Force Of Nature Cleaner Review (And Discount Code) – Is It Worth Trying?

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An honest review of the EPA-registered disinfectant, Force Of Nature Cleaner.

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Save $15 on any kit or bundle of Force Of Nature with my affiliate code: SLAY15 

I’ll start this post off by being honest.

I have been cleaning my home with toxic chemicals for years.

Over the last couple of years, I switched to greener brands that I thought were non-toxic, but were, in reality, still toxic.

My cleaner of choice has been Method brand cleaners, which, if you also buy their cleaners, you know that they have this lovely label on the front that reads ‘made with non-toxic plant-based powergreen technology’.

I was so excited and wowed by just seeing the term ‘non-toxic’ on the bottle (and the fact that the cleaner came in fantastic scents) that I didn’t bother to look at the ingredients.

I know, I know.

It wasn’t until I shared my newfound love for it on my Instagram stories that dozens of people wrote to me to:

1. demand that I correct my statement and inform people it wasn’t really non-toxic
2. do my research and really look into the ingredients I was using around my young family.

Yikes.

Honestly, though, I completely understand their concern.

With a larger Instagram audience, the information I share really does matter, especially if I’m misinforming people without even realizing it!

But they were right. I didn’t even look at the ingredients.

I’m not proud of that, but I learned a huge lesson in both how far my voice spread and how to be a more responsible consumer.

I try and look for ingredients in foods and try to buy organic every chance I can, so why aren’t I doing the same when it comes to the cleaners I use in my home?!

One of those Instagram messages I received encouraged me to visit the Environmental Working Group’s website to learn more about what was in the cleaners I was using, and why those ingredients could pose a risk to me and my family’s health.

I was surprised to see my beloved cleaner’s rating; “Top scoring factors: Corrosive; Some concern for cancer; respiratory effects; nervous system effects”.

The year previous, this particular cleaner’s rating wasn’t a ‘C’, it was actually an ‘F’.

So there I was, kicking myself.

Not only had I failed to do the research, but I was also using this cleaner around my kids (one of them being a toddler who was still sticking everything in his mouth), breathing it in day in and day out, and I was unintentionally promoting this product as a safe, non-toxic cleaner to tens of thousands of people.

So, over the last several months, I’ve been doing nothing but researching. I am not one to throw away money, so while I was using the last of my bottle of Method brand cleaner, I looked into non-toxic cleaners that were actually non-toxic.

I discovered that a lot of cleaners that say they are green,natural, and non-toxic(like Method tricks consumers into thinking by its clever front sticker wording) weren’t actually ALL NON-TOXIC.

How disappointing.

So, what’s a mom to do? I wanted my house to be clean, I wanted to effectively disinfect our home, but I wanted to do it without harming everyone who lives here.

I’m also pregnant now, after 1.5 years of trying to conceive.

So my drive to find an effective cleaner without all the toxic chemicals was in full gear now. It was definitely time to change things up.

As I was doing my research, I came across an ad on social media.

Those pesky ads always find me ;).

This was one I was actually happy to see, however, because it seemed to answer all of my problems.

In the ad, a woman fishes a toy from the toilet (how much more real-life scenario could they get, ha!), sprays the toy down with Force Of Nature Cleaner, and hands it back to her baby.

I was intrigued.

Had I finally found a healthier, legit non-toxic cleaning option for my family?

To be completely fair, I reached out to Force Of Nature to see if they were open to letting me try and review their cleaner.

I would only review their cleaner if I got to do it my way.

Which is non-sponsored and by being completely honest.

I was thrilled when they said yes, and it made me admire them even more.

Not all companies are willing to do that, which is really sad because people depend on reviews like this to make informed, educated, and confident purchases!

I’m hoping my review will help you do just that.

Before posting this review, I used this cleaner in just about every room of our house, on every surface I normally clean (one exception being our custom farmhouse dining table).

I sprayed it on mirrors, glass, our finished wood furniture and tables, our couches, trash cans, glass shower doors, countertops, stainless steel appliances, etc.

I wanted to fully test this cleaner out to share my complete thoughts with you, my loyal readers, so you can decide for yourself if this is the cleaner for you.

If you’re not so interested in the details of how to make this cleaner at home, or the chemistry behind the cleaner, skip down to ‘My Thoughts‘.

