faq
FAQ
effectiveness
we have not tested our products against SARS-CoV-2 (the strain of Coronavirus causing COVID-19) therefore we are unable to say if our products would effectively kill the virus.
none of our products contain large enough amounts of alcohol to make them a disinfectant. but what we do know is that cleaning removes germs and dirt, lowering the number of them and therefore reducing the risk of spreading infection. rest assured we are monitoring the official research and advice from the World Health Organisation, NHS and UK government about the role of personal hygiene and cleaning products against COVID-19.
home cleaning
our cleaning products are designed for daily use, alongside our anti-bac range for targeted cleaning. only our anti-bac range is proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria. it has also been tested on the H1N1 flu virus, Enterococcus Hirae, Staphylococcus Aureus, E-Coli + Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. however, this does not provide any proof of working against other viruses. none of our products contain chlorine bleach and we do not have a bleach product as we have not found an alternative which meets our health and environmental standards.
hand soap
the latest advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is to wash your hands with plain soap and water or use an alcohol rub often, for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose to prevent the spread of infection. according to WHO, washing your bare hands often provides more protection than wearing rubber gloves. you can use any of our hand soaps (gel or foaming) with water to do this.
please note, we do not recommend using our household sprays on your hands. washing-up liquid can be used but is not recommended as it is likely to dry out your hands much quicker than a hand soap. we do not currently have any plans to produce a hand sanitiser, however, we are monitoring demand for this.
dishwashing
like with hand soap, the goal of washing is to remove the virus rather than to destroy it. the latest advice from the UK government is to use a dishwasher (if available) to clean and dry your used crockery and cutlery. if this is not possible, wash them by hand using detergent and warm water and dry them thoroughly using a separate tea towel to prevent the spread of infection. you can use our sister company, Ecover’s dishwasher tablets or any of our washing-up liquids to do this. for more information, click here.
laundry
there is a big difference between your day to day routine and what is required when you have an ill person in your house. to the best of our knowledge, washing your clothes more often is not a measure recommended by the World Health Organisation. generally, it is recommended to use a washing powder containing bleach and wash at 60°C to effectively kill bacteria and for the destruction of viruses. you can use Ecover’s washing powder and/or laundry bleach for this.
disinfectants are products that have a proven effect on the destruction of certain pathogens. none of our products contain large enough amounts of alcohol to make them a disinfectant.
only our anti-bac range is anti-viral. this was only tested regarding H1N1 flu virus and does not provide any proof of working against other viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (the strain of Coronavirus causing COVID-19).
our multi-surface cleaners will have some anti-bacterial properties. the surfactants in the daily range will kill some bacteria, for example. but our anti-bac range has been proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria due to the higher concentration of lactic acid. our daily range is more appropriate for everyday use.
only our anti-bac range is anti-microbial. it has been tested on the H1N1 flu virus, enterococcus hirae, staphylococcus aureus, e coli + pseudomonas aeruginosa.
product usage
the purpose of cleaning products is to remove particular types of stains and dirt. you will need different types of cleaning products to clean the different types of dirt. each product has a different purpose, and therefore also a different pH level or ‘acidity values’. this is one of the most important factors to determine the best product for a specific surface.
when a product has a pH of zero, it means that this product is an acid detergent. if the value is 14, it means that the product is alkaline. a pH value of 7 is neutral. everything below that is regarded as acidic and everything above that as alkaline. each step in the pH value makes the product 10 times stronger. so pH 6 is already ten times more acidic than pH 7, but pH 4 is already 1000 times more acidic than pH 7!
always test our products in an inconspicuous area first and check with your surface manufacturer if you are unsure.
acidic (pH <7):
acidic cleaning products are useful on hard surfaces where you want to eliminate limescale or rust. limescale deposits make a surface rougher, making dirt adhere more easily to the surface. by removing the limescale, you remove the dirt. limescale deposits occur most on hard surfaces in areas with lots of water-contact, like bath, showers, sinks and toilets.
you should not use an acidic product on an acid-sensitive surface, such as natural stone, enamel or marble, aluminium, copper, stone, galvanised surfaces, kitchen work surfaces, linoleum, lacquered, oiled or waxed floors, rubber, textiles or carpets. if you use an acidic product on surfaces that are sensitive to acid, it can cause temporary or even permanent damage to the surface, such as discolouration.
