Kitchen cleaners and eerie children

Earlier this month, I began researching companies that might produce products that are both sourced and manufactured in Canada. I began across the street at Whole Foods (or Whole Paycheque, if you prefer), scrutinizing the detergent and soap sections. I lingered, scrawling product and company names in my notebook while the peppy Whole Foods staff looked on nervously.

I later visited Choices as well, and was surprised by the broad array of Canadian-made cleaners out there. I took my list home, typed it up, and began contacting companies to determine whether their products are entirely sourced in Canada. If you’re particularly keen, you can check out my spreadsheet of products.

I quite liked the sound of Green Beaver toothpaste, though they haven’t gotten back to me yet. I was also pleased to find a brand of laundry detergent called “Vancouver Only”. I made a note of it, and went home to search for the company’s website. Amusingly, the top search result begins “Vancouver Only, the brand with absolutely no web presence”. So, no joy there.

After some research, the good folks at Nature Clean Living told me that their unscented products are entirely sourced in Canada. Score! I’m now the proud owner of their laundry detergent, dish detergent, hand sanitizer and dishwasher detergent. The dish detergent doesn’t quite have the grease-cutting crispness of our usual liquid, but otherwise it’s doing a good job.

I am, however, slightly troubled by the eerily-cheerful children featured on the Nature Clean bottles. There’s a kind of creepy vacancy in this kid’s eyes, isn’t there?

Eerie Kid
Mom, those neighbourhood dogs won’t be keeping us up anymore.

Next up, soaps and shampoos.



  1. John Mardlin (Reply) Posted on January 14, 2011

    I think he’s gazing into space dreaming about all the lucky charms he’s going to eat from “Naturally” cleaned bowls.

    Good Luck with the project Darren. I’m looking forward to December, whatever “Canadian” internet might mean.

  2. Zoeyjane (Reply) Posted on January 14, 2011

    If you want to up the grease-busting ability, Darren, try adding a bit of white vinegar to the dish you’re cleaning.

  3. Monique Trottier (Reply) Posted on January 14, 2011

    I’m a huge fan of Sapadilla, smells wonderful and works beautifully. Ask James, he cleans our bathroom weekly because it’s so lovely. If a cleaning product can drive a guy to clean the bathroom, then I don’t know what other reco you need.

    https://sapadilla.com/default.aspx

  4. Heather (Reply) Posted on January 18, 2011

    I am a Canadian living abroad in Bogota, Colombia, and came across the local store-brand laundry detergent to be, in fact, manufactured in Canada! I also came across President’s Choice brand toilet paper when living in Honduras, but not sure if was made in Canada too.. Is it really cheaper and better business sense to export all these things?

  5. Sophie (Reply) Posted on January 23, 2011

    Nature Clean products! that’s all I use….Excellent choice and all Canadian!….never had a problem with their dish soap and grease…always works perfectly on all my grease…wonder why….and it rinses quickly….just like their laundry detergent for hand washing for example rinses fast unlike Tide and others there’s no end to rinsing….anyways Great choice and good luck

  6. Anne (Reply) Posted on January 23, 2011

    I use Nature clean and it is great! The only product I don’t like is the shampoo/conditioner. Everything else has been fantastic. Good luck with 2011!

  7. Nora (Reply) Posted on January 23, 2011

    When doing research, do you trust the company or do you trust the ingredient list? Does the term ‘sourced’ mean the same thing to the company as to you?

    The ingredients in the Nature Clean Living laundry liquid soap are
    Unscented Ingredients: WATER, FATTY POLYGLYCOSIDE (FROM CORN STARCH AND PALM KERNEL OIL), SODIUM CITRATE (SALT OF CITRIC ACID), CELLULOSE COLLIDES (FROM COTTON AND WOOD) AND SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYL GLYCINATE (PRESERVATIVE BASED ON GLYCINE, AN AMINO ACID).

    Although, the company may have received their polyglycoside and cellulose collides from a Canadian source,
    Where would the palm kernel oil come from? … surely not Canada.
    Where would the cotton come from? … not from Canada in commercial quantities.

  8. Shirl (Reply) Posted on January 23, 2011

    Cascadia Soaps source some of their ingredients locally. And they have a shave soap.

  9. Jen (Reply) Posted on January 23, 2011

    3 Canadian companies that I really like:

    Nature Clean
    Olivier Soap Company https://www.oliviersoaps.com/olivier/
    They make shave cream!

    and Kicking Horse coffee

    Good luck in your endeavours, I think it is a great challenge.

    • George Tamsilf (Reply) Posted on January 24, 2011

      Kicking Horse COFFEE!!?!

      I must have forgotten about all those coffee bean plantations we have in Cape Breton.

    • Dominique Perreault (Reply) Posted on January 25, 2011

      I really like the Olivier products as well. They smell good, they work, I bet they even have an eye bag remover for you (lol)…

      Olivier Soap Company also delivers.

      I’m looking forward to read your posts, Good luck!

      Dominique

  10. Ray Klassen (Reply) Posted on January 23, 2011

    I often think about how not producing our own products has changed the work force in North America. I am truly happy that someone is trying to do this. I will be watching for all news.Good Luck.
    Thanks, Ray Klassen

  11. Bill Naidu (Reply) Posted on January 26, 2011

    Hi Darren,

    Certainly agree with you that being a Canadian, I should be Canadian, Buy Canadian.

    However, when I think about my salary, I am unable to afford to buy Canadian Products as they are mostly expensive.

    How do I afford to be a Canadian?

  12. Jen Clarke (Reply) Posted on January 31, 2011

    We wish you the best of luck. It is a hard task that you have given yourself. We will all benefit in the end. Can’t wait for the book