I love curating a sustainable, cottage-core-inspired home. From choosing eco-friendly furniture to cooking homemade meals using local, in-season produce, there’s no question that I’m a homebody. I take so much joy in beautifying a space my loved ones can relax and laugh in. And one way I make sure my space stays warm and inviting is keeping it clean! And just like everything else in my home, my cleaning products need to be sustainable and non-toxic. That’s why I was so excited to try ESNTL LVG – a eco-friendly cleaning company. They don’t use any harsh chemicals, have beautiful glass spray bottles, and offer refills! Here’s my full ESNTL LVG review and what I think of their innovative products.
ESNTL LVG sponsored this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
ESNTL LVG Review: My Honest Thoughts On This Eco Cleaning Brand
Why use sustainable cleaning products?
First off, let’s talk about why it’s important to switch to sustainable cleaning products.
I think it’s important to first address the fact that there’s no federal law requiring companies to disclose the ingredients in their cleaning products. That sets off a red flag to me: It means cleaning brands don’t have to add an ingredient label and could put just about anything in there. Including potential allergens!
Conventional cleaners tend to make me sneeze and give me a sore throat. That’s not a coincidence: Many cleaners use artificial fragrances, often labeled “parfum” or “fragrance”, which is really just an undisclosed mixture of potentially hundreds of ingredients and chemicals.
Fragrance alone has been known to trigger allergies, along with several other health problems like respiratory issues or even potential reproductive system damage. Can you imagine what all the other ingredients are doing?
Conventional cleaners can also contain ingredients that harm aquatic life when they wash down the drain. That’s why cleaning brands need to be more transparent with their ingredient labels – so we can check them and make sure they aren’t damaging our environment simply by using them.
There’s also the issue of plastic pollution. Walk down any cleaning aisle and every single product will likely be packaged in plastic, designed for single-use. Use it up, discard it, and buy a whole new bottle: Aka, a product designed for the trash.
As it stands only 5-6% of plastic actually gets recycled (which is down from 9% in 2017). We’re not getting better at recycling plastic – we’re getting worse. And that’s not exactly our fault: Many plastic cleaning products cannot be recycled curbside due to the nature of the contents inside them.
That’s why it’s important to switch to sustainable cleaners made with non-toxic ingredients and thoughtful packaging.
Why I love ESNTL LVG cleaners
Now that you know WHY it’s important to avoid conventional cleaners, let’s go over a few reasons why I love ESNTL LVG cleaners in particular.
1. Non-toxic:
- Contains no harsh chemicals or ingredients that can harm humans or the environment.
- Does not make me sneeze like a maniac because it doesn’t have any artificial fragrances (my nose is very sensitive to artificial scents).
- Is almost completely scent-free and there are no lingering, overpowering odors (ahem, unlike bleach).
- Safe for use around pets and children!
2. Sustainable:
- Packaged in reusable glass bottles that can be easily recycled at the end of their life, should need be.
- The silicone grips on top and bottom help protect the glass spray bottle so it will last even longer. Durability points in design – we love to see it!
- Offers a refill system so you don’t have to dispose of the product packaging – just keep using it an infinite amount of times.
- Refills come in mini glass bottles which can be recycled or upcycled (mini flower vases anyone? I could also see myself using them to store pills or liquid shampoo on the go).
- Arrived at my door without any single-use plastic packaging. It came in an easy to recycle cardboard box!
- Carbon neutral shipping on all orders.
3. Minimalist:
- You don’t need tons of products to clean your home. Just three products do almost everything!
- This saves so much space – instead of multiple cleaners for various parts of the home/items, you only need three products.
- Easy to store in a cleaning caddy. Perfect for apartment dwellers (like me) or small home owners!
My experience with ESNTL LVG
Okay so now that you know why it’s important to choose eco-friendly cleaning products, let’s get personal and focus on my individual experience with this brand. Here’s my full ESNTL LVG review!
What did you try?
I tried ESNTL LVG’s starter kit. It’s a 6-pack: It comes with three glass reusable spray bottles and three concentrate refills.
The refills come in mini glass bottles you can recycle or upcycle.
Everything is color coordinated too: Green is for all-purpose cleaning, blue is glass and surface cleaner, and purple is restroom and descalor.
I also received their eco-friendly brush box which was an unexpected treat! I actually needed a new dish brush so it came at the perfect time (I tend to hold onto things until they fall apart).
All of this was gifted to me, which was really generous of ESNTL LVG. I love how it all came packaged plastic-free too!
What did you think?
Now here’s the part you’ve been waiting for – my thoughts! Let me preface this by saying, I work from home, AND I’m a homemaker. That means I spend a LOT of time cooking and cleaning when I’m not at my desk typing up blog posts and freelance writing.
So there’s always a mess or two I have to clean before the day is out. That’s why I was super excited to try out these cleaners! And I was NOT disappointed.
All three cleaners worked efficiently: I used the all-purpose cleaner on my countertops, kitchen sink, stovetop, dining table, etc. I used the glass cleaner on my bathroom mirrors. The restroom cleaner I used to polish my toilet bowl and bathroom sink.
And I have to admit, these spray bottles are AWESOME. They work so well at covering a wide range and have a very powerful spray. The spray nozzle is amazing, sturdy and durable on all of them. Even if I don’t buy any more refills – I’d one hundred percent reuse the spray bottles. No questions asked.
I’ve divided this section based on the individual products I tried! Feel free to skip to whichever product interests you most.
