12 answers

Trying to Go GREEN - Melaleuca or Other Choices???

Okay I just signed up for the Melaleuca membership and just recieved my first order. I mainly signed up because I like the Organic Cleaning supplies and really dont care about any of the other products. I know your suposed to spend 35 "product points" which i thought was $$$ not the case. So at the end of my order it ended up costing with the shipping $64 or so. To me this seems like quite a lot. You are required to spend 35 shoping points each month....this is where I have the prob. I dont buy cleaning products that often.

Is this a good choice for me??? Or cant I just use the Clorox Green products or the NEW Arm & Hammer Essentials?

I am trying to go Orgainic here and dont want to be cleaning with harmful chemicals. I want a cleaning product that is BOTH "Green" and "Antibacterial".

If you have or use Melaleuca i would like to know your reviews or expierence with using them if you found it cost effective and benifical.

Or if moms out there have alt. cleaning choices that are Green and Antibacterial.

I would greatly appriciate your advice.

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

I have decided to CANCEL with Melaleuca.

I am not bashing THIS company...just well informed. I am not going on a Companies "WORD"...I am going on the Science.

They are not 100% Organic (my reason for buying)
The smell is just too strong for me.
The requirement to purchase $65 worth of product every month just is too much for me need.
HUGE REASON - THEY TEST THEIR PRODUCTS ON DOGS! I also found out the rats died "a painful death" I am not pro rat but still an animal dying in a horribly painful way is still painful for me to deal with. I know testing on mine/rats are done but i am NOT okay with testing on animals like Dogs, cats, monkeys, rabbits, etc.

Please see PETA website!
http://www.askcarla.com/answers.asp?QuestionandanswerID=547
To find out who tests on animals and who does not: http://search.caringconsumer.com/

I am concerned that a product label on Sol-U-Guard says 96% Inert ingredient...i dont know about you but I would like to know what that is. If you were to get a bill for $1000 and it said $960 misc. charges...wouldnt you want to know what that was for?

So FYI this is what is inside your products (doesnt sound chemical free to me) but it is your choice just felt you would like to be INFORMED:

"Melaleuca formulas as read on the labels.

Pre-Spot Plus:
"A Proprietary Formula Containing: Surfactants: (these are wetting agents and since the type/s arent listed could be anything, even ammonia)
Enzymes: (two commonly used both from animal enzymes such as hog pancreas)
Melaleuca oil
Frangrance and Colorant."

"CAUTION: Eye irritant. Keep out of reach of children. In case of eye contact, flush with plenty of water. Call physician if irritation persits. If swallowed, drink water and call a physician or local poison control center....etc"

Mela Brite: (exact same formula although the mix of ingredients may vary)
"A Proprietary Formula Containing: Surfactants, Enzymes, Melaleuca oil, Frangrance and Colorant."

"CAUTION: Eye irritant. Keep out of reach of children. Prolonged contact may cause skin irritation. In case of eye contact, flush with water for 15 minutes. Call physician if irritation persits. If swallowed, drink water and call a physician or local poison control center. Rinse hands after use...etc"

Sol-u-guard:
Active ingredients:
n-Alkyl (c14 50%, c12 40% c16 10%): (this is not a complete formula but is a strong alcohol derivative of synthetic fatty acids in alcohol)
Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride 1.875%: Dimethyl benzul ammonium chloride 1.248%: (these are both ammonium salts that can cause vomiting, nausea etc if ingested.
Inert Ingredients 96.877%(this means that 96% of this formula is probably water or some other unnammed ingredient, I would want to know what it is)

Precautionary statements:
Hazardous to humans and domestic animals.

Warning:
Causes skin and eye irritation. Avoid contact with eye, skin, and clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.

Moistursil Bath Oil:
Contains hydrogenated Polyisobutene (a plasticizer/petroleum oil ingredient used in lubricating oils, adhesives, etc.
Cetyl acetate and Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol: (acetate is a common ingredient in this type of formula and lanolin is derrived from sheep oil glands and some people are very allergic to it. PEG 8 Dilauate, T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil, Lanolin Oil,
Squalane(is made from various sources and a good lubricating oil)

Caution:
For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Keep out of reach of children.

