A safer and effective solution—Citric Acid. To cheaply eliminate the appearance of hard water spots and soap scum, chlorine bleach is an easy choice. It works exceptionally well and is readily available. But it’s also extremely dangerous. We never use chlorine bleach. Citric acid is the smarter choice. It is naturally found in citrus fruits like lemons. It’s biodegradable, gentle on the environment, safer, and effective.
Not all plant-derived ingredients are free from harmful effects. Palm oil is a tricky natural ingredient. Unless obtained from a truly sustainable source, the extraction process actually causes significant harm to the important habitats where it is harvested due to widespread deforestation. In these cases, an organic compound (an ingredient from the ground rather than plants) may be the more responsible, smarter choice. When we do choose to use palm oil, it is only from a certified, renewable, environmentally sustainable source.
Minimizing the amount of an ingredient used. As of today, there are no effective plant-derived preservatives. If one were available, we would use it. In the meantime, we select the safest, most effective preservatives that allow us to use the tiniest amounts possible. We never use cheaper preservatives known to cause health issues such as formaldehyde or parabens.
Safely and effectively formulating our super-concentrated products. We use a biodegradable surfactant, or cleaning agent, called TEA-LAS. It is extremely efficient at removing stains and oils from clothes. This organic compound has a proven track record of safety and because it is highly biodegradable, and it doesn’t have a negative impact on the environment. It allows us to safely and effectively formulate our super-concentrated products which saves plastic, fuel, and greenhouse gases.

Smarter ingredient choices lead to safer products that work. But finding the best naturally derived and plant-derived ingredients isn’t easy. It requires an advanced knowledge of where to find better ingredients and how they work in advanced product formulations. We have been pioneers in this area for almost four decades.

THE SCIENCE OF PLANT-DERIVED INGREDIENTS We use pure essential oils, phosphate-free detergents, and patented super-concentrated technologies in our products. Our team of in-house Ph.D.s, world-class research and development scientists, and formulators have built a wide array of patents and scientific expertise that few companies can match.
MELALEUCA WAS GREEN DECADES BEFORE IT BECAME FASHIONABLE Melaleuca was formulating with environmental sustainability in mind decades before it became fashionable. We’re glad that the rest of the world is waking up to this need. But there is knowledge, expertise, and skill that only comes with experience. When it comes to creating cutting-edge formulas, it takes a high level of hard-won skill and know-how. For nearly four decades, we’ve led the way in our industry in caring for the environment.
WHY DOES EXPERIENCE MATTER? Some of the so-called eco-friendly companies have spent decades polluting the environment and have only recently “adopted” the concept of environmental responsibility. Some companies purchase environmentally responsible subsidiaries in an effort to keep up. Others outsource their ingredient selection, product development, and manufacturing to companies that don’t know the first thing about the science of natural or safer ingredients.
SMARTER CHOICES To us, that means always prioritizing safety while finding the optimal mix of helping the environment, creating an effective product, and ensuring it’s affordable for the average family.

We never use ingredients on this “NO” list. We believe in the precautionary path, which means if there isn’t clear proof that an ingredient is safe–we don’t use it. Safety first.

Chlorine Bleach Harmful or fatal if swallowed, can permanently damage skin, attacks membranes in your respiratory system, and doesn’t get rid of dirt or stains—it turns them white.
Ammonia Iritating and corrosive. Exposure can cause immediate burning of the nose, throat, and respiratory tract.
Abrasives Contain hard particles that can damage your sink and shower by scuffing their surfaces and giving dangerous bacteria a safe place to grow, breed, and multiply.
Phosphates Too much in our waterways leads to excessive algae growth, often resulting in the death of fish and aquatic plants.
Phthalates In the past few years, researchers have linked phthalates to asthma and breast cancer.
Triclosan Exposure to triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Parabens Known to disrupt hormone function.
Formaldehyde Can cause an allergic reaction in the skin; watery eyes; a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; and nausea.
Quaternary Disinfectants Poisonous if ingested. They aren’t very effective on viruses, and their bacteria-killing power can be reduced by common conditions like encountering hard water.

What we use, and why, in products that deliver amazing results.

Citric Acid Naturally found in citrus fruits. Effective alternative to harsh chemicals that dissolves hard water, soap scum, and mineral deposits. Included in Tub & Tile™ Bathroom Cleaner and Safe & Mighty™ Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
Thyme Oil Natural oil from the herb thyme. Proven to kill viruses and bacteria by making them spill their guts. Included in Sol-U-Guard® Botanical Disinfectant and Safe & Mighty™ Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
Melaleuca Oil Natural oil from the melaleuca alternafolia plant in Australia. Boosts cleaning performance and penetrates tough stains. Included in Sol-U-Mel® Stain Remover and Tough & Tender® All-Purpose Cleaner.
Glycolic Acid Naturally found in sugar beets. A safer alternative to use on common fixtures that dissolves hard water, soap scum, and mineral deposits. Included in Tub & Tile™ Bathroom Cleaner and No Work® Daily Shower Cleaner.
Sodium Citrate Mineral salt is derived from citric acid and occurs naturally in plants and animals. Natural, effective alternative to synthetic stabilizers. Included in MelaPower® and Lemon Brite®.
Essential Oils Variety of naturally sourced oils. Used in our blend of fragrance oils to provide an enjoyable scent experience. Included in all cleaners.

We always look to use naturally or plant-derived ingredients. We also look to science to determine the best and smartest solutions.

Naturally Occurring Found naturally in the environment and delivered in its natural state.

FOR EXAMPLE: Water is found naturally in the environment. When we use water in a formula, we filter it and purify it to make sure there are no foreign substances or contaminants in the water we use.
Naturally Derived Sourced from natural state and carefully formulated for efficacy, consistency, safety, and to ensure the highest quality.

FOR EXAMPLE: Melaleuca Oil does not occur naturally by itself as an oil in nature. But it occurs naturally within the Melaleuca alternifolia leaf. We use steam distillation to extract the oil from the leaf. We then use the oil in various formulations.
Mineral A compound that is found naturally in the earth and is extracted from the earth in its natural state with no additional formulation or optimization.

FOR EXAMPLE: Sodium chloride (salt) is extracted in its natural state and not modified.
Plant Derived Sourced from plants and carefully formulated for desired function, consistency, and safety to ensure the highest quality.

FOR EXAMPLE: Sodium coco-sulfate originates from coconuts in the form of coco oil and then is formulated to its sulfate form to achieve optimal performance.
Organic Compound Compounds that do not exist naturally or in nature but have been formulated or manufactured from ingredients that do exist in nature. Organic compounds usually contain ingredients or elements that originated from plants or living organisms. Our organic compounds have been formulated for a specific function, such as improved safety, greater efficacy, or decreased usage.

FOR EXAMPLE: We use specific organic compounds as preservatives to prevent mold or inhibit bacterial growth in products. Such compounds have been proven to be safe and effective.

EXAMPLES OF SMARTER CHOICE INGREDIENTS

PROVEN EXPERIENCE LEADS TO SMARTER CHOICES

INGREDIENTS WE DON'T USE

INGREDIENTS YOU CAN LOVE

What we use, and why, in products that deliver amazing results.

SOURCES OF INGREDIENTS WE USE

We always look to use naturally or plant-derived ingredients. We also look to science to determine the best and smartest solutions.

Smarter Choices YOU CAN COUNT ON

Smarter Choices
YOU CAN COUNT ON