What should you buy at Grove Collaborative? I’m sharing my honest review, the best deals, things to skip and whether VIP is worth it! Read on before you buy!
When we first switched to a real food diet, reading labels was absolutely crucial. There are so many different products on the market, and not all were considered healthy or safe.
Reading labels is what inspired us to make non-food things too, like hand sanitizer, foaming hand wash and even carpet deodorizer. I can’t enough pronounce half the ingredients listed on some of those labels!
But harmful and unknown ingredients on labels are the main reasons I started shopping at Grove Collaborative. I also love it for:
- Savings over supermarket prices
- Convenience of online shopping
- Control of my budget
- Lots of freebies with the VIP membership
- And I’m never out of the products I need!
5 Reasons to Shop at Grove Collaborative
1. High Standards for the Products They Carry
One of the reasons I started shopping at Grove Collaborative is because they only sell products that are:
- Healthy
- Effective
- Sustainable
- Affordable
2. They’re a Certified B Corp Company
Grove Collaborative is a Certified B Corp, which is certification of rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. It’s like what the USDA organic certification is for food, and what the Fair Trade certification is for coffee.
3. Excellent Customer Service
As I get older, customer service has become increasingly important to me. If I have a problem, I want it resolved without any fuss.
I’ve had to Grove Collaborative contact customer service a couple times because of a discrepancy in ordering (I took something out of my cart and thought I was charged). Customer service had it resolved quickly and even sent me the item I didn’t intend to order, free of charge!
4. Ordering (and Cancelling Orders) is Really Easy
I love that I can set-up automatic orders on my own schedule – monthly, every other month, once a quarter… I set the schedule based on my own product usage.
Because of this, I never run out of what I need, nor have a bunch of products on hand that I’m not using. They email me a week before my order ships, which reminds me to double check my order against what I currently have. Adding or removing items is super simple, and I get what I need, when I need it!
5. VIP Membership Offers Free Shipping and Free Products
The VIP Membership isn’t free (but see below – you can become a VIP member for free for a limited time!), but with it comes free shipping and free products every 60-90 days. When you break down the cost of shipping your orders, OR the value of the products they send, either of these options alone pays for the membership.
Now, With all that said, going on a blind spending spree at Grove Collaborative – or anywhere for that matter – isn’t the wisest choice.
As I’ve been shopping there these past few years, I’ve learned how to spend my money wisely. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and I’d like to share with you what things are best to buy at Grove Collaborative, and which ones you can skip.
Top Things to Buy
1. Scrubbing Products
You can make your own DIY bathroom scrub using soap and baking soda, and I even have a tutorial for it right here, but too much baking soda can be harsh on certain surfaces.
Or if you’re working on built-up dirt and grime, you might need something with more oomph before switching to a DIY bathroom scrub.
- The first time I tried Mrs. Meyer’s Surface Scrub, I fell in love. We used it to scrub the years of built-up dirt in the kitchen tile grout at a previous rental house. We tried all sorts of cleaners and concoctions – homemade and store-bought – but this was the only product that actually worked!
- Mrs. Meyer’s Baking Soda Cream Cleaner is another favorite of mine. Like the kitchen grout, we tried other options too, but this was the best at taking the grime and soap scum off.
2. Refills
When you’ve fallen in love with a certain product or brand or scent, refills are your best friend. It’s like buying in bulk, but better!
- At least half of the items I buy from Grove Collaborative are available in bulk, which saves me anywhere from 20-30% off the cost of buying each individual item.
- Buying refills means less packaging and less shopping. Remember, if you’re a VIP member, shipping is always free. If you’re not a VIP member, stocking up on refills will save on shipping costs – but be sure to read below for an opportunity to try VIP for free!
3. Grove Cleaning Cloths
Grove Collaborative sometimes gives these cleaning cloths as VIP free items of the month. They’re amazing! I loved both of these items so much that I invested in a second set of each!
- Cellulose sponge cloths. They’re like reusable paper towels, except they’re super absorbent, dishwasher safe and hold up well over time to scrubbing and daily usage.
- e-Cloth general purpose cloth. This was my first time using an e-cloth and I fell in love!
- When it’s wet, you can wash almost anything with just water without leaving streaks. When it’s dry, you can use it as a dusting cloth.
- I’ve used it on splattered grease, cleaning up after dinner and scrubbing down the kitchen table. It’s gentle enough to use on painted surfaces (think cleaning doors around the door knobs – something the kids can do!) yet still tough enough to get dried on gunk off counters.
4. Laundry Supplies
Making your own laundry supplies is one of the easier natural living DIY’s I’ve ventured upon. In fact, I’ve been using homemade laundry detergent, stain remover, and bleach alternative for years without any issues.
But that’s not the case for everyone, and there are times when I am not able to make them myself, so Grove collective offers these excellent laundry products too!
- Laundry Detergent
- Fabric Softener
- Stain Remover
5. Floor Cleaners
Grove has several options for hard floor cleaners like tile, hardwood & laminate. The best part is that they are safe for pets and kids, and they make the house smell so naturally clean!