neutral: (pH 7)
pH neutral products can be used on most hard surfaces, provided you follow the correct usage and dosing instructions.
alkaline: (pH >7)
alkaline products are used to intensively degrease.
you should not use a highly alkaline product on surfaces that have a coating of oil or paint, like treated wood. using such a product on this surface may lead to discolouration or (permanent) damage.
the pH of each of our products is related to the type of stains and dirt it has been formulated to remove. if you require the specific pH of a product, please get in touch with us.
always test our products in an inconspicuous area first and check with your surface manufacturer if you are unsure.
more acidic:
- method fabric softener
- method anti-bac
- method bathroom cleaner
- method stainless steel cleaner
- method gel hand wash
- method foaming hand wash
- method body wash
fairly neutral:
- method squirt + mop hard floor cleaner lemon ginger
- method squirt + mop hard floor cleaner wild rhubarb
- method daily shower ylang ylang
- method daily shower passion fruit
- method wood polish
more alkaline:
- method washing-up liquid
- method daily granite cleaner
- method concentrated laundry detergent
- method squirt + mop wood floor cleaner almond
- method multi-surface cleaner
- method glass cleaner
to use method anti-bac, spray it onto the surface, leave for 5 minutes and then wipe.
our anti-bac range kills 99.9% of bacteria and has a naturally-derived lactic acid formula. it has also been tested on the H1N1 flu virus, enterococcus hirae, staphylococcus aureus, e coli + pseudomonas aeruginosa. please note, this does not provide any proof of working against other viruses.
we recommend you use this range for targeted hygiene cleaning, such as high chairs, bins, chopping boards, toilet seats, tubs + doorknobs.
these products are designed to be used on hard, non-porous surfaces as stated on the label. as with any cleaning product, you should always test in an inconspicuous place first. some surfaces, such as granite, wood and certain types of tile are porous in nature so this product is not suitable.
our daily shower spray is used to avoid calcium build-up and works best when the shower has been cleaned thoroughly with your regular bathroom cleaning product. then spray a fine mist after each shower including tiles, door/curtain when the surface is still damp. there is no need to rinse away. if you live in a hard water area we would suggest wiping the area with a dry cloth (you may find a microfibre one works the best).
please note, this product is not suitable for use on natural stones or porous surfaces, such as marble or limestone. surfaces and coatings can vary and some manufacturers advise not to use ‘leave on’ products so it could be worth checking with them as to what they recommend. we would also advise not to use a cloth that has been washed in fabric softener as this can make the product spread out.
our floor cleaner is already diluted so simply squirt it onto the floor (a little goes a long way) and mop. a slightly damp (microfibre) mop/swiffer/soft cloth in long strokes usually works best, squirting more product in small amounts as needed until you’ve cleaned the entire floor. test in an inconspicuous area first to check it’s compatible with your surface.
if you’re experiencing a “sticky residue”: sometimes using more product than needed can result in this. if used sparingly, it could also be because of an interaction with a previously-used floor cleaner. many other products deposit a residue, especially oil-based cleaners. squirt + mop can actually lift some of that stubborn oil-based residue which might result in stickiness. it may also happen if you used a wet mop rather than slightly damp/dry one.
spray, wipe, admire. it may help to spray directly onto the cloth rather than the surface as a little goes a long way. when you use a cloth be sure that it is not treated with fabric softener as that will spread out on your surface. you may find a microfibre cloth works best.
spray, wipe, admire. it may help to spray directly onto the cloth rather than the surface as a little goes a long way. it may also be worth checking there isn’t any build-up of residue from previous products on the surface or on the cloth(s) used.
you can use our multi-surface sprays, glass cleaner or daily granite cleaner on your quartz. we don’t advise you use our anti-bac as it’s on the acidic side. always test on an inconspicuous area first and if in doubt, please do check with the manufacturer of your surface.
silestone is made up of 90% quartz so our marble and granite cleaner would be suitable. we would always advise to test on an inconspicuous area first and check with the worktop manufacturer if you’re unsure.
