted.
Yep. Clean My Space channel has a couple videos explaining exactly how to make very effective DIY cleaners. I've been making my own cleaners for a long time now, and I've never had a problem with bacteria, streaking, etc. They work great, they're very simple to make, they're good for the environment, and SO much less expensive than store-bought cleaners.
I’m Method all the way. Hand soap, dish soap, glass cleaner, stone cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, shower cleaner…all Method. For disinfectant, Seventh Generation. I have the aerosol, the traditional spray, and my holy grail: the wipes. I’ve tried dozens of other cleaners over the years, including others more “eco-friendly” but I always come back to Method and Seventh Generation for the wins. Best scents, best performance, no headaches or nausea.
Method got sued for greenwashing claims. In which they had to pay out $2.5million. Their ratings on EWG is between D-F. F being the most toxic. Might as well stick to your usual toxic stuff instead of paying a premium for a greenwashed, and still toxic cleaners.
I'm a big fan of Meyer's. The concentrate does come in a plastic bottle, but a little goes a long way. My concentrate bottle has been going strong for over a year.
Meyers seems to have more chemicals than they let on - which is why Method was their end choice in that part of the breakdown - I wish they had gone into more detail - as I LOVE Meyers scents --- but now realize they are just like calling eggs cage free - when the chicken is crammed into a crowed greenhouse type thing. Technically, sure .... but actually ... no better than the other crappola :)
I found Meyers all-purpose spray to be quite bad at removing normal amounts of grease. Lemon verbena Smell is awesome!!. Sad the spray is so ineffective. The baking soda liquid cleaner is decent for my bathroom.
I use citric acid for so many cleaning jobs, including opening a sluggish drain, cleaning the dishwasher, coffeepot, bathtub and shower doors. It's magic! I also use it to make my own mayo-MUCH cheaper than store bought. The recipe came in theLemi-Shine brand plain citric acid. Completely eco-friendly and no nasty fake scent! Winner!!!
We use Force of Nature and been happy with it. That said, I have two young kids, so we're essentially always cleaning something. With that as our go to cleaner for just about anything, the 2 week deadline is pretty easy to deal with. I wouldn't say it turns into "water" at 2 weeks. They just can't stand by the efficacy of the disinfectant, so I wouldn't use it to clean up after breaking down a chicken, but it's perfectly fine for cleaning windows, surfaces, etc that don't need to be disinfected. The pods are crazy cheap too. Wish they weren't plastic because it seems like a lot of waste, but as you point out, the alternatives aren't great. The pods are supposed to be recyclable, but it seems like a lot of plastic recycling is completely bs so I'm dubious about that part.
Can't speak to how much cleaner you have to use but here's the breakdown of prices: - Lysol 32fl oz @ $4, 13¢/fl oz - Method 28fl oz 4 pack @ $17, 15¢/fl oz - Grove (cleaner only) 6 vials making 16fl oz each @ $29, 30¢/fl oz - Simplehuman 12 tabs making 6fl oz each @ $13, 18¢/fl oz
Hi. Love the reviews and wide spread testing of products. Was simply green compared in this testing? Curious to see how it stacks up with all the cleaners tested.
@@skeletronmw Vinegar is not great at disinfecting. It only kills a few strains of bacteria. Your best bet for a disinfectant is something that is registered by the EPA as such.
I’ve used Red Juice from the Clean Team for decades. Zero smell, excellent degreasing power, food safe, and sold as a liquid concentrate so it’s efficient and reasonably priced. No sexy packaging but it’s a great, effective option, especially if you have issues with strong smells.
Loved this video. As to your comment that glass is recyclable: I know you’re in MA. In MA glass isn’t recycled- it’s crushed down and used for landfill layering. That’s because of its weight and the fact that that here in MA we have not one company making bottles out of crushed/recycled glass. Super sad. 😢
Grove offers free recycling. You let them know and they send you a prepaid packing slip and you can send the glass bottles back to them to be recycled. (Not sure about the carbon foot print vs the saved glass though…)
Thanks for bringing this up, I didn’t know. I do try to reuse good-quality plastic and glass containers. Also, a few google searches I did indicate that turning in eligible glass/plastic bottles for deposit is the best way to make sure those get recycled.
I switched to Mrs Meyers a few years ago for my dish soap, hand soap, and spray cleaner and I'm absolutely addicted. Their hand soap doesn't suck all the moisture out of my hands every time I use it, the dish soap is as good or better than any other big name brand for cutting through grease, and the spray cleaner doesn't leave streaks on my black stove top. And their lemon verbena scent smells clean and fresh without being overpowering. Yes, I'm a huge fan lol
Me too! I love Mrs. Meyers. My favorite place to use it is on my glass stovetop. With a sponge, it cleans it better than anything else I’ve found and keeps it looking like new. Once in a great while, I will use the recommended abrasive cleaner to scrub it a little, but 90% of the time, Mrs. Meyers is all I need.
@cynthiasymons I use it with a microfiber cloth and it always leaves such a nice shine with no streaks. I love my black stove top but those streaks drive me crazy 😂😂
One thing that might be problematic for me is the tendency to drop things while I clean. The last thing I need is to drop a glass bottle in my shower and have it shatter. I do try to reduce single use plastics as much as possible, but there are places where plastic is a better solution.
It's also not very good for people with disabilities or certain medical issues. For example, someone who has seizures should probably not use a glass cleaning bottle.
Maybe you can test dish soap diluted in water as an eco friendly option? Can you put out a video on why vinegar is not a general purpose cleaner? It's not any better at removing oil than plan water, and it's not antimicrobial at the concentrations most people suggest using it at.
I’m glad ATK is looking at more eco-friendly options. I’ve often cringed at how much plastic wrap and foil is wasted with some of their cooking methods.
Blueland was shown and she said it takes 25 mins. I use blueland cleaning products and really like the multi purpose spray and bathroom spray. One bottle lasts me months so the refill time doesn't bother me.
Absolutely agree. I honestly can’t trust a company like method that uses such an egregious amount of cloying fragrance in their products. I usually stick with 7th generation as it’s effective and either FF or mildly scented.
@@lemonz1769 my mom used to buy 7th generation products and they never seemed to work well, but that was decades ago at this point, so hopefully they have improved. It's frustrating how much more it often costs to get unscented products.
Whole Foods brands makes an unscented all purpose cleaner that I’ve been using for the past few years. It does a great job and I’m not left coughing like I am with scented products. The last time I got it I believe it was $4.99 - up from $3.99. Their unscented dish soap that compares to Dawn is also good.
This is everything I've been wanting every time I agonize over whether I can switch to a more eco-friendly cleaner (been using Method all-purpose in ATK's recommendation for years). Thanks so much, I know what I'm getting next time we need to restock cleaning supplies!
