Cleaning the bathroom is pretty much my least favorite chore. I doubt that I am alone in this, and that is why there are so many different products–sprays, foams, gels–to help you clean the bathroom. And many of them come packaged in plastic. From Soft Scrub and Clorox to Method and Seventh Generation, most bathroom cleaners come in plastic packaging, even if they make sustainable product claims. That is why it was so refreshing to find this Bathroom Power Cleaner in plastic-free packaging.
Get Rid of Gross with Grit
My preference for bathroom cleaning is a product that has a little grit in it. From toothpaste globs left in the sink to soap scum in the tub, I find that grit makes it easier to get rid of bathroom nastiness. That is why I was encouraged when I opened this Seventh Generation powdered cleaner and I could see the grittiness of it right away.
I am not one for reading directions, so on the first pass I did not use this product as outlined in the instructions. Instead, I opened the can, sprinkled the gritty powder all over the sink, and began scrubbing with my cloth. And this worked well. The soap scum and toothpaste gunk easily washed away. However, there was a fair amount of the gritty grains left in the sink and in the cloth. I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed, but still the graininess persisted. After more rinsing, the sink was finally clean and smooth, but it took some effort.
So then, I read the instructions, which suggest that you shake a small amount of powder onto the cloth, and then wet the cloth to work up a lather. I used this technique on the tub. And it turns out that just a small amount works great, and there isn’t nearly as much grit left behind. But still, it took a lot of rinsing to get rid of all of the grains. They do not dissolve, and so it takes lots of water to ensure they are all rinsed away.
Overall, I like the idea of this product more than the reality. A gritty powder for bathroom cleaning is a great idea, but this powder does not dissolve, and is difficult to rinse away. Even though the directions suggest you work the product into a lather, I didn’t find that it became soapy at all. It did wash away the soap scum and other crud, and the sink and tub were as clean as ever, but the left behind grit was a hassle. And while I love that they put this in a steel can, which is easily recycled, after a few uses, the gritty powder got between the lid and the can, and made it hard to get the top off.
Finally, at $9.99 for the 10oz can, this is sold at a premium vs. other bathroom cleaners.
Seventh Generation has recently reformulated this product, so it could be that they have resolved the grit issue. The new formulation comes in a much smaller size, but at the same price, without any indication that the product has been concentrated. If you work hard to put just a small amount on a sponge or cloth, this new, smaller can could last a long time, but you definitely need to resist the urge to sprinkle the powder over the bathroom surfaces.
I will try the new product in the future and report back!
Things I Love:
- Plastic Free Package!
- Gritty powder works on scum & grime
- Steel can keeps cleaning powder dry
Things I Don’t Love:
- The grit in the powder does not dissolve and can get left behind on surfaces
- Lid is hard to remove if grit gets stuck between the can and the top
Product Info:
- I have only seen this product available online (at Amazon and Walmart.com)
- Since trying this product, Seventh Generation has changed the formulation and the package size (downsized from 10oz to 5.4oz, without any indication that it has been concentrated)
- Even before the downsizing, 10oz of this product sold for a premium vs. other bathroom cleaners such as Scrubbing Bubbles or Soft Scrub.
- www.seventhgeneration.com
Seventh Generation Bathroom Powder Rating
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