- July 11, 2024
An Expert Breakdown – Dogster
Our Final Verdict
We give the Truly Free Cleaning Products an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 5/5
Variety: 5/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Safety: 5/5
Efficacy: 4.8/5
Value: 5/5
Whether you’re a pet owner or not, cleaning is a daily routine we all have to go through to maintain a decent household. But cleaning can become a lot more complicated for those who do share their home with critters. Many cleaning products are unsafe for our pups and kittens, and as someone who also owns a parrot (a species that is even more sensitive to chemicals), finding products that can be used around my animals is a hassle. Then there is also the arduous task of finding effective cleaning products in a non-chemical state… I don’t know about you, but this is a big stressor in my daily life.
Fortunately, I don’t seem to be the only one in this plight. It seems as though the cleaning product company Truly Free heard my woes and opted to do something about them, developing animal-friendly products that do a good job cleaning up messes! I was eager to try them out when the package arrived at the front door.
At a Glance: What We Received
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
 |
Truly Free Aloe Hand Soap |
Softens hands the more you use it Made with 10x concentrated Aloe Vera No drying effects, so sensitive skin can use it just fine |
CHECK PRICE |
|
 |
Truly Free Floor Cleaner |
Use water and the bag mixture to make your floor cleaner Absolutely no chlorine, triclosan, ammonium, or sulfates Utilizes a fully plant-based formula to break down messes |
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|
 |
Truly Free Space Freshener |
Skin, pet, and baby safe Comes in a refillable bottle Able to be used on all sorts of surfaces, from fabric to tile and wood |
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 |
Truly Free Odor & Stain Eliminator |
Heavy-duty to tackle tough stains and odors Uses a specialized plant-based formula to get rid of stubborn messes Listed for use on carpets, rugs, couches, curtains, pillows, bedding, gym bags, shoes, pet stains, odors |
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 |
Truly Free Everyday Cleaner |
Similar great formula as the other products Unscented and free of chemicals Safe for consistent use around pets |
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 |
Truly Free Reusable Cleaning Cloths |
Specially designed cleaning cloths to assist with everyday messes Very absorbent, durable, and washable Eco-friendly material |
CHECK PRICE |
About Truly Free
Truly Free started because a family was experiencing some skin troubles with their infant, who tended to break out in rashes. After visiting doctors and dermatologists, whose answer was to use steroids and medication, the family started to contemplate what could possibly be causing such rashes? When a family friend suggested that they look at their laundry detergent as a possible cause… bingo, that was it!
This is where the idea of Truly Free was born. The company has since set its goals high to free households of toxic chemicals and waste that correlate with our everyday cleaning products. By changing the cleaning solutions to be plant-based and free of harmful toxins, Truly Free also aims to improve everyone’s health, from people to their pets.
Where is Truly Free Produced?
Truly Free is made in the United States, specifically in Traverse City, Michigan. All of the nontoxic ingredients are formulated together here, and shipped out to customers in eco-friendly packaging all over the USA.
Which Types of Pets is Truly Free Best Suited For?
Truly Free is truly safe for all animals in your household, from dogs and cats to exotics such as reptiles and parrots. As a parrot owner myself, reading the ingredients list proved to me that the Truly Free products can be used near him and won’t cause any adverse health effects. I did find that many of the products did best in removing messes associated most with my pup.
Key Features
Although Truly Free offers a large assortment of products, they all share the same key features.
Ingredients
All of the ingredients used in Truly Free are plant-based and nontoxic. They are safe on skin, safe to use around pets, and safe for babies as well.
None of the products contain chlorine, triclosan, ammonium, sulfates, formaldehyde, fillers, dyes, parabens, glycol ethers, monoethanolamine, isopropanol, phthalates, perchloroethylene, fragrances, and other toxic chemicals.
Here is the ingredient list for each product:
Aloe Hand Soap
-
- Aloe Vera
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Decyl Glucoside
- Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
- Water
- Sodium Chloride
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
- Sodium Benzoate
Floor Cleaner
-
- Coco-Betaine
- D-Limonene
- Decyl Glucoside
- Water
- Cocamine Oxide
- Sodium Citrate
- Alkyl Polyglucoside
Space Freshener
-
- Tea Tree Lemon Essential Oil
- Potassium Sorbate
- Rose Bouquet Essential Oil
- Water
- Lauryl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride
- Orange Oil
- Bergamot Essential Oil
Odor & Stain Eliminator
-
- Beneficial Bacteria
- Coco-Betaine
- Decyl Glucoside
- Water
- Cocamine Oxide
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Benzoate
- Alkyl Polyglucoside
Everyday Cleaner
-
- Coco-Betaine
- Decyl Glucoside
- Water
- Cocamine Oxide
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Benzoate
- Alkyl Polyglucoside
Truly Free even has an ingredient index for anyone needing help understanding what each product is made of. There are no hidden ingredients!