Things I Don’t Buy
For scrubbing stuff, refills, laundry supplies & floor cleaners, I prefer to shop Grove Collaborative. But there are a few things that they think I’ll like that I almost always take out of my cart.
Note – my reasons for not buying these items from Grove Collaborative have nothing to do with quality. Everything I’ve purchased from them, or gotten for free because I’m a VIP member, has been exceptional. I simply do not buy these items for personal reasons.
1. Walnut Sponges
I’ve used their walnut scrubber sponge before, but they’re a bit out of my price range to buy on a consistent basis. However, I fully take advantage of them when they’re free for VIP members.
2. Hand Sanitizing Spray
I created my own hand sanitizer recipe that’s really easy to make. Since I already have everything on hand and we don’t use it often anyway, I prefer to just make it myself.
3. Toilet Paper
Unfortunately, my toiletry budget doesn’t include room for recycled toilet paper.
4. Paper Towels
Ever since we switched to cloth napkins, I simply don’t need to buy paper towels anymore! If you’re still using paper towels, I encourage you to make the switch. I shared a step-by-step on how we set aside money to do this in this post.
Extras to try
I have an on-going wish-list of things I’ve been wanting to add to my cart, and I give myself a budget for every time I place an order. This is how I can manage our finances AND still try out new products!
1. Reusable Bags
Grove Collaborative has reusable bags in snack, sandwich AND gallon sizes!
2. Oxygen Whitener
I currently use this homemade bleach alternative, but I’d like to try the powdered oxygen whitener sometime since it might be easier to use with my front loader.
Grove Co. Tips
- If you like all your cleaning supplies to have the same scent, I’ve only ever found whole product lines at Grove Collaborative (like soap, lotion, and body wash, in the same scent).
- Plus Grove Collaborative carries exclusive seasonal scents like Peony and Lilac in the Spring, and Orange Clove and Iowa Pine in the Fall.
- Grove Collaborative strives to offer the best price on all of their items, and they back this up. If you’re a VIP member and find an item advertised for a less price elsewhere, send their amazing customer service department an email and they’ll price match!
Exclusive for Crumbs Readers, for a limited time, new members receive a FREE VIP Membership for your first 60 days + FREE shipping and awesome gifts for joining (a Mrs. Meyers gift set & more)! Join Grove Collaborative HERE!
FAQs
I definitely think so! Between the convenience of having my cleaning products shipped to my door each month, the products from Grove Co. are also more affordable and safer than most supermarket products.
There is no monthly fee, but there is a minimum order of $29 for all orders. The VIP membership has lots of perks like free shipping and free gifts, and it is $20 a year (after a 6 month FREE trial).
If you have a 60-day free trial, just cancel it before your trial period expires by emailing customer service, or logging into your account. The same goes for your annual membership. Just cancel it before your renewal date to avoid new charges.
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Hi Tiffany,
What do you think about Blueland? You buy the plastic containers once and they ship tablets that you add to the container with water.
Some info from their FAQ: “All of our products are formulated using non-toxic ingredients and they have received certification from Cradle to Cradle–a leading environmental agency–with a rating of Platinum (the agency’s highest level) and Leaping Bunny. We also avoided any ingredients on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) restricted list and used only ingredients listed on EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List.”
I haven’t heard of them, Loreen, but it sounds like program worth looking into!
Thank you for your honest reviews and updates. I decided to sign up for Grove.co and Truman’s today. (Before I read this post) Only because I am a sucker for free stuff, deals, and trying new things. I was suckered in by glass bottles with pretty colors and cleaning pods.
I think it depends on WHAT you are ordering from grove. Many of the products I get from them were less than 4 on the think dirty app.
I’m having a hard time understanding how Grove (and other similar companies) reduce the amount of plastic used significantly if at all. It seems like companies are capitalizing on this model of “buy your refills in bulk, but which are still packaged in plastic”, when realistically the plastic reduction is minimal. Can anyone help me understand this better?
I have been using Grove well over a year now. I love it and have always been pleased. The walnut sponges are by far the best I’ve ever used and the almond hard floor cleaner is the best also. It may be a tiny bit more than local stores but it saves me gas and from picking up extra things at the store that I don’t need. I also definitely get my moneys worth out of the vip cost. I’ve only had to contact customer service once due to a bottle leaking and they immediately sent out a replacement.
The EWG ratings are alarmist and not evidence-based. I use Grove products with confidence.
I would encourage you to look deeper into the EWG rating system Hannah. They’re a non-profit and non-partisan organization, and if my memory serves me right, they link to the science-based articles and studies when they share their reports.
Ha, I found this blog post just a couple years later… I live solo and don’t need hoards of cleaning products. I was just ‘sniffing out’ what this “Grove” thing was about from another blog (er…..forgot). My first impression of your images was METHOD?! That stuff has so much soap and residue in it, it’s _impossible_ to rinse off! And Mrs. Myers – I keep it to the hand soap. I have to use up the concentrate and general cleaner, but the fumes from those products send me from the room coughing every time. It beats bleach and those harsh products, but just from my body’s reaction I could tell they weren’t “all that.” After 10 years in mold, I have a neuro-immune condition that will be named a proper, testable disease in 8 or so years. At least I’m contributing to science and less suffering for others one day!
