Many readers have been asking my opinion of the new Clorox Green Works cleaners. I hesitated to try them because what I am already using to clean my home is natural and working just fine. I also hesitated to enter the debate. It seems many environmentalists are up in arms about Clorox (synonymous with bleach and chemicals) coming out with a “green” product.
Trust me I get it. I always like to spend my dollars with the most reputable and ethical companies. As more huge corporations buy up our beloved products though this will become increasingly hard to do (remember Clorox just bought Burt’s Bees too)…but not impossible. Buying a green cleaner from a company that primarily produces chemical cleaners might be likened to buying a hybrid from GM, whose VP just went on record as saying that global warming is a crock of sh*t.
So what is my verdict? I like Clorox Green Works.
I have been using several Green Works products for the last few weeks and they do a great job cleaning. And while they seem to be only 99% natural (Clorox claims that they are listing all ingredients on the labels of the Green Works products, something they do not do with their conventional cleaning products) I think this is an awesome accomplishment for mainstream, highly affordable, and highly available cleaner. According to the San Francisco Chronicle the remaining non-natural 1% contains the preservative Kathon (derived from petrochemicals) and a couple dyes to tint the cleaners those lovely shades of green.
My opinion? Not bad. You see when I go to my local Kroger store I don’t see any Dr. Bronners, or Seventh Generation, or Method, etc. If they did have them I am guessing that most mainstream people would scoff at the price tag compared to a bottle of 409. But along comes Clorox Green Works…a MUCH safer cleaner in comparison and priced just as affordably as other cleaners. Now all the consumer has to do is decide between the regular cleaner they always get or this new cleaner from a company they recognize as being efficient, and it says “natural”. How many people might now be motivated to buy the safer product? How many mainstream people will be converted and end up ditching the majority of the chemicals they were using? The potential to convert is a powerful one and one big reason I support this product. I live in a VERY economically depressed area and I think moms here deserve safer products too and they won’t care a lick about greenwashing or supporting the most ethical companies. They will care about feeding their families and if they can now afford to buy safer, conventional cleaners….they are happy and I am happy for them. You won’t see me slapping that Green Works out of their hand to lecture them about not supporting Clorox and their other “toxic” products. A safer home is a safer home…anyway you slice it.
Green Works products worked extremely well for me and did not cause me to break out in hives…which I will certainly do if I pick up a bottle of Windex or 409. I also adore the scrumptious smell and that surprised me because I am very sensitive to fragrance. Green Works smells very lightly of limes…yum.
These products are made from renewable resources, they are biodegradeable, sustainable, and 99% petrochecmical free. They are also not tested on animals. It is not the “perfect” natural cleaner but hey that’s okay…baby steps. I hope that more moms will make the switch to a more natural cleaner thanks to Green Works.
As for me, I will probably stick with what I already use. Why fix what isn’t broken? But I will enjoy using up what I have left of my GW products.
Our Kroger and Food Lion (and several other grocery stores) carry several natural cleaning company products. Target carries the Method products which are reasonably priced. So the products are there if people want them. That being said, I do think it’s good that there is a “main stream” product that will introduce people to natural cleaning.
Devildogwife’s last blog post..Blogger Friend School – Wall of Prayer
You know, I like to think of myself as an environmentalist, but I have been very slow to jump on the “green cleaners” bandwagon. I didn’t even know that bleach was that bad until a year or two ago. If mainstream stores don’t have green products but do carry Clorox Greenworks, I agree it’s better than nothing. (In Portland, Kroger owns our Fred Meyer stores, which DO carry a wide variety of green products.) I also agree that we want mainstream, toxic companies to start going green. Sure, it’s just a way to make money for them, but if more and more customers buy their green(er) products, they’ll make fewer of the toxic ones.
Price is also an issue, as you mention. I think this is why I was so skeptical of green cleaners all these years. I understood why excess packaging on products (for example) was bad for the environment. It was less obvious, to me, why conventional soap or lotion might be bad. I just didn’t want to pay much more for something that may or may not help the Earth.
