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One of the most famous green cleaning brands on the planet, Method has been selling green cleaners for over 20 years. However, are their products actually good at cleaning? We aimed to find out.

Since being created in the late ‘90s by college buddies Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, Method has grown into a $100 million business. Their cleaning products are designed to use safe ingredients that reduce harm to the environment, minimizing your negative impact on the Earth.

Identified as a B Corporation, they have also proven themselves to be a progressive leader in the green cleaning space, even featuring a campaign with drag queens to challenge the gender stereotypes around cleaning.

So, after learning all of this, I was intrigued to check if their products are really that good. I personally tested several of their cleaning products to see how good and eco-friendly they are and to compare how they stack against their competitors.

Today, I’ll reveal my findings. I’ll talk about the best Method cleaning products and how effective they were for me.

Do Method Cleaning Supplies Contain Harmful Chemicals?

Method’s founders wanted to create products free from harmful chemicals, so they created a paraben-free and non-toxic cleaning range.

But I wanted to check how chemical-free they really are. A lot of times, green and naturally derived ingredients don’t mean the product is safe and free from chemicals. It actually means that ingredients don’t come from petroleum but coconut oil.

Checking Harmful Chemicals

But, even when the ingredient comes from a natural source such as coconut oil, the manufacturing process can contain many other chemicals, so I checked other ingredients as well.

I found their products have no preservatives, but there are some other concerning ingredients, such as fragrance, surfactants, and colorant. The colorant is especially concerning, as it can contain residues from heavy metals and petroleum-based carcinogenic contaminants. 

While I don’t think there are enough amounts of these chemicals to be harmful, body care and household products should be made without carcinogenic chemicals. 

Are Method Cleaning Products Safe for Your Health?

I also checked other ingredients apart from chemicals. I started with the pH clarity of Method products. For example, the all-purpose cleaner has a pH clarity of 10.5 to 11.5, which is high enough to preserve the product without the need for preservatives, so there’s no issue there.

Method products also have fragrances. The fragrance is actually a blend of ingredients, and many of them can cause allergies, sensitization, and even cancer in some cases, so this isn’t ideal.

For example, one of the fragrant ingredients is Galaxolide, which the EU is assessing for endocrine disruption. Another ingredient is Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde which the EU states can cause allergic reactions.

As for the surfactants, there are Decyl Glucoside and Lauryl Glucoside. These are mild and are often used in baby washes, so they won’t cause you any health issues.  

So, the answer to "Are Method cleaning products safe for your health?" is unclear. There are a lot of safe ingredients, but there are also some that could potentially cause health issues. Overall, if you have sensitive skin that’s easily irritated, you may have an issue with these products.

Do They Come In Biodegradable Packaging?

The first thing I noticed upon seeing Method’s products is how visually appealing they are. All the products are bright and beautiful, and it’s the kind of package you’d be proud to display on your counters. However, this doesn’t mean a lot if they aren’t eco-friendly.

All the bottles are made from recycled plastics and are recyclable. Some of the products, such as the new hand wash bottles, are made of aluminum, which makes them extra durable.

Recycled Plastic for Packaging

Moreover, I liked that the company encourages its customers to buy refills. This cuts down on plastic packaging. As the company states on its website, “refill, reuse, repeat.”

They also recently replaced refill pouches with savvy new tubs, which are made with 50% recycled plastic, and can be recycled again. 

Method knows what they are doing in terms of both customer appeal and eco-friendliness when it comes to packaging. 

A Peek Inside Method’s Green Factory 

Method’s factory is the first green factory with a LEED Platinum certification. Their factory is known as the Soapbox and has an innovative design that creates less waste and uses less energy. For example, it has natural lighting access for workers and a 75,000-square-foot greenhouse. The greenhouse is located on the roof and produces 500 tons of fresh, pesticide-free produce. 

There’s also a 1,520-foot rooftop canopy, which helps decrease energy use and improve air quality.

There’s even a turbine that provides half of the factory’s annual electric energy. The rest of the energy comes from a set of solar trees located in the parking lot and renewable energy from the grid. The solar trees are tracking trees, which means they don’t need the sun to be straight overhead, but they track its movements all day long.

Finally, the factory is located on land that’s been restored to native prairie land and is open to the community. You can go on a tour to discover the soap-making process and learn more about how eco-friendly the factory is.

My Reviews of  Method Cleaning Products

1. Method Foaming Hand Soap

This is my favorite product for washing hands. The package comes with six 10-ounce bottles, which last for a long time.

The cleansers all have a biodegradable formula that’s all plant-based and aluminum-free, without parabens or phthalates.

My hands feel soft, clean, and nicely scented after each use. The scent is a mix of bergamot, lemon, and rosemary. 

Together these give a nice sea mineral smell.

Finally, the box is eco-friendly. Except for the pump, the whole bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic and can be recycled again. 