I cancelled my account in January and they billed me again in February and did not ship an order at all. How do I actually cancel if the e-mail did not complete the task?
Hi Angela! I’m so sorry, but I would contact Grove customer service.
I feel like your review update is really misrepresentative of Grove. Yes they carry products I don’t view as healthy and maybe they shouldn’t claim to be representing healthy…BUT they don’t make the products and as a consumer it’s YOUR responsibility to learn about what you’re buying. The service itself is great, as you even mentioned. I personally buy products that rate very high on EWG from Grove and couldn’t be happier. I just do my research and find better pricing from Grove than at my Target or Walmart for the same products.
You should check out Force of Nature’s cleaning system. Uses salt and vinegar in a little machine that makes it a great cleaner. I love it
I’m trying to find the EWG reviews online but get nothing when I type in Grove or Mrs Meyers. How did you look them up?
Hi Donna! You need to use the Think Dirty app for products, and EWG for ingredients. That should get you the results you’re looking for!
How do I unsucribe to products – just recently was automatically and charged for products I didn’t order and will not receive I’m sure because I have moved – is there a number I can call?.
Hi Patty – you’ll need to contact Grove Collaborative for help. You can find their information on their website!
I loved Grove Collaborative too but use of a mask with cleaning agents and gloves is never a bad idea especially if pregnant,
sensitive to fragrances or having allergies with potential
for cross sensitivities, or respiratory conditions. Also I wish I could customize my shipments or at least be asked if I want to switch
something out- that’s customer service.
Thank you for your information regarding The Grove company. Do you have a place to go to make your own cleaning products. I like Doterra and Young living.
I find it odd that the author of this review dismissed buying the toilet paper and paper towels due to cost while lauding the use of non-paper materials to make the products. If you care about the planet, you can afford to spend more on such items while buy less non-sustainable products…very irresponsible writing here, no effort to promote the actual purpose of this company!
Beware of this scam. “Free” offer actually costs $68 and a subscription to an automated delivery service. If they are so misleading and dishonest in their marketing, how can you trust the company? Good luck when you try cancelling the subscription. Even their .co url is deceptive. Try and find their brick & mortal address anywhere. Probably based in some sweatshop overseas.
They are located in San Francisco. Their address and phone are both on the website.
I agree that their website are not user friendly. If you want to order just toilet paper, as I did, it’s certainly not easy. But I REALLY Wanted to try the tp, so I persevered with a 60 minute phone call. In the end I couldn’t have done it without Nathan. I purchased 1 eight pack and one 12 pack of bamboo toilet paper which comes wrapped in cardboard, not plastic. Which met the minimum.
Ive tried all the bamboo tp on on amazon. It varies in quality but IT ALL COMES IN PLASTIC. Which I’m trying to avoid.
I just saw an ad for GroveCo on fb and decided to check it out. The “About Us” seemed so vague and didn’t say anything really concrete like where the products come from… only what they don’t contain. So then I tried to see where they’re located and couldn’t find an address on the web site… not under “Contact Us” nor anywhere else. Weird. Is it just me that finds it rather suspect that a company won’t openly state where it’s located?
I agree about Grove…I’m canceling my “VIP membership after my second order, because both times items were missing and I was told it is not in their policy to send out separate items, but they would include them in my NEXT order. I think that’s just a way to get you to order again. I don’t care for the Mrs. Myers stuff either. It’s way too smelly, and it’s a FAKE smell. The surface cleaner left my countertops feeling sticky. As for Young Living, I love their cleaners and I’ve been using their oils exclusively now for four years. It’s also easy to DIY with their oils, so I’m not getting the smelly Mrs. Myers stuff again.
Hi, I am by no means an expert but doesnt Young Living animal test? That’s why I don’t use their products.
Nope! Young Living doesn’t test any of their products on animals. It’s company policy. Also, 95% of their products are vegan!
Young Love is awesome and are against animal testing. However, Mrs Myers and Method are both currently owned by S C Johnson, who does in fact test on animals.
I really liked their customer service. I registered for VIP service, not realizing that the subscription auto-renewed. I live alone, so I don’t use up the products as quickly as anticipated. I called their customer service to cancel the order. They couldn’t have been nicer. The only product I have not been crazy about is the Cora body cloth. It does smell funny. It gets the job done, but it smells odd. I like the toilet paper, paper towels, sponges, and cleansing products.
I am actually sorry I saw this page. I love all Mrs. Meyers products and will stand by them. Grove Collaborative is wayyy cheaper than in the stores, I know because I work in a supermarket and her products are 1.50-2.00 more than on Grove. So glad I found this site and will continue using her products. I try not to listen to all the hype and use my own judgement.