This post has been a long time coming!! I wanted to be sure I was 100% satisfied with my current cleaning routine before I wrote about it!! Here’s part I, the magic!
I’ve tried many a cleaning product in my days as an adult. You guys probably think I’m such a clean freak, but I’m really not! I don’t really have any great secrets to cleaning, and my house is definitely NOT as clean as it might seem! It’s neat, but not clean. I’ve written a handful of posts expressing my frustration about finding the right products for my floors: Knock On Wood and The Green Musketeers.
Here’s a recap of some of the all purpose cleaners I’ve used. I’ve always focused on green cleaners, so perhaps that’s why I’ve never found something really outstanding.
Mrs. Meyers – A favorite because of the smell. Works ok. Nothing magical.
Vinegar-based homemade cleaners – Works ok. Nothing magical. Smells AWFUL!
EO Peppermint – A product review. Best smelling!! Didn’t work all that great. Basic cleaner.
Dr. Bronner’s – Smells great, but very disappointing. Better for body’s.
Aussan Natural – Loved the oven + kitchen cleaner and worked well on my floors with shine. The best of the natural cleaners, but I didn’t like that it wasn’t concentrated.
Shaklee – Worked well, but had no good smell! Especially impressive on mirrors.
I’ve also tried Method, Seventh Generation and a few more.
Read about a few more floor cleaners in the floor post.
I’ve even tried lots of elbow grease. Still nothing magical.
But many of you probably remember me blogging about a magical product line I have discovered. Here’s the story:
This spring as the crazy cleaning bug emerged, I started to poke around for organization and cleaning blogs and came across one called A Bowl Full Of Lemons. Toni’s gorgeous photos of her clean house had me drooling on my keyboard (gotta clean that up!). I read that she used Shaklee, and spent tons of time oogling over her Before + After shots of her kitchen cleaned with Shaklee [especially this one of her OVEN!]. I did some more Googling and realized there are tons of women out there who SWEAR by Shaklee.
Despite the fact that I had actually tried Shaklee on my blog before (and was impressed!) I did not have the time to really test out the product on all of our dirt before. Plus it didn’t have a fancy smell, so I thought that meant it wasn’t cleaning that well.
But after seeing all these other before and afters – ones that were just stunningly beautiful – I knew I had to try it again, including this time the Scour Off for those impossible spots.
I was convinced first and foremost by its effectiveness, but the fact that it was also green, inexpensive, concentrated and came with cute bottles were all bonus. Shaklee became the world’s first climate neutral certified company in the world in 2000. And it’s been given a good stamp by quite a few famous names:
Famous Sightings
- It’s been one of Oprah’s Favorite Things three different times
- Rachel Ray featured it on her show
- It’s what they use in the White House to clean green! [When I read that I knew this was no gimmick.]
- And perhaps the Gold Standard of them all – the Basic H was recently named Real Simple’s Longest Lasting Concentrate!
So after doing all of this research, I bought a starter kid of products and got my clean on. Shaklee’s charts will tell you that because the products are so concentrated, the Get Clean kit is the equivalent of $34,000 worth of cleaners and waste. For example, TWO OUNCES of Basic-H2 replaces 728 bottles of Windex!
I was instantly in love with the bottles – and would you roll your eyes if I told you I just LOVE that all the products MATCH!?
Since the first time I had tried Shaklee I wasn’t impressed by the smell, my solution to the fancy smell was to add a few drops of essential oil to my bottles. Now I have a delicious smelling cleaner that cleans, brightens and shines! My current scent profile is Lavender Peppermint!
The Basic H is the foundation of Shaklee. The products work as a surfactant [let Wikipedia explain that one too you] and lower the surface tension so the dirt lifts up. I remember my 9th grade science teacher explaining surfactants to me in some acid + base lesson. Now I’ve come full circle!
This bottle is $12 and creates 48 GALLONS of cleaner, so it really isn’t expensive. [Hence the Real Simple award]
It can be mixed to clean tons and tons of things in different proportions:
Plus you get 3 beautiful bottles in which to mix your proportions
Labeled with the right measurements: Drops for windows, teaspoons for AP, and more for the Degreaser
I’ve been using this ALL over my house and have been super happy.
Where To Buy
For a while I was a Shaklee distributor but due to the cost of hosting my website, I have moved on. But you can still buy the products through Becky’s website, the cleaning queen who helped me learn all about them myself. I still use Shaklee at home, I just don’t maintain an online store any longer!
Before + Afters!
Water spots and gunk everywhere
During
After
A tablecloth covered in honey after our Great Harvest slicing event:
Sticky sticky honey drips
Honey free!
No stickiness at all – and no need to wash the tablecloth!
It cleaned my couch fabric beautifully. No more shoe scuff dirt lines:
Spots lifted right up:
The REAL magical product is the Scour Off.
It’s made from cherry pits and smells like that cherry lip balm we used as kids. It’s a heavy duty paste (with the H2 magic) that has pulled up SO MUCH DIRT in my house. Spots that scouring pads, steel wool and multiple cleaners could not even begin to remove. It cost me $8.50 and I would have paid so much more for the power behind it.
Also all of Shaklee’s products are:
- Nontoxic
- Natural abrasives
- No harsh chemicals
- Biodegradable surfactants
- No phosphates
The very first spot I tackled was these red (wine?) stains on the front of our kitchen drawers. I had tried multiple cleaners, steel wool, even some of Karen’s bleach stuff and the spots WOULD NOT come off!! The made me so mad to look at each day.
Within 5 minutes of receiving my Scour Off I was scrubbing them and sank to my knees in disbelief: they came off.
