Real Life Product Scoreboard

Written By Sarah Martino

Natural-ish products I swear by (and the ones I broke up with).

Welcome to the most honest product guide I could put together. If you’ve ever stood in the cleaning aisle Googling ingredient lists or clicked "add to cart" on a pretty bottle only to regret it later, this is for you.

This isn’t about perfection. I’m not here to tell you to swap everything or go full DIY unless you want to. This is about feeling a little better in your space without losing your mind (or your budget).

I’ve tested, tossed, and fallen in love with my fair share of products over the years. I made this guide to save you the time, money, and overwhelm. These are my true-blue favorites, the flops I wish I hadn’t tried, and a few "cheats" I still use without guilt.

Welcome to your insider pass.

xo,
Sarah

The MVPs – Products I Use & Love

🧼Kitchen

Seventh Generation Dishwasher Gel
It’s the ONLY natural-ish dishwasher option that works in my finicky dishwasher. It doesn’t leave a film, and my dishes don’t smell weird.

Where to buy: They sell this at Target, but the last time I purchased, I got this large pack from Amazon.

Thieves Concentrate

🧺Laundry Room

🛁Bathroom

🧴Personal Care

🌟Extras

Diffuser

Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
Still a ride-or-die for floors, hand soap refills, and even scrubbing produce when needed. I get the peppermint or lavender depending on my mood. A little goes a long way.
If I had to pick one cleaner to rule them all, this is it. It actually works, doesn’t smell like chemicals, and the concentrate lasts forever. I use it for everything from counters to windows to laundry stains.

Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder
Works surprisingly well — especially on smelly athletic clothes. Scoop, toss, done.

Bon Ami Powder Cleanser
Old school, still amazing. No bleach, no scratches. My sink shines every time.

Organized by room or category:

  • Kitchen: Dish soap, countertop spray, dishwasher pods

  • Laundry: Detergent, stain remover, dryer balls

  • Bathroom: Toilet cleaner, hand soap

  • Extras: Diffusers, room spray

  • Personal care: toothpaste,

Each entry could include:

  • ✅ Brand/Product Name

  • 🛒 Where to Buy (optional: link or store)

  • 💬 Why I Love It (short, honest notes — not salesy)

  • link to other posts on regular blog with recipes

What I Tried & Wouldn’t Buy Again

Organized the same way, but with a little sass.
Include:

  • 🧪 What didn’t work (e.g. “left a weird residue,” “kids refused the smell,” etc.)

  • 💸 Regret level (fun icons: 💔, 😬, 🫠)

  • 🗣 Honest thoughts (keep it conversational)

Super-Crunchy Powder Dish Detergent
I wanted to love it. But my dishes were cloudy and I missed that “actually clean” feeling. Maybe it’s the water in my area, maybe it’s me. Either way, I’m out.
💸 Regret meter: 😞😞😞😞

all natural shampoo


Example:
Brand XYZ's all-purpose cleaner smelled like a spa in theory, but in practice? My house smelled like a funeral home. Pass.

Where I Cheat & Don’t Feel Bad

  • "I still use bleach on the floor of our shower. It’s the only thing that works.

  • Shampoo

  • I let my daughter buy body spray and my son gets his full-strength deoderant


Let this part feel like permission, not pressure.

How I Decide What’s Worth It

A cheat sheet that makes your readers feel empowered:

  • “Do I use it every day?”

  • “Can I DIY it without stress?”

  • “Do I actually care about this category?”

Include a mini checklist like:
☐ Smell matters
☐ Kids use it
☐ Near food
☐ Worth the swap
☐ Meh, not worth it

The Summer Edit

Golden Hour Essentials $50

Thieves, lemon, diffuser

Summer Reset $100

thieves, lemon, diffuser

Sarah Martino