Grove & Co. Is my absolute favorite multi-purpose cleaner. I've yet to find something that stuff won't tackle. In addition my husband absolutely loves it.
As long as I am mixing up my own cleaning fluid - I can save a spray bottle and add a few drops of dish liquid, white vinegar, and get citric acid from the spice section. We also buy refills of glass cleaner in a pouch, and dilute it with vinegar and water. Handles a lot of applications.
Bingo. I bought citric acid in bulk. And there's no need to spray, just apply it to the surface or the rag you are using. And to conquer the "leaves streaks" problem, use newspaper from your local give-away tabloid. You don't have to read it first.
@@lylawaters6345 least expensive that I've found is from a local brewing and wine making supplier. I can buy citric acid by the pound from them for less than the jar in the canning section.
Did you test Branch Basics? Their concentrate works great and depending on the dilution, you make everything from unscented glass cleaner to all purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, laundry detergent and even hand soap. We clean everything with it!
The EXACT thing I wanted to hear was hearing an independent lab was used to test the anti microbial effectiveness of the all-natural sprays. That’s the deciding factor for me. But for the eco-friendly stuff, it’s a huge missed opportunity that you guys didn’t do the same anti-microbial tests, or at least mention if they didn’t have that ability. Regardless, great video in helping me decide :)
i've subscribed to this idea of an eco friendly diy solution for a very long time but, only recently realized vinegar cancels out soap's soapiness, and dont quite know what to think. ..is it even useful?
Me, too. I first tried it after seeing it recommended on ATK. It worked so well on my greasy range and hood that it's all I've used in my kitchen since then. I love that it comes in different fragrances. My favorite is the pink grapefruit. I use their pink grapefruit hand soap as well.
We started using the Simple Human tablets about six months ago, and we’ve never run into an issue of having to wait to clean. I think that may be because we use their spray bottle, which is fairly small. (It’s also a pretty good spray bottle). In addition to all the eco friendly stuff, it saves us a space under the sink.
I used to work for Clorox as a Product Development Scientist AGES ago - To this day I still use the Clorox Cleanup with Bleach for most surfaces (that are safe) and tasks. Simple and effective. Occasionally I will use Method (love their scents) and an acid-based cleaner for hard water situations.
Not to be a vibe killer, but I didn't care for the Method cleaner. I always feel like I work harder compared to my Lysol Peroxide cleaner. Smells lovely though!
Same! It leaves streaks and a film behind and is completely unhelpful after any splatter on the stove, so I have to use Windex afterwards. I use it to wash out the sink at the end of the day or for my kitchen table.
Are you guys open to testing DIY CLEANERS that are made of common ingredients? Would love to see your review and pick on those and then compare them to the Grove and Method. It would be awesome to cut down even more on "footprint". Best wishes to you folks and thanks for the content you share.
I've never used a spray cleaner on the inside of a microwave. Just put a bowl half full of water in there and run it for 2 minutes and it steam cleans the inside and you can just wipe it out effortlessly
I just use dish soap and water or vinegar most of the time but when i do want spray cleaner i use the natural ones because i can't handle the smell of the chemical ones. I appreciate the reviews of the packaging but when i find a spray bottle i like i just wind up refilling it with whatever cleaner i like
You guys are doing the lord's work! Id be curious about the msrp pricing for the concentrated stuff vs premade. Are the savings being passed to consumers? And is it really using less plastic?
I love the concept of the wax tubes of cleaner, like that is really a novel idea, sad to see they didnt work out, but i do love the thinking outside of the box on it, or bottle i suppose!
I will say Method glass cleaner and All-Purpose cleaner are the only ones I can use without choking, and with COPD that's sort of important. (I'd use the pink grapefruit as cologne, and yet it makes things shine.)
I hope you have one in the works about those laundry strips. I'd love to know if those work as well - that would be a ton of plastic (and hopefully chemicals) saved!
"I sure don't want a cleaning spray that gives me a deadline." LOL, that is really not going to work well for me. I will definitely give Grove a try! Thanks for this video.
Grove, mrs. Meyers, and 7th gen are some of my favorites. Unfortunately I have had issues with the grove sprayers breaking, but in my own bottle/with a different spray top it was cheaper & broke less which meant less wasted plastics lol.
409 for degreaser, chorox with bleach for disinfecting and brightening, windex for a smudge free shine. I dont want or need anything else. Plus a Swedish dish cloth for cleaning the counter tops. They are the best.
Make sure the recycling place accepts glass. Where I live in Florida they stopped accepting glass as it wasn’t profitable. I spoke with an attendant and that was their answer.
I use vinegar, sometimes diluted with water. My counters are spotless, and no smells. I know that I could add a few drops of dish soap but I’m happy without it. Also I’m very consistent about cleaning my kitchen and never have horrible messes. In addition, I basically prepare only vegetables so don’t have to worry about contamination from meat or chicken. 8:55
I love this! I buy cleaners by the gallon. It’s a mail order cleaner. It’s from Speed Cleaning. They are nontoxic. The products I buy are Blue Juice, Red Juice & Scum Bum. I’d like to see how they hold up compared to these.
Quat is a very effective anti-microbial and you can buy it in tablet form. I got a small bottle of 150 tablets for like $8 and I use 1 tablet/32oz spray bottle. Super eco-friendly, super effective, super inexpensive, and zero scent.
I use cup of vinegar and cup of distilled water to a 40 spray bottle. And i use it on everything.. and that plastic bottle I've have for possibly 3 years. I bought something similar to it at the dollar store and I read the ingredients and it was just basically like I had mentioned above. And I'm the only one who actually smells it other than my wife and it's actually very safe and it does break down a lot of build up on everything, I actually haven't tried it on showers but from what I've seen on the pictures on the back of the original bottle it shows it can be used in bathrooms so I'm tempted to try it. Thank you for your reviews and you give a very good information on the products you review on, one of your reviews was about the thermapen or something similar to it that you picked out your top product and my wife and I got it and she really enjoys it because it gives your accurate reading but she never did before on cooked Foods specially chicken beef pork which are kind of hard to do determine on what the inner. temperature is
Yep. Vinegar diluted into water is a great cleaner for pretty much everything. I discovered just how much better homemade cleaners work a few years ago and boy, was I big mad when I figured out how much money I've wasted over the years on nasty chemicals that didn't even work! 😂
If all you use is vinegar, then your house is dirty. You need to understand what vinegar actually can and can't do. Worst case is you expect it to disinfect so you feel like you're safe when you aren't.
Going to be the odd one out but LA’s Totally Awesome degreaser from the Dollar Tree, the bottle lasts ages and is in concentrate form with full recipe ratios on the side. It’s only $1.25 for a large bottle and will last ages. The smell is chemically but it’s not horrible, and very light, compared to most. It’s a bit harsh, but does the job. That or Simple Green, but that can dye grout, too.