Next stop was the spot on the living room windowsill. It was some kind of caked-on something [we don’t own this house and it was here when we moved in]. 3 minutes of elbow grease + cherry pits:
Next test: the packaging marks on our countertops. When we moved in, the landlords had put a polish on the IKEA countertops and when we put groceries down, the labels imprinted themselves onto the wood. I could not get them off and they drove me nuts! Sadly I didn’t think to snap a photo of the biggest ones (I was too busy being excited that it worked) but I got a few of the smaller ones on camera:
Red line:
Look for green:
Look for green:
We had several spaces of wall with big scuff lines on them. Again, I had gone over them with my other cleaners with no so much as a budge.
[It’s very hard to capture these on camera!!]
In the kitchen:
In the foyer:
Crayon (?) on the fridge
A whole wall of scuffs (previous shoe throw area?)
Big wall mark above my desk:
And the one that surprised me the most: the big scuff on the bottom of my beautiful white water bottle came off super easy!
My house is now scuff free!!! It has also taken sticky off of floors that would have otherwise been scraped off and cleaned spots that I thought were permanent all over.
It also took the sticky off of the honey bears for our GH event in no time
And another major spot removal for me: it took a sticker that was AGED onto this mirror right off!!
I also bought the dish detergent (you only need a tiny bit!) and have been very happy. I’ve added a few essential oils to that as well so now when I wash dishes I get Lavender Peppermint. I love the creativity to create your own scent. The dish wash concentrate suds stick around (so you don’t need to keep adding more soap) and the dishwasher detergent works just as well as the Cascade we’ve been using (but is much greener)
I also like the hand soap (a delicious smell is already infused), but since I’m a smell variety person, I’d probably get other kinds for variety in the household (like Method’s!) in the future when this is gone.
Shaklee also makes a Germicide line called Basic G that I have not tried yet (didn’t know how necessary it was over the Basic H?) But it is EPA registered, so I’m hoping to use it in the bakery!
I’m hooked on Tide Febreeze Sport and just restocked this spring. Its smell is heavenly. But I realize it’s probably more chemically than I might want long term [babies someday?]. My favorite green lines are soapnuts and Method’s detergents. I also use Shaklee’s Nature Bright on my white linens as a bleach substitute. See a whole post on that here: Bright Whites.
THESE need a mention. Method’s totally rockin’ MARSHMALLOW dryer sheets. Ashley told me about them at Foodbuzz but when I saw the price tag I decided to get my normal synthetic ones. But the next time I went shopping, I decided my health was more important than a few dollars (that I’d easily spend on wine or peanut butter!) so I bought them. SOO glad because they smell so good!! I even save the sheets after they’ve been used and tuck them into my pillow so when I fall asleep I get whiffs of marshmallow and vanilla!!
The final items I swear by in my household:
My Swiffer Sweeper Vac, which I use every night in the kitchen to pick up crumbs. My Swiffer duster….for…dusting 
[I just read in the latest Real Simple about some of the greener dusters out there and may need to invest in a washable solution.] And I really like this Method hand soap for the kitchen [a freebie from the company]
Last but not least, I’m still in love with my Shark Steam Vac!! I really love that you can vac + steam with the same equipment. Vacuuming our hardwoods with this guy is much easier than getting out our big vacuum cleaner because the Shark is so lightweight. I only wish you could use it on carpet AND hardwoods (it’s only designed for hard surfaces) but since we don’t have many rugs, it’s not a huge deal.
I have discovered that the COMBINATION of steam and cleaner is where it’s at! I missed the smell of clean after mopping. [See my post on steam mopping here].
So what I now do is take my bottle of Lavender Peppermint Shaklee Basic H mix and spritz the floors and then go over them with the Shark. I don’t think this is at all harmful to the Shark because the cleaner is only on the floor and pad – not inside of the system. After doing this there was a significant amount more dirt on the pad – which told me it works! AND my house smelled minty clean!
My cleaning habits are always a work in progress, but I can tell you that after years of soul searching for a good line of cleaners and tools for my household, I feel like I have finally found a collection I want to stick with for years!
If you want to see all the products that Shaklee makes, you can find them all here. The Get Clean kits are the best bang for your buck, but you can also just buy one thing if you want [The Basic H and Scour Off are my top recommendations. And the cute bottles if you want to match – they are only $3.]
Part II of Home Clean Home will feature some other favorite cleaners and tips from you guys!
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food says
ohhh that does look really effective! Thanks for the recommendation and all the effort you took to put this post and series together, it’s great! 🙂
Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East says
These series are so amazing! Thanks for sharing! You can really tell a big difference in the before and after shots!
JenATX says
the differences are subtle (i’m sure they are a lot more significant in real life), but you can definitely see that the product worked! great post 🙂
got any recommendations for dusting products? i have a beautiful black desk that i love but it just shows dust so much!
Becky O'Brien says
Hello,
Wanted to mention that I use the Shaklee Basic-H all-purpose spray for dusting. I just spray it on a clean cloth, wipe off the furniture, and it actually repels dust! (Unlike other “dusting” sprays.) Very cool. And non-toxic. Hope that helps.
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
Woah so much info! I literally need to print this post off and get to work..I badly need to do some cleaning :p
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
I don’t know if it’s green, but Bar Keeper’s Friend is probably the best cleaner I know. Perfect for pots and pans, my glass stovetop, and the kitchen sink. I love it.
I also use Mr. Clean Magic eraser on my cream colour kitchen cabinets and it works phenomenally.
Dee says
Oh wow! Another fabulous post! Shaklee was actually at my company’s last Health Fair. They sounded very cool back then but I never followed up with them. Maybe this year?
Can’t wait for part II!
