Ingredients Philosophy

A safer and effective solution—Citric Acid. If you want to eliminate the appearance of hard water spots and soap scum – and do it cheaply – chlorine bleach is an easy choice. It works exceptionally well and is readily available but extremely dangerous. We never use chlorine bleach. So, if you want a safer and effective solution – then citric acid is the smarter choice. It is naturally found in citrus fruits like lemons. It’s biodegradable, gentle on the environment, safer, and works amazing.
Not all plant-derived ingredients are free from harmful effects. Not all plant-derived ingredients are free from having harmful effects on the environment. Palm oil, unless from a sustainable source, can have significant harm to important habitat due to widespread deforestation. In these cases, an organic compound (an ingredient from the ground rather than plants) may be the more responsible, smarter choice. When we do choose to use palm oil it is only from a certified renewable, environmentally sustainable source.
Minimising the amount of an ingredient used. As of today, there are no effective plant-derived preservatives to keep products fresh, safe, and free of contaminants. If one were available, we would use it. So, we tirelessly seek out the safest, most effective solutions that exist. We select preservatives that allows us to use the tiniest amount possible. Sometimes minimising the amount of ingredients is the smarter choice. The alternative would be using preservatives known to cause health issues such as formaldehyde or parabens.
Safely and effectively formulating our super-concentrated products. We use a very effective biodegradable surfactant, or cleaning agent, called TEA-LAS. This ingredient is extremely efficient removing stains and oils from clothes. It has a proven track record of safety and because it is highly biodegradable it doesn’t have a negative impact on the environment. This organic compound allows us to safely and effectively formulate our super concentrated products. Concentration in turn allows us to have a huge impact on the environment by saving plastic, fuel, and greenhouse gases. That makes a real difference and makes it a smarter choice. An alternative ingredient would be Decyl Glucoside, which is plant-derived, but not nearly as effective and doesn’t allow for concentration.

Smarter ingredient choices lead to safer products that work. But finding the best naturally derived and plant-derived ingredients isn’t easy. It requires an advanced knowledge of where to find better ingredients and how they work in advanced product formulations. We have been pioneers in this area for almost four decades.

THE SCIENCE OF PLANT-DERIVED INGREDIENTS We use pure essential oils, phosphate-free detergents, and patented super-concentrated technologies in our products. Our team of in-house Ph.D.s, world-class research and development scientists, and formulators have built a wide array of patents and scientific expertise that few companies can match.
MELALEUCA WAS GREEN DECADES BEFORE IT BECAME FASHIONABLE Being “green” is now the popular buzzword but, Melaleuca was green decades before it became fashionable.
WHY DOES EXPERIENCE MATTER? Some of the so-called eco-friendly companies online today are in their infancy. Others have spent decades polluting the environment and have only recently “converted” to the concept of becoming environmentally responsible. Some who find themselves well behind in being providing health conscience products, purchase environmentally responsible subsidiaries in an effort to keep up. (A recent example is Clorox’s purchase of Burt’s Bees. We can’t imagine a more unlikely merger of philosophies!)
SMARTER CHOICES Smarter Choices means always prioritizing safety while finding the optimal mix of helping the environment, creating an effective product and ensuring it’s affordable to the average family.

We never use ingredients on this “NO” list. We believe in the precautionary path, which means if there isn’t clear proof that an ingredient is safe–we don’t use it. Safety first.

Chlorine Bleach Harmful or fatal if swallowed, can permanently damage skin, attacks membranes in your respiratory system, and doesn't get rid of dirt—it turns it white.
Ammonia Irritating and corrosive. Exposure can cause immediate burning of the nose, throat, and respiratory tract.
Abrasives Contain hard particles that can damage your sink and shower and scuff their surfaces giving dangerous bacteria a safe place to grow, breed, and multiply.
Phosphates Too much in our waterways leads to excessive algae growth, often resulting in the death of fish and water plant life.
Phthalates In the past few years, researches have linked phthalates to contributing to several diseases.
Triclosan Exposure to triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics
Parabens Known to disrupt hormone function.
Formaldehyde Can cause an allergic reaction in the skin, watery eyes, burning sensation of the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, wheezing, and nausea.
Quaternary Disinfectants Poisonous if ingested. They aren't as effective on viruses and their effectiveness can be reduced by common circumstances like hard water.

