Grove Collaborative review

If you’ve roamed the cleaning aisles lately, you’ve probably noticed the brand Grove Collaborative (available at Grove Collaborative) lining the shelves. Grove Collaborative's brightly-colored bottles of dish soaps and cleaning concentrates seem to be everywhere these days.

Promising a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way to clean at home, Grove Collaborative caught my eye. I decided to check out some of the most popular Grove Collaborative cleaning products and use them at my own house. But do they actually work? Here's what I think.

About Grove Collaborative

Founded in 2012, Grove Collaborative sells household cleaning products that claim to be sustainably made and ethically produced, all while promising to still get the job done effectively on messes big and small.

Grove Collaborative offers its own in-house line of soaps, laundry detergents, cleaning concentrates, and personal products. Grove Collaborative also sells other eco-friendly brands we’ve tested such as Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Generation.

Grove Collaborative claims to have strict standards for the ingredients and manufacturing in its products. Additionally, Grove Collaborative cleaning supplies tout cruelty-free certifications and are made from plant-based ingredients.

Many of the products come in aluminum or glass bottles to avoid plastic usage. In 2021, the company announced it would be plastic-free by 2025.

1. Multi-purpose Cleaner Concentrate Set

The multi-purpose cleaner concentrate set includes a 16-ounce reusable glass spray bottle and one ounce vial of multi-purpose cleaning concentrate. The tiny vial doesn’t seem like much solution, however, keep in mind it’s a concentrate, so it’s meant to be diluted with water to make the full amount of cleaning solution.

After adding the concentrate to the reusable spray bottle, I filled the bottle up to the top with water.

Even when diluted, the scent is just strong enough to offer a refreshing orange rosemary fragrance that smells fresh and clean. The cleaner does a great job at cutting through sticky and greasy spills in the kitchen and on our bathroom sinks and shower.

The reusable bottle is crafted from sturdy glass that comes with a rubber base that can be rotated so it will label what kind of cleaner it is. The base also keeps it from moving around the countertop and toppling over.

The containers the cleaning concentrate comes can be recycled after use. There was nothing I didn’t like about this product, and I plan on repurchasing the concentrate as soon as I run out.

Should you buy the Grove Collaborative Multi-purpose Cleaner Concentrate Set?

Yes. While this set is more expensive than a bottle of traditional multi-purpose cleaner, the reusable bottle makes it a great no-plastic alternative to a plastic bottle countertop spray. The concentrate offers superb cleaning power with a clean scent.

The cleaning concentrate is $4 per vial, which is more affordable than other multi-purpose cleaners on the market. Once you invest in the reusable spray bottle, it’s not only better for the environment but better for your wallet.

2. Bubble Up Dish Soap Dispenser and Brush Set

The design of the Bubble Up dish soap dispenser makes it easy to dispense soap as you can quickly load the brush with soap and get to washing.

To get soap on the brush, just push the pump down with the brush. You can purchase the dispenser to come in a set with Grove’s dish soap, otherwise you’ll have to purchase dish soap separately.

The brush which is made from renewable bamboo and recycled plastic fibers is a sustainable solution to a classic dish sponge as it lasts far longer. During my testing, it outlasted three of my usual dish sponges, and I expect it to do plenty more.

However, there are some caveats to know. The brush has a short handle which can make it awkward to maneuver. For this reason, it’s not ideal for scrubbing glasses, jars, or bottles.

Also, since you can’t squeeze out the dirty water from the brush, like you would a normal dish sponge, some of the food debris gets trapped in the bristles.

Additionally, I found that the ceramic container and soap looked dirty quickly and I found myself needing to empty it out and refill it before the soap was fully gone, which felt wasteful.

Should you buy the Grove Collaborative Bubble Up Dish Soap Dispenser and Brush Set?

No, stick with a sponge. I really wanted to love this soap dispenser but unfortunately it’s not practical for hand-washing dishes. While the concept of the soap dispenser is smart, in practicality the brush is hard to clean with and makes dishwashing less efficient.

3. Walnut Scrubber Sponges

The Grove Collaborative Walnut Scrubber Sponges have a soft sponge side along with a rougher, scrubbing side. The sponge part is made of plant-based cellulose and the scrubbing side is made of walnut fibers and recycled plastics.

The sponges come in a set of two, so you always have backup. Keep in mind that because of the use of walnut fibers, these are not safe for those who suffer from a nut allergy.

