Truly Free Cleaning Products: A Truly Honest Review
- Brianne Thomas
- 16 hours ago
- 5 min read
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In our household, the shift towards using safer, environmentally friendly cleaning products has evolved into more than just a passing fad; it's become a deliberate choice that embodies our core values. So, when Truly Free reached out to me for an honest review of their cleaning products, I felt a surge of excitement. I was eager to explore how their offerings align with our commitment to sustainability and health, and I looked forward to sharing with you my thoughts on their effectiveness and overall impact on our environment.
Let me walk you through what Truly Free offers, the pros and cons, and key considerations to help you decide if it’s right for your home.
What Is Truly Free?
Truly Free is one of the fastest-growing subscription-based eco-friendly cleaning companies in the country. They're a home cleaning brand that prioritizes non-toxic, plant-based formulas, steering clear of the harsh chemicals often found in traditional detergents and cleaners. Their range includes everything from multi-surface cleaning sprays to laundry detergents, dish soaps, stain removers, and specialty cleaners — all with refillable packaging to cut down on plastic waste.
Their mission also emphasizes eco-friendly practices, cruelty-free products, and complete
transparency about ingredients.
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Truly Free Success Story
When founder and CEO Stephen Ezell’s son was just three weeks old, he and his wife discovered the infant covered in an alarming rash. The Ezell’s were unsatisfied with the pharmaceutical recommendations from a pediatrician and dermatologist and did their own research. They discovered the issue was simple: laundry detergent. Later, Stephen met a grandmother selling homemade laundry soap at the local farmer’s market that supported everything he believed in. He invested in her product, and Truly Free was born.
Where Are Truly Free Cleaning Products Made
Truly Free Home's non-toxic cleaning products are proudly made in Williamsburg, Michigan, in the United States of America.
Products We Tried
Truly Free was kind enough to provide me with their Unscented Laundry Wash and their
The Truly Free Unscented Laundry Wash comes in a refillable 50-ounce jug and provides up to 50 loads. I specifically chose the unscented so that I could gauge the scent without any extra perfumes. I found it to be a little strong prior to washing our clothes, but it went away during the washing and drying process. As someone who suffers from chronic migraines, I really appreciate that!
The Truly Free Everyday Cleaner comes with two 3-ounce pouches of cleaner and a refillable 16-ounce spray bottle. This multi-purpose, non-toxic spray can be used on countertops, appliances, bathrooms, and more. While the scent did not bother me too much, I don’t like that it isn’t antibacterial.
What We Like
As a Social Worker (and a pretty decent human being), I love it when companies give back. According to their website, Truly Free is actively supporting multiple safe-houses and orphanages in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. They provide over 200 children with food, education, clothing, shelter, and ultimately, hope for a bright future.
Truly Free’s products take up very little room, making them great for those with smaller spaces, such as dorms, tiny homes, apartments, and RVs.
Truly Free’s refillable containers are durable, reusable bottles made from shatter- resistant PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic, designed to be filled with water and their concentrated, eco-friendly cleaning refills, aiming to reduce plastic waste by only requiring refill pouches. The refill pouches themselves are made from recycled plastic with a zipper-lock seal. PET has one of the highest recycling rates of all plastics and can be recycled infinitely into new bottles or other products (rPET).
Truly Free’s cleaners are plant-based, making them safe to use around children and pets because they're made without volatile organic compounds.
Truly Free (formerly MyGreenFills) manufactures its non-toxic cleaning products in Williamsburg, Michigan, where the company is also headquartered. BUT, they do outsource their scents to International Flavors and Fragrances, which operates through numerous global subsidiaries, including major brands and regional entities like Danisco, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, Fragrance Resources, Frutarom (post-acquisition), and numerous local entities such as IFF (Canada) Ltd., IFF (China), and IFF-Benicarló, S.A. (Spain)
Truly Free has a broad product range. From laundry to hard-surface cleaners to odor control, Truly Free covers most of your household cleaning needs in one brand ecosystem.
There are no membership fees, no commitments & no contracts. You can change anything in your order, delay your orders, change your shipping frequency, or cancel your subscription.
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What We Don’t Like
Twenty-nine of the ingredients used in Truly Free products are rated on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website as moderate hazards, meaning those ingredients that are rated between 3 and 6, out of 10. One ingredient (Methylisothiazolinone) found in Truly Free’s Laundry Stain Spray has a high hazard rating of 7 out of 10. For me personally, I would prefer a non-toxic brand with much lower ratings.
The Everyday Cleaner is a “surface cleaner” but is not a disinfectant. So, you're going to want a stronger product during cold and flu season. The ingredients in the cleaners don't formulate with the biocides that you'd find in antibacterial products, meaning Truly Free’s cleaners are not antibacterial.
While Truly Free’s products rival those of others, the cost is also similar. If you’re on a
tight budget, you'll have to decide for yourself whether premium cleaners have a high
priority on your list. For now, I’ll continue to stick with my affordable tried-and-true
cleaners.
I’m not typically someone who likes to subscribe to a lot of different things. It’s difficult for me to keep up with all of those subscriptions, and keeping within our monthly budget is a top priority for us. If I were to subscribe with Truly Free, I would likely try to buy in one bulk order. But again, I can get my favorite cleaners for a much lower price, especially if purchased in bulk.
Overall
I really appreciate the opportunity to work with Truly Free and look forward to working with them in the future. However, due to the premium price point, current EWG ratings on several of the ingredients, and the fact that the cleaners aren’t antibacterial or disinfectant, I just can’t get on board… yet. I do believe Truly Free to be a company that will listen to its customers' recommendations, so perhaps changes will be made. Until then, I'll continue with my tried-and- true cleaners.
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