My green cleaning strategy involves not cleaning very often. And when I do, I try to stick with vinegar and baking soda–green and cheap.
Rebecca’s last blog post..Why Kids Should Watch More T.V.: It?s Good for the Environment!
I really like the Green Works stuff too. You know, Method isn’t actually “green” they still use alot of chemicals, i.e., SLS, parabens, too, I think.
Geggie’s last blog post..Let’s Party
Tiffany,
I admire you for not wanting to enter the debate and you have written a good review and tried to keep it friendly and fair. I disagree with you many times over though and hope you didn’t really spend your own money to help support the company.
This word “green” is being thrown around and it’s losing all meaning. Companies like Clorox and other big companies are playing this up and making money off this word. It’s marketing and posts like yours feed their marketing and technique. They want people to feel good about what they are buying and help their own reputation because the truth about the chemicals and the toxins they produce are coming to the surface. It’s called a plan B! Companies that actually make concentrated products, care about the environment and have deep envrionmental roots make the word green true and real.
There are moms that don’t have money and might not care about the green washing but they aren’t stupid. They have other choices and every time they buy Green Works they vote for that company, not just that product.A company that does test on animals, that does produce toxins and harmufl chemicals.. Mom’s do deserve healthy natural choices that are affordable, I agree with you there. Have you heard of Shaklee? Greenmom.info
Sommer,
Yes, I know all about Shaklee and I don’t/won’t support them. They won’t divulge their ingredients and that makes them untrustworthy in my opinion. Clorox, at least is being straight up in that regard…good and bad.I have heard that some of their personal care products have lots of unsavory ingredients in them too.
In general I don’t have an issue with people making money off “green”. They do…I do…you apparently do too. In fact you have monetary reasons for bashing Clorox, no? Not trying to be antagonistic but you profit from green cleaners too. You are not exactly impartial.
Green is where it is at right now. GW won’t ever be my first choice but I am glad they are there for moms walking into wally world that need something safer for their babies…instead of picking up their old standby which might be something toxic. And I won’t think any less of them for choosing GW…I am glad they are trying.
We want companies to make safer products right? Well, we can’t keep slapping them down when they try. When more companies follow suit and 50% of the grocer cleaning section is relatively safe and non-toxic we will be complaining??? Not me.
I disagree. I was impressed when I saw the clorox green works at our local grocery store and they did not have highly toxic chemicals. However, I don’t agree they are the best option for a poor family looking to avoid a chemical cleaner. People can still use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning if they are on a tight budget and that’s not made by some company who has been allowing a toxic chemical to get in our water ways for the past 100 years and encourages parents to clean their children’s toys with a bucket of bleach and may be responsible for the anti-bacteria obsession in our country. Also most grocery stores carry a natural cleaner. Our local Giant (which now have organic sections filled with green brands) has always carried Sun and Earth cleaners, our local Karns sells Meyers, even the super small grocery store we used to go to because it was extremely affordable carried an all natural cleaning product. People are getting the message. I also think clorox has the power to put these tiny companies out of business by being able to afford better floor space in the grocery and national ads. Not to awesome.
BTW I am no longer buying Burt’s bees because they were bought by clorox, even though I love their products. I would never buy a GM hybrid either. Actually what would be the point when they don’t get even close to the same gas mileage as a comparable Honda or Toyota.
Tiffany,
Thanks for taking the time to write back. You have many valid points but I disagree with supporting a company that pours bleach down one drain and GW down another. They aren’t giving us choices because they care about us or the environment, it’s because they care about their bottom line and have great marketing and advertising agents. Me being affiliated with Shaklee has nothing to do with my disagreement. Plently of friends and family use other products and like vinegar or baking soda and I’m fine with this. I might not agree with the effectiness of their choices or the concentrations but they aren’t supporting companies such as Clorox. I do not do Shaklee for the money. I do Shaklee to give other moms a choice, to help educate on household cleaners and chemicals and to support a company with deep green roots. I spend more money on samples, donations of cleaners for non-profits and daycares and educational material than I make most months. I came to Shaklee after trying several other products and making my own, not to have my own business or make money.
