I am aware of Melaleuca and do not promote their system of selling. I have also checked out their ingredients and was not impressed. If something is great, it should be easily available to everyone, transparent and authentic.

While I cannot personally speak for every single product’s smell and efficiency here, I am super familiar with Seventh Generation and not only does it work extremely well, but they also have an unscented version to suit those who prefer things without fragrances. The same goes for Greener Choice – an outstanding product, especially when it is the unscented variety.

I have tried several of the companies products on your list but found either they didn’t work very well or they smelled bad or both. I am surprised that you have not listed Melaleuca as one of your top 10 unless you have not tried thier products. They are the best I have every used and I don’t believe thier is another product that can even compares.If you have not tried thier products I suggest that you do.
Denise

You are welcome and thank you for your comment and great thoughts!

Thank you for your question. What a great choice to go chemical free, and you are so right, even a lot of the “green” companies heavily scent their products and can be irritating to anyone with sensitivities or asthma, etc. This is why I really urge people to understand that just because they are “green” does not mean they are healthy. They may be okay for the environment, but not for our health.

So personally I try to make cleaning really easy, and the biggest hurdle for a lot of us to overcome, is to stop obsessing about how many antibacterial things, etc.. we must use as if our home was some war ground or hospital. Most homes are really not that dirty. In fact the biggest cases where cleaning needs to be a little more serious is if one has a pet, or really poor hygiene and habits, like walking around the house in shoes, or not washing ones hands as soon as they come home (no matter from where).

So for dishes and clothes, I use unscented natural dish soap for example and laundry detergent, from Seventh Generation or Greener Choice (Canadian).
For all sinks and bathtubs, I use baking soda, let is sit a little with some water sprinkled on and than scrub with a brush or wipe with a sponge. With baking soda the only thing one has to remember is to rinse the area with plain water several times, to avoid white streaks.

On floors, if I need to quickly freshen up, I use plain water, and if I need to wash any stains or freshen up a little more seriously, I just put some dish soap in the water.

For windows and mirrors, you can either go with a diluted vinegar-water solution, or plain water with a good cloth specifically for mirrors. Greener Choice makes an amazing one that works so well with plain water.

For dusting, just a plain cloth that is damp with fresh water will do more than fine.

Bottom line, we have to simplify cleaning a bit. Most people today do not realize that we have all the allergies we have and all the asthma’s we have due to all these chemicals. We are so obsessed with killing all these supposed “germs” that our immune systems today are completely not able to function properly in these environments. We are more prone to getting sick from the chemical cleaners, than from any bacteria or virus ever found in our home.

Good hand washing habits, not ever wearing shoes around the house, and good hygiene in the kitchen for those who use animal products. And in the end, it really can be that simple :)

As far as I know, all companies today, whether environmentally friendly or not, put their products in plastic containers. The type of plastic and the way the bottle is made can be made to be more or less environmentally friendly, but I have yet to see a company who uses glass…perhaps Thieves products come closest.

This list is hence talking about what is actually inside the bottle – and all these companies make products that are environmentally friendly. That does not meant they are healthy or perfect, but are all better options than the traditional cleaners out there.

Small heavy plastic containers, and plastic wrap do not make for an eco-friendly company, no matter how much the company may claim so…

So, my question to you would be, just what do you use as a criteria for this list?

It would be great if companies really cared, after all we are all one on this planet and in this together. But as long as greed, profits and the bottom line drives decisions, the consumer must take on the responsibility of being accountable for their own health.

Thanks again for being in touch.