Becky O'Brien says
You would love it, Dee! Been using Shaklee for years.
Anne (butter and bear) says
Thanks for posting this Kath. As a Mom, I am always looking for products that get my house clean, but are still safe for my babies. It is such a challenge because usually the stuff that really works is loaded with chemicals. I am definitely going to give this line a shot, your before and after shots have me convinced.
Katie McElroy says
Anne,
I started using Shaklee Get Clean to help with my kids allergies. Not only is it safe, even if they drank it, it’s helped my son with his allergies. This product has really affected a change in our lives.
Cait's Plate says
Wow – I definitely want to use that for my kitchen sink and for my wood floors. I CANNOT stand the water spots and gunk in the sink and no matter what I do I can never remove it! Awesome post Kath, as always 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Thank you so much for putting this together Kath! I’m totally impressed by those before and afters!!! Now that I’m in my own apartment, I’ve had the time to experiment with some cleaners, and I’m trying to find what works and what doesn’t.
I have the Swiffer Wet Jet and am NOT impressed by it as it doesn’t seem to cling to much of anything, but I want to check out the Sweeper Vac and see how that compares.
This might be something you plan on talking about in the future, but what do you use for cleaning bathrooms (toilet and tub/shower)? That’s one of the most difficult ones for me to find good products/methods for.
KathEats says
Right now I use the Basic H in the toilet (with a toilet brush) and the Scour Off and Basic H in the shower – although I have yet to tackle my grout! It’s on my list 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Thanks Kath! I would be curious to see how taking care of the grout goes as well and what products work/don’t work.
Becky says
Nature Bright works great on grout, along with the Scour Off.
Felicia (a taste of health with balance) says
this is beyond amazing. i am definitely buying these products!! thanks for sharing kath!
Kat @ Big Apple Little Kitchen says
Thanks for the tips Kath! I just got the spring cleaning bug and am ready to use all your suggestions!
greenbean says
it would also be cool to hear about your cleaning schedule. do you do a little bit each day? a big clean each week? i’m curious about the best way to manage a clean house without spending hours doing a big clean.
KathEats says
Schedule is coming in Part II!
Annie @ Delicious Wellness says
I’m also really interested in this!!
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
I know a few people who swear by Shaklee — I’ve never tried it. To be honest we still have tons of Amway cleaning products from when we still ordered from there. Once that runs out, who knows what we’ll do. When I was in college I used only Melaleuca products and I *LOVE* those products. I’ll probably start ordering from them again.
The before/after pics are very impressive!
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says
Great review of this product line, I’m definitely interested in it! I make an all-purpose streak free cleaner from vinegar and vodka that works wonderfully, and I’ve gotten used to the vinegar smell. I might try your technique of putting essential oils in it though.
Lizz says
Kath,
I LOVE that you reviewed these- I’ve been wondering! I need some cleaning/decluttering advice if you have a minute (maybe other people have similar issues).
I inherited my grandparent’s home which I absolutely adore. They put in every nail in the house and built from the ground up. After living there for nearly 60 years, they moved into a retirement home but left behind A TON of stuff. We’ve parted things out to family members so everyone’s prized items to remember my grandparents by have gone to those that loved them. My mother held an auction to sell other items that could be valuable but not sentimental (the money went to final expenses).
The items that are left behind now are stockpiled cleaning supplies (varying degrees of sin to use for the green-conscious) and tiny items like old nails, screws, etc. [We’ve given old greeting cards (60 years worth) to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and a local school for craft projects; clothes to Thrift Stores; Building Supplies to Habitat ReStores] They are taking over the house and I don’t know the eco-friendliest way to dispose of old office/misc. supplies, cleaning supplies, and items we can’t use.
Do you have any suggestions? We would appreciate any suggestions!
P.S: Sorry for the long comment/question.
Mom says
What a lovely story! Good luck!
Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing says
I hope it’s to jump in, but I was in a similar situation a couple years ago and just wanted to toss in my two cents. The cleaning supplies can go to Hazardous Materials, and they will safely dispose of them. There isn’t really any eco-friendlier way to do it, but at least then they will be kept out of the water system, etc. Just my experience 🙂
Lizz says
Thanks for the help! I’m happy for any advice anyone can offer!
RhodeyGirl says
I second that, or you could donate them to a senior center or something of the sort. They probably don’t use green cleaning products and might appreciate a donation?
KathEats says
I agree – I would donate them before I’d completely dispose of them. I’ve given cleaners to Goodwill – although not knowing if they use them or not. I’m sure there is a hazardous waste site too with advice.
Robin says
You might see if there is a program near you called “Under the Sink.” It’s great- they will take leftover containers of paint, cleaners,fertilizers, you name it. The best thing is that people can come in and get whatever they need in exchange. Rather than going out and buying a whole package of something, you can get a small amount for small jobs.
Becky O'Brien says
And, nice to know, that with Shaklee, we will never have to worry about that again. We are actually saving the landfills from toxic chemicals and bottles. No such thing in Shaklee Get Clean.
Lizzi says
You could check with area churches. In my area, I know a lot of churches help refugees and people transitioning from homeless shelters. They’ll accept things like this that are opened, where foodshelves, etc. won’t accept opened products.
Kimmie says
The best products out there for cleaning are Norwex antibac supplies. And with the water I use with their products, I always add drops of my favorite essential oils.
RJ says
Ditto on the bathroom question. I have tile in my shower and the grout is a real challenge to keep clean – would love some suggestions!! Great post!
Amy says
Ooh! I’ve been looking for a good, green, inexpensive-ish cleaner. Thanks for reviewing these!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Marshmallow dryer cloths?!?! AMAZING!!! I need to find these! Great review on the Shaklee products. The bottles are so pretty I think they’d be enough to make me want to clean!