And yet a lot of natural products (Method included!) still contain Methylisothiazolinone which is highly allergenic and causes allergic eczema/dermatitis. Surface cleaners, laundry detergent, hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner... that preservative is in everything that recently went "paraben free" and just put in a horrible allergen instead. I'm allergic to so many products now including the hand soap at my work place!
ATK is being nit-picky with one of the products. Force of Nature is a great cleaner and disinfectant, but ATK dings it for “only” having a two week shelf life. However, the amount you make per batch is basically a two week supply. Less, if you clean more frequently. And it doesn’t just “turn back into water.” It’s still a good cleaner but loses some of its disinfecting properties.
What about buying some of the raw materials, instead of pre-prepared solutions or solute blends? Citric acid, for example, is readily available in powdered form. I would have liked to see a "from scratch" cleaner spray recipe in the video.
I just switched to using all homemade cleaners last year. I will confirm that they work WAY better than anything on the market. And you can find free recipes for cleaning EVERYTHING in your house using some basic ingredients like distilled water, white vinegar, washing powder, isopropyl alcohol, borax, salt, and some essential oils like thyme (for antibacterial/antifungal/antiviral properties).
I tried a lot of the home made cleaner recipes ... most work great, but only on a few limited types of grime or limited surfaces. For example, acid based cleaners (citric acid, vinegar) work well on water based dirt and soap scum, but do very little for heavy grease. Baking soda or dish soap work on light grease. Some formulations will harm some materials - don't use acids on marble! For a true **multi** surface cleaner, you need to look at the chemistry of the ingredients and the surfaces. A professional can create a much better product than you or I can, and they can limit themselves to only natural, eco-friendly ingredients. If you have a d-i-y recipe that works for you ... keep using it! I'm going to stick with professionally formulated cleaners ... right now, I'm using Grove. FYI: I'm a hobbyist cosmetics formulator. For my hobby, I learned enough chemistry to know that sometimes the experts really do know their stuff! I'll make my own of many things, but I'm happy to pay for things I can't make well.
@@lizcademy4809 I think that the materials you are trying to clean also affect how useful homemade products are; Plastics are harder to clean than wood/stone/marble. Synthetic clothing is much harder to clean using all natural products than cotton, linen, and wool. I make all of my own cleaners and have never had an issue cleaning animal greases off surfaces. I couldn't tell you whether they would work on petroleum-based stains because I don't really have them.
I use the Mrs Meyers concentrate because it's more economical than Method and it cleans perfectly well enough for me. I'm sure the SimpleHuman cleaner is good--I've never been disappointed in one of them--but I just looked and one tablet makes 6 oz of cleaner and 12 of them cost $13, so that's 6 cents/oz (for comparison, although I make a stronger dilution, for general cleaning Mrs Meyers recommends 1/4 cup [2 oz] per gallon and a 32 oz bottle makes 16 gallons of cleanser for $10)
Meyers seems to have more chemicals than they let on - which is why Method was their end choice in that part of the breakdown - I wish they had gone into more detail - as I LOVE Meyers scents --- but now realize they are just like calling eggs cage free - when the chicken is crammed into a crowed greenhouse type thing. Technically, sure .... but actually ... no better than the other crappola :)
@@KeiPalace Meyers seems to have more chemicals than they let on - which is why Method was their end choice in that part of the breakdown - I wish they had gone into more detail - as I LOVE Meyers scents --- but now realize they are just like calling eggs cage free - when the chicken is crammed into a crowed greenhouse type thing. Technically, sure .... but actually ... no better than the other crappola :)
@@TwistedRootsVanVelzerPress yeah,I've read the complaints about Mrs Meyers "green washing" their products and of course there's some truth to it, but I suppose it comes down to how far we choose to go in the "natural" direction since it's such an amorphous term. If we really wanted to be natural, we'd be cleaning with vinegar and water and baking soda. Lots of people do and good for them for making that choice, but in the end I guess we all set our own parameters -- and even choosing any greener product is far better than the most common cleaning products.
I use the Method green bottle anti-bac on everything and it does a number on my stainless sink. I have hard water and this cleaner shines it right up. The problem lately is that the nozzle trigger sticks shut when pulled for a spray. I'm about ready to try another brand because of this. I usually buy a box (6 bottles) at a time but no more.
I like Method as an all-purpose cleaner, but recently bought Force of Nature to test as a disinfectant (vs. disinfecting wipes). I don't think it's fair to compare Force of Nature to an all-purpose cleaner. It's not. I haven't decided if it's for me and I don't think it's great at everything (as the company makes it seem), but it's done good at removing mold from my shower where I can't use bleach (I'm on a septic system). I can't get over how expensive Grove is compared to Method, but I like the reduced packaging.
I use vodka for most surfaces. I keep citrus peels in an old mayo jar and add cheap generic vodka (the stuff you find by the gallon for 7 dollars), let soak for awhile and decant into a spray bottle as needed. For glass I get concentrated vinegar from the refill store and shine using the Trader Joes Flyer. :).
2:1 ratio water to isopropyl with a few drops of dawn is a great all purpose cleaner and safe to use on natural stone like granite, unlike vinegar or acid based cleaners.
EDIT: HUGE WIN AT TARGET! They DO carry Method in glass concentrate bottles like the Grove brand!! Method Pink Grapefruit All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate Refill Kit - 2 fl oz/2ct!! Ok but then you didn't test the eco friendly picks at how effective they are at killing germs? Cause of that, I have to stick with Method for now. BUT I do appreciate knowing that Method is as effective as Lysol (the chemical cleaners smell terrible and give me headaches). Last question: Did this analysis include Covid since some chemical cleaner do get rid of Covid on surfaces. (Obviously, airborne Covid is much more relevant to infection but it's still go to know). Thanks for the testing!
Thanks! I have Method but I’m curious to try Grove and Simple Human. Lysol Toilet cleaner gave me headaches because of something or fragrance. I had to give it away
@@oliviahein7772 I haven’t used a toxic cleaner in my toilets for 40 years. I pour about 8 oz of white vinegar in the toilet, careful to let it pour down the entire surface from the sides; let it soak for about 15 minutes (more, if I get distracted), then add a squirt of ‘natural’ dish soap (7th Generation), and lightly scrub with a toilet brush. Hardly any actual scrubbing is needed, because the acid breaks down any build-up so effectively! I basically use the same technique for my tubs, swabbing the tub with undiluted vinegar, then waiting a few minutes to easily wipe down with a sponge and dish soap. Note: after a few years, a slight ring of mineral deposits can form at the waterline of the toilet. I then drain the toilet, don rubber gloves, and use a mild natural abrasive (Bon Ami powder) to scrub it away.