This post contains affiliate links, however, all opinions are my own, as always.

What Is Force Of Nature Cleaner?

Force Of Nature is, in short, made up of salt, water, and vinegar.

These ingredients, supercharged with electricity, make electrolyzed water (or hypochlorous acid) as effective as bleach without the toxic chemicals.

What Comes In A Starter Pack Of Force Of Nature?

A starter kit of Force Of Nature comes with:

• electrolyzer
• power cord
• 12 oz. spray bottle
• activator capsules (5, 25, or 50 depending on your selection)
• quick start guide
• user manual

According to their website, the 50 activator capsule selection should last up to a year.

Why Can’t I Buy This In Stores?

As far as buying from a store, the cleaning solution lasts up to two weeks.

From a manufacturing standpoint, that’s not much of a shelf life, is it?

By the time this cleaner is mass-produced, packaged, sold, and used, it would be deemed ineffective.

Therefore, it doesn’t really make sense to sell it in the stores.

Another great pro to this cleaner is the reduction in plastic waste.

You reuse the bottle over and over again with each new batch. That means you’re buying less plastic that will need to be recycled (or could even be disposed of improperly).

So, you just make a new batch each time you need it and refill your bottle with the new batch of cleaner!

I’d love to see them sell the electrolyzer and capsules in stores in the future, though!

If The Capsules Are Just Vinegar And Salt, Can’t I Just Make My Own?

I would highly suggest and recommend that you don’t try making your own hypochlorous acid formula, capsules, or solution.

If not mixed properly or with the exact proportions or pH, you have the possibility of creating bleach instead of hypochlorous acid!

Directly from their website:

“…the reason you need the capsules is the chemistry is so sensitive that the EPA requires the capsules as part of our approval to sell this as a disinfectant. Hypochlorous acid (the active ingredient Force of Nature creates) is the anti-microbial molecule in bleach, and it’s the pH that determines which you create, as well as whether or not the concentration reaches a high enough level to disinfect. Getting the right pH hinges on getting the ratio of salt, water & vinegar 100% accurate, which requires a lab grade analytical scale. Without the correct ratio, you could make bleach by accident, or make a solution that doesn’t meet disinfectant level kill rates.”

So, technically, yes you could.

But if you do, your warranty for the electrolyzer will no longer be valid, and you risk making a solution that is chemically bleach or does not disinfect properly.

How Is This Different From Homemade Cleaners With Vinegar?

If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, you’ll know that I’ve dipped my toes into the homemade cleaners pool as a way of lessening the amount of toxic ingredients I expose my family to.

The problem with these homemade cleaners is that they aren’t as effective at disinfecting and cleaning as we’d all love them to be.

They make us feel better, sure, but they aren’t actually proven to do the job we need them to when it comes to harmful germs and bacteria like Salmonella, Norovirus, Listeria, STAPH, MRSA, Pseudomonas & Influenza A.

Homemade vinegar cleaners also cannot be used on surfaces like marble and granite, whereas Force Of Nature can (see their disinfecting and cleaning efficacy test results, performed by a 3rd party independent lab, compared to popular cleaning products like Windex, Febreze, Scrubbing Bubbles, Formula 409, Clorox Clean-Up & Bleach, and carpet cleaners).

Vinegar is also not EPA registered to kill 99.9%* of bacteria like Force Of Nature is.

Force Of Nature is on the EPA’s official list of approved disinfectants to use against COVID-19.

How Do I Make The Hypochlorous Acid Cleaner?

Fill up the electrolyzer with tap water to the fill line, making sure the rubber plug to the power cord slot is closed before filling.

Remove the rubber plug, and plug in the power cord.

Twist the top off one of the activator capsules and pour capsule into your electrolyzer and wait about 10 seconds for it to dissipate.

Press the power button on the base of the electrolyzer to start making the solution.

There is no cap or top to the electrolyzer, but not to worry, there aren’t any toxic chemicals to worry about leaking into the air you’re breathing.

You’ll see the solution start to bubble and fizz within the electrolyzer.

According to the instructions in the Quick Start Guide, the solution should be ready to pour into your plastic Force Of Nature bottle in about 9 minutes (although, personally, mine seemed to only take about 6-7 minutes).

Pour the finished solution into your spray bottle, and clean with the current batch for up to two weeks!

What Does It Smell Like?

