I Cleaned My Whole House with Grove Co. Plastic-Free Cleaning Products. Here’s My Review.
Reducing plastic use in my kitchen and home was one of my 2021 goals. Less plastic is better for the earth, and my health. Along with replacing single-use snack bags with washable silicone bags, I decided to switch from plastic-based cleaning products to cleaning concentrates in refillable glass bottles. I wasn’t willing to compromise on cleaning results, however, and I really wanted the cleaning products to smell good. Enter: Grove Co. Here’s my Grove Co. review.
What are Grove Co. Cleaning Products?
Grove Co. cleaning products take both cleaning AND eco-consciousness seriously. The brand champions its products as free from plastic and harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, phosphates, formaldehyde, ammonia and chlorine bleach. In 2020 alone, Grove customers kept 1.93 million pounds of plastic from getting tossed into landfills. The cleaning concentrates and hand soaps prevented another 994,776 pounds of waste. That’s a really good start!
The Grove Co. cleaning collection includes multi-purpose kitchen and bathroom cleaners, glass cleaners and dishwashing liquid in two delicious fragrances. The cleaning concentrates (which come in a pack of two one-ounce glass bottles) and glass spray bottles are sold separately. The idea is that you buy a spray bottle once and refill it with cleaning concentrates over time—which saves plastic, money and shipping costs.
The products are also free of synthetic fragrances. And they smell really, really good—thanks to essential oils like orange, rosemary, citron and white rose. And, Grove Co. recently launched at Target. Love the accessibility!
How Did We Test Grove Co. Cleaning Products?
Grove Co. cleaning products sound like a smart eco-friendly cleaning solution. But do they actually tackle stains, residue, dust and grime? And, would they leave my home smelling clean for more than a few minutes? For this Grove Co. review, I did my usual weekly deep clean and laundry using only Grove Co. cleaning products. Oh, and I also washed my windows. Here are the results.
Grove Co. Refillable Multipurpose Cleaning Concentrates
I use multipurpose cleaning spray multiple times a day. Coffee spill on the white quartz countertop? Spritz and wipe. Olive oil splatter on the glass range after dinner? Spritz and wipe. Toothpaste in the bathroom sink? Spritz, spritz and wipe. I’ve gone through almost every multipurpose cleaning spray in the cleaning aisle, tossing out a plastic bottle every time its empty.
To test Grove Co. Refillable Multipurpose Cleaning Concentrates, I emptied the contents from the one-ounce glass bottle concentrate into the reusable glass spray bottle, added tap water and gave it a good shake. Then I cleared all the small appliances off the countertops and sprayed them down. Immediately, the citron and white rose scent gave a wonderful savory floral smell that was clean without the chemicals.
I waited a few seconds and wiped the cleaner off with a microfiber towel. The formula immediately cut the grease and residue that gathers on my kitchen surfaces. I moved on to the stainless steel refrigerator and watched fingerprints disappear without streaks. Same thing on the stainless steel sink fixtures and even inside the microwave, which had some icky baked on food stains.
Impressed with the kitchen results, I took the Grove Co. Multipurpose Cleaner to the living room and bedroom to dust furniture and appliances. The essential oils didn’t leave residue behind and smelled fresh. I even spritzed some cleaner on a spot on the vinyl floor. Success!
If you’re going to take just one product from this Grove Co. review, the Multipurpose Cleaner is it. (Also available in orange and rosemary scent.)
Pros:
Comes in a glass bottle with a metal screw top, no plastic here!
Cuts through grease and fingerprints on a variety of surfaces.
Smells amazing, and the scent lasts for hours.
Two pack of concentrate should last multiple months.
Cons:
You have to buy a spray bottle separately to use this product.
Grove Co. Reusable Cleaning Glass Spray Bottle
Grove Co. cleaning products are free of plastics. That’s a good thing! But it also means the glass cleaning concentrates and glass spray bottles are sold separately. Though it seems like one more thing to buy, the practice cuts back on plastics AND shipping costs since you’re not paying for the added weight of shipping bottles mostly filled with water. And you only have to buy the refillable bottle once, instead of tossing it in the trash and starting from scratch with a new bottle every few months.
Of course, you can buy Grove Co. cleaning concentrates and put them in any spray bottle. But here’s why I liked the Grove Co. reusable cleaning glass spray bottle.
The silicone sleeve is available in multiple colors so you can color code your glass cleaner bottle from your tile cleaner bottle. The bottles are labeled, too. The silicone sleeve also prevents slips and breakage.
Some refillable spray bottles have a cheap spray top. Not so with Grove Co. I’ve used these bottles daily for over a month and haven’t had any issues with leaks or drips. The spray is strong and evenly applies product, which is extra important for the glass cleaner when you don’t want an inconsistent spray.
