Our Story

The Citra Solv Story (naturally, we'll keep it clean)

Back in the day, when you needed something really clean you pulled out a bottle full of so many chemicals it could give the periodic table a run for its money. But heck, it got the gunk off the floors, windows and walls, so really how bad could it be?

In those days, Steve worked with commercial cleaning companies so he quickly learned how to properly clean high traffic spaces. But what he also learned—thanks to Right to Know Laws—was the effect all those cleaning chemicals could have on the workers.

At that point Steve did what any rational-thinking man does when confronted with a problem: he consulted his wife. Together, Steve and Melissa came up with the idea for a natural, environmentally safe cleaner—but one that worked as well as those harmful, toxic ones. Citra Solv was born and immediately put to use as a commercial cleaner. But once Steve and Melissa started a family they began asking the type of questions parents inevitably do: “Why aren’t there any environmentally safe household cleaners?” The next step was obvious—bring Citra Solv to the consumer market. And after countless exhaustive days and sleepless nights, they accomplished just that.

Over the past 30 years the line has expanded from the original all-purpose cleaner to the whole line of wonderfully plant based Citra Solv products you know and love today. Through it all, we have continued our dedication to caring about you, your family and the environment we all enjoy.

Happy cleaning, Steve & Melissa

Independently Owned ...

... And proudly operated.

We are thrilled to be able to say that Citra Solv is, and has always been, independently owned—something that has allowed us to stick to our morals from day one. You won’t find a soul-less corporation hiding behind us, with layers of people making decisions about products they’ve never used.

Steve and Melissa, whose signatures you see on our labels, are real people who genuinely enjoy reading the letters and emails you go out of your way to write. Our products and our company are extensions of who we are. The principles we instill in our children—to give 100% in whatever they set out to do and to treat others as they would like to be treated—are the same tenets by which we run our company.

We very much take everything to heart and sincerely appreciate being allowed into your home with our products. We hope they make the job of cleaning a little more pleasant, naturally. In the past 30 years we have accumulated countless wonderful memories and friends as well as a deep satisfaction in what we do. Sure we’ve also added a few wrinkles and gray hairs, but hey, what good adventure wouldn’t do that?

Bringing you solutions for every corner of your life, from our family to yours, Citra Solv, since 1987.

Our Philosophy

Yes, we have a soapbox. Would you expect anything less from a cleaning company?

Our philosophy has always been to offer people high-quality cleaning and air care products without sacrificing performance or the environment. We specialize in the development of plant based products made from renewable resources that have a minimum impact on our world—right down to the recyclable packaging they come in.

In short, we want to feel good about the products we make. And we do, every day.

Our Customers are king. And that means you.

Everything we do is driven by our desire to exceed the expectations of our customers and every product is the result of our commitment to offer only the best. That’s why each of our products comes with a 100% Money Back Guarantee* We encourage you to email or write us with your thoughts on our family of products.

We have some extremely strongly held beliefs. Here are a few of them:

• Our products should be ones we would want to use in our own home—and we’re darned picky.
• You don’t have to sacrifice performance to have a plant-based cleaner.
• Not only do we need to care about the effects of cleaning products on the global environment, we need to be just as concerned with their effects on the environment within our homes.
• Our consumers have the right to know what our products are made of. Being transparent with our list of ingredients is essential.
• We always treat others the way we want to be treated.
• We value our customers and stand behind our products with a money back guarantee.
• We have a social responsibility to use renewable resources and recycled/recyclable packaging in our products. It is our responsibility as a company to do our part to reduce our own carbon footprint.
• All of God’s creatures should be protected. That’s why we support groups like PETA and Leaping Bunny.
• Supporting environmental education will help keep the planet healthy for our kids and theirs.

Product Transparency

We have no dirty little secrets.

Let’s face it, we’re consumers, too. Just like you, we want to know what’s in the products we bring into our home. Everything that goes into CitraSolv’s products can be found on our labels and here on our website. The first thing we do when developing a new product is to carefully check out the ingredients that will go into it to make sure they are safer and plant-based. We regularly review our existing products to ensure we are using the best ingredients available.

Scents that Make Sense

The essential truth: Great smells come from great ingredients.

From the desk of Melissa

Nothing pleases me more than hearing from customers about how much they love our products. Early on, we regularly heard stories of Citra Solv coming to the rescue when no other cleaner would work. But just as often we heard about how Citra Solv users loved the way their homes smelled when using it.

“I feel like I’m coming home to an orange grove!” – Kelly, St. Louis, MO

Well, there’s a reason for this amazing smell: Citra Solv’s natural fragrance comes from the oils extracted from the peel of an orange. Comments from our customers really made me realize just how important essential oils are to fragrance—and what a critical role they play in the smell of a home. With this heightened awareness of how fragrances made with essential oils smelled better naturally, I began to realize that when I walked into a store carrying candles or room sprays made with synthetic perfumes I would instantly get a headache.