(I don't know what this is used for but I would not want it near my skin. The second ingredients are Petrolateum and synthetic wax. There are a lot of people who are allergic to wheat germ oil and it has no real value to the skin. The entire formula is made up of waxes and ingredients that make them soft) It would we a waste of money unless you wanted to polish your furniture with it.)

Melagel:
T36 C5 Melaleuca Oil, petrolium and synthetic wax, wheat germ oil, cocoa butter, stearic acid, beeswax, ozokerite, glyceryl stearate & PEG 100 stearate, stearath-2, stearath-21, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A) & cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and Corn oil."
http://www.wahm.com/boards/Forum8/HTML/000369.html

Just so you know I found out Clorox, Johnson & Johnson's, playtex, Arm & Hammer, etc. all test on animals...so i am looking into those companies too.

I am not a CRAZY ANIMAL ACTIVIST...but I am against animal testing on dogs, cats, monkey's, rabits. I am also against any animal dying in pain even if it is a rat. I just cant live with myself knowing that something i purchased caused an animal to die in such a horrible fashion.

This is my choice...to each their own.

My husband is a Chemist and I have a background as a Medical Lab Tech. So I know the science behind things. I dont need anyone telling me that I am killing my family by using chemicals. We are very antibacterial users in this house and it will continue to be that way! I wanted to find a Greener Alt...but this wont stop me from using perscriptions, hand sanitizers and other things to protect my home from germs.

More Answers

NO NO NO!!!... its really sad that they force people to buy their products each month... I was with them and quit because the product points end up costing about 50 bucks a month... and I just dont need that much stuff each month and if it is really econimical as they say you should not need to replace it monthly...

SO...
I switched to Shaklee I love the products even more and they dont pressure you to sell EVER and I bought my get clean starter kit about 6-7 months ago and still have not used it all yet... the only thing I go through is the laundry liquid because I have 3 boys and we do a ton of laundry...

But the Basic H2 lasts forever and to make the window cleaner you add 2 DROPS 2 16 oz of water!!! thats amazing and to make the daily all purpas cleaner you add 1/2-1 capful to 16 oz of water thats it!!! with melaleuca you add 1/4 cup

My 16 oz bottle of Basic H2 has lasted me about 6-7 months and I am just now fixing to open a new bottle AND I use it for cleaning my carpets... I put 1/2 cap of H2 and 1/2 cap of the shaklee fabric softner in my carpet cleaning hoover vaccume each time I fill the water container and it works sooo good to clean my carpets.

I also use the Shaklee dishwashing liquid concentrate to bathe my dogs... works great!
I dont sell shaklee I just signed up as a buyer...

The shaklee Basic H2 has NO ODOR AT ALL so Im not sure why some say that about the smell...
any way,
HTH
A. J

1 mom found this helpful

I'm a very satisfied Melaleuca customer!! The whole idea of switching stores (from W-mart, $$ stores, Walgreens, etc) to Melaleuca made perfect sense to me because I'm already purchasing all the products that Melaleuca offers anyway!! But from their company, I'm getting products that are SAFER and a lot more efficient.

What I LOVE about Melaleuca is that they have SO MUCH to choose from- over 300 products!! You don't have to buy just cleaning supplies. I'm a very frugal, penny-pinching mom and I've never had trouble keeping up with the 35 points a month. Considering what people usually spend A WEEK at Wal-mart (for the same products, only less healthy!), Melaleuca actually has a good thing going!

I'm not sure where you heard the "testing on dogs" part, but someone definitely misinformed you. Did you call the Melaleuca product information line and express your concerns to them? I've found them to be very honest and open about the products, what's in them, and how they're tested. Be sure you do some research before you slander any company.

K.

Trish-
I was SUPER antibacterial (esp. when my three year old twins were born), but now that all the new research about the superbugs being created by the overwhelming amount of antibac. stuff we're using, I've eased up on it. It's also hard to find a combo of green and antibac. TOTALLY your call, obviously, but from what I have found it is difficult to find quality products that do both.
Anywho, that being said, I am a huge fan of Mrs. Meyers, Ecover, Seventh Generation, etc. that you can get at Sprouts. Target is even starting to carry a lot of it, and I have heard Walmart is adding a lot of it as well. Target also has Method brand, but I am hit or miss on finding things in their product line I love. A friend swears by their counter spray, though. If you decide to go with any green toiletries I love the Avalon/Alba brands (more than say, Burt's Bees) and the JASON brand has great great great kid's shampoo/conditioner/body wash. Target is also starting to carry a lot of that but Sprouts has the full lines.
Good luck!

