Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner Review

The household cleaner aisle shelves were loaded with a dizzying array of options for busting grime.  At first glance, I didn't see anything labeled non-toxic or biodegradable.  But because I am an expert bargain hunter, my eyes are so well trained that I can spot a sale in a forest of trees in the middle of the night (Ok, I'm exaggerating, but not by much!)

Anyway, the product that caught my eye had a label stating that the cleaner "MAKES 15 GALLONS!"   Once I picked up the hefty 2-liter bottle of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and looked at it more closely, I also saw that it is non-toxic and biodegradable.  And it was on sale.  This was like hitting the shopper's trifecta - good for the budget, good for the environment, and good for cleaning multiple surfaces.  I figured I could use this one product for a variety of uses.  And at $6.00 for the bottle, my cost averaged about 40 cents a gallon.  That's a lot of cleaning for the money.

When I opened the bottle of Simple Green I was surprised by how strong it smelled.  It may very well be non-toxic, but my sinuses weren't happy at all.  I followed the directions for diluting the cleaner and the smell was reduced, but still stronger than I had anticipated in a non-toxic formulation.  Still, it wasn't worse than what I had normally been using so I went to work on what is arguably the toughest cleaning job in the home - the bathroom.

Simple Green was effective at removing soap scum and dirt.  However, even with the diluted formula I quickly noticed that it left multiple streaks on my bathroom surfaces.  I went back over all the surfaces and rinsed them well and dried them to a nice shine.  My bathroom was definitely clean, so there is no question that it is an effective cleaner.  I would say my biggest issue with the product is the need to rinse to prevent streaks.  And I'm still not wild about the scent even in the diluted form.

Even with those cautions in mind, I think this is a great product to use on a limited basis.  Undiluted, it does a great job of cleaning the toilet bowl, is effective on dried on stains, and cuts through grease and oil on the stove.   I have tons of it left so it's going to last a long time since I only use it now for my toughest cleaning jobs.

Simply put, Simple Green is an affordable, heavy-duty cleaner that is a healthier alternative to toxic bleaches and solvents.