Force of Nature Cleaner | An Honest Review with Pros & Cons

I was given a Starter Kit and a box of laundry sheets to try for this Force of Nature Cleaner Review. Affiliate links are used in this post. For more information, please see our advertising disclosure.

Years ago I wrote about how I clean and disinfect our home after a battle with the dreaded stomach flu, and my main weapon was bleach. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of bleach. It’s incredibly strong and not the safest choice, but it’s one of the only cleaners that actually kills norovirus (that powerful stomach virus that easily spreads through the household). Fast-forward to present day. Along comes Force of Nature Cleaner. It also kills norovirus, but it’s made with salt, vinegar, tap water, and electricity. What?! No toxic ingredients and registered with the EPA as a hospital-grade disinfectant? I had to give it a try. Here is my honest Force of Nature cleaner review; with a list of pros and cons.

 

One of the first DIY cleaning products I ever made was reusable cleaning wipes and I am often asked if they disinfect. I always say “no” because I can’t just claim something disinfects, I have to prove it… and then submit that proof to the EPA and have my product registered. While I am not going to do that for my cleaning wipes, Force of Nature did just this for their cleaner.

“Force of Nature is an EPA registered Hospital disinfectant that kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including Norovirus, Salmonella, Influenza A, Staph, MRSA, Listeria & Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. The EPA has registered Force of Nature for disinfecting and sanitizing hospitals, intensive care units, veterinary hospitals, daycares, schools and more. The EPA registration number is 93040-1.” –Source

The fact that Force of Nature cleaner is actually registered as a disinfectant is what intrigued me. Could I swap out harsh bleach for something just as effective, yet made with 3 simple ingredients?

How Does Force of Nature Cleaner Work?

I am not a chemist, but here’s a quick rundown for you…

Force of Nature uses just 3 ingredients: water, salt and vinegar. Yep. Three ingredients you probably have sitting in your pantry right now! So, how do these three ingredients create such a powerful disinfectant? You add the ingredients together in a bottle and use electricity to break apart the salt and water to form Hypochlorous Acid and and Sodium Hydroxide. The vinegar is actually there to achieve the proper pH level.

I highly recommend checking out the video on this page for a great visual.

How to Make Force of Nature Cleaner

In order to make this powerful disinfectant, you need a Force of Nature Bundle.

 

Use the code: LLLAUNDRY at checkout for 40% OFF

*Please note: You can get a starter kit as well, however, you cannot use a promo code for the starter kit (which comes with only 5 activator capsules), so it’s cheaper to get the bundle with the promo code.

 

The Force of Nature Bundle comes with everything you need to make Force of Nature Cleaner:

• 25 Activator Capsules- each makes one 12 oz bottle of all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer & disinfectant
• Electrolyzer Appliance
• Power cord
• 12 oz Reusable Spray Bottle
• Quick Start Guide & User Manual

You can also buy a bundle with 50 capsules (which should last almost two years*).

Use the code: LLLAUNDRY at checkout for 40% OFF!

*Based on using one capsule every 2 weeks, which is how long the cleaner is effective.

Step 1: Fill Your Electrolyzer Appliance with Tap Water

 

Luckily the Electrolyzer comes with a fill line so you know exactly how much water you need to create the disinfectant. While filling your appliance, making sure the small rubber tab is inserted into the port

Step 2: Add the Activator Capsule

 

The Activator Capsule contains the exact amount of salt and vinegar needed to create a disinfectant that kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.

Step 3: Plug In & Start the Electrolyzer

Remove the rubber insert from the port and plug in your Electrolyzer. Simply press the start button and you will notice small bubbles start to form in the mixture and a green light will start to make its way around the bottom of the Electrolyzer. This green light indicates how far along the process is. Once complete, you will see a green light around the entire rim and the bubbles will cease to be created. This mean your disinfectant is done.

Step 4: Pour the Disinfectant into the Reusable Bottle

 

The Bundle comes with a reusable bottle that you can use again and again. Simply unplug your Electrolyzer and pour the mixture into the reusable bottle and secure the spray nozzle.

Step 5: Set the Timer

You now have two weeks to use your disinfectant. You can choose to mark a calendar with the date you’ll need to make a new batch of Force of Nature cleaner or you can simply set the timer on the Electrolyzer. To set the timer, you will plug the device in once again and quickly double-click on the start button. The rim should turn green and over the next two weeks, it will darken around the rim to show how much time you have left. Once you need to make a new bottle the rim will turn completely red.