method’s bathroom cleaner and daily shower sprays are safe to use on acrylic. however, as surfaces and any protective coating varies we always recommend testing a small, inconspicuous area first and checking with the manufacturer(s) if unsure to find out what pH they recommend:
anti-bac bathroom (water mint): pH 3.25
bathroom cleaner (eucalyptus mint): pH 3.25
daily shower: pH 6.25 (fairly neutral)
multi-surface cleaner: pH 11.00
for your chrome taps, you can use our bathroom cleaner or multi-surface sprays however we advise not to use if the chrome is damaged. as surfaces and any protective coating varies we always recommend testing a small, inconspicuous area first and checking with the manufacturer(s) if unsure to find out what pH they recommend:
anti-bac bathroom (water mint): pH 3.25
bathroom cleaner (eucalyptus mint): pH 3.25
daily shower: pH 6.25 (fairly neutral)
multi-surface cleaner: pH 11.00
our glass cleaner should be fine to use on your glass induction hob, however, our sister company Ecover specialise in an oven and hob cleaner which has a pH of 6.25 (fairly neutral) so may be more suitable. always test our products in an inconspicuous area + if you are unsure, we recommend checking with the hob manufacturer as to what they recommend.
at method, we don’t currently have any specific products for cleaning ceramic hobs, however, our sister company Ecover specialise in an oven and hob cleaner which has a pH of 6.25 (fairly neutral) so may be suitable. always test our products in an inconspicuous area + if you are unsure, we recommend checking with the hob manufacturer as to what they recommend.
if you are sure that your worktops are sealed, you can use our method wood polish by spraying onto a soft cloth first or our multi-surface spray if you do not require a shine; if this is used always make sure you re-nourish the wood from time to time. we would always advise to test both on an inconspicuous area first, as surfaces and their prior treatment varies greatly.
we would advise you to test the wood polish on an inconspicuous area first as surfaces and any sealants can vary. if your surface is oiled, you would still need to re-nourish this from time to time.
our granite + marble cleaner should be fine to use on your grey composite sink as it’s safe to use on granite, marble and any other sealed stone surfaces. always test our products in an inconspicuous area + if you are unsure, we recommend checking with the surface manufacturer as to what they recommend as surfaces + any special sealants/coatings can vary greatly.
we wouldn’t recommend using our bathroom cleaner on porous surfaces such as marble or natural stone as it’s slightly more acidic to remove limescale. instead, you might like to try our multi-surface cleaners (but not our anti-bac sprays) for your marble, porcelain, ceramic and stone as long as they are sealed. also, our daily shower sprays have a pH of 6.25, so are pretty neutral and suitable for most hard sealed surfaces. as surfaces and their coating vary greatly we always advise to test our products in an inconspicuous area first and always refer to manufacturers care instructions if you are unsure.
you can use our multi-surface cleaner (but not our anti-bac sprays) on any hard sealed surfaces. our wood polish also has a pH of 7.75 so is fairly neutral. please follow the on-pack instructions and wipe straight after use. it’s important to not over soak the wood and ensure it’s dried property afterwards. we would always advise to test on an inconspicuous area first and check with the manufacturer if unsure.
as long as your worktops are sealed you can safely use our wood polish or our multi-surface sprays (not our anti-bac though) if shine isn’t important. if used on oiled surfaces make sure you nourish the wood from time to time. we always advise to test on an inconspicuous area first and if you are unsure it’s always worth speaking to the manufacturer of your worktop for further clarification.
you can use our daily kitchen spray on sealed chopping boards and dining tables. but if you’re looking for something that’s proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria, our anti-bac range might be for you. with all of our products, we recommend testing in an inconspicuous area first.
our squirt + mop cleaners are designed to be sprayed directly from the bottle onto hard, sealed floors, not for use in any machines. running a spray mop, hard floor cleaner or steam mop over the floor after using our product isn’t something we’ve tested ourselves. we know that using the incorrect product can void the warranty so we’d always recommend checking with the manufacturer before using + testing in an inconspicuous area if you do give it a go.
method has two types of floor cleaners. the all floor cleaner in lemon + ginger or wild rhubarb fragrances and the wood floor cleaner in almond fragrance. the all floor cleaner is suitable for sealed hard floors such as tiles, stone + laminate and the wood floor cleaner is suitable for sealed hardwood floors. as long as the floor is sealed, you can use method floor cleaner however we would always recommend that you try on an inconspicuous area first and if in doubt, contact the manufacturer.
both our lemon ginger and wild rhubarb floor cleaners have a pH of 6.45 (so almost neutral) so should be suitable for your karndean/vinyl flooring. our wood floor cleaner has a pH of 9 so is more alkaline. we would always advise to test our products on an inconspicuous area first + to check with the surface manufacturer if you’re unsure.