Young Living actually makes a great cleaning spray with their Thieves formula that's also along the lines of reducing waste like the Simple Human in this test. It would have made a good fit for this test with its pleasant odor and highly effective cleaning power based on plant essential oils. Sounds like an ad, but I've gotten great results for years.
How do these natural/eco-friendly products stack up to a DIY solution with vinegar? Is there a solution that you can make that is a worthy competitor to the ones you tested?
Now compare those to making your own at home. How does it stack up to buying a bottle sprayer, or just reusing one from a store bought cleaner, using vinegar or ammonia, or other cleaning powders/liquids most people have in their homes already?
I wish we could use Method in this household. But its scent or components affect MiL's respiration just as badly as most conventional cleansers affect mine. :-/
Mine tends to stain easily so I have to get in there with a magic eraser every few months, but otherwise cleaning vinegar and Dr Bronners do a great job.
My biggest complaint about all cleaners is they seem to now use the cheapest unreliable plastic sprayers that often don't last long enough to even finish out the bottle. A decent plastic (glass breaks too easily, and it's slippery if you're cleaning and have wet hands) spray bottle that will last for years and hundreds of refills only costs a few bucks at your local hardware store. They are also much more comfortable to use. Fill it with whatever you want, label it with a Sharpie.
Agreed - I have several hardware-store-bought spray bottles that have withstood years & several moves. Now I'm just waiting to finish the last of my 10:1 Simple Green mix to switch to one of the eco-friendly options.
Glad though, that the Method option is indeed viable from a cleaning-ability angle. When in a pinch (vs Grove or other options), they're easy to purchase at several local stores.
you must have some amazing luck bc no hardware store level stuff lasts anywhere beyond one to a few months. the nozzles, is rly what i mean. ..everything is crap nowadays thats made to sell for a quick buck, break and buy more. i've even bought from a higher end source--Granger-and that didnt' last more than 6 months. thing built to last are exceptionally rare
@@akogarehouse I've had mine for several years, some more than 6. TBH I haven't purchased any recently because the old ones are still fine. Shop around, there's still quality stuff out there -- it just takes some searching and a few bucks more.
I completely agree. Plus I like not buying more useless trash!
Ĺĺ0ⁿ@@TheOtherBill
A friend of mine is a biochemist and he warned me way back in the 90s not to use antibacterial products as the default, only to use them if there's a situational need like a sickness in the house or a specific cleanup job that required it like chicken juice, but otherwise to use regular cleaners for day to day stuff. His job was finding counteragents for biochemical warfare, he told me if I knew half of what he knew I would never buy anything antibacterial ever again, that was over 30 years ago.
Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find anything that isn't anti bacterial anymore.
Such great knowledge to share! I wish more would listen. You did not even cover the points of building up resistance to 'antimicrobial'.
That concern is usually about stuff like triclosan, not bleach, citric acid, alcohol, etc
ya 30 years ago, these products have evolved
😮
We have been very pleased with the Grove cleaners. The spray bottles have lasted quite a while with no issues. So nice to avoid plastics and use glass.
Dr. Bronners Sal Suds is my go to for everything, including laundry. A little in a spray bottle, heavily diluted, perfect for everyday cleaning and smells wonderful! Love seeing everybody's go to.
Same! I add a little 90% isopropyl alcohol if I need an anti bacterial. Perfect for stone countertops instead of pricy stone cleaners and does a wonderful job. I’ve even bathed my dog with Sal Suds when she rolled in something stinky!
@@sandiludwig3018 love that! Great minds think alike 😉
@@sandiludwig3018 A little alcohol won't be antibacterial. You need 60% or more alcohol.
8:55 I love Bronner's natural soaps. Sal Suds and Castile. Now, they are available in nonplastic refillable containers!
I wouldnt use soap on everything. It attracts grime.
It would great to see a comparison of e-cloths, Norwex cloths, and other brands like Scotch microfiber, etc that you can find in big box stores.
I was going to say the same thing. I'd also like for them to test the claims they make about eliminating 99% of bacteria. (I do love my e-cloths, though)
Yes please test the Norwex cleaning products and cloths
Yes please, especially the e-cloths. They seem to have them available for every surface, but do they really work well or last long?
I use Norwex. No chemicals
@@elisebrown5157i use the e-cloths and i think they work really well. Especially the glass/window and the stainless steel. Clean way better than any product I’ve ever used and i am PICKY. They also keep my toddlers busy when they “help clean”. Just water so no worry!
Can't imagine using any kind of strong chemicals in a microwave. Was always taught to put a bowl of water inside, turn it on for a few minutes, and it breaks down anything, just wipe it clean. For the rest of the kitchen, I love Meyers products - great scents, and they work well.
Agreed on both points. Been cleaning my microwave like you for years and I'm addicted to the Mrs Meyers products
I do the bowl of water to. But I also add a quartered lemon to the bowl, giving those quarters a lil squeeze in the water. It really is great for refreshing or removing stale smells from a heavily used microwave.
I was surprised that Meyers did not make the cut. I love their scents but I think I'll switch to Grove now.
Agree that the Method sprays work very nicely-Ive been using the anti bac recently. Grove was fine, too. But for 15-16 years, the product I keep going back to for cleaning almost everything in the house has been Sal Suds by Dr Bronner, diluted in a spray bottle (the ones with the red and white sprayer that looks like a goose head last the longest), or for floors, in a bucket. It’s great for the whole kitchen, on our 80 yr old tub, tiles, wood floors, cabinets,etc.
Method products are toxic. They even got sued for greenwashing claims, which they had to pay out $2.5million. Pls, stay away from them. It’s best to stick to your Dr bronners. They are actually safe and non toxic. 😊
Thank you! I so appreciate your testing so I don't waste my money trying these alternative cleaners that purport to be something they are not. 🎉❤ Greatly appreciate your diligence on the his topic!
I'm using dish soap with water and a little vinegar. Works really well.
Same. The best eco option is homemade.
I was doing this but it kept growing bacteria! Didn't keep at all sadly.
Since soap isn't formulated for that, it doesn't have a preservative package that will work when diluted.
I like simple green or Sal Suds since they're EPA Safer Choices and have dilution instructions so they should prevent microbial growth when diluted.
@@themikeroberts I should have said detergent. Works and lasts.
Yep. Clean My Space channel has a couple videos explaining exactly how to make very effective DIY cleaners.
I've been making my own cleaners for a long time now, and I've never had a problem with bacteria, streaking, etc.
They work great, they're very simple to make, they're good for the environment, and SO much less expensive than store-bought cleaners.
