Nature’s Source cleaning products
March 20, 2009
Recently, Christina asked in the forums whether or not anyone had used Nature’s Source cleaning products. I’ve seen their ads everywhere ( I’m a bit of a magazine fanatic – another topic for another day! ) and have been meaning to check them out. Thank you Christina for the motivation!
This jury is still out on Nature’s Source. They definitely have some great qualities : no ammonia, bleach or phosphous, the bottle is recyclable and their main cleaning agent is a plant based cleanser ( also used in Seventh Generation products ). I’m also really impressed that the manufacturer, S.C. Johnson, has started putting their product ingredients online. However, the first red flag for me is the word “FRAGRANCE” and I’ll tell you why.
Fragrance is considered a trade secret and companies are not required by law to divulge the ingredients but they may include synthetic materials such as: allergens, phthalates, sensitizers and neurotoxins. According to the EWG, fragrance is one of the top five allergens known to cause and trigger asthma attacks and neurotoxins are chemicals that are toxic to the brain. Probably the most worrisome are phthalates, a set of industrial chemicals linked to birth defects, asthma, early puberty and decreased sperm counts, according to animal and human studies.
One thing I find utterly confusing is that they say the Nature’s Source products contain no dyes but the toilet bowl cleanser clearly states that it DOES include dye “to provide a pleasing color”. I don’t know about you but I could care less about my toilet bowl cleanser being blue.
I understand that S.C. Johnson plans to further describe their “fragrance” in the future and I think I’ll wait to hear what that is before I render a verdict. I also believe they are working to remove phthlates from their products. Until then, I’ll use other products. Next Tuesday, in the MGG newsletter, I’ll go through several safe cleaning products and even provide a recipe to save some green by making your own products!
If you have a favorite line of cleaning products, tell us about them!
Comments
I just received some free samples of the Nature’s Source cleaning products. I usually make all my own cleaning products but I’m looking forward to trying these products out. I doubt I’ll make the switch – I’ve found homemade products work just as well or better, plus are super cheap and have no scary ingredients. Still I have a lot of friends and family who aren’t ready to make the switch to homemade. Since this line is made by SG Johnson and therefore I imagine more widely available than 7th generation or other natural brands, I’m hoping to recommend it to others who want to still buy cleaning products but have a little less impact on the planet.
I like your blog, by the way. I’ve added it to my Google Reader.
Beth Sethi, Owner
Bambootique (Fair Trade Gifts)
Thank you Beth! I absolutely understand the ‘one step at a time’ methodology. We are all busy moms and making our own cleaners or searching for the perfect environmentally friendly one might sound daunting or overwhelming. And you’re right……Seventh Generation products aren’t sold at every grocery store. I originally started using Method products, moved to Seventh Generation and now I use a combo of Aubrey Organics, Bon Ami and homemade products. Once the Aubrey Organics products are gone, I’ll likely make more of my own. I LOVE the cost savings!