you can use our squirt + mop floor cleaners on your porcelain floor tiles as long as they are sealed. always test our products in an inconspicuous area + if you are unsure, we recommend checking with the surface manufacturer as to what they recommend.
our floor cleaners are suitable for hard sealed surfaces. we don’t usually recommend the wood floor cleaner for oiled floors, these usually require a specialist cleaner due to their finish. an oiled floor is not sealed in the same way as say a lino would be so there’s a danger your floor could drink in our product. it’s unlikely to cause any lasting damage (no more than a glass of water would) but it’s not worth the risk. it’s best to check with the manufacturer of your flooring for further clarification.
you can use our wood floor cleaner on hard sealed wood/laminate flooring. we recommend testing in an inconspicuous area first and checking with the floor manufacturer if you’re unsure
our wood floor cleaner should be ok on painted wood, however this does depend on how well the paint is applied and how old it is, so we would advise testing in an inconspicuous area first. our wood floor cleaner has a pH of 9 so it may also be worth checking with the manufacturer. and of course, ensuring it’s fully dry before using the stairs.
all of our products are friendly for your septic tank, cesspits, caravan cassette toilets and most other treatment tanks as all of the ingredients are readily biodegradable. method contains no phosphates, hydrocarbons or other septic-problem chemicals. the plant-based ingredients we use are biodegradable in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. they will support good bacteria as long as the products are not over-dosed.
if you don’t see the septic tank logo on the label of your bottle, it’s because we didn’t have enough space and other icons were more specific to that product. you can be sure that with our products (and a maintenance clear out now and then) you’ll have a happy septic tank which will last for decades and possibly a lifetime.
if you are unsure, we would advise you to make contact with your system manufacturer to see if our products would be suitable to use.
our products are not designed to be directly discharged into waterways. our formulas are biodegradable and should be fine if filtered through a professional system. we work to ensure that our ingredients are as clean as they can be and aim to use biodegradable and renewable ingredients. our compass of clean measures each product against 12 measures for sustainability and environmental and human health. these include checking how safe the product is for aquatic plant (like algae) life and animal life and if the formula will completely biodegrade. we use third party documentation such as safety data sheets and third party expertise to evaluate each ingredient and the formula in its entirety to ensure we are minimising our impact on the environment.
we haven’t carried out any tests ourselves and would usually advise our products would be fine on plants for the first 24 hours. after this, we would advise it should be filtered through a reed bed or professionally designed system that breaks the contents down. due to their porous skins, we wouldn’t recommend this with fruit or vegetables, only plants.
we don’t advise this. generally, when you add a liquid to a paper towel it will affect it’s structure and therefore compostability. but we haven’t done any testing on this so you may want to contact your local council to confirm this.
ingredients
we include our ingredients on the back of all of our bottles. however, on each of our product pages, we include the full International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) list. for more information about a specific ingredient, please get in touch with us.
normally you should get the safety data sheets (also called COSHH sheets, SDS or MSDS) automatically through the supplier or distributor when purchasing the product. but we are of course also happy to help you if you need an extra document.
please send the EAN codes (you will find this at the bottom of each barcode), the name of your supplier(s) and the desired language(s) to sds@peopleagainstdirty.com and we’ll send you the correct safety sheets.
eventually yes. all of our products have about a two and a half year shelf life before you’ll begin to see colour and/or fragrance changes in the formula.
fragrance contributes less than 1% of the overall ingredients of our products. all our fragrances contain at least 50% of ingredients from plant-based sources, with the remainder coming from petrochemical (or synthetic) sources. we always make sure that even the synthetic components biodegrade, rigorously assessing each one against our environmental and health standards. so our entire product range continues to be made with overwhelmingly plant or mineral-based ingredients. whilst we aim to use as many plant-based ingredients as possible, these often contain allergens. as a result, we do use some synthetic fragrances in order to strike a balance for those with sensitive skin. if you are still worried about skin sensitivities, you might like to try our sister company, Ecover’s Zero Range which is fragrance-free and colourant-free, and is approved by Allergy UK.
we don’t have products which are tested and approved acc. to british standard 1276. however, our anti-bac all purpose products were tested and approved acc. to standard din en 13697:2015.
no, method products are not organic.