Laura says
Are the Shaklee products good for removing soap scum and mildew (like in the shower), bacteria on countertops and in sinks, etc. or do they just get up grimy spots and scuffs?
KathEats says
YES – the Scour Off is for all kinds of scum and crust (like oven burner crust and grout)
Melomeals: Vegan for $3.33 a Day says
This is great! I used to use Shaklee products.. I may start again because I have a HUGE cleaning task coming up.. ( I’m going to clean my X husbands house which used to be my house .. and it is so so filthy.. ).. btw, I have the same bed as you!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
That Scuff remover sounds better than the Magic Eraser (which I’m addicted to!). Do you this it would work for showers? I inherited a tub that won’t return to white.
Marshmallow dryer sheets sound too good to be true! I’d be dreaming of s’mores! 🙂
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
Wow! This is a great post, Kath!
I, too, love Febreeze Sport! It smells so good and is the only detergent I have found that will take out the sweat smells of my work out clothes.
I’ll have to try that line of cleaners sometime! Maybe once I finish up with my current products?? 😉
PS. I spent 30 minutes in BB&B oogling over the Shark Steam Vac! Haha
Mary says
Can you use the Febreeze Sport in non-HE washers? My husband wants me to use it on his undershirts, but won’t let me get it because we have a standard washing machine.
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
We also have a standard washer and it works just fine! In fact the bottle says “If you have HE washer, we recommend Tide High Efficiency” I’d say give it a try! It works great on my workout clothes 😀
KathEats says
I use mine in a standard washer
Becky O'Brien says
Can be used in either, equally as effective.
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says
Aww, you cleaned the honey bear 🙂
And it cleans fabric???!!!! Where do I sign up???
Kayla says
Thanks for sharing! I’m sold. You certainly make a good spokesperson for the product:) It’s a pity it’s not available over here in Australia and Singapore.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I need to print this and take it with me to the store! Clean honey bears are essential. I hate grabbing a sticky one!
Quisha says
wow you are a lean mean green cleaning machine! 🙂
i was really close to buying that steam cleaner then decided to go with a swiffer for hardwood instead since we have a few different tiles and flooring in our house. you’re kind of making me think that I need one though.. hmm.. haha
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
Great post! Thanks for all of the product reviews!
Mary Catherine says
Do they have products for bathrooms – specifically toilets and showers?
Jo says
Ditto: Does Shaklee make something that can remove mineral/lime deposits from toilets? Can’t wait to hear!
I actually *like* the smell of vinegar when cleaning — smells clean!
KathEats says
Yes – it’s called Basic G. It’s a bit more expensive because it’s a germicide. I didn’t buy it but I’m planning to in my next order because I recently used up my toilet Lysol.
Becky O'Brien says
That bottle will last you months! Only 1/2 tsp. in a 16-ounce spray bottle is all you need. Enjoy!
Marci says
Wow it’s like Windex on My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Works on everything.
Very informative review, love the before/afters too.
Becky O'Brien says
Hey Marci. I got a chuckle out of that one. It’s funny, but it’s actually almost true! Underneath my kitchen sink ALL I have is Basic-H bottles, Scour Off and Basic-G germicide. That’s all it takes to clean the whole house. Amazing really.
Kristi @ KristiAteIt says
This post reminds me that my mom bought me some Shaklee cleaning products for Christmas. I have yet to use them yet…and I really should! Just a word of warning, the laundry detergent doesn’t give the clothes a soft feel. You have to make sure to use a lot of fabric softener with it. Well, I had that problem anyway.
Teresa says
I use Shaklee as well and I love their products! In response to the comment about not leaving your clothes soft, I use 1/2 cup of vinegar instead of fabric softener and it works very well.
I also use the Super G for cleaning around toilets and also for cleaning up after preparing raw chicken, fish, etc. It has more of a chemically smell than their other products, but it works well.
Natalia - a side of simple says
Seriously, not to be cliche, but this post is awesome. It’s loaded with information and I’m always looking for cleaning products that are “thoughtful” and “clean,” not to mention get the job done! Thanks for this, Kath!
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
Thanks for this post. Ill definitely be checking out Shaklee!
Stacey says
This looks great I am going to go check out to website now!
Angie @ Musings of a Violet Monkey says
Thanks. This is just what I needed. It sounds silly to say, but I’m so BORED with my cleaning routine. I need something to shake it up and to motivate me to clean. My goal over the past weekend was to clean all THREE of our bathrooms. And? I only cleaned ONE. The smallest one, at that. 😛
It’s a bit pricey to start with – never having used Shaklee products before. But – Who doesn’t like new things, and ones that are cute, to boot? I’m so beyond sold… I just ordered the mini-get started household kit. Can’t wait for it to arrive now! 🙂
~
Laura (On the Threshold of Greatness) says
Awesome!!! 😀
I use Shaklee fabric softener sheets (love that they’re veggie based and can be recycled after use!) but I may need the ones you mentioned for the scent factor alone!
Great idea adding oils to the Basic H! I am going to copy this idea now. 🙂
Ashley says
Awesome post, Kath!!! Those products sound great. The key to the vinegar/water cleaners is also using essential oils. I love using peppermint!! Totally with you on the matching bottle packaging. I’m a sucker for packaging design. 🙂 Nerds unite! I knew you would love the marshmallow dryer sheets!!! <3
Becky O'Brien says
Great post Kath! 16 years of using Shaklee’s cleaners, laundry and dish solutions and I’ve never left them! Awesome stuff!! And it feels good to know that we are doing good things for our health and the health of the planet as well. Also saving a LOT of money. Enjoy!
