Green Works Cleaners

I grew up in the 1970's and 80's when Clorox meant bleaching your clothes until the whites were blindingly, spotlessly, unarguably clean.

(Once Mama got the magic of Clorox 2 detergent, stains didn't stand a chance on colored clothes either.)

So anyone needing proof of the fact that green has gone mainstream need look no further than Clorox's new line of Green Works™ cleaning products.

The first new Clorox product line Clorox in 20 years, Green Works cleaners come in five varieties: All-Purpose, Glass and Surface, Bathroom, Dilutable and Toilet Bowl. (Technically, you could argue than an 'all-purpose' cleaner eliminates the need for the other four types...)

In any case, all four cleaners contain a minimum of 99 percent natural ingredients, with coconut derivatives and lemon oil playing starring roles.

The rest of the ingredient list is pretty short. A little corn-based ethonol here, a splash of filtered water there and some biodegradable preservative for good measure. No phosphorus, no bleach, no animal testing, plus a non-allergenic formula and an easily recyclable PETE (1) plastic container.

But here's the real kicker. In a blind test among 200 consumers, Clorox says its Green Works product line performed just as well or better than conventional cleaning products.

My own (non-blind) test at home yielded just as impressive results. Not only did the Green Works All-Purpose cleaner make short work of burnt-on stovetop gunk, it did so without giving me a headache or making me lightheaded like some of the traditional chemical cleaning products I've used over the years.

In a (coco)nutshell, Green Works gets the job done with cleaner, greener ingredients. That's why Green Works carries the EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) certification. It also explains why the Sierra Club, one of the most respected environmental organizations in the country, agreed to form a partnership with Green Works. You'll find the Sierra Club logo on Green Works bottles, a sign of the brand's financial commitment to supporting the Sierra Club's conservation efforts.

You shouldn't have too much trouble finding Green Works at a store near you. Clorox says the products are available at some 24,000 mainstream retail stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Prefer to shop online? You can find Green Works at etailers like Drugstore.com and Ace Hardware Outlet.