we find that there are other more relevant terms to describe healthy cleaning products, terms that directly address both the health and environmental benefits of using them. we formulate all of our products to be biodegradable. we use high percentages of naturally derived ingredients and ensure that they are sourced from preferred sources whenever possible. we find that focusing on these characteristics best describes the products’ traits, rather than focusing solely on the agricultural practices used to produce the ingredients.
no. none of our products have a ‘harmful to the aquatic environment with long lasting effects’ classification.
no. method laundry is a biological laundry detergent. because it contains 5 powerful but naturally derived enzymes to fight dirt and stains. method concentrated laundry detergent is independently dermatologically tested for sensitive skin.
we do not have a non-bio version available but if this is what you’re looking for, our sister company, Ecover have you covered.
our fabric softeners do not contain any substances that are on the UN list of potential endocrine disrupting chemicals, or any other chemicals with known evidence that they have endocrine disrupting effects.
accounting for the source and production processes of method’s materials and ingredients is an important aspect of finding the best materials to use in our products, and to be able to fully account the effects of their production.
in this vein, method never sources GMO materials for its products, and can be confident that no GMO material makes its way into our finished products. in some instances, specifically assured GMO-free materials are impossible to find, for example in broad market commodities such as the corn used to make polylactic acid (PLA), a compostable bioplastic used in some of our products. we use materials like this without the specific assurance of GMO-free only if the upside of the usage outweighs the lack of knowledge. in the case of the PLA sweeping cloths, these are a great chance to change the game of how sweeping cloths are made from single use, disposable and synthetic materials to a renewable and compostable alternative, so the benefit outweighed the lack of assurance.
in instances such as this, the ideal solution is to obtain the specific assurances from smaller and well understood supplies. in palm and coconut oil for example (both typically non-GMO), we are working with smaller suppliers to find sources of each that can be used in the production of our surfactants. this is not to address a specific problem in the current supply, but to be able to better understand the full lifecycle implications of its production.
in the case of PLA and other possibly GMO-produced materials, we have the final assurance that the production methods used to process the materials will eliminate any active genetic material. this means that no GMOs will be present in the final products, and will thus not be distributed in the environment in their usage.
potassium hydroxide adjusts pH. producers of soap (like ourselves) use the same process which has been around for a long time. this process involves oils or fatty acids mixing and reacting with water and alkali to form soap. soap is listed on the label and on the INCI as potassium oleate. the alkali we use is potassium hydroxide (which is made from salt). this is all in line with EU and UK labelling regulation.
our wood polish does contain silicone at the moment, but we do have plans to remove it in the future.
one of the preservatives we use in some of our products is methylisothiazolinone (or MIT). preservatives are used at less than 0.01% in our formulations. as with all of our ingredients, the www.mbdc.com did a full health and environmental assessment and found this class of preservatives to be safe at the levels in which they are used in method products. we advise that you check the labelling on our products as we always mention any preservatives on the pack and if it’s not on the pack it isn’t in the product. we’re working to remove methylisothiazolinone from our products; in fact, MIT has already been removed from some. please refer to our labels and product pages for our ingredients.
none of our products contain vinegar.
to the best our knowledge we don’t have any soya in our products however we cannot guarantee there are no traces in the supply chain.
to the best our knowledge we don’t have any annatto in our products however we cannot guarantee there are no traces in the supply chain.
no. we think ammonia is a dirty ingredient and do not use it in any of our products.
no, method products do not contain casein.
to the best our knowledge we don’t have any gluten in our products however we cannot guarantee there are no traces in the supply chain.
absolutely not. method is EGBE-free.
no. we specifically exclude phthalates from our formulas. we also choose packaging materials that do not contain phthalates. so you can be sure that none of these sneaky chemicals will find their way into your home from any of our products.
absolutely not. there is no bleach or chlorine in any of our products. we think bleach is a dirty ingredient, and we’re totally against dirty.
no, we have not yet found a bleach alternative product that meets our health and environmental standard.
no. method doesn’t contain any parabens. they are on our dirty ingredients list and therefore are never considered as formulation ingredients.
no, none of method’s products contain triclosan, which is on our dirty ingredients list and therefore would never be considered as a formulation ingredient.
yes. we use SLS as it is a highly effective surfactant that gives you the clean you expect, used for its lathering and efficacy properties, in a number of our products at minute levels. it is plant-based (derived from coconut oil) and also readily biodegrades.