Jen says
Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll have to check these products out!
We have the Shark steamer and it’s freaking bad ass amazing! I pour a little bit of cleaner directly onto the floor and then use the steamer and it’s gets the floors way cleaner than with the steamer alone.
Angel7 says
I have heard of Shaklee, but have never tried their products. From the looks of it, they do an outstanding job!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Candy (Healthy in Candy Land) says
This post comes at the perfect time! I’ve been slowly switching over to green cleaners and still haven’t found “the” brand. I’m like you–my house is neat, but not necessarily clean. I was so frustrated with trying to clean but it never really looking clean–so why waste the time? 🙂 Thank you so much for doing the leg work, and saving me a lot of money and frustration! I am definitely interested in trying Shaklee. It’s so funny, my mom used Shaklee products many years ago and back then I thought she was just weird, but I guess she was on to something!
RhodeyGirl says
Great post and very informative.
I’d also love a post on your cleaning schedule and such. And how you clean your SHOWERS because that is my biggest dilemma.
RE: greener duster.. I have this duster glove that you put on your hand to dust. I can just throw it in the wash when it gets, well, dusty and it works really well.
KathEats says
Ooo thanks! My schedule is coming – but it’s not much of a schedule!
Chelsea says
I spend $40 every 2 weeks for a cleaner to come in and do my bathrooms. TOTALLY worth it in my opinion 🙂
Fancy says
I agree with RhodeyGirl, I also would love to see your cleaning schedule and some how-tos on HOW you actually clean things like showers, stovetops, etc. Thanks Kath! 🙂
Laughter-Loving Stacy says
Geez you went to TOWN on that house! Nicely done!!
Kimberley says
Thanks for this post, Kath! I have been trying to find some greener cleaning options, but having gone through the same ones you had tried, I wasn’t impressed. I definitely want to try these out. The one question I had…our bathroom doesn’t get much ventilation and, as such, our shower is prone to mold on the grout. Do you know if these products will remove the mold?
KathEats says
Yes – they should remove both.
Alice says
I just ordered the starter kit! I have tried so many green cleaning solutions and haven’t been very impressed. It’s nice to have a good recommendation. What green products do you recommend for cleaning stainless steel surfaces?
KathEats says
The Basic H! I use it on my oven and trash can and it’s great. Makes it shine!
Hillary says
Kath!
The Oh!Spired ladies are Shaklee lovers and distributors as well. What a great post! Will we see you at Convention in August?
-Hillary
KathEats says
I’m not sure I’m that deep into the business yet, but maybe!
Lisa says
Great post!
Microfiber cloths and Magic Erasers are able to get up 90% of my cleaning done, but I’m definitely going to look into some of these products.
I’m especially intrigued by the dryer sheets. I had weaned myself off of them but recently fell off the wagon. I just found out from your Method link that most dryer sheets have animal fats! Yikes!!! Definitely want to try the mallow+rice milk – mmmmm…..!
Anastasia says
I love buying cleaners for our house. I use Method products at the moment because I love their packaging and they work decent enough, but I think I’m going to have to give Shaklee a try. Those before and afters are pretty impressive!
Dimple Snatcher says
WOW–all this cleaning talk is embarrassing to LOVE, but I just do 😀
Emily @ Savory and Savage says
I have never heard of Shaklee cleaning products and since I am in the middle of spring cleaning – I will check them out 🙂
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I LOOOOVE SHAKLEE PRODUCTS! They are the only thing I will use in my home. I hate using harsh chemicals, so this stuff is amazing. I agree, there is no good smell, which is something that I have always disliked. Thanks for the tip on putting some oil into the mix – I am for sure going to do that!
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says
Ok you have inspired me to do an entire cleaning overhaul! Love it! I currently use Mrs. Meyer’s, but for some tough spots (like the bathroom, wood flooring), I still use the chemical stuff since I haven’t found anything as of yet to take on these tasks. I just might be trying this now!
Melanie Schneider says
Kath,
I just wanted to comment not even on the content of this post, but its beauty! I love the simple colors and elegance of your photos. It makes even the topic of cleaning look beautiful and enticing! What camera do you have? I have a nikon d3000 as an amateur photographe and am generally pleased with the way my photos turn out. And to comment on the content, I am so impressed by the detail with which you have examined these products. Maybe you should consider a career in product reviews, I am sure this blog would get you the job!
KathEats says
Thanks!! I have a Canon DSLR XSI with a Canon 35 mm f/2.0 lens. I lov eit! I also use LIghtroom for post processing 🙂
Maria says
Thank you so much for taking time to put all of this together for us! As always, a fabulous post.
It was wonderful to meet you and new friends last night!! I had a great time AND enjoyed a healthy dinner. 🙂
Now off to do some shopping……errrr…..cleaning, soon!
Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living says
Kath, this post couldn’t have come at a better time! My husband and I are starting to a) look for a house to buy and b) think about having a baby… two great reasons to start cleaning with effective green products! I’m going to purchase the starter kit from your distributor site. Thanks for the great review!
Sable@SquatLikeALady says
WOW! That looks like an amazing product!! It’s like the new Magic Eraser 😉 hehe. This is going on my wishlist!!!!
Kim says
The Scour Off is amazing! I love that stuff! We use the laundry products and love them! And they also make some sort of stuff you can spray around your house (inside & out) for bugs and it works awesome! We spray twice a year for spiders and have never had a single one in our house!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
Looks effective- I should try that scour off stuff. I use lemon and lime for essential oils in my sprays- love the clean smell 🙂
Eileen says
Two things …
1.) For those with babies, now or someday, Method also makes a baby wash in the same marshmellow/vanilla scent. Needless to say, it’s divine.
