Earth Day falls in prime spring-cleaning season, making it a perfect time to switch to environmentally friendly cleaners. I tested each of these all-purpose cleansers -- one bottle simplifies housekeeping and requires little storage space. I'd play favourites but, truthfully, all of these were outstanding, cleaning as well if not better than a brand name non-green cleanser.
• Simply Clean All Purpose Cleaner: Slight citrus-y scent; sudsy but rinses well; can be diluted for big jobs like floors. (CANADIAN)
• Seventh Generation Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Great to spray on countertops and wipe clean; can be diluted in water; free of perfume for those sensitive to smell.
• Fruits & Passion Art Home Ecological Heavy Duty Cleaner: A strong cleanser with a pleasant lavender-mint scent. (CANADIAN)
• Citra-Solv Concentrated Cleaner & Degreaser: Very citrus-y; concentrated, so you can mix the strength you need for the job you're doing.
• Shadow Lake Pure Castile Soap (Peppermint): Smells fabulous (if, like me, you love mint); very sudsy; so gentle you can even use it as bubble bath.
• Nature Clean All-Purpose Cleaning Lotion: Safe even for washing produce; concentrated, so quite economical; fragrance free and hypoallergenic. (CANADIAN)
• Ecover All Purpose: Lemon-scented; rinses off very well; concentrated but can also use full-strength for tough stains.
WHERE TO FIND IT
Simply Clean All Purpose Cleaner: Pure Source, Guelph, Ont.; 888-313-3369, simplyclean.ca; at natural food and major grocery stores across Canada.
Citra-Solv Concentrated Cleaner & Degreaser: Shadow Lake Pure Castile Soap: Citra-Solv, Ridgefield, CT, 800-343-6588; citra-solv.com for retailers, or at Loblaws and natural products stores across Canada.
Seventh Generation Natural All Purpose Cleaner: Seventh Generation; seventhgeneration.com for retailers.
Fruits & Passion Art Home Ecological Heavy Duty Cleaner: Fruits & Passion, 800-276-9952; fruits-passion.com for retailers and to shop on-line within Canada.
Nature Clean All-Purpose Cleaning Lotion: F.T. Ross and Sons, Toronto, franktross.com for info; at Loblaws and most natural food retailers; shopnontoxic.com
Ecover All Purpose: Ecover, at natural/health food stores or call 800-449-4925 for retailers.
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