there has been some controversy over SLS being carcinogenic. SLS is a safe ingredient and has not been classified as a known, probable or even suspected carcinogen by either the International Agency for Research on Cancer or Cancer Research UK. while the carcinogen concern is completely unfounded, SLS can in fact be a moderate skin and eye irritant when used in high concentrations and un-buffered. method only uses SLS in our formulations at sufficiently low concentrations so that any irritation concern is irrelevant.
when deciding to use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in some of our formulations, method did a complete assessment of the environmental and health aspects of this ingredient, including tests for toxicity and biodegradability. this was done in cooperation with the EPEA, an independent environmental research institute led by Dr. Michael Braungart, author of the landmark text Cradle to Cradle. their findings showed SLS to be altogether safe in its intended usage, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and environmentally preferable.
method uses cocamide DEA in some of its products.
some concerns regarding the health of cocamide DEA result from the possible formation of nitrosamines. these nitrosamines only result from the presence of an unreacted ingredient, DEA, used during the manufacturing process. method sources the highest quality cocamide DEA to eliminate the presence of the free DEA, and then tests its products at various stages to confirm that no nitrosamines are present.
historical testing has shown that no detectable amount (under 50 parts per billion) has ever been found in method products.
absolutely not. method is 100% phosphate-free.
no, all method products are vegan friendly and approved as cruelty-free under the Leaping Bunny program.
we are a member of RSPO – the roundtable on sustainable palm oil – and we purchase RSPO certified palm oil and palm kernel oil to account for all palm oil used in our products. RSPO creates global standards for the growing, harvesting and producing palm oil sustainably. by working across the entire supply chain from soil to shelf, RSPO ensures that palm oil production meets strict environmental and social standards.
method cleaning products do not contain nut oils, but a few of our cleaners do contain surfactants derived from coconut. it appears that even when ingested, coconut (and coconut oils) are less likely to cause a reaction. the good news is that we took nut allergies into account when formulating our fragrances, as well; therefore, the almond scent in the furniture and floor cleaners is derived from synthetic oil. as always, if you have severe nut allergies, please always check with a doctor first as we cannot guarantee there are no traces in the supply chain.
health, allergies + sensitive skin
all ingredients in our cleaning products are carefully screened before consideration as a formulation ingredient to make sure they contribute to an effective cleaning process without presenting any possibility of harm when used as directed. every ingredient is assessed on more than a dozen attributes including skin and eye irritation. if you are worried, it may be best to try a small amount first or if you prefer you can wear gloves.
there’s nothing to be concerned about. the symbols are down to legislation from the European Union + the United Nations that’s designed to make sure you (the important people) have consistent, simple + easy to understand information about the chemicals found in the products you buy. basically, it has lowered the threshold for levels of certain ingredients that need extra information on how to handle them safely which means that they have to be labelled clearly. the new warnings refer to some hopefully unlikely scenarios, like getting some super concentrated product in your eye. all our ingredients are safe + should not cause any irritation if used as stated on the label. as with all new things, we know this can be a bit confusing so if you want any more information, please get in touch with us.
method is generally a good option for people with allergies and chemical sensitivities, although everyone’s chemistry varies. if you have asthma, allergies or chemical sensitivities, we recommend testing a very small amount of method first before using the product throughout your home. always consult a doctor to make sure that our products are suitable for you.
yes. all of our products are thoughtfully formulated for use around the whole family. method does not leave behind any toxic or harmful fumes or residues, and is generally a good option for those with allergies and chemical sensitivities, although everybody’s chemistry varies. as with any cleaning products, do keep these out of reach of children.
like all cleaning formulas, method should not be ingested. prolonged exposure to the skin may cause minor irritation and should simply be washed off with water. if method gets in the eyes, it may cause slight irritation, which should be treated by flushing the eyes thoroughly with water. if one of our products is swallowed, consult your doctor if feeling unwell. if one of our ultra-concentrated products, such as method laundry liquid, is swallowed, call your doctor or NHS Direct (on 111) immediately with the product information available.