2.) Does Shaklee still do beauty products and vitamins? When I was a kid, my mom had a friend who was about 20 years older, and she looked my mom’s age because she swore by Shaklee. I really haven’t heard much about it since way back then!
KathEats says
Must find that wash!!
Yes, they do still do vitamins. I haven’t explored that part yet!
Susy says
I love the Shaklee cleaners as well. The cherry pit scrub really works! It is the only thing that I use on my flat top stove to get it clean. I am so glad you wrote about these products today. I am going to have to pull out my catalog and look up some of the other Shaklee products that you mentioned.
Mary (what's cookin' with mary) says
I’ve been looking forward to this post since you first announced that it was in the works!! 😀 I loved that you put before and after pictures. I’m def going to have to locate some Shaklee’s. We’ve got scuffs everywhere!
Asia says
I read your blog daily and have never replied until now, I just recently started using the Shaklee cleaners and LOVE them. I can’t stop talking about them to my co workers. I have the Nature’s Bright and used it on whites and noticed the difference as I put the clothes in the dryer.
Happy Cleaning.
Anne @ Baking Me says
I love your Home Neat Home posts! (Actually I love all your posts) The Home Neat Home posts always inspire me to clean. Recently I switched to more natural cleaning products because I found myself getting terrible headaches when I would clean, especially when using bathroom cleaners. I am going to go clean my house now 🙂 Thanks again for all your inspiration!
naturallycheryl says
I’m so excited to try these products now! I’ve been trying to use natural cleaners since having kids a few years ago. Although I love the idea of cleaning with vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, and borax, I’ve gotten frustrated with the extra elbow grease needed (and lack of good smell- good point!). But I certainly didn’t want to run around buying a million different products. I’ve heard of Shaklee, but now I have a good reason to try them!
I have a washable duster (OXO brand I think) from Target and it works well. Also, I bought a Shark Vac and Steam and love it too!
Erin says
I am also obsessed with my Shark but I wish it would leave a nice scent behind! What kind of essential oil do you use? Where do you find them, I’ve never bought them before. Thanks!!
KathEats says
Lavender + Peppermint blended. I bought them at Whole Foods.
Laura @Foodsnobstl says
Reading this makes me want to clean, which is rather shocking 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I am off to get Shaklee’s cleaning kit! Thanks for that awesome review Kath 🙂
Jennifer (It Ain't Meat, Babe) says
This was great to read! I use all natural products to clean my house (mostly dish soap and baking soda with essential oils for scent) and, like you, I stayed with regular laundry detergent for a while. UNTIL my friend who works in a hospital told me that when people used conventional laundry detergent it is detectable when they get a blood test. That freaked me out! 🙂 So now I use Bio Vert for both dishes and laundry and I love it. Thanks again for the great post.
Melissa A. says
I mostly use white vinegar and baking soda for cleaning. Cheap and available everywhere. I haven’t switched to an eco-friendly version of dish soap, hand soap, and laundry detergent but I will some day. My mop has washable pad on it and that’s what I use to clean my floors.
Tina says
This really puts me in the mood to scrub our house down. So much info! I’m definitely going to look into some of these products when we run out on what we have.
Allison @ Happy Tales says
oh em gee I am SO going to buy some of these things!! Thank you so much for introducing me to this line, I cannot WAIT to tackle spring cleaning even further!
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf says
Very cool! I’ve been interested in some natural cleaning products, but I didn’t know where to begin looking. Plus, I don’t like the idea of trying something expensive only to have it be a waste of money. I’ll look into this Shaklee!
Katheryn says
Do you know if they’ll ship it to New Zealand?
KathEats says
I do not know..
Ginna says
Kath – the shaklee products look amazing. I am wondering though which kit you bought….all the kits seem to have different things in them and I cannot decide whats best! Id like to start with just kitchen cleaners. Did you have to get a kit and then supplement with individual products? TIA!
KathEats says
I got the Household and Kitchen mini kits. I should have just gotten the Get Clean one though since the price would have been so close!
Tami@nutmegnotebook says
Love this post and since my hubby and daughter have allergies and my cleaning products send them into sneezing fits and sometimes result in headaches I have been trying the natural cleaning products. But like you I was disappointed with them. I am going to get me a sample pkg and gives these a try! Thanks Kath!
Lee says
I recently bought a bunch of Seventh Generation stuff (Love to hear your opinion on that brand) and my husband says he doesn’t like the smell. I like your idea of using scented oil.
KathEats says
I think the brand is great. I only tried their counter spray once and felt it was just OK.
Anna says
Thanks for the post! I’ve been wanting to add some new products to my green cleaning repertoire, I can’t wait to try Shaklee!
To get the stink out of workout clothes I do a big load of them together and splash in some vinegar and detergent (seventh generation) and let them soak for awhile. They don’t smell vinegar-y at all, and the stink is gone! I always line dry workout clothes and never use fabric softener on them–it leaves a layer of residue which affects their sweat-wicking ability.
Dominique says
I’m really going to have to look into this Shaklee stuff and see if it’s available in Canada. My mom went green for cleaning for a while but nothing was working so she went back to the chemically stuff. And I LOVE those method Rice+Mallow dryer sheets. They’re usable so I keep using them until they’re too “soft” and the scent fades. I usually keep on my nightstand and just before I go to bed, I get the scent of marshmallows right before I fall asleep–totally awesome! The store that used to stock them doesn’t stock them anymore so the ones I have left (which are dwindling) are my little pile of “precious.”
Kim says
WOW! Love Love Love the sound (and look) of the Shaklee products!!!
But BOO to living in Australia! I want them sold over here!!