Force Of Nature leaves behind a chlorine-like smell which dissipates within a few minutes.

Does It Actually Disinfect And Clean?
Force of Nature is an EPA registered disinfectant & sanitizer proven to kill 99.9%* of bacteria & viruses, including Norovirus, COVID-19, Salmonella, Influenza A, Staph, MRSA & Listeria.

See bottom of this post for details on organisms killed by Force Of Nature.

It does so much more than just disinfect and sanitize, though.

Force Of Nature also works as a deodorizer, grease cutter, carpet cleaner, duster, and soap scum remover.

Here’s a home test I did with agar plates…

On the left side of the plate, I swabbed our dirty kitchen table surface with sterile swabs.

I then sprayed the table with Force Of Nature cleaner, waited 10 minutes, and wiped it dry with a clean rag.

I swabbed the cleaned surface and transferred the swab to the plate.

After 3 days, these were my results – no visible colonies!

Has This Cleaner Been Evaluated By The EWG?

No, but not for lack of trying.

Currently, the EWG does not include or rate devices in their cleaning category.

Electrolyzed water has been used in the industrial space for years, however, and has been independently studied by numerous sources (see that info here).

Force Of Nature has also been designated for “use in hospitals, medical clinics, daycares, schools, restaurants & veterinary clinics” by the EPA (EPA registration #93040-1).

How Does It Work?

Force Of Nature contains two ingredients within its electrolyzed water:

• hypochlorous acid: this is the active ingredient in bleach, and the same substance your body’s white blood cells produce to fight infection! It’s also commonly found in eye, wound, and veterinary care products.
• sodium hydroxide:detergent & grease-cutter.

While most major cleaning products contain 5% sodium hydroxide, Force Of Nature is just as effective while containing only 0.0000003%.

How Do I Disinfect With Force Of Nature?

According to its instructions, you simply spray it on the surface that you need to disinfect, let the surface remain wet for 10 minutes, and either wipe it dry or allow it to air dry.

You’ll find similar instructions for disinfecting surfaces on products like Clorox disinfecting bathroom spray (bleach-free) as well – they also require a surface to remain wet for 10 minutes to fully disinfect.

No rinsing is required, and thanks to it being free of any toxic chemicals, you can spray it on your child’s toys or high chair table without worry.

Can I Add Essential Oils To My Cleaner?

I love me some essential oils.

I actually love to mop my floors using a special mix of water, vinegar, vinegar-compatible soap, and essential oils that smells like HEAVEN.

But when it comes to adding essential oils to this chemistry-sensitive cleaner, it’s best not to.

Adding essential oils to Force Of Nature reduces the efficacy (how well it works to clean and disinfect).

Feel free to mix up your own essential oil linen spray in a separate container to spray on couches and soft furniture if you aren’t a fan of the chlorine smell, though!

What Surfaces Can I Use Force Of Nature On?

You can use this cleaner on virtually any surface you need to clean, deodorize, or disinfect!

Here are some ways you can use Force Of Nature cleaner:

• countertops
• cabinets
• baby gear (think strollers, high chairs, booster seats, car seats, activity centers)
• toys
• lunchboxes
• toothbrushes (I do this once every 2 weeks, but we also replace our toothbrushes once every 3-4 months)
• sponges
• front-load washers
• pets and their bedding (I spray this on our dog with super sensitive skin when he gets stinky between baths, and comb through his fur as well as spray hs dog bed – it works great as a non-toxic pet deodorizer!)
• bath toys
• inside the fridge
• yoga mats
• backpacks
• sports gear
• rugs
• couches
• finished wooden furniture
• makeup brushes
• fresh cut flowers (add a few ounces to a vase of freshly cut flowers to make them last longer!)
• cloth diapers

When using this on furniture or carpeting, try to test in an inconspicuous area first!

Will This Cleaner Bleach/Lighten Surfaces?

While this cleaner is considered a bleach alternative, it doesn’t contain the same toxic chemicals that bleach does that lightens and brightens.

For example, if you have mold on the grout in your bathroom, it will work to remove the mold, but cannot remove the stain left behind by the mold.

Force Of Nature does recommend testing the solution in an inconspicuous area first when attempting to use it on fabrics, as do most other brands to be on the safe side.

Is This Cleaner Safe To Use Without Gloves?