I’m Method all the way. Hand soap, dish soap, glass cleaner, stone cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, shower cleaner…all Method. For disinfectant, Seventh Generation. I have the aerosol, the traditional spray, and my holy grail: the wipes. I’ve tried dozens of other cleaners over the years, including others more “eco-friendly” but I always come back to Method and Seventh Generation for the wins. Best scents, best performance, no headaches or nausea.
Method got sued for greenwashing claims. In which they had to pay out $2.5million. Their ratings on EWG is between D-F. F being the most toxic. Might as well stick to your usual toxic stuff instead of paying a premium for a greenwashed, and still toxic cleaners.
I'm a big fan of Meyer's. The concentrate does come in a plastic bottle, but a little goes a long way. My concentrate bottle has been going strong for over a year.
Meyers seems to have more chemicals than they let on - which is why Method was their end choice in that part of the breakdown - I wish they had gone into more detail - as I LOVE Meyers scents --- but now realize they are just like calling eggs cage free - when the chicken is crammed into a crowed greenhouse type thing. Technically, sure .... but actually ... no better than the other crappola :)
I found Meyers all-purpose spray to be quite bad at removing normal amounts of grease. Lemon verbena Smell is awesome!!. Sad the spray is so ineffective. The baking soda liquid cleaner is decent for my bathroom.
I like Meyer’s too, but I’m planning on just making my own vinegar and water cleaner once I’m out.
I couldn't handle the fragrance of the Mrs. Meyer's brand. To me, it was just too strong and persistent.
@@MargaretUIUC me either, headache, stiff neck, swollen glands, anxiety ... not healthy for me
I use citric acid for so many cleaning jobs, including opening a sluggish drain, cleaning the dishwasher, coffeepot, bathtub and shower doors. It's magic! I also use it to make my own mayo-MUCH cheaper than store bought. The recipe came in theLemi-Shine brand plain citric acid. Completely eco-friendly and no nasty fake scent! Winner!!!
Careful cleaning drains with acid any of your drain pipes are still steel.
We use Force of Nature and been happy with it. That said, I have two young kids, so we're essentially always cleaning something. With that as our go to cleaner for just about anything, the 2 week deadline is pretty easy to deal with. I wouldn't say it turns into "water" at 2 weeks. They just can't stand by the efficacy of the disinfectant, so I wouldn't use it to clean up after breaking down a chicken, but it's perfectly fine for cleaning windows, surfaces, etc that don't need to be disinfected. The pods are crazy cheap too. Wish they weren't plastic because it seems like a lot of waste, but as you point out, the alternatives aren't great. The pods are supposed to be recyclable, but it seems like a lot of plastic recycling is completely bs so I'm dubious about that part.
Thanks! As always, informative, helpful. And I do like your straightforward explanations.
Hannah and Lisa, I want you to know that you are my besties in my mind. Thank you for all that you do! ⚙️
I'd love a breakdown on cost and how much you have to use of the natural cleaner compared to conventional cleaners
Some home brew solutions are incredibly inefficient from a $/use context. This would be welcome indeed.
Yes, that would be nice.
Can't speak to how much cleaner you have to use but here's the breakdown of prices:
- Lysol 32fl oz @ $4, 13¢/fl oz
- Method 28fl oz 4 pack @ $17, 15¢/fl oz
- Grove (cleaner only) 6 vials making 16fl oz each @ $29, 30¢/fl oz
- Simplehuman 12 tabs making 6fl oz each @ $13, 18¢/fl oz
Hi. Love the reviews and wide spread testing of products. Was simply green compared in this testing? Curious to see how it stacks up with all the cleaners tested.
I’ve been a huge ATC fan since around 1990. I have remained a fan through all of the staff changes. ❤
How about DIY all purpose cleaners? Like vinegar+water+a few drops of dish soap?
Grows bacteria so you have to remake the formula frequently.
Might as well get a concentrate like simple green or Sal Suds.
@@themikeroberts frequently? How long does it last? I thought vinegar kills bacteria.
@@skeletronmw Vinegar is not great at disinfecting. It only kills a few strains of bacteria. Your best bet for a disinfectant is something that is registered by the EPA as such.
Hannah / Lisa team vids are my favorite.
I’ve used Red Juice from the Clean Team for decades. Zero smell, excellent degreasing power, food safe, and sold as a liquid concentrate so it’s efficient and reasonably priced. No sexy packaging but it’s a great, effective option, especially if you have issues with strong smells.
Loved this video. As to your comment that glass is recyclable: I know you’re in MA. In MA glass isn’t recycled- it’s crushed down and used for landfill layering. That’s because of its weight and the fact that that here in MA we have not one company making bottles out of crushed/recycled glass. Super sad. 😢
Grove offers free recycling. You let them know and they send you a prepaid packing slip and you can send the glass bottles back to them to be recycled. (Not sure about the carbon foot print vs the saved glass though…)
Thanks for bringing this up, I didn’t know. I do try to reuse good-quality plastic and glass containers. Also, a few google searches I did indicate that turning in eligible glass/plastic bottles for deposit is the best way to make sure those get recycled.
I switched to Mrs Meyers a few years ago for my dish soap, hand soap, and spray cleaner and I'm absolutely addicted. Their hand soap doesn't suck all the moisture out of my hands every time I use it, the dish soap is as good or better than any other big name brand for cutting through grease, and the spray cleaner doesn't leave streaks on my black stove top. And their lemon verbena scent smells clean and fresh without being overpowering. Yes, I'm a huge fan lol
Me too! I love Mrs. Meyers. My favorite place to use it is on my glass stovetop. With a sponge, it cleans it better than anything else I’ve found and keeps it looking like new. Once in a great while, I will use the recommended abrasive cleaner to scrub it a little, but 90% of the time, Mrs. Meyers is all I need.
@cynthiasymons I use it with a microfiber cloth and it always leaves such a nice shine with no streaks. I love my black stove top but those streaks drive me crazy 😂😂
@@Nails_By_Kimberlee The smell of the scented makes me sick - literally.
One thing that might be problematic for me is the tendency to drop things while I clean. The last thing I need is to drop a glass bottle in my shower and have it shatter. I do try to reduce single use plastics as much as possible, but there are places where plastic is a better solution.
It's also not very good for people with disabilities or certain medical issues. For example, someone who has seizures should probably not use a glass cleaning bottle.
I'm a big Mr. Clean fan. It's versatile, cleans great, makes a large amount of cleaning solution, and smells great.
Maybe you can test dish soap diluted in water as an eco friendly option? Can you put out a video on why vinegar is not a general purpose cleaner? It's not any better at removing oil than plan water, and it's not antimicrobial at the concentrations most people suggest using it at.
I’m glad ATK is looking at more eco-friendly options. I’ve often cringed at how much plastic wrap and foil is wasted with some of their cooking methods.