I really never thought I’d be enthused about a sponge, but I love Grove Collaborative’s Walnut Scrubber Sponges. These sponges are thicker than a traditional sponge and are super plush, which makes them flexible and able to get into the corners of even narrow dishes and glassware. I found the scrubber side to be gentle yet effective at getting rid of gunk.

The Walnut Scrubber Sponges lasted longer than a traditional sponge. While I usually have to throw out my regular sponge after one week of use, the Walnut Scrubber Sponge lasted me about a month before it started to break down and develop a lingering odor.

The biggest downside to the sponge is that it is more expensive than other sponges. While many sponges are around $1 or less per sponge, Grove Collaborative sponges are about $2.50 each. Despite the jump in price, the increased lifespan, and, in turn, added value the Grove Collaborative sponges offer is worth spending up on.

Should you buy Grove Collaborative’s Walnut Scrubber Sponges?

Yes, absolutely. These sponges are thick, effective, and worth every penny. I love that they’re made of more natural and recycled materials than traditional sponges to help cut back on plastics.

4. Hydrating Hand Soap and Dispenser with Silicone Sleeve

Grove Collaborative soaps come in aluminum bottles, and the hand-washing starter set includes a reusable glass bottle and hand soap soap. The refills come in 13-ounce sizes and come in a variety of scents including lavender, lemon, and orange. For those with sensitive skin, there’s a fragrance-free option.

Whenever we run out of hand soap, I loathe having to toss out the plastic bottle it comes in. Even when I reuse the bottle, most of the soap refills come in plastic bottles, too. What I enjoyed most is that Grove’s refills come in recyclable aluminum bottles, so there’s no plastic involved.

After you refill the glass container, the aluminum refill bottle can go right into recycling. I got the lemon and eucalyptus scent to test out. The smell is fresh, and citrus-forward, pleasing my nose with a refreshing(but not overpowering) scent to use. The soap advertises itself as being hydrating, but I didn’t notice my hands were dryer or softer than normal.

My main gripe is with the reusable glass bottle. Even with the silicone sleeve base, the bottle slips around the counter when wet.

Also, I found that it dispensed a lot of soap with a full press of the pump, and we went through it rather quickly. After some trial and error,I found that to get just the right amount you only needed half a pump.

Should you buy Grove Collaborative Hydrating Hand Soap and Dispenser with Silicone Sleeve?

Yes, if you want to get cut back on plastic-use. We all need hand soap and for those seeking out more environmentally friendly options, Grove Collaborative is a great choice. Since the soap refills come in aluminum bottles, it’s plastic-free and will keep your home smelling fresh. I’ve already repurchased a refill because I enjoy using it in my home.

5. Walnut Scouring Pads

If you just want the scouring side of Grove Collaborative’s sponges, check out the walnut scouring pads. Made of ground-up walnuts and recycled fibers, these scouring pads come in a pack of three and are meant for tackling tough food messes on pots and pans without being abrasive. Because of the use of walnut fibers, these are not safe for those with a nut allergy.

In general, these scouring pads weren’t capable of replacing the ball of steel wool I keep by the sink.

However, for cast iron cookware, these are gentle enough not to damage the cast iron but tough enough to get rid of build up. I often find my kitchen sponge isn’t heavy-duty enough to handle cast iron messes and my trusted ball of steel wool is too abrasive.

These walnut scouring pads are an ideal alternative for cleaning cast iron. The pads tackle stuck-on food but won’t scrub off the delicate layers of seasoning.

On the other hand, if I want a scouring pad, I want something a little more heavy duty that can remove even the most hard to remove food and gunk. The Grove Collaborative scouring pads break down quickly and become quite flimsy after several scrubs. The natural fibers fray easily, causing food to get trapped in the weaving and resulting in a foul smell.

Should you buy Grove Collaborative Walnut Scouring Pads?

Maybe. If you’ve been on the hunt for the right tool for cleaning cast iron, these scouring pads are your answer. However, if you already have a scouring pad that you love, this certainly isn’t going to replace it.

Is Grove Collaborative legit?

After testing a variety of Grove Collaborative’s offerings, I am thoroughly impressed by its line-up of products. If you’re looking for plastic-free and sustainable cleaning essentials to use at home, Grove Collaborative is a great choice to get the job done.

While I wasn’t blown away by everything that I tried, overall, Grove Collaborative makes effective, natural cleaning products that are well-priced. While the upfront cost of Grove Collaborative’s sets are more expensive than other cleaning supplies, the affordable price cleaning concentrates and refills make the investment worth it.

To get started, I recommend the multi-purpose cleaning set, hand-washing set, and the Walnut Scrubber Sponges.

Shop Grove Collaborative