This was a big concern for me as I’m currently pregnant.

I’m happy to report that Force Of Nature has been rated 100% Top Allergen Free by SkinSafe.

It’s gentle, hypoallergenic, and perfectly safe for anyone to use.

It’s truly family-friendly. No gloves or hazmat suit necessary!

Does Force Of Nature Contain A Drying Accelerant?

Perhaps another ‘con’ to this cleaner is that it does not contain drying accelerants.

This means that when you spray and wipe glass, windows, and stainless steel (where streaking would be very noticeable), you’ll need to make sure you’re wiping with a clean, dry cloth.

I try to grab two microfiber cloths when I spray our mirrors in the entryway and bathroom, and also our fridge and dishwasher (which are stainless steel) so I have a dry cloth to wipe the mirror with.

If you keep using a wet microfiber cloth to wipe the solution on your glass, it will eventually dry and streak. So just keep that in mind!

How Much Does Force Of Nature Cost Per Ounce? Can It Save Me Money In The Long Run?

Force Of Nature costs just $0.07 per ounce to make and can be used on just about every surface imaginable to sanitize and disinfect.

Because it’s a multi-tasking cleaning product, meaning it works as more than just a countertop cleaner, it can replace the majority of your current cleaners so you don’t have to keep buying 10-15 different cleaning products to achieve the clean your home needs.

To put the cost into perspective, the beginner kit costs $70 (without any coupon codes), which is equal to about 25 bottles of Method cleaner, which costs about $0.11 per ounce.

What If I Have Hard Water?

Force Of Nature recommends using bottled water instead of tap water if your water tests > 100ppm.

Here are some water test strips to take the guesswork out of figuring this out.

While I haven’t had to personally use these myself, they’re rated at 4.5/5 stars on Amazon.

I Saw The Electrolyzer And Capsules On Amazon, Can I Just Purchase Them There?

Amazon is so convenient, especially when you have Prime!

I’m guilty of spending a little extra on Amazon just to have the product to me in the 1-2 days t takes to get to me.

Especially since they put up an Amazon warehouse right down the street from our house – woohoo!

You can purchase the electrolyzer and capsules on Amazon, but they will most likely not carry the same one-year warranty you would get from the manufacturer and will cost a bit more without the possibility of applying a discount code or offer.

So that’s completely up to you, but I’d prefer to get them directly from Force Of Nature.

Is This Cleaner Cruelty-Free?

Yes, Force Of Nature is cruelty-free!

What If I Have Extra Cleaner In The Bottle Once The Two Weeks Have Passed?

Because this cleaner only lasts two weeks, you will need to dispose of any excess cleaner you have once 14 days have passed as the cleaner is no longer effective at disinfecting or sanitizing.

BUT, because Force Of Nature is free from toxic chemicals, you can simply pour the remaining solution down the drain before making a new batch.

Is Force Of Nature The Right Cleaner For Me?

Whether this cleaner is right for you is really up to you!

I believe finding the right non-toxic cleaning products that work for your budget and your family is worth every penny, whatever that brand or product might be.

My Thoughts

In short, I absolutely love Force Of Nature.

I was incredibly skeptical when I first started using this cleaner because I thought nothing could compare to the cleaning ability that harsh, toxic chemicals provide.

Major brands like Clorox and Method have the power and muscle to fight through the grease, germs, and bacteria lingering on my household surfaces, and while they’re toxic to me and my family, would I rather have the bacteria or the toxic chemicals?

I really didn’t think this cleaner would cut it.

But, I decided to really give it a try.

Enter my greasy cabinet doors, my gross and greasy glass stovetop, my dirty glass shower doors dressed in week-old soap scum, and my large and smelly garbage can.

I used it first on my stovetop because we don’t eat out a lot and it sees action 3-4x a day.

If I don’t clean it daily, it gets really gross.

Even while I was bedridden with horrible morning sickness during my first trimester of this current pregnancy, I still managed to make it out to disinfect and clean our stovetop.

I sprayed it onto our stove and let it sit for about 2 minutes. The chlorine smell lingered. No bubbles, fizz, or action was happening.

It cut through the grease. I wiped our stovetop clean.

But that wasn’t enough for me. I pressed my face flat against the counter and tried to find a spot where the light from the kitchen window would show leftover grease.

I didn’t find any.

