We tried and reviewed Blueland’s all-purpose cleaner and other best sellers to see just how well clean cleaners clean and to learn how they can reduce single-use plastic waste.
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It’s the classic story- a new mom wanting to make the world better for her children sets out on a mission. When Sarah Paiji Yoo became a new mom, she set out to combat single-use plastic use with a line of household products that are green, clean, and refillable. And just like that, Blueland was born. Blueland’s mission is to make eco-conscious living convenient, effective, and affordable through a line of environmentally friendly household products. Hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning sprays, and personal care items like body wash and facial cleansers can all be found on the Blueland website.
For this article, I put some of Blueland’s top-rated kitchen cleaning products to the test- namely the spray cleaner, dishwasher tablets, and dish soap.
Blueland’s Environmental Impact
According to some estimates up to 2.5 billion plastic cleaning bottles make their way into landfills each year, creating an abhorrent amount of plastic waste. Blueland’s “Buy the Bottle Once. Refill Forever” business model works to combat this. Customers make a one-time purchase of a Forever Bottle, which they then refill with cleaning tablets, body wash, or facial cleanser. Let’s look at the numbers- Blueland states “Our products have helped to eliminate over 1 billion single-use plastic bottles from landfills and oceans since 2019.”
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Another way the brand cuts down on single-use plastic is through its packaging. Blueland uses recyclable or compostable packaging for every refill order and features carbon-neutral shipping. Blueland also takes great care when selecting which ingredients go into their products. They only source gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredients, as well as only use ingredients listed on the EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List.
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In terms of certifications, Blueland is proudly Climate Neutral Certified and a Certified B Corp. The brand’s cleaning sprays also obtained a Platinum Material Health Certificate from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and an EPA Safer Choice certification.
Product Review
Multi-Surface Starter Set
The Multi-Surface Starter Set, an all-purpose cleaner, consists of a Forever Bottle and two lemon-scented refill tablets. You only buy the bottle once, then can schedule recurring refills of the tablets every three months or opt to purchase manually. I love the fact that the tablets are 100% plastic-free and are plant and mineral-based.
When testing out the product on my kitchen counters, I noticed the scent of the all-purpose cleaner was pleasant but not overpowering, leaving the countertops smelling fresh. There was no harsh chemical smell because the product contains no harmful chemicals like ammonia, chlorine, or bleach! The cleaning substance easily picked up grime from the counters and left surfaces feeling clean with no sticky residue.
Dishwasher Starter Set
The Dishwasher Starter Set comes with one Forever Tin and 60 dishwasher tablets. Like the spray cleaner, shoppers have the option to schedule a tablet refill every three months. Generic dishwasher tablets are often encased in plastic, creating waste, but Blueland dishwater tablets are 100% plastic-free. These tablets are also free of toxins and chemicals. I like how Blueland not only lists the harmful ingredients that are absent from the product on the website, they also provides a comprehensive list of each ingredient found in the product (we love transparency!).
To test this product, I simply popped the tablet into my dishwasher and pressed ‘Start.’ I included a mix of rinsed dishes and food-crusted dishes to test the Blueland dishwasher tablet’s abilities. Every single plate, bowl, fork, knife, and cup came out squeaky clean. I also must admit, that it felt great knowing that the dishwashing product I was using to clean the items I eat daily was free of toxins and harsh chemicals.
Dish Soap Starter Set
Blueland’s Dish Soap Starter Set, which consists of one Forever Shaker and one 16-ounce refillable pouch, was the final product I tested. Just like with the other products, you can schedule recurring refills every 3 months or purchase manually. One awesome feature of this product is the dish soap is hypoallergenic and free of parabens and VOCs.
The dish soap product was easy to use- you simply poured the powder onto a sponge, scrub the dish to create foam, and then rinse the dish. To test this product, I ate avocado toast covered in hot sauce and a fried egg and let the plate sit for a few hours before cleaning it with the Dish Soap Starter Set. Blueland’s website emphasizes the product’s ability to cut through grease and grime, and I can confirm this is true. I sprinkled some of the soap onto my damp plate, used a sponge, and easily wiped the remains of my dinner off the plate. I also quite admire the sleek design of the Forever Shaker and have even been leaving it out on my counter rather than under the sink.
If you’re looking to purchase both the dishwasher tablets and the dish soap, Blueland offers The Dish Duo, a package containing both products, on their website.