Sol-U-Mel 3-in-1 vs Goo Gone Original vs Goof Off Pro Strength

Melaleuca Sol-U-Mel 3-in-1 is a cleaner and deodorizer made with melaleuca oil for fabrics, upholstery and household surfaces. Goo Gone Original and Goof Off Pro Strength remove adhesive and paint. Which one fits depends on the mess and where it is.

How the three products compare

Prices can change, so check the maker's site or store before you buy.

	Sol-U-Mel 3-in-1	Goo Gone Original	Goof Off Pro Strength
Format	Liquid concentrate, diluted in a mixing spray bottle	Liquid bottle	12 oz aerosol spray
What it removes	Stains, gum, wax and oily messes; cleans and deodorizes	Adhesive, crayon, gum, glue, tape	Adhesives and glue, crayon, marker, gum, scuff marks, stickers, tar, dried latex paint, caulk, tree sap, candle wax, oil and grease
Where to use	Upholstered furniture, clothing, linens, fabrics, cabinets, counters, hardwood floors, carpet	Carpet, finished wood, sealed stone, painted surfaces, glass, fabric, metals, plastics, ceramic, hard vinyl	Fully cured painted or varnished surfaces, baseboards, metals, glass, brick, wood, concrete, grout, fiberglass, hand tools, most automotive surfaces
Where not to use	Test first on hardwood, sealed stone, dyed fabrics and painted surfaces	Silk, leather, suede, rubber, drywall, unfinished wood, unsealed stone	Plastics, worn vinyl floors, some automotive paints, some carpets
Key ingredients	Plant-derived ethanol, tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) leaf oil, oleic acid, glycerin	Petroleum distillates, with citrus cleaning power ingredients	Not listed
Cautions	Flammable; eye irritant	Do not allow to sit on rubber; treat clothing only after taking it off	Flammable; California Prop 65 warning for cancer and reproductive harm
Size	8 fl oz or 16 fl oz	8 fl oz	12 oz
Price	$18.00 regular / $11.99 member (8 oz); $31.00 / $21.49 (16 oz)	$9.99	Not listed
How you buy	Melaleuca's online store, with member pricing for members	Goo Gone's site	True Value

What Sol-U-Mel 3-in-1 does

Melaleuca describes it this way: "Powered by Melaleuca Oil, this beloved cleaner and deodorizer removes dozens of stains you thought would never come out." The label names three jobs: removing stains, cleaning and deodorizing.

For deodorizing, the label has you dilute it to the 12x line in the mixing bottle.

Two label directions matter for everyday use. Apply it full strength to gum, wax and oily messes. Test it first on hardwood, sealed stone, dyed fabrics or painted surfaces. The label also says the product is flammable and can irritate eyes.

What Goo Gone Original does

Goo Gone Original is made for sticky messes. The company lists adhesive, crayon, gum, glue and tape as targets, and calls the formula "surface safe."

The label's avoid list matters. Don't use it on silk, leather, suede, rubber, drywall, unfinished wood or unsealed stone, and don't let it sit on rubber.

What Goof Off Pro Strength does

Goof Off Pro Strength is the heavy-duty option of the three. True Value's listing says it removes adhesives and glue, crayon, marker, gum, scuff marks, stickers, tar, dried latex paint, caulk, tree sap, candle wax, oil and grease. It is the only one of the three that lists dried latex paint.

This aerosol is made for hard surfaces, including fully cured painted or varnished surfaces, baseboards, metals, glass, brick, wood, concrete, grout, fiberglass, hand tools and most automotive surfaces. The label says not to use it on plastics, worn vinyl floors, some automotive paints or some carpets.

The product is flammable and carries a California Prop 65 warning that using it will expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.

Which one fits your mess?

On fabric, Sol-U-Mel 3-in-1 is made for the job. Its label lists clothing, linens, upholstered furniture and carpet, and it can deodorize once diluted. It is sold through Melaleuca's online store, where members pay less than the regular price, and is mixed in a separate spray bottle.

Goo Gone Original is aimed at sticky messes: adhesive, crayon, gum, glue and tape. Its surface list includes plastics, metals, glass and ceramic.

For dried latex paint, tar or caulk on a hard surface, Goof Off Pro Strength is the one that lists those messes. Its cautions and surface limits make it more suited to a garage or workshop than everyday cleaning.

Questions about using these three products

What gets crayon off a painted wall? Goo Gone Original lists crayon and says it is safe on painted surfaces. Goof Off Pro Strength also lists crayon and covers fully cured painted surfaces.

Can I use them on clothing? Sol-U-Mel's label covers clothing directly. Goo Gone says to take the clothing off before treating it, apply it to the stain, blot, then launder the clothing separately with extra detergent. Goof Off's listing covers hard surfaces and warns against use on some carpets.

Are any of these for use on skin? No. Each product is a household cleaner or remover with label directions for surfaces, fabrics or clothing. Sol-U-Mel's label says it can irritate eyes, and Goof Off carries a Prop 65 warning. Goo Gone says not to treat clothing while wearing it. Follow each label's directions.

Test a hidden spot first

All three labels say to test on a hidden spot before treating a stain. Finishes and dyes vary from one surface to the next.

The guide to household cleaning products compares the full Melaleuca line with other common brands.

Sources

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