our body wash, hand soap, concentrated bio laundry detergents and fabric softeners have been dermatologically tested on sensitive skin and any of our laundry products will do an excellent job in getting clothes, bedding and/or reusable nappies perfectly clean and soft for your baby when following the on-pack instructions and care labels on your items. our cleaning sprays are also suitable for use on hard, sealed surfaces in which babies and children may come into contact with. for example, our anti-bac range is ideal for targeted cleaning such as high chairs and changing mats, and our bathroom cleaner can be used on most bathtubs. (always test in an inconspicuous area first and check with the surface manufacturer if unsure). if you’re looking to clean baby’s/children’s toys, our formulators have advised that this is ok to do with our products, however, any remaining residue may leave an unpleasant taste if the toy is then put in the mouth, so always make sure to thoroughly rinse afterwards.
you may also be interested in our sister company, Ecover’s ZERO range which is approved by Allergy UK and formulated to minimise the risk of allergies. this range has no enzymes, fragrances or colourants, and includes household cleaning, personal care, laundry and dishwashing products
yes, you can. it’s dermatologically tested for sensitive skin.
like all cleaning formulas, method should not be ingested. if one of our products is swallowed, consult your doctor if you feel unwell. if one of our ultra concentrated products, such as method laundry liquid, is swallowed, call your doctor or NHS Direct immediately with the product information available. you can contact NHS Direct on 111.
our products are thoughtfully formulated for use around the whole family, including our furry family members. they are ok to use on surfaces which most household pets, like cats + dogs may come in contact. if you have exotic animals, or if your pet has specific health needs, we recommend contacting your veterinarian for any special considerations when cleaning around your pet. we would always advise following any cautions on pack and use the usual precautions for method products as with any household products. should excess amounts of our product come into contact with your pet’s skin or fur, wipe this off with water. if ingested, call your vet immediately.
packaging
our hand wash pumps are different than others on the market in that they do not lift up and release. for best results, first, ensure that the dispenser is screwed on tightly to the bottle (otherwise the nozzle will simply spin), turn the nozzle clockwise and then press down to dispense.
align the squirt nozzle to the pickup tube at the bottom of the package (look for pink dot) so it will reach the bottom of the liquid when you get to the end of the product (tilt bottle, as needed).
yes. method bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, and are fully recyclable.
sometimes there’s not quite enough room to put everything we want to on the label, but rest assured method bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic + are fully recyclable.
yes. these are 100% recyclable. the recycling industry is now using better magnets that remove the metal within the triggers/pumps. just unscrew them from the bottles when you pop them in the recycling to make it easier for recycling centres to sort.
unfortunately, as we’re based in the UK and our factory is in Belgium, we are unable to accept used bottles. however, we would recommend keeping hold of these as we have some refills with more in development. alternatively, you can recycle these. just unscrew any pumps or triggers from the bottles when you pop them in the recycling to make it easier for recycling centres to sort.
at method, we want to make sustainable choices attractive and get more people to think about the cleaning products they use. part of this approach is to make our packaging as stylish as possible while thinking about our impact on the environment.
we choose to use transparent PET plastic for our bottles rather than coloured plastic because transparent plastic is easier to recycle (and our bottles are 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.) we then add a ‘sleeve’ so we can provide the necessary info we need to convey on the pack. the sleeves are not currently recyclable and WRAP advises that they are removed from the bottle before recycling and placed in the waste bin. if they do reach a recycling facility, the sleeve is separated from the bottle so the bottle can be recycled again (we do not use an adhesive to keep the sleeve in place as this makes it harder to be separated from the bottle).
our sleeves are of course beautiful, but we’ve been looking for alternative options that will mean that our bottles are still pretty, whilst being more easily recyclable. for this reason, we’ve decided to switch to labels on our anti-bac range, which are our best-smellers and so we’ve drastically reduced the number of sleeves that we are producing. it’s a ‘progress and not perfection’ solution for now, that we hope will positively affect our recycling systems.
we have refills for 2 of our gel hand soaps (sweet water + french lavender), 3 of our washing-up liquids (peach + pink pepper, green tea + citrus, and coconut water) + 3 of our household products (wild rhubarb anti-bac, wood floor cleaner + bathroom cleaner) with more to come if you love them enough.
our refill pouches use fewer resources than purchasing the same number of bottles, and they are still better for the environment than buying our products again and again brand new.
using our handsoap refills uses 80% less plastic than buying 3 of our gel hand washes new, and refilling one time is half as carbon-intensive as purchasing 3 new hand soap bottles.
using our washing up liquid refills uses 80% less plastic than buying 2 of our washing up liquid bottles new.
