The very first time I became aware of the chemicals my husband and I use in our home was during my first pregnancy. I’ve shared this story in the past, but I still find it to be relevant.
We were living in Edinburgh, Scotland and I was nearing the end of my first trimester. My contract with the hospital I was working at ended and we were making preparations to leave, including a deep and thorough cleaning of our flat. As my husband cleaned the oven I began to feel slightly nauseated, so I took a walk to our local library and began reading and researching pregnancy and cleaning chemicals. Despite my nursing background, I was shocked to learn how many conventional, well-known chemicals that pose serious risks to a growing baby.
I stayed out of our flat for most of the day to allow the chemicals to dissipate and perused our local market in search of something less toxic. Living in a foreign country, even for as long as we did, meant that it was difficult to know which brands were considered natural and safe. I never did end up finding something I felt was safe during my pregnancy, but that’s not to say natural, toxic-free chemicals didn’t exist at that time. If any country is forward-thinking in this area it’s Europe. I simply vowed when I returned home that everything we used in our home would be free from toxins. Who knew that finding said products would be so difficult?
It’s been five years since I made the switch, and I’m thankful that companies like Mrs. Meyers Clean Day are making natural, toxic-free, environmentally safe cleaning products accessible. I’ve actually tried some products from their line in the past and have been content with their effectiveness. They also have a pleasant scent that doesn’t overwhelm me, which is typically true of many natural cleaning products as I’m sensitive to scents.
Walmart now carries 10 products from Mrs. Meyers Clean Day and over 50 products on Walmart.com. Offered in a variety of garden-fresh scents, the line of household cleaners and laundry care products combine effective, natural ingredients and essential oils to help ensure a clean that is safe. They are free from ammonia, chlorine bleach, parabens, and phosphates. The company does not test their products on animals and all ingredients are plant-derived.
We’ve been testing out some products from the line including Lavender-scented laundry detergent, fabric softener, toilet bowl cleaner and all-purpose cleaner and their Lemon Verbena-scented countertop spray, surface scrub, liquid hand soap, and dish soap.
As far as scent, I find both the lavender and the lemon verbena to be pleasant. The lemon verbena seems to be best suited for the kitchen because it’s light, fresh and citrus-like. I am definitely partial to lavender, which is calming and tranquil, and works well in other areas of my home like the bathroom.
As far as effectiveness, I really like the way the countertop spray and surface scrub work in my kitchen to remove grease and odors although I found the surface scrub worked better for the dirtier, harder-to-clean areas. Contrary to what I thought, the surface scrub can be used on tile, stainless steel, professional cookware, and porcelain fixtures!
One of my least favorite areas to clean is the toilet. I really like the fact that the toilet bowl cleaner also deodorizes the bowl but I do wish this particular product had a disinfectant component.
I like to keep one effective all-purpose cleaner in my house to use for everything from my tubs to my floors. This one from Mrs. Meyers Clean Day is concentrated which means it lasts longer!
Of all the household chores my husband and I share, the laundry is actually one I don’t mind. I absolutely love the detergent and fabric softener we’ve been testing out from this line. I have yet to find a natural, eco-friendly fabric softener that I can actually use in my HE washer…until now. The detergent is concentrated at 4X which means a little bit goes a long way. We have precision dispense so I don’t have to measure or think about it, but if you’re measuring, you’ll only need a tablespoon per load (impressive!).
Overall, I was quite pleased with the products we tried from Mrs. Meyers Clean Day. Because Walmart.com sells a majority of the products, I recommend buying them online since we did not find them in our local store. If you’re looking to replace your entire household cleaning supply, you might consider the kits Walmart sells. You can get 7 products for less than $40 and if you spend at least $45, shipping is free!
For more information, just visit Walmart.com or MrsMeyers.com.
Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.
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isis says
Interesting! When you say toxic-free, does that mean it’s basically safe if a child accidentally touches it? I’m always scared my son would accidentally get into our cleaning supplies cabinet and touch all the stuff there! 🙂
Ellen Christian says
We love Mrs Meyers dish soap! Does a great job!
Amanda @ The Frugal Greenish Mama says
I love Mrs. Meyers products! And I love that even unconvetional products are making their way to the shelves of major retailers!
Kristin Wheeler (MamaLuvsBooks) says
I LOVE Eco-Friendly products!!! I’ll have to check these out!
Trisha B. says
I would love to try these products since eco-friendly is my thing and of course,the right way to go.Thanks for sharing this.