😀
Katherine: Unemployed says
I love dancing around the cleaning aisles of target but have yet to own a home to clean. Basically, for me to get those before and afters, I would need some serious air-brushing.
I do have some green all-purpose wipes that I love! (problem: they leave the surfaces smelling like serious oregano)
Victoria says
Such an interesting post! I am curious, given that you are so keen to use environmentally friendly products and have things smelling nice, why do you use a tumble dryer? Clothes dried outside smell lovely and use no extra energy (other than pegging it out!)
Like others, I am interested to know how you schedule cleaning- little and often or a big blitz?
KathEats says
Well that’s what came with our rental house for one.
But I think a clothes line in the winter is a little impractical. I also don’t have one. Perhaps when we buy a house we could get something that retracts when not in use.
Susan says
I use indoor drying racks. I don’t put workout gear in the dryer and for a lot of my clothes, I put them in the dryer for just a little bit and then hang them up.
Metaxia says
Hey Kath,
That’s awesome! I have been using Shaklee cleaning products for years now and LOVE them! I have also been taking their vitamins for a long long time and can’t say enough about how great their products are. I am actually a distributor.
Happy cleaning!
Metaxia
Charise says
I am obsessed and want to order all this right now! 🙂 I’ve dabbled in green cleaning products to try to cut back on the unnecessary chemicals, but my husband especially (he’s a germaphobe) doesn’ think they work as well. I will definitely be trying these out!
Morgan says
I just made my first order and I’m super excited to start using this! After reading the comments, I was wondering what the Basic G is. I couldn’t find it anywhere on the site. I see it’s a germicide – is it all natural as well? Does the Basic H work well for toilets and counter tops? Thanks so much for all of the information!
KathEats says
It’s under “Shaklee Home Care” and it’s idea for the germiest places. It is also all natural and nontoxic! The Basic H should be great for all purpose cleaning though.
Gina says
Just placed an order…Cannot WAIT to try this stuff!!! Thanks for such a great detailed post! I’ve been looking to replace my harsh cleaners for some time:)
Bree says
I remembered your post on the Shark a while back and since then it’s been in the back of my mind as something I want. We have hard wood throughout our house and I am pretty sure I am going to be buying the Steam Then Vac this week. Target has a sale on Shark products and you get a $20 gift card with purchase….and I found a rebate in a weekly flyer in the Sunday paper this week.
My wood floors look simliar to yours. Do you know if they were refinished recently? My only concern is ruining the finish with the heat/steam since they were refinished right before we bought the house so I am not sure on what kind of finish they used, but I think it will be okay. Thanks for the tip on the scents…great idea.
KathEats says
I don’t think they’ve been refinished recently! Bummer I missed that deal!
Becky O'Brien says
Basic-H works great to clean wood floors, by the way.
Chelsea says
So I’ve been looking for products like this for a long time. I’ve tried the same ones that you have and have had very similar thoughts. I got all excited about these products and then looked at the price-$100 for a starter kit?!?! That seems so steep! So I priced out the stuff I actually wanted separately and it was WAY cheaper than the starter kit. I got all my stuff for under $50. MUCH better!
KathEats says
That’s what I did too! I didn’t need all the wipes and stuff : )
Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous says
I’ve tried Seventh Generation and some other green cleaners and wasn’t really impressed…but it looks like Shaklee is the real deal! Thanks for the recommendation.
Ivy says
Hi Kath,
I remembered awhile ago my friend wanted to be a Shaklee distributor and made their own website. But then Shaklee’s legal department contacted them and said it was in violation of their distributor agreement….something about only being able to use the provided Personal site for advertsiing usage and can’t do it elsewhere on the net. Not sure if that is still true or if your blog post would be considered as advertising. Just wanted to let you know. If you find out, can you let me know if that’s true? Thanks!
KathEats says
I seriously doubt that’s the case, but if it is they’ll just have to let me know
Melinda Valenti says
Hey Kath love your blog I own a green cleaning company in Richmond Va Green Gloves. Would love to order Shaklee from you shoot me an email.
Sara says
Thanks for the great post – we have been looking for something to get the scuffs off our walls! Plus imagine my surprise as I’m driving to work today past the Shaklee Office! Apparently Burlington Ontario Canada is the headquarters – so for the Cdns hoping that they ship, obviously they will!
Susan says
Just ordered a bunch of stuff. Looking forward to cleaning!
Katy says
WOW. Basic H…have not heard that/seen it in YEARS. I remember my mom using that (and the paste). I remember she would say grab the Basic H…but I did not know it was Shaklee but just that it lasted FOREVER.
My grandparents were/are into Shaklee since the 1970’s AND still take their vitamins and probably use their products (don’t live in town so I don’t see what they use to clean). My grandpa was always into the latest/greatest/healthy(ish)/green types things before it was popular (trash compactor…lol). He was right…and I hope he bought stock. They are in their mid 80’s and in very good health for 80 somethings…just in the last few years have they started to slow down…and I/they attribute that to staying active, vitamins and healthy.
tara says
Kath…..love this series and love abowlfulloflemons. Can you recommend any other cleaningl blogs?
KathEats says
I don’t know of any more – sorry!
Power Washing Nantucket says
Thanks for the cleaning tips. I appreciate what I’ve learned from you.
I see you have very good tips to Home cleaning.
Erin says
My Shaklee kit arrived today! I’m actually excited to clean and I am not a person that is ever excited to clean. I am also excited about all the matching bottles! I’m hoping to send you some before and afters, it just depends on how embarassing the before pics are. My husband has been gone for 2 weeks and our house is a disaster! The Shaklee kit should definitely help solve that.