Tiffany, I am not a expert or environmentalist. I am actually just like the mom you described in your blog. Three years ago I would have been at WallyWorld and would have bought GW because I did not know any better. I am just a mom that woke up and realized that the wool was being pulled over my eyes. I was falling for the marketing and advertising that made me want to clean my home and get rid of 99% of all bacteria. I cannot support the companies that are doing this to moms like me just for money and inturn hurting the environment. I can’t tell moms to buy from a company that will put a commerical on t.v. advertising chemical wipes for the high chair.
You say you don’t or won’t support Shaklee but what do you really know about the company? So they don’t list their ingredients. BAD! Slap down the company that won’t list their ingredients because every Tom, Dick and Harry would try to make the product and market it and then Shaklee wouldn’t be in business but support Clorox. That doesn’t even make sense to me. Do you know what Shaklee does for the environment? 51 years, zero product recalls, third party testing for purity of ingredients, testing for over 358 potential contaminants and millions in research and development annually! Wil Stegar (Arctic explorer), NASA, Jacques Cousteau and the Cousteau Society and Dr. Wangari Maathai (2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner) use Shaklee and it’s not because they are paid to. They chose Shaklee. A company started by a Doctor when synthetics and chemicals were all the rave but he knew that they weren’t good for the body or the environment. Just because GW lists their ingredients means nothing to me and it shouldn’t to anybody if they look at the company and what they stand for. A consumer has to look at the company they are buying from and when more voices like mine raise awarness to companies like Shaklee and to what companies like Clorox are doing it only makes the consumer more educated. I refuse to believe that moms that shop at Wally Mart and don’t have money can’t make smarter choices and become educated consumers. They can dial a number, use the internet or make their own products.
I really respect what you do in the blogging world for moms, children, and familes when it comes to living healthier and more natural. Your a terrific blogger and writer. I’m not just writing this to stroke your ego either. I check in with your blog often and love the creativity. I understand why you didn’t want to get into the GW debate, it is indeed heated. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. Again, thanks for the response and dialogue.
Brooke, I agree about the baking soda and vinegar. Problem is..I gave a lecture about cleaning this way in my cowtown Ohio area and it was met with horror. ALL the parents felt that was gross and unclean. They wanted something with chemicals to ensure all the germs were being killed. They won’t clean that way…or buy expensive products they feel are just gimicky. They would probably buy GW though.
Hi Sommer,
Thanks for the compliments on my blog. I am happy to see we are working toward the same goal.
As far as Shaklee goes I developed my opinion of them about a year ago when I was formulating a laundry detergent chart. I was rating all known detergents based upon their inclusion (or not) of 5 key unsavory elements and when it came time to review Shaklee you can see why I came up against a problem. Shaklee was the ONLY company I found that would not disclose that info and as a mom I ask…why should I take their word for it that their products are safe. I won’t buy food without knowing what is it….why should ANY company expect me to buy detergent or household cleaners without knowing the same.
One of the mast green cleaning posts I did had another Shaklee mom disagreeing with me and promoting Shaklee and she informed me of the things you wrote about below. But basically I feel as though it is my right to know.
Also I had a friend research their personal care products and she sent me a list of the ingredients in their baby shampoo and the list was FULL of chemicals. That kind of leaves me scratching my head…they want safe cleaners for going down the drain but they think putting chemicals on my baby’s head is okay? Just my thoughts.
Tiffany,
I can understand where you are coming from. At least we’re headed in the same direction. When you look at chemicals (parabens) I think everyone has to think of the safety of personal care products. If it’s on the shelf at a store the FDA says it has to have preseratives to conserve it for five years. That’s a lot of chemicals! It’s the combination of science and nature that matters and what research has gone into it to make sure it is safe and in small quanties. Great points though.