Pros:
Keeps plastic out of the landfill and oceans.
Silicone sleeve prevents slips and breakage.
Sprays a steady flow of product without dripping or leaking.
Available in multiple colors for color coding!
Cons:
The trigger can pinch your skin slightly if you hold the bottle wrong.
Glass Cleaner Concentrates
I’ll admit, cleaning glass is my least favorite cleaning chore. The streaks drive me crazy. So of course I went ahead and bought a seven-foot tall three-foot wide leaning accent mirror that seems to attract every dust molecule in my living room. I’d given up on keeping it shiny. I was honestly stressed I had to clean the mirror for this Grove Co. review.
Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about. The Grove Co. Glass Cleaner Concentrates formula is almost thick, but buffs out to a streak-free shine with paper towels. I was shocked how quickly I cleaned my enormous mirror, and moved right along to removing water spots from the bathroom vanity mirror.
I even went all in and cleaned my interior windows—a chore I usually skip. I’ll let the photo of the brown paper towel speak for itself. And, no streaks!
Pros:
Quickly removes smudges and spots without leaving messy streaks.
Smells nice!
Cons:
Slightly higher price point than other glass cleaners.
Grove Co. Tub and Tile Cleaner Concentrates
I really worry about using harsh chemicals to clean the shower. The combination of a steaming hot shower, toxic chemicals…and me just feels unsafe. Plus, bathrooms don’t have the best ventilation. But cleaning soap scum is a serious job. Would Grove Co. Tub and Tile Cleaner Concentrates be up to the task?
Just like the multipurpose and glass cleaners, the Tub and Tile Cleaners come in two one-ounce glass bottles to be poured into a spray bottle and mixed with water. To test the product, I removed all of my shampoo bottles from the shower shelves and liberally spritzed the whole shower down. Out of habit, I held my breath to avoid breathing in chemicals. But the white rose and citron smelled refreshing! No burning eyes or coughing lungs.
As for performance, the tub and tile cleaner got rid of soap scum on the stainless steel faucet, dried purple shampoo on the white tile walls and made quick work of dust and debris that gathered on the shower floor. I wiped everything down with a sponge, and was done in a manner of minutes. The trick with this stuff is to use it a few times a week to prevent soap scum buildup. And since it smells so good, that’s an easy ask.
Pros:
Quickly cleans soap scum and residue from tile and faucets.
Smells fresh and light.
Strong spray for precision application.
Cons:
Probably won’t take out really tough water stains and buildup.
Grove Co. Laundry Detergent Sheets
The house isn’t truly clean unless the hamper is empty. To test Grove Co. laundry detergent sheets, I did multiple loads of laundry in my top-loading washing machine. For the first test, I tossed a single laundry detergent sheet in the machine’s drum and turned the washing cycle to whites with hot water.
The laundry sheet dissolved completely in about 30 seconds, and created sudsy bubbles scented with lavender. I added the soiled white towels, closed the lid and waited for the cycle to finish. I really liked how fast and mess-free it was to use the laundry sheets—no measuring or pouring required.
I pulled the wet towels from the washing machine and noticed the subtle lavender scent. Yum! A few spots of black mascara smears were cleaned from the towels. After drying the towels with the same wool dryer balls I always use, the towels felt fluffy and soft.
I also washed sweaty workout clothes and a load of denim in cold water with Grove Co. laundry detergent sheets. Sometimes I have issues with laundry detergent not completely dissolving in cold water and leaving a white film on my dark clothes—grrrr. But that wasn’t a problem in my Grove Co. laundry detergent sheets tests.
One note, I wash smaller loads of laundry because my washing machine isn’t very big. If you were doing large loads of laundry with bulky items you’d need to use two laundry detergent sheets.
Pros:
They work! The formula thoroughly cleans and lightly scents clothes.
Better for the earth, the plant-based sheets don’t include plastic and the packaging is recyclable cardboard.
The lavender scent is lovely and safe for sensitive skin.
Cons:
Larger loads require two sheets.
The lavender scent isn’t super strong (a pro for some).
The Final Verdict on Grove Co. Cleaning Products
Okay so the real test. After I cleaned my house with Grove Co. Cleaning products, I took the dog for a walk and ran some errands. When I returned home a few hour later I opened the door, took a big whiff and smelled…essential oils! I love returning home to the scent of a freshly cleaned house, and Grove Co. delivered. These are my new go-to cleaning products, and I’m hoping Grove Co. comes out with even more scents to try.
Where to Buy Grove Co. Cleaning Products
Ready to join me and make the switch to more eco-friendly cleaning products? Grove Co. cleaning products are available through Grove Collaborative via an easy subscription model. You can also find Grove Co. cleaning products at Target. The collection is pretty affordable, too. Prices range between $5 and $15.
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