7Gen Blog

For the Toys

I am soooo thankful the wipes came out because I have been wanting to disinfect my daughters battery operated toys and 7th Gen.'s wipes saved the day! Thank you!

Nozzle not spraying

I purchased the bathroom disinfecting spray and was excited to start using it. Unfortunately the nozzle doesn't work! I emailed the help desk about a week ago and still have not heard back. I am wondering if there is a way to fix the nozzle or if the bottle I bought needs to be returned.

cleaning wipes

I bought the new wipes and I also think that the smell is a "bit much". Additionally, the way the packaging is, the wipes come out all at once, not individually. Thank you.

Wow

I tend to do a lot of research before trying anything new, so I'm glad I read the comments here. Unfortunately, this has ensured that I won't be buying any of 7thGen's disinfecting products.

***BUT***
I do have to say it is EXTREMELY refreshing to see a company that allows people to make comments on its website. It gives me confidence that 7thGen will listen to these people & make changes that will please customers & stay true to their values. Really great solutions don't come from miraculous situations but rather learning from mistakes. Keep trying! :-)

TOXIC phenols. What do you expect?

"Natural" doesn't mean safe. Cyanide is natural too. I don't want to be ingesting large quantities of either.

Most pine and all cedar beddings should never be used for small animals, they cause everything from lung irritation and cancer to kidney disease and liver failure. Why? Same reason as this cleaner: Toxic phenols. Some types of treated pine products can be ok, so long as there is zero smell. If you can smell the wood, the toxic phenols are still there and the product should not be used until the smell is gone.

I don't think 7th Gen (or anyone else) can effectively mask the smell that comes from using concentrated phenol chemicals extracted from thyme, any more than you can mask the phenols from cedar and pine. You can try it. Use your own essential oils or whatever, add it in this cleaner, mix it up. (Don't blame me if there are bad chemical reactions, of course.) Does that mask the smell?

I haven't purchased this and probably never will. I'm sticking to good old environmentally-friendly (and relatively safe) hydrogen peroxide (which breaks down into oxygen and water) and alcohol for my disinfecting needs, such as sterilizing the ports of IV fluid bags.

Regular soaps and detergents will get rid of nearly all germs anyway; you don't need an added toxic chemical (whether the toxic chemical is "natural" or not) to kill off more unless you're at high enough risk, eg you have leukemia, are on chemo, and take steroids. And if your health is so bad to begin with, don't mess around with dangerous disinfectants (like this one). Have a family member or someone use the toxin of your choice while you stay out of the room until it's gone.

And if you do have a need for persistent disinfectant/antiseptic activity, chlorhexidine is safer than triclosan.

All that said, low levels of phenols ("natural" or not) are unlikely to kill healthy adults. Low levels of cyanide are also unlikely. So while I don't recommend spraying phenols into the air your breathe, and I don't recommend eating apple seeds, tiny amounts are probably harmless.

The Disinfecting Spray smells TERRIBLE.

I recently switched to homemade cleaners/green cleaning and was so excited to use this disinfecting spray becuase it can be tricky to make a reliable and effective disinfectant at home.

The first time I used it, I turned on my stove vent, my overhead ceiling fan and cracked a window because it smelled so nasty. Not to mention the fact that you have to let it sit there until it dries...ugh. (I seriously avoided my kitchen for hours).
I tried it a second time today becuase I got chicken juice on my counter and it still was just as terrible. I'm considering taking it back to the store and asking for a refund.

Until Seventh Generation can figure out how to add some essential oils or something to make it more tolerable, I think it's going to be off my cleaning list.

Effective product, but strong odor prevents future purchases

I intended to use the wipes to clean my pets' homes (followed by thorough rinsing, of course). But I will not subject them to a scent that, in my opinion, is an unholy combination of menthol rub and cigar smoke.

I used the wipes to clean a bathroom. They clean very effectively, but the smell lingered in the air and on my hands for a long time (even after multiple washings with soap and stainless steel).

I worry little can be done to adjust the scent while still keeping the products natural and non-toxic. As such, I'm sticking with the Free & Clear products.

By the way, the hedgehogs and I are still waiting for Free & Clear hand soap.

Disinfecting spray

I love the spray. I can finally relax when disinfecting my home and not feel nervous spraying toxic chemicals around my small child. The smell is fine. Doesn't bother anyone in my household one bit. I'd rather have almost any kind of natural smell in my home than an artificial chemical smell. We are all very happy to have a cleaning product that is natural and does the job of disinfecting. Plus, I thought the price tag on it was very reasonable. I do agree with MichellePar, though. We need to stop filling our land fills. I would like to see more of that material that looks like plastic, but isn't. It is made of cornstarch resin and is biodegradable. And the wipes themselves, I don't know what they are made of and if they are biodegradable. I haven't seen them yet and don't think I'll need them, since spray is doing the job just fine. Thank you.

strong odor

I agree that this new Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner has a potent odor that lingers in my kitchen. I was excited about the disinfecting qualities, but the stinky smell is no way to gain fans. I don't use this unless I absolutely need to disinfect a surface; especially since the label instructions require you to let it air dry, giving it more time to spread it's funky smell. I hope SG will work on a better smelling formula. (Haven't tried the bathroom cleaner, so I can't say how that smells.)

Love the disinfecting line!

Thank you! I've just started making the official switch to green cleaners. I picked up the disinfecting spray and I LOVE IT! I am so hapy I made the switch! My bathroom counters literally shine! And, yes, I do clean frequently but the clean was so much more noticable after using the Seventh Generation product! I am hooked! The scent, yes, a little on the strong side (might take some getting used to) but I prefer it to the chemical smells my old cleaners left behind.
Thanks so much for such a great product! I've also started using the laundry detergent and dishwasher gel.