Household cleaning products: a Melaleuca EcoSense guide

EcoSense is Melaleuca's household cleaning line: six concentrated cleaners for disinfecting, everyday surfaces, glass, grease, wood and stains. According to Melaleuca's cleaning product guide, one concentrated spray bottle does the work of six bottles of traditional cleaner.

What is in the Melaleuca household cleaning line?

The guide lists six cleaners, each with its own job. Every row below comes from Melaleuca's cleaning product guide, including the brands each product is meant to replace.

What does each EcoSense cleaner do?

Here is the job Melaleuca's guide gives each cleaner, in plain terms:

• Sol-U-Guard Botanical 2x Disinfectant: kills germs on hard, non-porous surfaces like door knobs, light switches and countertops. Melaleuca says it kills 99.9% of germs.
• Tough & Tender 12x All-Purpose Cleaner: the everyday cleaner for dirt and grime on counters, tables, cabinets, appliances, walls and natural stone.
• Sol-U-Mel Stain & Odor Remover: lifts stains and deodorizes carpet, upholstery, linen and hardwood floors, among other surfaces.
• Clear Power 12x Glass Cleaner: clears smudges and smears from glass, mirrors, windows and stainless steel.
• MelaMagic Heavy-Duty Cleaner: for greasy, grimy messes, from range tops and ovens to decks, grills and concrete.
• Rustic Touch Furniture Polish: cleans, conditions and protects wood, leather, laminate and vinyl.

How are the concentrates mixed?

Melaleuca's guide calls the whole line super-concentrated, and the "2x" and "12x" in the names show how strong each formula is. That concentration is why one bottle goes so far.

The guide doesn't give one dilution ratio for every product, so follow the label on each bottle. Measuring by the label, instead of pouring freehand, is what lets a bottle stretch as far as Melaleuca says it does.

What goes into the EcoSense cleaners?

Each cleaner relies on a named ingredient that Melaleuca describes in its guide. The disinfectant uses thyme oil and citric acid. Clear Power uses glycolic acid, which the guide compares to the acid found in sugar beets. MelaMagic uses plant-derived and natural ingredients, including T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil, and Rustic Touch uses orange oil and carnauba wax.

Sol-U-Mel relies on Melaleuca oil, also called tea tree oil. That ties the line to the company's roots: Melaleuca was founded in 1985 with eight products built on Melaleuca alternifolia oil. Tough & Tender is described as using plant-derived, biodegradable cleaners. For the full ingredient list of any cleaner, read the label on the bottle.

What does a 12x concentrate save you?

One 8 oz bottle of a 12x concentrate makes 96 oz of spray. Tough & Tender and No Work cost $3.33 at the regular price or $2.33 at the member price per 32 oz of finished spray.

That works out to 26% to 76% less than Method, Seventh Generation and Tilex. The range is wide because it depends on which rival product and which price you compare.

Melaleuca also says the line leaves out the harsh chemicals found in many traditional cleaners. The exact list of what is left out is Melaleuca's, so check the label and its cleaning product guide.

How does it compare with Lysol, Windex, Pledge and Mrs. Meyer's?

Melaleuca's guide pairs each cleaner with the mainstream product it replaces, which makes a side-by-side easy. The brands in the right-hand column come from that guide.

For price per use, label ingredients and package size, see the Melaleuca vs other brands comparisons page.

Which EcoSense cleaners would work for your family?

This range suits families who want one concentrated bottle per job (glass, grease, stains, wood) and fewer bottles overall. If you're weighing specific brands, there are side-by-sides for Melaleuca vs Lysol, Melaleuca vs Tilex Daily Shower and Melaleuca vs Method. Each brand has its strengths, and the right pick depends on the job and your budget.

The laundry products guide covers the laundry side of the catalog, and the home page maps the rest of the site.

Two usage tips come straight from the guide. Sol-U-Guard is not for natural marble or stone, and surface lists differ by product, so check the one you are cleaning before you spray.

How do you buy Melaleuca cleaners?

Melaleuca sells through its own online product store, where the cleaning guide lives, and orders are placed there. Because the line is sold direct, you won't find these cleaners on a grocery shelf next to the brands in the table above. According to Melaleuca, it does not advertise, relies on customer referrals, and has a 96% monthly reorder rate.

To weigh the cleaners against specific rivals on cost per use and label wording, read the full comparison.

Your questions about Melaleuca cleaners

What is Sol-U-Mel used for?
According to Melaleuca's guide, Sol-U-Mel Stain & Odor Remover is for removing stains and deodorizing. The surfaces it names include carpet, upholstered furniture, linen, walls, cabinets, counters and hardwood floors. Melaleuca positions it as a replacement for products like Resolve and Goo Gone.

Can non-members buy Melaleuca cleaners?
Melaleuca sells these products through its own online product store, not on grocery shelves. Membership terms aren't covered in the sources for this guide, so check Melaleuca's store for its current purchasing rules before you order.

Sources

• Cleaning Product Guide, Melaleuca
• Melaleuca Products, Melaleuca Awards