What to Expect
What I find to be the most interesting part of Truly Free is that what you receive are empty, refillable bottles and packets with the formula mixes. All you do is add water to the bottles and mix in the formulas in the bag. The best way to mix is by shaking the bottle.
When you re-order a Truly Free product, you just receive the bag – and keep refilling the bottle. This helps keep everything eco-friendly, reusable, and easy. You can even adjust the amounts and formulas yourself as you are the one who mixes it into the water!
Pricing & Membership
The prices of the products that Truly Free offers are very reasonable and competitive. Plus, there is an option for a subscription membership that helps keep the prices even lower. With the membership, shipping is free as well. The products can also be lower in cost if you bundle them together with other products.
Efficacy
Instead of relying on harsh chemicals to break down stains and odors, Truly Free focuses on plant-based options. These formulas use plant enzymes to help break down and dissolve grime, dirt, stains, and more when cleaning. Essentially, doing the same thing as traditional cleaning products but in a much safer way.
This being said, using the healthier option may not be as quick as the chemical one; it does take a bit more time and effort to achieve the same result. Both are effective, but safety requires patience. Personally, I am happy to sacrifice the “immediate” clean to keep myself and my animals healthier.
Philanthropy
Not only is Truly Free helping your household, but they’re also helping those in need. The company has partnered with an amazing organization called Cleaning For A Reason, which provides cleaning products to patients who are fighting cancer.
So many cancers have been linked to the toxic chemicals in our everyday products, and Truly Free is trying to make a difference. Helping patients live in a safe and clean environment can help their fight against cancer tremendously.
Reviews of the Truly Free Products We Received
1. Truly Free Aloe Hand Soap
A big problem with hand soaps (which I always experience) is that your hands often dry out with continuous use. Owning pets means you’re washing up a lot – from cleaning my parrot’s cage to wiping down my pup after she got into some dirt. With how frequently I wash my hands, I was tired of them cracking from the dryness (and to boot, I live in a dry climate). The amazing thing about the Truly Free Aloe Hand Soap is that my hands got softer the more I washed them!
Made with predominantly aloe mixed in with a few other key ingredients (such as benzoate), you receive the hand soap mix in a packet along with a designated reusable bottle. Just fill the bottle up with water and add in the mixture, shake it up, and that’s it. I enjoy that there are no fragrances, dyes, thickeners, formaldehyde, fillers, parabens, and of the like because my skin is very sensitive to this. I could immediately handle my dog and my parrot right after washing my hands, without concern if I had a bit of soap residue still left on me.
Pros
- Easy to use, just add water and mix
- Reusable and refillable bottle included
- No toxic chemicals
- Does not dry out hands
- Made up of natural ingredients
- No intense smells
- Safe around animals
Cons
- Handsoap may change color over time, it’s best to mix it with distilled water to prevent this
2. Truly Free Floor Cleaner
This floor cleaner is free of chlorine, triclosan, ammonium, and sulfates, which have serious health implications for pets. I have friends whose pups ended up hospitalized from accidentally ingesting floor cleaners with the above ingredients because you don’t always know if you’ve cleaned all of it off before allowing your pup to play in the living room!
The Truly Free Floor Cleaner is set up the same way as hand soap: You receive a bottle and the mixture and set it up yourself. The formula uses plants to break down the various dirt and grime on your floor. The mixture does not leave streaks, and the floor is just as clean as using traditional chemical products. You can even pour the floor cleaner into a steam mop, which is actually what I did and it worked super well.
Pros
- Comes with a refillable bottle
- Just add water and the mixture
- Does not leave any streaks on the floor
- Free of hazardous toxins and chemicals
- Can be used as a spray with a mop or poured into a steam mop
Cons
- Floor can be mildly sticky if you do not dilute with enough water
3. Truly Free Space Freshener
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my house to smell like my animals. Whether it is my parrot taking a bath and stinking up the living room (believe me, parrots do smell when they are wet. Wet dog smell has competition!) or my dog is “tooting” from her favorite broccoli snack, I don’t want to live in a stinky place. The Truly Free Space Freshener takes care of that problem easily.
I avoid space fresheners because of their ingredients, so I was particularly excited to use this one. The fragrance is due to the plant mixture and essential oils, in particular tea tree lemon essential oil, rose essential oil, orange oil, and bergamot essential oil. The space freshener is safe to spray on most any surface, including couches, tile, wood, metal, interiors of cars, and of the like. It is also completely skin-safe.