What we use, and why, in products that deliver amazing results.

Citric Acid Naturally found in citrus fruits. Effective alternative to harsh chemicals that dissolves hard water, soap scum, and mineral deposits. Included in Tub & Tile™ Bathroom Cleaner and Safe & Mighty™ Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
Thyme Oil Natural oil from the herb thyme. Proven to kill viruses and bacteria by making them spill their guts. Included in Sol-U-Guard® Botanical Disinfectant and Safe & Mighty™ Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
Melaleuca Oil Natural oil from the melaleuca alternafolia plant in Australia. Boosts cleaning performance and penetrates tough stains. Included in Sol-U-Mel® Stain Remover and Tough & Tender® All-Purpose Cleaner.
Glycolic Acid Naturally found in sugar beets. A safer alternative to use on common fixtures that dissolves hard water, soap scum, and mineral deposits. Included in Tub & Tile™ Bathroom Cleaner and No Work® Daily Shower Cleaner.
Sodium Citrate Sodium salt is derived from citric acid and occurs naturally in plants and animals. Natural, effective alternative to synthetic stabilisers. Included in MelaPower® and Lemon Brite®.
Essential Oils We use a variety of naturally sourced oils. To increase efficacy and to provide an enjoyable scent experience. Included in all cleaners.

We always look to use naturally or plant-derived ingredients. We also look to science to determine the best and smartest solutions.

Naturally Occurring Found naturally in the environment and delivered in its natural state.

FOR EXAMPLE: Water is found naturally in the environment. When we use water in a formula, we filter it and purify it to make sure there are no foreign substances or contaminants in the water we use.
Naturally Derived Sourced from natural state and carefully formulated for efficacy, consistency, safety, and to ensure the highest quality.

FOR EXAMPLE: Melaleuca Oil does not occur naturally by itself as an oil in nature. But it occurs naturally within the Melaleuca alternifolia leaf. We use steam distillation to extract the oil from the leaf. We then use the oil in various formulations.
Mineral A compound that is found naturally in the earth and is extracted from the earth in its natural state with no additional formulation or optimization.

FOR EXAMPLE: Sodium chloride (salt) is extracted in its natural state and not modified.
Plant Derived Sourced from plants and carefully formulated for desired function, consistency, and safety to ensure the highest quality.

FOR EXAMPLE: Sodium coco-sulfate originates from coconuts in the form of coco oil and then is formulated to its sulfate form to achieve optimal performance.
Organic Compound Compounds that do not exist naturally or in nature but have been formulated or manufactured from ingredients that do exist in nature. Organic compounds usually contain ingredients or elements that originated from plants or living organisms. Our organic compounds have been formulated for a specific function, such as improved safety, greater efficacy, or decreased usage.

FOR EXAMPLE: We use specific organic compounds as preservatives to prevent mold or inhibit bacterial growth in products. Such compounds have been proven to be safe and effective.

What we use, and why, in products that deliver amazing results.

We always look to use naturally or plant-derived ingredients. We also look to science to determine the best and smartest solutions.

Smarter Choices
YOU CAN COUNT ON

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EXAMPLES OF SMARTER CHOICE INGREDIENTS

PROVEN EXPERIENCE LEADS TO SMARTER CHOICES

INGREDIENTS WE DON'T USE

INGREDIENTS YOU CAN LOVE

What we use, and why, in products that deliver amazing results.

SOURCES OF INGREDIENTS WE USE

We always look to use naturally or plant-derived ingredients. We also look to science to determine the best and smartest solutions.

Smarter Choices YOU CAN COUNT ON

What do you think about the new website?

Smarter Choices
YOU CAN COUNT ON