however, we are not happy with the status quo as our refill pouches are not currently recyclable, and we’re working hard to develop a recyclable, low-carbon refill whilst also exploring other recycling solutions.
we do have recyclable refills for some of our best smellers – almond wood floor cleaner, bathroom spray + rhubarb anti-bac spray. they come in a 2-litre bottle without a trigger. the idea is you use these bottle to reuse your spray bottle over and over again.
if you refill your method bottles with the method refills, you will use at least 25% less plastic per ml of product.
glass is great but if it is only used once it has a higher carbon footprint. we’re working on using it to make durable, refillable bottles so watch this space.
we don’t currently sell in industrial sizes. if you would like a list of wholesalers where you can purchase our products by the case please check out our stockists page. if you prefer to order in smaller amounts, check out amazon.co.uk or biggreensmile.com there you can order some our products by the case or as multi-packs.
method as a company
we’re on a mission to fight dirty.
to make your home cleaner, greener + more colourful
with products delightfully designed with the planet in mind.
in September 2012, method and Ecover joined forces. while method was fully acquired by Ecover, the approach to integrate the brands is more like a merger working collaboratively to create innovative and planet-friendly cleaning products. method and Ecover together were acquired by SC Johnson in January 2018. we see this as an opportunity to get more planet-friendly soap into many more homes and share the mission and aims of Cruelty Free International with more people through our Leaping Bunny certification. we remain firmly committed to our founding principles and as a business, we always strive to do the right thing; encouraging ourselves and our consumers to think more consciously about our planet.
no. we don’t test ingredients or finished products on animals, nor do we order third parties to conduct animal testing on our behalf. we consider ourselves vegan-friendly as none of our products contain animal or animal by-products such as tallow. we are also approved as cruelty-free under the leaping bunny program. our certifications are independently audited every year to ensure method, Ecover and our suppliers comply with the comprehensive criteria of the standard of compassion for animals.
well, what we can tell you, is that all ingredients in our cleaning products are carefully screened before consideration as a formulation ingredient to make sure they contribute to an effective cleaning process without presenting any possibility of harm to the user when used as directed. we evaluate every ingredient to make sure it works for people, pets + the planet. every ingredient is assessed on more than a dozen attributes including biodegradability, skin and eye irritation, and aquatic toxicity.
wherever possible, we aim to source plant-based ingredients and readily available minerals instead of petroleum-based ingredients.
our bottles are made from post-consumer recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. we also have a number of refills available with more to come.
we consider ourselves to be vegan-friendly as none of our products contain animal by-products or are tested on animals, and we are approved as cruelty-free under the leaping bunny program. the majority of our products are developed and produced in our TRUE zero waste Platinum certified factory + aren’t sold in countries where animal testing is required by law.
we reinvest our money into green science + planet-friendly packaging solutions and continue to do good for the world the best we can.
the majority of our products are developed and produced in our TRUE zero waste platinum certified factory in belgium. the method UK team are primarily based in richmond, london.
you can find all of our current european opportunities here.
marketing
got feedback? we’d love to hear it. found an error? problem? suggestion? that too. please send any issues with our site to method-uk_marketing@peopleagainstdirty.com and it will be forwarded to the appropriate contact.
method tote bags and sweatshirts are definitely hot property + we’d love to make them available to more of our method addicts but right now we’re keeping them as part of our campaigns. we try to only send these to those who we know are already big fans of method and those we are building longer-term relationships with as we are concerned about fashion waste too.
we’re thrilled to get tons of collaboration requests every day – your support means the world to us! we work collaboratively with our influencer agency to choose people to work with based on the product/campaign we are working on. we don’t look for a specific number of followers, but rather who has expressed interest in and engaged with our brand, who shares our values, who is creating great content and who has an engaged audience of people who are most likely to be method customers and/or resonate with our message. it’s important to us to work with a diverse range of influencers and where possible we look to build long-term relationships for an authentic partnership. we’re always on the lookout for new collaboration opportunities and connecting with us on social media is the best way for us to notice you.
we get lots of requests for coupons and samples, and sadly we’re unable to fulfil them all but we love that you’re interested in trying our products.
we recognise how invaluable every act of kindness is, however big or small. unfortunately, we’re unable to fulfil all requests for product donations, samples and giveaway prizes.
we get lots of requests for sponsorships, partnerships and event activations, and sadly we’re unable to fulfil them all.