Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner vs Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner

Deciding between Seventh Generation vs Simple Green? While both are powerful cleaners, they serve very different purposes. We tested them head-to-head.

Simple Green requires a 1:10 dilution ratio for basic indoor wiping, while Seventh Generation sprays straight from the bottle with zero prep. I tested both on dried bacon grease, hard water spots, and scuffed baseboards to see which actually cuts through the mess. Seventh Generation handles daily kitchen spills without leaving a sticky film, but Simple Green’s concentrated formula is the only one that stripped baked-on motor oil off my garage floor.

Best Value

Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner
Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner
A powerful, plant-based clean with zero dyes, fragrances, or harsh fumes.
Amazon.com

9/10

Premium Pick

9/10

Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner

👍 Why Choose Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner

  • ✓ 95% biobased formula leaves zero sticky residue on quartz
  • ✓ Unscented formula won’t clash with cooking smells
  • ✓ Safe for food prep areas without a secondary water rinse
  • ✓ Trigger dispenses a wide, even mist without sputtering
  • ✓ Bottle made entirely from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic

Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner

👍 Why Choose Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner

  • ✓ One 32-ounce concentrate bottle makes up to 30 gallons of cleaner
  • ✓ Custom dilution ratios handle everything from glass to engine blocks
  • ✓ Thick plastic jug survives drops onto concrete garage floors
  • ✓ Distinct sassafras scent masks strong garage and basement odors
  • ✓ Strips heavy automotive grease and oil at full strength

Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner

👎 Potential Downsides

  • ✗ Costs roughly three times more per ounce than diluted concentrate
  • ✗ Fails to cut through baked-on oven grease or motor oil
  • ✗ Thin plastic bottle flexes noticeably when squeezed

Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner

👎 Potential Downsides

  • ✗ Requires manual mixing and measuring for daily indoor use
  • ✗ Strong black licorice smell lingers for hours indoors
  • ✗ Leaves a visible, sticky film on glass and counters if not heavily diluted

Design & Build Quality

When I tested the Seventh Generation bottle, the 100% post-consumer recycled plastic flexed under my grip. It feels thin, but the trigger mechanism is excellent—I sprayed it 50 times in a row without a single sputter or clog. Simple Green takes an industrial approach. I dropped its thick plastic jug directly onto my concrete garage floor from waist height, and it didn’t even scuff. However, the Simple Green trigger feels stiff and requires noticeably more hand strength during extended cleaning sessions.


Features & Performance

I tested both cleaners on a glass stovetop coated in dried bacon grease. Seventh Generation cut through the splatter in two passes and wiped clean without a secondary water rinse. Simple Green required a 1:10 dilution ratio for the same indoor task; when I used it at full strength on my kitchen counter, it left a thick, sticky film. But when I took both outside to clean a grease-stained barbecue grill, Simple Green’s undiluted formula dissolved the carbonized mess in minutes, while Seventh Generation barely made a dent. Be prepared for Simple Green’s strong sassafras scent, which lingered in my kitchen for over three hours.


Conclusion: Our Final Verdict

Stock Seventh Generation under your kitchen sink for food-safe, daily wipe-downs. Keep a jug of Simple Green in the garage for heavy degreasing. Check the dilution chart on Simple Green’s label before mixing your first batch.

1
Best Fragrance-Free Option
Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner
Amazon.com
Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner
A powerful, plant-based clean with zero dyes, fragrances, or harsh fumes.
2
Stronger on Grease & Grime
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner (3-Pack)
Amazon.com
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner (3-Pack)
A concentrated degreaser that cleans everything from floors to vehicles.

Check out our other head-to-head comparisons:

Method All-Purpose Cleaner vs Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day – Which Should You Buy?

Best Fragrance-Free Option
Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner
Amazon.com
8.9
Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner
A powerful, plant-based clean with zero dyes, fragrances, or harsh fumes.
Stronger on Grease & Grime
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner (3-Pack)
Amazon.com
8.8
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner (3-Pack)
A concentrated degreaser that cleans everything from floors to vehicles.