All purpose cleaner
I find myself reaching for the all-purpose cleaner the most. In fact, I actually used it all up! It lasted about a week for me (again, I do a lot of cleaning). And let me tell you, it did an amazing job.
I used it to polish everything, like:
- My stovetop
- Countertops
- Spot-cleaning floors (great for getting rid of sticky little stains from food splotches!)
- Inside and outside of my microwave
- My desk (where I typed up this very review!)
Basically, I used this stuff all over the apartment. And it made my entire place sparkle.
I may have gone a little heavy handed in the beginning – not knowing how powerful the spray nozzle was – and used too much. But I don’t regret it: Now I know I really don’t need much to get a powerful clean!
I just spray the area I want to clean, let it sit for a minute or two (depending on how dirty the area is) then wipe with a rag or microfiber cloth. So simple.
Since it doubles as a degreaser, I also used it on my pots and pans when any food got stuck to them. Just sprayed some on and let it sit for a few minutes before washing it in the sink – and it made everything stuck-on come off easier.
Rating: 10/10
Restroom cleaner and descaler
I try to clean the bathroom once a week. My husband helps me with the tub – but everything else is my responsibility. That breaks up the workload nicely for us!
I used the ESNTL LVG’s restroom cleaner on my bathroom sink and toilet. I just spritzed the solution onto the areas I wanted to clean, waited a few minutes, and then wiped it away with a rag.
For the sink, this means just getting the inside of the sink and the spout. That tends to get gunky after about a week. And for the toilet, I can use this solution to clean the outer parts of the toilet bowl. For the inside of the bowl, I use a plastic-free toilet brush and toilet fizzies.
And FYI, yes, I do clean my toilet bowl with reusable rags. But they’re color coordinated and designated JUST for the toilet bowl. And I immediately toss them in the wash when I’m done. So it is possible to clean a toilet bowl without any disposables!
For the countertops of my bathroom, I used the all-purpose cleaner. And for the tub, my husband makes my DIY tub scrub. But I do want to try having Steve use ESNTL LVG’s restroom cleaner on the tub and shower head next time!
ESNTL LVG restroom cleaner also doubles as a descaler, and we love a versatile product. That means it dissolves and removes limescale build-up while performing a sanitizing action.
So you can use this to clean more than just your restroom! It can also be used on anything stainless steel such as:
- Kettles
- Coffee machines
- Dishwashers
- Steam ovens and steam irons
- Baby Bottle sterilizers
- Water coolers
- Shower heads
All in all, it did a wonderful job making my bathroom sparkle! I didn’t need much to get the job done either. I still have plenty left!
Rating: 10/10
Glass and surface cleaner
I used this glass and surface cleaner mostly to clean my mirrors, and it did a bang up job! It left them streak-free. I just sprayed some on to the mirror and used a microfiber cloth to wipe away the smudges.
It also doubles as a surface cleaner, which is great. Essentially, when I used up my all-purpose cleaner, I kind of turned to this to get my daily cleaning done.
It can clean:
- Windows
- Mirrors
- Granite
- Marble
- Wood
This is great if you have any surfaces you want to treat with a little extra TLC. I know certain surfaces have to be cleaned using specific, gentle cleaners. So if that’s what you’re looking for, then this is the one for you!
Rating: 10/10
Bonus: Brush box
Okay so ESNTL LVG also generously included a brush box that includes two brushes and sponges.
I’m really impressed with the quality of the brushes. They are super sturdy and will not be falling apart any time soon.
The brushes are made from bamboo and walnut – and you can tell they’re strong the minute you hold it in your hand. My favorite is definitely the one with the long handle – I’ve used it to wash the dishes so many times. I just wet it, rub it on my dish soap bar, wet it one more time, then clean the dishes. Simple!
However, just keep in mind that there is a bit of plastic in the brushes on the handles (the white part in the pictures above). So at the end of its life, the whole thing can’t be composted.
Also, each brush has a twine loop at the bottom that makes it easy to hang up to dry after cleaning which is a nice touch!
My biggest complaint with these brushes is that the bristles are a bit stiff, so sometimes they have a habit of flicking up soapy water as I’m using them. But it’s a minimal amount, so it’s not that big of a deal. I do think it would be nice to have a softer bristle option though.
The sponges are also super sturdy and hold up really well. They’re not at all flimsy like plastic sponges. They are completely compostable and made from cellulose and coconut walnut. They have an abrasive side that looks like it’ll be handy for burnt on food!
Rating: 9.5/10
How does it work?
So, one of the reasons I absolutely love ESNTL LVG products is because they are REFILLABLE. Aka, you can reuse the packaging over and over again.
They even have a subscription service option: You can get refills delivered every month, three months, or six months.
To refill your glass spray bottles, all you need are the concentrates and water. This is all color coordinated, which I love.
Just open your spray bottle and carefully pour your color-matching concentrate into it. Then add water until it fills up the bottle the rest of the way. Attach the spray nozzle back on and you’re ready to start cleaning ASAP!
Be mindful that less is more – these bottles have a powerful spray! Use a rag or microfiber cloth to wipe up and finish the job.
If you really wanted to, you could always use your own spray bottles – if you already have some at home – and just order the concentrates! Reusing what you have is always the most sustainable option. But either way, these are really easy to use products I’ll be reaching for again and again.
So, what do you think of my ESNTL LVG review? Let me know in the comments if you plan on trying them!
For more cleaning tips, be sure to check out this mega list of zero waste cleaning products!
Enjoyed this post? Be sure to share it! If you like my content, sign up for my newsletter to get notified every time I write a new blog post. To support me even further, please consider buying me a cup of tea to help support my blog.