Hi, Trish. I was a Melaleuca customer for about 2 years, and I still order products through a neighbor who needed help meeting her points each month. I LOVE their Sol-U-Guard and used to use it on all surfaces. I still use Pre-Spot and Renew lotion. However, they have reformulated their SunShades and I hate the new stuff. So, to make a long story short, I loved a few of the products but not enough to continue paying $65 per month for other things I didn't like as much.

My brother is a chemist and liked the ingredient list on the new Clorox "Green" products. I love that those new Clorox cleaners don't irritate my asthma, and I prefer Seventh Generation dish soap and laundry detergent.

My mother used Shaklee for years (she was a distributor) but I can't handle the smell of their products. I also like to use baking soda and/or vinegar when I can.

I have been using Melaleuca products for 2 years and go way over my points every month. In the end - I do not think they are the least expensive but I absolutely believe I am receiving a very "clean" product better than what I would receive at Walmart,Tom Thomb, etc- I now realize that there are new "green" products but I am not going to switch.
Why? Because on the other scale I believe that the bigger conglomorate companies could care less about our environment and our health whereas every message I read from Melaleuca is good, positive , clean messages.
Finally- with Melaleuca if I refer 8 people to them, then they guarantee me 120.00 a month ( it may be more) but at least 120.00 month- this pays for my products - and that is huge for me. Walmart, Tom Thumb etc do not do that. Yes it took a little work but by the end of two months I had refer 8- so now literally I make at least 120.00 every month.
Yes I believe Shacklee is excellent as well as there are others but for me- Melaleuca was just right.
I suggest stick with it for 6 months, refer 8 people and then if it is not working for you, then cancel it.
Good luck
C.

To a previous poster (incase you come back and read this) Melaleuca does not charge you if you quit properly. You cant just call and cancel, but need to fax or send a letter so they have that on file. I have been with them for 6 years and referred hundreds of customers, none of which had a problem if wanting to quit.

Ok Trish, I dont know about other products out there because I have been extremly happy with Mela for a long time. But my question to you is (regardless of where you buy your future products) why JUST cleaning products?

These same chemicals are in your toothpaste, soap, deoderant, make-up, body wash, shampoo, lotion, etc. If you understand that these chemicals are dangerous and you want to find something safer, why are you stopping with what you clean with? In reality your body absorbs some of EVERYTHING it comes into contact with, so you are still putting yourself at risk using other products. That is why there are so many organic and non-toxic lines out there now.

Just some food for thought for whichever path you decide to take! http://www.ewg.org/health Good Luck!

Melaleuca does not test on animals, I have been a customer for 4 years and have completely switched stores to convert my home to their products. I will never need to use anything else.
My family is so much healthier. Melaleuca provides high quality at cost effective prices. The products do not require MSDS sheets or child safety caps and they do not smell, now I can clean without opening the windows and putting my family at greater risk for cancer.
Melaleuca oil is a natural antiseptic, fungicide, and kills germs on contact so you are actually getting the job done. I worry about brands that are "all Natural" and those just using baking soda and vinegar not actually killing the germs.
Visit www.saferforyourhome.com to learn more.
Be sure you are well informed and not just taking a post for the truth on any product or service, unfortunately many people are actually paid to tarnish a companies reputation by posting wrong information. What a world we live in :)

Trish,

I used it a few years ago and unless it has changed it isn't organic, just safer? It may have changed because it was about 4 years ago. But my husband is allergic to the Melaleuca plant so that made things very hard for me to use. And the amount of money it cost me was a lot. And they don't like it when you decide to quit, I had a hard time with that. They charged my card even after I quit and then I refused the shippment. They would not refund my money but keep sending me stuff saying that I have a credit, do I want to reactivate now. No, I don't.they are still sending me those notices every quarter. Anyway, I am not saying it is bad product. But I have found that Seventh Generation (you can get it at Whole Foods and some other regular grocery stores) is a great product for laundry and dishes. My husband isn't allergic to that. He couldn't use the deorderant or anything.

I understand the frustration you are going through trying to do the right things for your family. It is an ongoing process. It is one that I have been trying to do for many years now. But little by little I am succeeding.

T.

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