Ecostore USA
Review of Non Toxic Cleaning Products

Nothing inspires a cleaning spree, like some, cool, new non-toxic cleaning products from an eco-friendly company. I was able to sample some products from Ecostore USA.

The original company, Ecostore NZ was founded over 15 years ago in a farm-based eco village where no harsh chemicals were allowed in the name of good health and sustainability. Since then, the company has blossomed under the banner of "No Nasty Chemicals ™" to more than 600 retail outlets in New Zealand and it is gaining a following in Australia, the U.K and now the US.

Consequently, these non toxic cleaning products came into my world at just the right time. The holidays were approaching and I needed to prepare for family to come in town. I had gotten rid of all of the chemical cleaners in the house and replaced them with baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar.

This worked well on my floors and counter tops, but some situations called for a more heavy duty and effective cleaning without all of the harsh chemicals. After several months of "going natural" in the cleaning department, my toilets, tubs, laundry and dishwasher were begging for more sophisticated (yet non-toxic) cleansers. So I was excited to put these to the test.

Here is a list of what I tried:

• Auto Dish Powder, a blend of mineral salts, citrus and coconut oils for the dishwashing detergent.
• Citrus Spray Cleaner, a multi-purpose blend of D-Limonene (from citrus), palm and coconut based surfactants, fatty acid derivative, ethanol, filtered water.
• Cream Cleanser, a blend of water, chalk, plant based surfactants, glycerine, xanthum gum and lemon verbena oil that works on tubs and throughout the bathroom.
• Laundry Liquid, a blend of palm and coconut based surfactants, fatty acid derivative, mineral hydroxide and certified organic eucalyptus oil.
• Laundry Powder, a blend of palm and coconut based surfactants, mineral sals, citrates, cellulose, sodium percarbonate and natural lemon verbena oil.
• Pure Oxygen Whitener, a blend of mineral salts, sodium percarbonate (oxygen producing whitener), baking soda, citrates, surfactant and natural citrus oil for brightening laundry.
• I also tried of their bar soaps, but since they are skincare products and not certified organic (my preference for baby skincare), I will not go into detail about them here.

Likes

• I like the fact that the ingredients of these non toxic cleaning products were broken down in simple terms on the packaging and their website. I don't have a degree in chemical compounds and am glad I don't need one to understand what is in these products.
• I love the look and feel of the packaging. The combination of classic black and white photography with a splash of color is simple, yet modern. This makes for a nice and neat utility cabinet (i.e. More inspiration to clean.)
• The laundry detergent worked wonders on some clothes I had that were left in the washing machine way too long. They got rid of that mildewy smell, without another masking fragrance. Overall my clothes smell fresher and I like not having to have a different detergent for baby clothes and our clothes. Hint: the laundry powder lasts twice as long if you follow the instructions and only use a 1/2 scoop on lightly soiled loads.
• Also, if you want extra brightening (like on white towels) or have stains to get rid of you can add the oxygen whitener to your load. I like being able to add a boost when needed versus having to buy a separate laundry detergent. I also plan to experiment with this on some other non-laundry related stains.
• The liquid detergent was nice for loads where you want a heavier wash with a mild fragrance, like sheets and towels.
• The citrus spray cleaner is quite effective unlike some other natural cleaners I've tried. It's light on the fragrance and that's a plus for me.
• I like the shape and weight of the dish washing detergent bottle. It allows for complete control over how much detergent I'm putting in the dispenser, which minimizes waste. It always leaves me with clean and fresh smelling dishes - no soapy film.
• I like that most of the products had a light and subtle smell to them, either lemon, citrus or non at all.

Dislikes

• I wasn't happy with the toilet bowl cleaner. While I welcome an alternative to the blue, bleach-laiden products in the grocery aisles. I found the scent of this plant-based product to be lingering and overwhelming in the small space where my commodes sit.
• You also must be sure you don't leave any the toilet bowl cleaner behind on the surface of the toilet, which is tricky because it squirts on clear. The cleaner leaves a sticky residue if it is left on the seat, and after wiping it, I saw it had lifted the color and left white streaks.
• That said, it does remove stains and would be good for targeted stain removal. I ended up using the citrus spray to clean up the toilet bowl cleaner residue and decided I preferred it as a toilet cleaner. With the help of my toilet bowl brush, the spray cleaner gets the bowl, clean and fresh.

My Recommendations:

At first glance, the price of these non toxic cleaning products appears to be higher than competitive alternatives. That said, Ecostore's products are quality, effective and absent of harsh chemicals (see the ingredient list details on their website). I found the higher concentrations of the detergents and powders made them last longer than I expected so the cost per use may just balance out.

If you have any gaps in your eco-friendly cleaning regimen, I would definitely give these non toxic cleaning products a try. After comparing effectiveness, quantity and ingredients, you may decide to make Ecostore USA a permanent part of your cleaning cabinet.

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