Pros

  • Nice sea minerals smell
  • No parabens and phthalates
  • Tested on people, not animals

Cons

  • Pump isn’t recyclable
  • Dispenser tops are often loose, so the soap leaks

2. Method Bar Soap, Deep Detox

If you like bar soaps instead of liquid ones, this could be the one for you. This package has 4 bars, 6 oz in weight. The bars are great for people sensitive to smells. There’s a very faint and pleasant scent.

The ingredients are all plant-based. The bars are infused with cucumber, seaweed, and green tea. There aren’t any parabens or phthalates. My skin always felt well-moisturized after using these bars. 

The packaging is eco-friendly as well. It’s made with 50% recycled paper, and it’s not tested on animals.

One thing to note is that these bars are very big, so you may have to cut them in half to fit more comfortably in your hand.

Pros

  • Plant-based ingredients
  • Great for moisturizing
  • Made with 50% recycled paper

Cons

  • Too large for some people
  • Scent too light

3. Method Laundry Detergent Packs

Here’s something for washing clothes. One pack of this laundry detergent holds 42 pouches. One pod is enough for one load, so you can use these 42 times.

The pods contain a plant-based powder that works wonders on lifting stains. I used it in both hot and cold water, and it successfully removed all kinds of stains from my clothes, including wine, gardening stains, and more. Plus, these have a hypoallergenic formula that brightens the colors and whites.

The fragrance is Ginger Mango and gives zingy notes of ginger and the tropical scent of mango. The scent may be too strong for some people, especially those sensitive to fragrances, so I recommend using them with unscented pods.

Pros

  • There’s enough product for 42 loads
  • Works in hot and cold water
  • Nice mango and ginger flavor

Cons

  • Some pods don’t dissolve completely

4. Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Soap Tablets

Your dishes deserve eco-friendly treatment as well. These tablets are made with plant-based and mineral ingredients that are biodegradable. You can use them on all kinds of dirty dishes such as glasses and flatware. 

The tablets were able to remove even the most sticky and stubborn food, and one tablet is enough for one wash cycle. I didn’t have to rewash or wipe anything once the washing cycle was over. 

One thing I wish they’d change is stop packing each tablet in a plastic wrapper. While I’m not a fan of this, I’m aware that if the tablets weren’t packed, there’d be crumbs everywhere, and they would dissolve into a mucky paste.

Pros

  • Work on stubborn food stain
  • One tablet is enough for one cycle
  • Made with plant-based minerals

Cons

  • Packed in plastic wrapping

5. Method Glass + Surface Cleaner, Mint

When it comes to cleaning glass, you usually need ammonia-based products for the cleaning job. However, this one is totally ammonia-free, harnessing the cleaning power of natural ingredients instead.

While my glass windows don’t look as impressive as when I use Windex, they still look really good without me putting nasty chemicals into the air.

Thanks to this stuff, I didn’t have to breathe in ammonia when cleaning my windows.

I also have a glass coffee table that gets covered in coffee stains and fingerprints, but a few sprays of this is enough to get my table looking presentable again. Not AMAZING, but presentable. That’s good enough for me.

Pros

  • Has a nice mint scent
  • Cleans glass effectively
  • Contains no ammonia

Cons

  • Mint smell can be overpowering for some
  • Old formula was shinier

FAQ

Is Method a good cleaning product?

Yes, Method’s cleaning products tend to be very good at cleaning various surfaces, from stainless steel to glass and wooden floors. And not only are they effective; they’re also safer for the environment and your health.

Is Method All Purpose Cleaner antibacterial?

While the regular Method All Purpose Cleaner is not antibacterial, they do sell a specific Antibacterial Cleaner that is designed to kill 99.9% of germs, including influenza and rhinovirus.

Is Method All Purpose Cleaner safe?

Method’s All Purpose Cleaner is safe for adults, children, pets, and the environment. The ingredients are non-toxic, so exposure won’t harm your body. Once you’ve cleaned, there is no toxic residue left, so your household is totally clean and safe.

Does Method bathroom cleaner kill germs?

Regular Method bathroom cleaner does not kill germs and bacteria, as it’s designed to clean away bathroom mold and mildew. However, you could use Method’s Antibacterial Cleaner afterward to make sure that the bathroom germs are dead.

Can you use Method All Purpose Cleaner on granite?

You should not use Method All Purpose Cleaner on granite. However, Method has a Daily Granite Cleaner that you can use on granite. You may want to look into a granite sealing spray as well if you’re looking to preserve and clean granite countertops.

Should You Buy Method Cleaning Products?

Method Cleaning Products get my seal of approval. While there are some things I wish they would change, overall, these products are much better compared to many of their competitors, both who market themselves as eco-friendly and especially those who don’t. 

Method pays a lot of attention to our environment, which can be seen in their factory, product packaging, and ingredients.

No matter what kind of product you need: from laundry detergents, hand soap, and dishwasher tablets, they have you covered. Check them out, and start using eco-friendly products for the betterment of our planet.

Marina is passionate about sustainability and works to help ensure our planet stays as our home for a long time. She takes part in environmental conservation by recycling and not buying single-use plastic.

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