So how did the longer to dissolve tablets clean? That's what's important! Some of us can manage to prepare the solution the night before!
Go to their website. Pay the subscription fee. They are not going to give you all content for free.
Blueland was shown and she said it takes 25 mins. I use blueland cleaning products and really like the multi purpose spray and bathroom spray. One bottle lasts me months so the refill time doesn't bother me.
I would have appreciated a comparison with a vinegar and water solution which is the most commonly used alternative to chemical cleaners .
I love grove co! The cleaner is great and I love that I’m not contributing to more plastic waste
I'd love a look at fragrance free cleaning products
Absolutely agree. I honestly can’t trust a company like method that uses such an egregious amount of cloying fragrance in their products. I usually stick with 7th generation as it’s effective and either FF or mildly scented.
Mix white vinegar, water and dish soap!
@@MarkHatlestad best unscented dish soap? (I didn't like dr bronner's as dish soap)
@@lemonz1769 my mom used to buy 7th generation products and they never seemed to work well, but that was decades ago at this point, so hopefully they have improved. It's frustrating how much more it often costs to get unscented products.
Whole Foods brands makes an unscented all purpose cleaner that I’ve been using for the past few years. It does a great job and I’m not left coughing like I am with scented products. The last time I got it I believe it was $4.99 - up from $3.99. Their unscented dish soap that compares to Dawn is also good.
This is everything I've been wanting every time I agonize over whether I can switch to a more eco-friendly cleaner (been using Method all-purpose in ATK's recommendation for years). Thanks so much, I know what I'm getting next time we need to restock cleaning supplies!
Thank you for this content!! Appreciate the concern for people/the planet. 😀 Would love more content like this
Grove & Co. Is my absolute favorite multi-purpose cleaner. I've yet to find something that stuff won't tackle. In addition my husband absolutely loves it.
My favorite wholesome New England channel
As long as I am mixing up my own cleaning fluid - I can save a spray bottle and add a few drops of dish liquid, white vinegar, and get citric acid from the spice section.
We also buy refills of glass cleaner in a pouch, and dilute it with vinegar and water. Handles a lot of applications.
Bingo. I bought citric acid in bulk. And there's no need to spray, just apply it to the surface or the rag you are using. And to conquer the "leaves streaks" problem, use newspaper from your local give-away tabloid. You don't have to read it first.
Citric acid is less expensive in the canning section and usually in a larger container.
@@lylawaters6345 least expensive that I've found is from a local brewing and wine making supplier. I can buy citric acid by the pound from them for less than the jar in the canning section.
Did you test Branch Basics? Their concentrate works great and depending on the dilution, you make everything from unscented glass cleaner to all purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, laundry detergent and even hand soap. We clean everything with it!
The EXACT thing I wanted to hear was hearing an independent lab was used to test the anti microbial effectiveness of the all-natural sprays. That’s the deciding factor for me.
But for the eco-friendly stuff, it’s a huge missed opportunity that you guys didn’t do the same anti-microbial tests, or at least mention if they didn’t have that ability.
Regardless, great video in helping me decide :)
Would like to have seen a comparison to a dish soap and vinegar mixture.
i've subscribed to this idea of an eco friendly diy solution for a very long time but, only recently realized vinegar cancels out soap's soapiness, and dont quite know what to think. ..is it even useful?
@@akogarehouse that has not been my experience, I find it works better adding vinegar.
@@akogarehousethat’s only true for actual old school soap (like ivory bar soap). Dish and laundry detergent isn’t actually soap.
Thank you for this. You recommended Method before and I've been using it for years. Glad to see it's still the winner.
Me, too. I first tried it after seeing it recommended on ATK. It worked so well on my greasy range and hood that it's all I've used in my kitchen since then. I love that it comes in different fragrances. My favorite is the pink grapefruit. I use their pink grapefruit hand soap as well.
I buy the Grove cleaners as well as their hand soap. Love them both!
We started using the Simple Human tablets about six months ago, and we’ve never run into an issue of having to wait to clean. I think that may be because we use their spray bottle, which is fairly small. (It’s also a pretty good spray bottle). In addition to all the eco friendly stuff, it saves us a space under the sink.
I used to work for Clorox as a Product Development Scientist AGES ago - To this day I still use the Clorox Cleanup with Bleach for most surfaces (that are safe) and tasks. Simple and effective. Occasionally I will use Method (love their scents) and an acid-based cleaner for hard water situations.
I cannot use bleach because we're on a septic system. Can ATK look into oven cleaning & mold killing cleaners that are septic safe? Thank you!!!
Not to be a vibe killer, but I didn't care for the Method cleaner. I always feel like I work harder compared to my Lysol Peroxide cleaner. Smells lovely though!
Same! It leaves streaks and a film behind and is completely unhelpful after any splatter on the stove, so I have to use Windex afterwards. I use it to wash out the sink at the end of the day or for my kitchen table.
😂 Absolutely the opposite for me-I liked the way method cleaned but I hated the fragrance! Odor is ~really~ subjective!
Are you guys open to testing DIY CLEANERS that are made of common ingredients?
Would love to see your review and pick on those and then compare them to the Grove and Method.
It would be awesome to cut down even more on "footprint".
Best wishes to you folks and thanks for the content you share.
Good to know my Grove cleaners are just as good!
I've never used a spray cleaner on the inside of a microwave. Just put a bowl half full of water in there and run it for 2 minutes and it steam cleans the inside and you can just wipe it out effortlessly
We use the method all-purpose cleaner (lime+sea salt in the green bottle) and its been great for us
I just use dish soap and water or vinegar most of the time but when i do want spray cleaner i use the natural ones because i can't handle the smell of the chemical ones. I appreciate the reviews of the packaging but when i find a spray bottle i like i just wind up refilling it with whatever cleaner i like
I put a little Dawn in a spray bottle and fill with water. Works great.
+1 for vinegar and dish soap. My formulation also includes rubbing alcohol and some essential oils.
The smell of some of the natural ones (Method and Mrs Meyers I’m looking at you) can be just as strong.
You guys are doing the lord's work! Id be curious about the msrp pricing for the concentrated stuff vs premade. Are the savings being passed to consumers? And is it really using less plastic?
I love the concept of the wax tubes of cleaner, like that is really a novel idea, sad to see they didnt work out, but i do love the thinking outside of the box on it, or bottle i suppose!
Perhaps if they used a wax-covered fabric as the wall of the tube it would work better? Like the beeswax cling-film replacement?
👏thank you for drawing attention to the carbon footprint of shipping around all that water!
