Our Product Review - More Muscle… and Ready Made

Brand Name: Citra-Solv

Product Name: Natural Cleaner and Degreaser

Cost: $11.99 for 473 ml

Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Health food grocery stores, natural products section of large grocery stores.

Tester: Patti

Rating (out of 5): 4.0

Comments: Love that cleaning product smell that strong cleaners like Lysol have, and then this product is a great substitute. It is super-concentrated so you can use the amount needed for the specific job. It's has the fresh clean smell - it is scented with orange extract. I use in my front hall area where most of my family's life dust and dirt (and smell) are deposited.

Ingredients: D-Limonene (clear liquid from the peel of the orange), Five-fold Orange Oil & Biodegradable Surfactant (derived from coconut)

Brand Name: Nature Clean

Product Name: All Natural Window and Glass Cleaner

Cost: $3.29 for 680ml

Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Health food stores, natural product section of large grocery stores.

Tester: Patti

Rating (out of 5): 5.0

Comments: I know that I could make this at home with basically vinegar and water but sometimes you just buy it because it's a simpler. It works well, smells clean but not overpowering like Windex and does the job. I keep a bottle of this in my cleaning bucket. This Canadian company it lists all ingredients in all its cleaning products - which is not common with other manufacturers as it is not required by law.

Ingredients: Water, Fatty Polyglycoside (from corn starch), Coco-betaine (surfactant from coconut), Alcohol Ethoxylate (from coconut), Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (thickening agent from wood pulp), Sodium Borate (borax).

Brand Name: Nature Clean

Product Name: All Natural All Purpose Cleaning Lotion

Cost: $4.99 for 1 litre

Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Health food grocery stores, natural products section of large grocery stores.

Tester: Patti

Rating (out of 5):

Comments: This lotion has replaced the abrasive/scouring cleansers that used to be in my cleaning bucket. As this is a lotion, and not a powder base, it comes out into the
This Canadian company it lists all ingredients in all its cleaning products - which is not common with other manufacturers as it is not required by law.

Ingredients: Water, Alkyl Polyglycoside (from corn), Alcohol Ethoxylate (from coconut/palm kernel oil), Witch Hazel Extract, Acetic Acid (vinegar)

Brand Name: Murphy's Oil Soap

Product Name: Pure Vegetable Oil All Purpose Cleaner

Cost: $4.49 for 950 ml

Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Hardware store, grocery stores

Tester: Patti

Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Comments: My mother has used this for years and years and it has been passed down to me. I like the fresh smell that is not too overpowering. We've used it for floors, woodwork, wood cabinets and other jobs. I don't mind the kids using this either, as it's not toxic. Although vegetable oil is one of the raw materials, it is processed into a natural soap.
Contains not ammonia, bleach and is non-abrasive.

Ingredients: Water, Tall oil fatty acid, potassium, hydroxide, fragrance, cocamidopropyl hydroxysidtaine, triethanolamine, grain alcohol (denatured) fatty oil, D-Limonene (clear liquid from the peel of the orange), Five-fold Orange Oil & Biodegradable Surfactant (derived from coconut).

Brand Name: Presidents Choice GREEN

Product Name: The Natural Vinegar

Cost: $2.49 for 4 litres

Where did we get it? Where have we seen it? Loblaws, Superstore

Tester: Patti

Rating (out of 5): 2.5 - for cleaning purposes

Comments: I was curious about the Green label on vinegar - and why it cost $1.00 more than the no-name brand. The label says that PC Green vinegar is "derived from grain spirits produced by the natural fermentation of sun-ripened grains". The vinegar is the diluted with natural spring water to an ideal strength (5% acetic acid) suitable for pickling, cooking or table use. Great, but I bought it for cleaning. Back to the plain old, no-name and cheaper vinegar for me - even if it is made from chemically synthesized spirits. Product of Canada.

Ingredients: Ingredient: Acetic Acid (vinegar)

Brand Name: President's Choice GREEN

Product Name: Baking Soda

Cost: $1.99 for 1 kg

Where did we get it? Where have we seen it? Loblaws, Superstore

Tester: Patti

Rating (out of 5): 5.0

Comments: It's a good scouring product for sure but not so sure if it's any different than regular baking soda. All kinds of baking soda are "green" in that it is a solid non-toxic choice and easy on the environment. Product of Canada.

Ingredients: Ingredient: Sodium Bicarbonate

Brand Name: Simply Clean

Product Name: Professional Strength Super cleaner

Cost: $9.99 for 900 ml

Where did we get it? Where have we seen it? Health food grocery stores, natural products section of large grocery stores.

Tester: Patti

Rating (out of 5): 4.0