Pros
- Scents derived from plants and essential oils
- Pet-safe, baby-safe, and skin-safe
- Can be sprayed on almost any surface and room
- Immediately clears up offensive odors
Cons
- Can be a bit pungent if you use the whole bag
4. Truly Free Odor & Stain Eliminator
As a pet owner, an odor and stain eliminator is a must-have. I think this appears in everyone’s shopping cart immediately after bringing a new best friend home. Even my potty-trained dog has had incidents where she got sick, and I needed a cleaner like this for my carpet and her kennel.
The Truly Free Odor & Stain Eliminator can be used to remove odors and stains from your home and sprayed into your laundry (pretty cool!). The formula uses plant enzymes to break down the stains and odor, so no toxic chemicals must be implemented. The formula includes useful bacteria, oxide, citrate, and more. Just mix the formula into water, spray, clean, and done. You can truly use it on all surfaces.
Pros
- Can be used on all surfaces
- Comes with a refillable bottle
- Breaks down tough odors and stains with plant enzymes
- No toxic chemicals – perfectly safe for pets
Cons
- Dispenser can sometimes get clogged
5. Truly Free Everyday Cleaner
A good middle ground between all of the cleaners sold by Truly Free, the Everyday Cleaner is good to have around for any sort of daily cleaning. I have it sitting in the kitchen to help clean up whatever mess happens throughout the day. Formulated with ingredients such as decyl glucoside, cocamine oxide, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, and more, this spray cleaner helps tackle messes on any surface. Even more important is that the Truly Free Everyday Cleaner does not utilize ammonia, chlorine, fragrances, dyes, and other nasties in the formula.
Because the formula is plant-based, you can use it on any surface your dog, cat, reptile, parrot, or other pet touches without any issue, including playpens! It is also safe for sensitive skin.
Pros
- Good to have around for everyday messes
- Formulated to be used on all surfaces
- Made with plant enzymes to break down dirt, grime, residue, and more
- Not made with any toxic chemicals
- Safe enough to be used in your pet’s area
Cons
- Cannot make an official bacteria kill claim due to not testing with the EPA
5. Truly Free Reusable Cleaning Cloths
I know I am guilty of wasting paper towels in the past, but not anymore! The Truly Free Reusable Cleaning Cloths are very absorbent and durable, able to be used in any room on any surface. They are well textured to pick up dirt, but not scratch the surface (especially important for stainless steel appliances). These cloths can be washed into the machine, so using them is extremely easy.
Pros
- Helps replace wasteful paper towels
- Very absorbent,
- Machine washable
- Durable
- Textured to be used on any surface safely
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Only one size available
- May shrink slightly in the wash
Our Experience With Truly Free
With a dog named Lorelei and a parrot named Rickie sharing my home, cleaning is essential to our daily routine. Both of my pets are very sensitive to chemicals and any sort of nasties in traditional cleaning products, especially my parrot. So many parrots die a year due to toxicity; sad but true). As such, cleaning can be a bit of a stressful endeavor – I use a lot of natural remedies, but they aren’t always very effective.
I hoped Truly Free would be my solution… and I am happy to report that it sure has been! From the moment I received the package and its neatly arranged contents, I could already tell that this company cares tremendously about its customers. The box itself expressed how eco-friendly it is and everything inside was perfect. I received the Truly Free Aloe Hand Soap, Truly Free Floor Cleaner, Truly Free Space Freshener, Truly Free Odor & Stain Eliminator, Truly Free Everyday Cleaner, and a set of the Truly Free Reusable Cleaning Cloths.
I loved that the package contained reusable and refillable bottles (with spray-top attachments) and that the actual cleaning solution was in powder bags. A booklet explained each product in detail. To “make” each product, all I had to do was fill the bottles with water, mix the bag of formula in, tighten the cap, and shake it all up. Each product was ready for immediate use. Even better, each product is safe for your hands. I could spray it on my skin with no issue, and I could use it around my dog and my parrot without trouble.
The Truly Free Aloe Hand Soap was so soothing and didn’t have any real smell—I love it! The more I washed my hands daily, the softer they became. I wish I could express softness in a photo, but it isn’t easy to see. However, my partner definitely noticed and commented!
The Space Freshener was able to be used around my parrot (the smelliest part of the house) and helped freshen everything up so nicely. I loved the Odor and Stain Eliminator for my dog’s kennel and bedroom, and the Everyday Cleaner was excellent in the kitchen on daily surfaces. I even used the Everyday Cleaner around my parrot’s cage wonderfully. It worked especially well when paired with the Reusable Cleaning Cloths.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think all pet owners share the same sentiment when we say that our pet’s health is a big priority. Turns out, you can have both a clean house and happy pets simultaneously. It’s also a great convenience to be able to order the packets. I love the refillable bottles. Considering each packet lasts quite a while, the cost is very reasonable.
Thanks to Truly Free, my home continues to be clean without worry of Lorelei accidentally getting some in her system. I highly recommend Truly Free to anyone!
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