I will say Method glass cleaner and All-Purpose cleaner are the only ones I can use without choking, and with COPD that's sort of important. (I'd use the pink grapefruit as cologne, and yet it makes things shine.)
see this is what worries me about them - i've tried 2 or 3 of their hand soaps and all the scents smelled awful to me
I hope you have one in the works about those laundry strips. I'd love to know if those work as well - that would be a ton of plastic (and hopefully chemicals) saved!
"I sure don't want a cleaning spray that gives me a deadline."
LOL, that is really not going to work well for me.
I will definitely give Grove a try! Thanks for this video.
It's totally worth the deadline! Especially if you don't want hormone disruptors in your cleaner. I've been using it for 5 years
I would have never tried those tabs before, now I might give them a shot!
Grove, mrs. Meyers, and 7th gen are some of my favorites. Unfortunately I have had issues with the grove sprayers breaking, but in my own bottle/with a different spray top it was cheaper & broke less which meant less wasted plastics lol.
Very useful program. I already moved to “natural cleaners” but the eco friendly is next step
409 for degreaser, chorox with bleach for disinfecting and brightening, windex for a smudge free shine. I dont want or need anything else. Plus a Swedish dish cloth for cleaning the counter tops. They are the best.
Nasty chemicals are harmful to you and your families health.
Make sure the recycling place accepts glass. Where I live in Florida they stopped accepting glass as it wasn’t profitable. I spoke with an attendant and that was their answer.
I use vinegar, sometimes diluted with water. My counters are spotless, and no smells. I know that I could add a few drops of dish soap but I’m happy without it. Also I’m very consistent about cleaning my kitchen and never have horrible messes. In addition, I basically prepare only vegetables so don’t have to worry about contamination from meat or chicken. 8:55
I love this! I buy cleaners by the gallon. It’s a mail order cleaner. It’s from Speed Cleaning. They are nontoxic. The products I buy are Blue Juice, Red Juice & Scum Bum.
I’d like to see how they hold up compared to these.
Please do one on laundry detergent.
I would LOVE to see this same type of test / review of dishwasher detergents (especially eco friendly & natural pods & liquid/gel)
Quat is a very effective anti-microbial and you can buy it in tablet form. I got a small bottle of 150 tablets for like $8 and I use 1 tablet/32oz spray bottle. Super eco-friendly, super effective, super inexpensive, and zero scent.
Where do you buy it?
I was wondering also whay stores carry Quat cleaner
😂 I just switched to white vinegar 😅 couple drops of essential oil makes fresh sent that don't linger
Thanks for the great information, ladies!
I use cup of vinegar and cup of distilled water to a 40 spray bottle. And i use it on everything.. and that plastic bottle I've have for possibly 3 years. I bought something similar to it at the dollar store and I read the ingredients and it was just basically like I had mentioned above. And I'm the only one who actually smells it other than my wife and it's actually very safe and it does break down a lot of build up on everything, I actually haven't tried it on showers but from what I've seen on the pictures on the back of the original bottle it shows it can be used in bathrooms so I'm tempted to try it. Thank you for your reviews and you give a very good information on the products you review on, one of your reviews was about the thermapen or something similar to it that you picked out your top product and my wife and I got it and she really enjoys it because it gives your accurate reading but she never did before on cooked Foods specially chicken beef pork which are kind of hard to do determine on what the inner. temperature is
Dont use vinegar on countertops or natural stone! Try substituting it for alcohol.
Yep. Vinegar diluted into water is a great cleaner for pretty much everything. I discovered just how much better homemade cleaners work a few years ago and boy, was I big mad when I figured out how much money I've wasted over the years on nasty chemicals that didn't even work! 😂
I use the same homemade cleaner, but add drops of something pleasant to mask the vinegar smell.
If all you use is vinegar, then your house is dirty. You need to understand what vinegar actually can and can't do. Worst case is you expect it to disinfect so you feel like you're safe when you aren't.
@@logicalmisery3737 your an idiot. Your so knowledgeable.. you give your definition of the reason it's not as safe and does cleaning as you claim.
Going to be the odd one out but LA’s Totally Awesome degreaser from the Dollar Tree, the bottle lasts ages and is in concentrate form with full recipe ratios on the side. It’s only $1.25 for a large bottle and will last ages. The smell is chemically but it’s not horrible, and very light, compared to most. It’s a bit harsh, but does the job. That or Simple Green, but that can dye grout, too.
And yet a lot of natural products (Method included!) still contain Methylisothiazolinone which is highly allergenic and causes allergic eczema/dermatitis. Surface cleaners, laundry detergent, hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner... that preservative is in everything that recently went "paraben free" and just put in a horrible allergen instead. I'm allergic to so many products now including the hand soap at my work place!
ATK is being nit-picky with one of the products. Force of Nature is a great cleaner and disinfectant, but ATK dings it for “only” having a two week shelf life. However, the amount you make per batch is basically a two week supply. Less, if you clean more frequently. And it doesn’t just “turn back into water.” It’s still a good cleaner but loses some of its disinfecting properties.
Field of Focus channel has great tests for these cleaners!
Tip. If you have a cleaner that’s running out but the nozzle works, save the nozzle for another bottle or save the empty bottle and nozzle.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention anything that disinfects using thymol.
What about buying some of the raw materials, instead of pre-prepared solutions or solute blends? Citric acid, for example, is readily available in powdered form. I would have liked to see a "from scratch" cleaner spray recipe in the video.
Agreed, we primarily use white vinegar and baking soda.
@@kswas2784 That just makes water, you'd be better off with water+a little dishsoap (sufactant)+a little alcohol (disinfectant).
I just switched to using all homemade cleaners last year. I will confirm that they work WAY better than anything on the market. And you can find free recipes for cleaning EVERYTHING in your house using some basic ingredients like distilled water, white vinegar, washing powder, isopropyl alcohol, borax, salt, and some essential oils like thyme (for antibacterial/antifungal/antiviral properties).
I tried a lot of the home made cleaner recipes ... most work great, but only on a few limited types of grime or limited surfaces. For example, acid based cleaners (citric acid, vinegar) work well on water based dirt and soap scum, but do very little for heavy grease. Baking soda or dish soap work on light grease. Some formulations will harm some materials - don't use acids on marble!
For a true **multi** surface cleaner, you need to look at the chemistry of the ingredients and the surfaces. A professional can create a much better product than you or I can, and they can limit themselves to only natural, eco-friendly ingredients.
If you have a d-i-y recipe that works for you ... keep using it! I'm going to stick with professionally formulated cleaners ... right now, I'm using Grove.
FYI: I'm a hobbyist cosmetics formulator. For my hobby, I learned enough chemistry to know that sometimes the experts really do know their stuff! I'll make my own of many things, but I'm happy to pay for things I can't make well.