KathEats says
I love that you love the matching bottles 🙂
And definitely send before + afters!!!!!!
Suni says
Loved your post! I heard about Shaklee a few years back, and was overwhelmed by the starter kits. Thanks for sharing the specifics of what you loved. I’m excited to try them out!
I love Magic Erasers and use Etsy’s “Shower Treat Soap” Natural Laundry Soap. The Rosemary Mint makes my laundry room smell so good!
Jackie says
How does one sign up for Shakelee?
Becky O'Brien says
Kath,
You have done a world of good sharing this post! Numerous households are now safer, removing toxic household cleaning, dish, and laundry solutions.
Everyone,
Remember to send folks to Kath’s website for ordering. Note the cool free membership discount option that is available, if you’re interested.
Be Well!
Dolcie says
Where did you get that green and black scrubber thingy?
KathEats says
Pretty sure it’s Bed, Bath, Beyond
Amanda says
Kath, I can’t seem to find any ingredients for any of the Shaklee products… which is a big concerning, no? Especially for a company that prides itself on bring green; I’d expect them to tout a fabulous ingredients list…
Your reviews (and your references) make me want to buy all of their products this instant, but the fact that I have no idea what’s in them has stopped me… I mean, there really is no thing as magic (as far as I know…), so I’m really curious what the heck is in these that can make two drops so powerful! As a distributor, any ideas??
Thanks!
KathEats says
I agree – I think it’s weird that they aren’t more available! I asked the same question before I bought them and Becky emailed me a PDF of the ingredients.
Amanda says
Thanks, again! I’m still sliiiightly skeptical. I’m sure they’re super green-ER compared to run of the mill brands, but I just like knowing what I’m coating my house (and lungs) with!
I’ll still likely get it, though… haha! your reviews and pictures make it seem like a great option!
Cathy says
I went to order the cute bottles for $3 and they are almost 3 x’s that price. 🙁
KathEats says
Cathy,
I’m sorry to be misleading – I just checked and they are $8.10 ($6.90 for members)
Still not too bad for the chic look, but I understand how with shipping that might be too much.
Kath
Cathy says
Thanks for the reply Kath….I love your site. It has so many tips!! It is the best. Yeah, I still think I will purchase the bottles. 🙂
Sara says
hey Kath!! I’ve loved Shaklee products for years (vitamins etc) but never really tried their cleaning products…..I totally just ordered the Basic-H, Scour off Paste, and Dish wash liquid. squeeee! so excited!
Katherine H says
The Shaklee products are great-been using them for a few years (put Eucalyptus in mine to get a clean smell)…but the Shaklee product that I cannot live without is the liquid detergent. Will de-funk even my husband’s workout clothes. Fabulous!!
Becky says
Hello Everyone! Just wanted to touch base and say that if you want a very cool complete cleaning guide of literally every cleaning surface that can be cleaned with just three products (Basic-H, basic-G and Scour Off), we can get that to you. You can literally replace all the toxic cleaners and have peace of mind. So important, especially if you have little ones around.
Kate says
Thanks for all this info! I just recieved my starter kit yesterday and was putting the bottles together. Do you really just need two tiny tiny drops of BasicH for windows? I’m very excited to use all my new cleaners, just a tad skeptical that such a tiny amount of cleaner is used.
And thanks for the tip about the essential oil! I was a little disappointed that there really wasn’t a *clean* smell! I’ll pick up some oils this weekend!
KathEats says
Yep!! 2 drops is all you need. You don’t want too much for windows because they will smudge if there’s too much soap. I use the degreaser all over my kitchen!
Kate says
Great! That’s awesome! The bottle will last forever!
And I just started reading your blog and discovered you were expecting…Congratulations on your little boy! I have a 16-month old little boy and trust me you will need that degreaser! 🙂
Tanja says
Hi, just found your site, glad to see the excellent review on Shaklee products. As I am in Australia the products are not available here but I have been lucky enough to find someone who will send me some. I am getting the Basic H, Basic G, the paste and some washing detergent and Nature bright, I also had to get the bottles – making the most of getting a few things since the shipping is expensive to here. But I am super excited to be finally able to get it, will be using it with my home cleaning business as well….but thanks for the tip about adding the oils, I like to have a nice smell too.
Dayna says
I LOOOOVE Shaklee products. We use nothing but in our home. It takes some getting used too with not having a smell, but now when I walk into my mothers house or a friends and they’ve just cleaned with traditional cleaners, the chemical smell just makes me sick. Neat little trick with the Shaklee dryer sheets, you can tear them in half and only use a half at a time. There by making an 80 sheet box last you for 160 loads! And with the dish soap (and I mean this in all honest!) 2 drops WILL clean an entire sink of dishes! I had one bottle of dish soap last me 6 months. And I do dishes (by hand) at least 4 imes a day!
Oh, also if you have small children… the woman who got me hooked on Shaklee, her 2 1/2 year old drank an entire bottle of concentrated basic H. When she called poison control, they told her she’ll probably have diarreah from drinking that much, but that there is nothing in the cleaner that could harm her system, even if she drank the whole thing. I was completely sold after that.
Oh yea… Basic H can also get gum out of hair!
Holley says
Why can I not find the ingredients for these cleaners? I know you say they are non toxic and harsh chemical free but there are HUGE MSDS sheets for these cleaners and usually that tells me they are FULL of chemicals…. but I cannot find the list… can you help me?
Barb says
I use nothing but Shaklee products in my home also, as well as their health products. vitamin supplements etc. Remember the 100% money back guarantee on every product they have.
Basic H has so many uses, even makes bug spray, it’s an awesome boost for your plants, shrubs and grass. Can’t say enough about it! Give it a try everyone!
Barb