Method Makes Cleaning Fun

By now, I’m sure that you’ve seen the tiny “M” embedded onto the surface of the stylishly different bottles; it’s hard not to notice them while walking down the otherwise monotonous cleaning aisles at your local supermarket. Behind the bottle, however, is an idea that, in itself, is utterly unheard of - make cleaning fun.

Of course, cleaning is only a small part of the mission behind Method’s innovative packaging and colorful products. The products themselves are far better than their more popular equivalents thanks to different chemical combinations that are 100% non-toxic and safe.

At first, Method’s marketing seems to be a bit of an exaggeration of the actual danger faced when using cleaning products other than their own. After a little research, however, their message of “detoxifying” your home is indeed a reality. Many common household products contain innumerable agents that are linked to everything from asthma to cancer.

Before writing this article, I headed to Target to stock up on virtually everything Method: dish soap, body wash, cleaning wipes - you name it. While I was there, I also picked up a book written by Method cofounders Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan. I know what you’re thinking - “Well, sure. They’re going to write a book to sell their products.” They did. But, unlike most marketing, Adam and Eric sell their products a little bit differently.

They don’t deny that they’ve brought style into the cleaning equation; in fact, they bring it up quite often. They simply tell you all of the things that the other cleaning companies don’t want you to know - a very underdog move with a lot of facts and statistics that are sure to leave you at least thinking of trying their products. What’s evident from their words, however, is that their primary motivation for selling you a product goes a bit beyond their wallets.

Method truly wants to make your home a better place to live and, if they can make a little money by spreading their message, they’re happy to help. Until recently, people and companies alike weren’t entirely concerned with the contents of what they saw on store shelves as long as they did what the label said they would do.

Method dove into the cleaning scene a little under a decade ago and the shelves have been changing ever since. Bigger brands are starting to take notice of what Method’s doing and reformulating their products to keep up with the ever-growing market for eco-friendly products. From manufacturing to using, everything Method makes is better for you and better for the world around you than most of the million or so alternatives. Their focus is on eco-friendliness (safe chemicals, recyclable materials, refillable containers), but the company hasn’t forgotten the all-important design factor.

With renowned designer Joshua Hardy at the helm, Method has been mixing up the world of ovals of squares with its own, innovative designs ever since its first products several years ago. Today, the company has some one-hundred different products available in an ever-changing array of scents and colors. If something about Method has caught your eye, I’d highly recommend Adam and Eric’s book, Squeaky Green. I’m just over half-way through it and I’ve found all of their tips and statistics to be both interesting and informative. As for my growing basket of Method products, everything around me is quickly becoming quite a bit cleaner as I’ve begun to look for excuses just to break out their beautiful bottles.