You make some great points about Green Works that I hadn’t considered. I cringe every time I see these products advertised on “green” websites. However, I agree with the baby steps concept. I’m still taking baby steps myself. If nothing else, it will bring some kind of awareness to the chemicals in cleaning products. Maybe people will look at the products on the shelf and start to wonder why they should buy a “green” product.
Our Target carries Seventh Generation (yea!) but our Walmart doesn’t carry any “green” brands. I agree that at least for the people shop at Walmart, this is going to be a step up from the other options. I don’t think a lot of people know about cleaning with baking soda and vinegar, or understand how it works.
I grew up using Shaklee products (my dad worked there), and I would definitely consider using their cleaning products again. I like that they are concentrated. However, I have recently started using baking soda, vinegar, castile soap, etc. to clean with, and I really can’t see going back to any kind of cleaning product. I love the results I’ve gotten with those simple ingredients.
Oh yeah, and thanks for mentioning the Clorox/Burts Bees connection. I had no idea. That is very disappointing.
Holly’s last blog post..Giving Up Caffeine
We bought the GW all purpose cleaner. I am perfectly content with baking soda, vinegar and essential oils for a nice smell. However, my husband just has this affinity for cleaners. So, last time he went to wal mart.. I told him just to make sure it was not some ultra toxic chemicalized potion he brought home. And he brought the GW. I would like to try some of their products now. I used to use Melaleuca products. What do you think of them?
wow, there is so much info in this post to think about. I had no idea that Method had so many chemicals still. I have been using that for sometime but occasionally I will try a new product. Which is why i recently began using the GW toilet bowl cleaner.I had been looking but I could not find another packaged toilet cleaner that was not totally full of chemicals, so when i saw this i thought that it was a great option. I think going “green” is about baby steps and we all should be faithfully considering what is best for our home and family as well as the enviornment and when a product exists that can make it a little easier and better for both, then it is more help than harm.
I am a Melaleuca customer and I am constantly sharing Melaleuca with others. What I love is that they have been doing this for 23 years, not just now because it’s trendy and popular. Melaleuca is not a multi-level-marketing company. No inventory, no deliveries, no money up front for the business. We’re all just customers, and some of us choose to share with others and see the financial benefits from referring others. Their products work just as good as or better than grocery store products, and they are less expensive than Seventh Generation, Method, and Green Works. If you would like to see a price comparison spreadsheet or have questions about this online/catalog store, contact me at thekarlsons@sbcglobal.net. I am happy to share because I love it!
Tiffany – great article!
I am constantly researching what people are saying about Green Works to see where the concensus lies. It seems a lot of people were bought by the words “green” and “natural”, but unfortunately what a lot of people also do not realize is that both those words do not have much credibility anymore.
My comment/question is that I am surprised that you got ingredients on your bottles (perhaps in the US) b/c in Canada there are none. I had to contact Clorox for them and did lots of research after that to get to the conclusion I got. You can read my research here: http://evolvingwellness.com/posts/72/maybe-natural-means-toxic-today-the-clorox-green-works-update/
Basically I was trying to go into this debate open minded and give Clorox the benefit of the doubt, but they helped me make my decision very easily on where i stand on this. What still boggles my mind though is how quickly people are trusting this product when it comes to their health. I like you stick with baking soda and vinegar – way cheaper, effective and as safe as a cleaner can get.
Evita’s last blog post..Vegetarian Recipe: Mandarin-Olive Green Salad
Can anyone share just HOW they clean with vinegar and baking soda? What are the proportions? Where do you buy castille soap? Is it true that vinegar is a disinfectant? Can you just spritz it onto surfaces (minus granite & limestone) to disinfect like you would spray a can of lysol?
I am doing a prject about this cleaning pupplies and i think this web site is very helpful. Thank you.
A heads up on “green” products e.g the Greenworks all purpose cleaner.
There is a chemical in it that can cause eye, skin and lung allergic reactions. That chemical is methylisothiazolinone, a preservative. Although it is in a concentration of 1-5% and supposedly have passed safety tests, it did illicit an eye reaction in my daughter and some coughing in myself when used to clean the kitchen table. One can find a better”green” product than this.
Ar