I was relieved that it seemed to work, but I wasn’t sold yet. I moved into the grossest room in our home – the bathroom.

Boy moms know what I’m talking about…

I sprayed the counters, the toilet, the floor around the toilet, because, well, I have boys who don’t always have the best aim.

And I sprayed the bathtub and shower area. I waited the recommended 10 minutes for Force Of Nature to do its disinfecting thang, and then I wiped with a few microfiber cloths.

Because soap scum is a real pain, I had to spray and wipe with an abrasive sponge to get the shower doors clean twice.

But that’s honestly no different than when I used Method’s version of bathroom and shower spray.

The next day, I discovered one of the kids threw away some cooked broccoli from dinner the night before in the garbage can.

I don’t know about you, but for me, that is one of the worst kitchen smells.

For my nose, it is akin to a dirty diaper.

My Force Of Nature bottle was sitting on the countertop, waiting for my next test, so I decided to test out how well it deodorizes.

I sprayed two quick spritzes into the garbage can and closed the lid. I waited.

Five minutes later, I walked through the kitchen and couldn’t smell a thing!

I moved onto my greasy cabinet doors, just to see if I could pick anything up.

I didn’t let the solution linger on the surface, even though my kitchen cabinet doors are sealed, but curiously sprayed and scrubbed for a second with a microfiber cloth.

And the nasty brown color that came up is still haunting my dreams.

I find myself making a new batch once a week, although I try to deodorize our furniture and high-traffic carpeting (thanks to smelly kids and a dog!) once a month along with cleaning and disinfecting in my usual cleaning schedule, which uses up more of the solution.

It’s the true workhorse for cleaning and disinfecting in our home, and I honestly feel good about using it and sharing it with others.

I think it’s a wonderful cleaner, and I love that it’s safe to use around my young family and pets.

I use it for just about everything, and haven’t been missing my old cleaner one bit! I’ve gone ahead and purchased more salt and vinegar capsules to keep the non-toxic magic going.

The chlorine smell isn’t my favorite, but as I mentioned above, I’m currently pregnant and my nose is very sensitive to smells.

My Thoughts On The 10-Minute Disinfecting Time

Okay, when I first read that Force of Nature cleaner takes 10 minutes to work – I was kind of disappointed. 

I pictured myself spraying it and then tapping my fingers for the next 10 minutes….waiting….

But have you ever looked at the back of a bleach bottle and read its disinfecting time?

Here are the directions from the back of my bleach bottle…

Bleach also takes 10 minutes to disinfect efficiently!

When it comes to sprays and disinfectants (especially those that SMELL CLEAN), I think we, as consumers, think that as long as it smells clean, it must be working.

So we spray and then wipe. That’s it.

We don’t pay attention to the working time on our cleaning products.

We’re trained to think that those strong lemon and lavender scents we smell when we spray our cleaners mean that our surfaces are clean and disinfected – but that’s not always true.

With this ‘new’ information, I can understand better how a safe bleach alternative can take 10 minutes to disinfect.

Honestly, though, in my experience, when I am cleaning up the kitchen, spraying down the table, cooktop, sink, and counters is one of the last steps I do.

So I just spray those down, set a timer on my phone using Siri, and move into the living room to clean up toys and vacuum.

That 10 minutes FLIES BY before I know it!

I love knowing that I am disinfecting my whole house with something as strong and effective as bleach – without being harmful to my home’s delicate surfaces or inhabitants.

And the no-rinsing is another huge plus. 😉

Special Force Of Nature Discount Code

Force Of Nature Coupon Code To Save You $15 + FREE SHIPPING: SLAY15

*This post is NOT sponsored by Force Of Nature. This review features my real experience and thoughts using this hypochlorous acid cleaner and experimenting with cleaning with electrolyzed water. Discount code updated August 2020 to reflect the most recent code and discount available.

*Organisms:

Sanitization Organisms
Salmonella enterica (Salmonella), Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas), Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria), Feline Calicivirus, Strain F-9, Influenza A virus

Disinfection Organisms
Salmonella enterica (Salmonella), Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas), Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria), Feline Calicivirus, Strain F-9, Influenza A virus

Qualified Germs List
Kills Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA and Influenza A Virus, Strain A/Hong Kong/8/68, Feline Calicivirus, Strain F9″ – Source

*Post published in July of 2019, last updated December 2021.