Top 5 Natural Multi-Purpose Cleaners
In a world where everyone is constantly trying to tell you what to buy, who can you trust? Probably not the advertisers, but you can definitely trust a stranger on the internet. Worry not! I’ve compiled an elite list of my personal favorite natural multi-purpose cleaners and all of the reasons why I like them – and it’s not just because they smell good.
5. Meliora Cleaning Products Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub
It seems the best inventions come from people who are sick of the usual stuff and want something better. Well, that’s literally the name origin for Meliora (Latin for “better”) and also their mission statement: After formulating her own vegetable soap and using it to do her own laundry, [Kate, the inventor] knew she could offer better products that were rooted in simple ingredients and build a company that was honest about how products are made.
Meliora’s products not only work better than your typical cleaner, but they’re not caustic and harmful to the environment like most others on the market. They also donate a percentage of their revenue to environmental and charitable nonprofits, so you can feel great about supporting a company that supports our planet!
4. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Basil Scent Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner
Mrs. Meyer’s was inspired by Mrs. Thelma A. Meyer, a hardworking mother of nine (yes, NINE!) who was fed up with chemical-filled cleaners and wanted a product that would get the job done without harming her brood in the process. Thankfully, one of her daughters took that idea and created the Clean Day line of all-natural household products. Made with essential oils from flowers and herbs, they’re cleansers that smell great and really pack a punch against daily dirt and grime.
For the avid gardener, you’ll love her collection of botanical scents (pictured below).
From Mrs. Meyer herself, “I wouldn’t put my name on something that didn’t work hard and smell great. No reason to ruin my reputation this late in the game.”
3. Citra Solv Concentrated Cleaner & Degreaser
Now this one takes me back to my days of cleaning paint brushes and wiping down display cases at a local art supplies shop. My total hippie of a boss absolutely loved this product because he wanted to be sure he could clean the shop thoroughly without creating a large carbon footprint. Citra Solv is a “Biobased” product, meaning it “is composed, in whole or significant part, of biological products or renewable domestic agricultural products.” It probably helps having a very short ingredients list: Limonene (the clear liquid from the peel of the orange, food grade), C10-16 Pareth-1 (plant-derived surfactant), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil (plant-based fragrance) – nothin’ but a whole lotta oranges in there!
2. Branch Basics Concentrate
What I liked most about Branch Basics is that not only do they openly list their ingredients, but they break them down into layman’s terms so that you can be sure they’re not sneaking anything weird into the mix: Purified Water, Coco Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser), Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Decyl Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser), Sodium Citrate (Food-Grade Emulsifier), Lauryl Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser), Sodium Bicarbonate (Food-Grade Baking Soda), Sodium Phytate (Plant-Based Antioxidant), Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit (Soapberry) Extract*
*certified organic
It’s also hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, gluten-free, tree nut- and peanut-free, with no harmful preservatives, stabilizers, brighteners, and do-dads. This brand also boasts the ability to clean multiple surfaces, from wood to glass to fabrics! The only reason this product didn’t topple the #1 is because it doesn’t explicitly say if I can use it to brush my teeth.
1. Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap
Was anyone surprised that Doc Bronner’s was #1? I mean, it’s pretty tough to beat a natural cleaner that says it has 18-in-1 uses.
From the company themselves: “You can use Dr. Bronner’s soaps for washing your face, body, hands and hair, for bathing, shaving, brushing your teeth, rinsing fruit, aromatherapy, washing dishes by hand, doing laundry, mopping floors, all-purpose cleaning, washing windows, scrubbing toilets, washing dogs, controlling dust mites, and killing ants and aphids. Now, that’s eighteen uses right there, but customers have told us over time about many more uses they have found for our soaps.” Meaning the cleaning possibilities here are truly endless!
Dr. Bronner’s also uses certified organic and fair trade ingredients and packages them in 100% post-consumer recycled bottles! And like everyone else on this list, they are vegan and cruelty-free. Be sure to take a look at their Cosmic Principles below to see their values and what makes them a great company! Truly, what’s not to love?