 

Force of Nature Cleaner: Pros & Cons

I think it’s super important to provide an honest Force of Nature Cleaner review, which includes both the pros and the cons. Here we go…

Pros of Force of Nature Cleaner

• As mentioned above, Force of Nature cleaner is a hospital-grade registered disinfectant, which means it is proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.
• Force of Nature cleaner uses only 3 ingredients: salt, vinegar and water.  No dyes, fragrances, preservatives, or surfactants.
• Kid-Friendly. Pet-Friendly. You can find the Safety Data Sheet here.
• Safe on sealed stone. I love vinegar. I really do. I have used it in my DIY All Purpose Spray for years, but it cannot be used on stone, such as granite, because it can etch the stone. Force of Nature cleaner can be used on sealed stone because the vinegar is transformed during the electrolyzing process.
• Reduces Environmental Impact. Everything you get with your Bundle is reusable, with the exception of the Activator Capsules (which are recyclable). This means a 97% reduction in plastic waste vs. typical cleaners. Force of Nature cleaner is also Green Seal Certified, meaning they meet the highest sustainability standards in protecting human health, preserving the climate, ensuring clean water, and minimizing waste.
• Safe to use with septic systems
• 100% Happiness Guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund (minus the return shipping cost).
• Costs Less than Store-Bought Cleaners– Force of Nature actually costs less than other cleaners out there. While there is definitely a larger upfront cost to get the required equipment, each capsule (which costs about $1 each) makes 12 oz of cleaner. This breaks down to $0.09 per ounce. I looked at other name-brand “natural cleaners” and the price per ounce was anywhere from $0.13-0.28/ounce.

Cons of Force of Nature Cleaner

• Unpleasant Scent (At Least, in My Opinion)– While many report a mild chlorine scent (like a swimming pool), to me, it smelled exactly like bleach. Unfortunately, you can’t add essential oils to help with the scent as this interferes with the chemistry.
• Two Week Shelf-Life– Once Force of Nature cleaner has been mixed, it needs to be used within 2 weeks’ time. I never had an issue using it within this time-frame, but know there is a limited time in which this disinfectant will be effective. Note: This two week time-frame is for the mixed solution only. The capsules will actually last up to five years!
• Disinfecting Time– Force of Nature cleaner needs to remain wet on a surface for 10 minutes in order to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. Again, this isn’t unusual for disinfectants to require time to disinfect, just know this is what is needed.

Cleaning with Force of Nature

I have been using Force of Nature for the past two months. I typically use it on my kitchen counters and to clean the bathroom. You know? The places you would typically think to clean, but I was shocked to see how many uses this cleaner actually has! You can find a full list here, but these are some of the surprises I encountered.

Use Force of Nature Cleaner to Clean Rugs

Because Force of Nature doesn’t contain any whiteners, you can use it on rugs and fabrics. It is always recommended to test the product on a small area first, just to make sure there is no change in color prior to proceeding.

Use Force of Nature on Your Washing Machine

I have a whole post on cleaning a washing machine, and one question I am asked most frequently is about the mildew smell that can sometimes fester. This odor has to do with the fact that front-loading washing machines have a rubber seal that creates an air-tight space inside the washing machine when the door is closed. Moisture in an air-tight space means musty, mildew-y odors. I always recommend keeping the washing machine door open when not in use to allow things to dry out, however, you can also spray Force of Nature Cleaner on the rubber seal after each use and allow it to air-dry.

Use Force of Nature on Reusable Shopping Bags

If you use reusable shopping bags, you know they can bring home some unwanted germs… like the little bit of chicken juice that leaked onto the bag… Simply spray down your bags after use and allow them to air-dry.

Use Force of Nature Cleaner on Sponges

Think of how much your sponges clean… and then think of how much bacteria is probably on them. Yuck! I have a post on sanitizing sponges, but it requires some time in the microwave. Instead you can soak your sponges in Force of Nature Cleaner.

Use Force of Nature on Bath Toys

My kiddos are past the “bath toys” stage, but I remember how disgusting our bath toys always got! You’d squeeze the toys and out would squirt the water… along with black moldy grime. (So gross!) You can use Force of Nature cleaner to keep those bath toys clean and mold-free.

The list of ways you can use Force of Nature cleaner goes on and on, so again, check out the many ways to use it here.

If you are looking for a powerful disinfectant and want to give Force of Nature cleaner a try, remember to use the code: LLLAUNDRY at checkout for 40% OFF off your bundle!

 

Common Questions About Force of Nature Cleaner

Is Force of Nature Legit?

Absolutely! Force of Nature cleaner is legit. As mentioned above, in order for a product to be labeled as a disinfectant, it needs to be registered with the EPA and assigned a registration number. “The EPA has registered Force of Nature for disinfecting and sanitizing hospitals, intensive care units, veterinary hospitals, daycares, schools and more. The EPA registration number is 93040-1.” –Source This means that Force of Nature is a legit disinfectant.

Do You Have A Force of Nature Laundry Sheets Review?

This question was added on 6/3/24 after many have been looking for a Force of Nature Laundry Sheets Review.

 

Recently, Force of Nature came out with Laundry Sheets, which are great way to reduce plastic waste. Force of Nature laundry sheets are free from fragrances, dyes, phosphates, optical brighteners, bleach, phthalates, parabens, VOCs and plastic. But do Force of Nature laundry sheets work? An independent 3rd party lab tested Force of Nature Laundry Sheets against 3 leading laundry detergents: Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent, Tide Pods Free & Gentle, and Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent. This independent testing found Force of Nature Laundry Sheets worked as well as each brand tested against common stains such as grass and spaghetti sauce.

Force of Nature sent me some laundry sheets to try after many were asking about a review. In my opinion, Force of Nature laundry sheets worked well, but because they have no added fragrance (which is a good thing), I found adding my DIY Laundry Scent Booster to be great addition for freshening the laundry.

You can actually buy a Force of Nature Starter Bundle with the laundry sheets if you’d like to give them a try.

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