@@lizcademy4809 I think that the materials you are trying to clean also affect how useful homemade products are; Plastics are harder to clean than wood/stone/marble. Synthetic clothing is much harder to clean using all natural products than cotton, linen, and wool. I make all of my own cleaners and have never had an issue cleaning animal greases off surfaces. I couldn't tell you whether they would work on petroleum-based stains because I don't really have them.
I use the Mrs Meyers concentrate because it's more economical than Method and it cleans perfectly well enough for me. I'm sure the SimpleHuman cleaner is good--I've never been disappointed in one of them--but I just looked and one tablet makes 6 oz of cleaner and 12 of them cost $13, so that's 6 cents/oz (for comparison, although I make a stronger dilution, for general cleaning Mrs Meyers recommends 1/4 cup [2 oz] per gallon and a 32 oz bottle makes 16 gallons of cleanser for $10)
I've also recently switched to Mrs Meyers products and they are working well for me
Meyers seems to have more chemicals than they let on - which is why Method was their end choice in that part of the breakdown - I wish they had gone into more detail - as I LOVE Meyers scents --- but now realize they are just like calling eggs cage free - when the chicken is crammed into a crowed greenhouse type thing. Technically, sure .... but actually ... no better than the other crappola :)
@@KeiPalace Meyers seems to have more chemicals than they let on - which is why Method was their end choice in that part of the breakdown - I wish they had gone into more detail - as I LOVE Meyers scents --- but now realize they are just like calling eggs cage free - when the chicken is crammed into a crowed greenhouse type thing. Technically, sure .... but actually ... no better than the other crappola :)
@@TwistedRootsVanVelzerPress yeah,I've read the complaints about Mrs Meyers "green washing" their products and of course there's some truth to it, but I suppose it comes down to how far we choose to go in the "natural" direction since it's such an amorphous term. If we really wanted to be natural, we'd be cleaning with vinegar and water and baking soda. Lots of people do and good for them for making that choice, but in the end I guess we all set our own parameters -- and even choosing any greener product is far better than the most common cleaning products.
I use the Method green bottle anti-bac on everything and it does a number on my stainless sink. I have hard water and this cleaner shines it right up. The problem lately is that the nozzle trigger sticks shut when pulled for a spray. I'm about ready to try another brand because of this. I usually buy a box (6 bottles) at a time but no more.
I like Method as an all-purpose cleaner, but recently bought Force of Nature to test as a disinfectant (vs. disinfecting wipes). I don't think it's fair to compare Force of Nature to an all-purpose cleaner. It's not. I haven't decided if it's for me and I don't think it's great at everything (as the company makes it seem), but it's done good at removing mold from my shower where I can't use bleach (I'm on a septic system). I can't get over how expensive Grove is compared to Method, but I like the reduced packaging.
Amazing content! Thank you for doing this!
I use vodka for most surfaces. I keep citrus peels in an old mayo jar and add cheap generic vodka (the stuff you find by the gallon for 7 dollars), let soak for awhile and decant into a spray bottle as needed. For glass I get concentrated vinegar from the refill store and shine using the Trader Joes Flyer. :).
2:1 ratio water to isopropyl with a few drops of dawn is a great all purpose cleaner and safe to use on natural stone like granite, unlike vinegar or acid based cleaners.
I use that all the time. I add a few drops of essential oil as well.
❤ we found Dr Bronners Sal suds and Castile soap to be the best.
I use Method and it works!
I love Method too!
EDIT: HUGE WIN AT TARGET! They DO carry Method in glass concentrate bottles like the Grove brand!! Method Pink Grapefruit All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate Refill Kit - 2 fl oz/2ct!!
Ok but then you didn't test the eco friendly picks at how effective they are at killing germs? Cause of that, I have to stick with Method for now. BUT I do appreciate knowing that Method is as effective as Lysol (the chemical cleaners smell terrible and give me headaches). Last question: Did this analysis include Covid since some chemical cleaner do get rid of Covid on surfaces. (Obviously, airborne Covid is much more relevant to infection but it's still go to know). Thanks for the testing!
I'm interested in knowing how theses commercial cleaners compare with at home DIY options e.g. white vinegar + dish soap + water.
These are good to use on the kitchen counters where you lay your food? Not just using hot water and dish soap?
Thanks! I have Method but I’m curious to try Grove and Simple Human. Lysol Toilet cleaner gave me headaches because of something or fragrance. I had to give it away
I have been researching how to shift away from Lysol toilet cleaner. Do you use the Method all purpose cleaner in your toilet bowl?
@@oliviahein7772 yes Method all purpose cleaner and sometimes an Ajax type powder in the bowl to fight dark stains
@@oliviahein7772 I haven’t used a toxic cleaner in my toilets for 40 years. I pour about 8 oz of white vinegar in the toilet, careful to let it pour down the entire surface from the sides; let it soak for about 15 minutes (more, if I get distracted), then add a squirt of ‘natural’ dish soap (7th Generation), and lightly scrub with a toilet brush. Hardly any actual scrubbing is needed, because the acid breaks down any build-up so effectively! I basically use the same technique for my tubs, swabbing the tub with undiluted vinegar, then waiting a few minutes to easily wipe down with a sponge and dish soap. Note: after a few years, a slight ring of mineral deposits can form at the waterline of the toilet. I then drain the toilet, don rubber gloves, and use a mild natural abrasive (Bon Ami powder) to scrub it away.
Young Living actually makes a great cleaning spray with their Thieves formula that's also along the lines of reducing waste like the Simple Human in this test. It would have made a good fit for this test with its pleasant odor and highly effective cleaning power based on plant essential oils. Sounds like an ad, but I've gotten great results for years.
I use blueland cleaning products and I enjoy them, especially since I only need to refill with pods, not buying new bottles.
How do these natural/eco-friendly products stack up to a DIY solution with vinegar? Is there a solution that you can make that is a worthy competitor to the ones you tested?
Any thoughts on steramine tablets?
That's what I use
I use that too.
Would you consider developing/testing homemade cleaning solutions as an alternative to store bought?
Now compare those to making your own at home. How does it stack up to buying a bottle sprayer, or just reusing one from a store bought cleaner, using vinegar or ammonia, or other cleaning powders/liquids most people have in their homes already?
Thanks for the comparison.
How long does the Grove Co and Simple Human cleaner last in the bottle before it is no longer good?
We use O3Waterworks, an Aqueous Ozone Cleaner. How well do Aqueous Ozone Cleaners compare?
I wish we could use Method in this household. But its scent or components affect MiL's respiration just as badly as most conventional cleansers affect mine. :-/
Best acrylic bathtub cleaner is warm vinegar and dish soap
Mine tends to stain easily so I have to get in there with a magic eraser every few months, but otherwise cleaning vinegar and Dr Bronners do a great job.