Not surprisingly, developing our line of Air Scense Air Refresheners—made with real essential oils—became our next undertaking. Down the road, choosing essential oils with aroma-therapeutic properties was instrumental in the development of our Home Solv line of cleaners as well.

Armed with a real understanding of fragrance and a full line of cleaners to work with, it wasn’t long before we decided to add multiple scents to our Citra Solv line—this time adding a bit of a “twist” to the much loved Valencia Orange. Lavender Bergamot joined the team. Even though I have smelled these scents over and over, I still get a big smile on my face every time I decide to switch it up at the sink!

No doubt you can see a pattern here: scents derived from essential oils and plant extractives are an essential part of our process. We love our scents and are glad you do, too.

– Steve & Melissa

Biobased is Best

Citra Solv Concentrate, Citra Solv Multi Purpose Cleaner, Home Solv Liquid Dish Soap, and Home Solv Laundry Detergent are now USDA Biobased Certified!

What does that mean?

We’ve always said that we’re committed to our customers, the planet & sustainability – and the US gov’t just confirmed it!

The US Department of Agriculture found that Citra Solv Concentrate and Home Solv Liquid Dish Soap are 95% biobased content, Home Solv Laundry Detergent is 96% biobased content, and Citra Solv Multi Purpose Spray is 100% biobased content.

What’s a “Biobased product”?

A commercial product that is composed, in whole or significant part, of biological products or renewable domestic agricultural products.

Biobased products add value to renewable agriculture commodities, create jobs in rural communities, and decrease the US reliance on foreign-sourced and non-renewable petroleum.

How does this help consumers?

Choosing biobased products is better for the planet, and knowing that the USDA has verified the products you’re purchasing as “biobased” can help you feel even better about your decision.

The USDA uses independent labs to verify and monitor all biobased amount claims, so you can also feel secure in the accuracy of the biobased amount.

From Our Home to Yours

Refreshing cleaners that work…. naturally. 

For more than 30 years, we’ve proudly been a family run business that has provided our customers with only quality plant based products that we’d use in our own home. Over time, our family has grown, and so has our family of products. We strive to keep things pure and simple in our lives, our business, and our products, so under the guidance of the good folks from American Express and a prominent marketing agency, we’ve united our family of household cleaners under one roof with the brand name Home Solv®.

The products remain the same reliable and plant based cleaners you’ve come to depend on. As always, they contain no dyes, EDTA phosphates or chlorine. We’ve just chosen to make things simpler for our customers by giving them an easy way to identify our products: Home Solv®.

Home Solv products are available in a variety of plant derived fragrances: Valencia Orange and Lavender Bergamot. And for those sensitive to even gentle aromas, we now offer new fragrance-free Free & Clear products. It’s all part of our efforts to offer you exactly what we’d want in our own home: high-quality cleaners that make short work of household chores, have invigorating fragrances, and considerate of the environment.

Social Responsibility

Our number one rule: The Golden One.

Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Seems simple, but how often do we come across people—and companies—that don’t live by it? We believe it is our responsibility to treat the people we meet every day with respect and consideration. This begins at home, continues on to the people we work and do business with, and extends all the way to our customers and potential customers. Every product we make comes with a money back guarantee* and is offered at a fair price.

Furthermore, we do not test our products on animals, nor condone any type of animal testing.

Our products are made with plant and mineral based ingredients.

Everything every one of us does has an impact on the world. That’s why long ago our company implemented recycled and recyclable packaging. We also recognized the importance of adopting practices and policies to reduce our carbon footprint and have been working toward that goal.

We also feel it is our social responsibility to give back to our customers, to our community and to the environment. Supporting environmental causes has been a focus for us all along and it led to the development of our environmental outreach program, Rustle The Leaf, an effort we are incredibly proud of.

Cruelty Free

Safer for the earth. And every creature in it.

We're definitely people people. But we love our furry friends just as much (okay, maybe even more). So naturally we only make products that are cruelty free. This means we do not conduct any type of animal testing, nor do we condone it. Furthermore, we don't use any animal-based ingredients in any of our products. Additionally, Citra Solv is very happy to support the work and mission of these great organizations:

• PETA—People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
• Leaping Bunny—Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics
• NAVS—The National Anti-Vivisection Society

You may have noticed the PETA logo proudly emblazoned on our packaging. We are also honored to be included in NAVS's Personal Care for People Who Care Guide, PETA's list of cruelty free companies and products and Leaping Bunny's Compassionate Shopping Guide.

To learn more about these and other awesome animal rights organizations click on the links below:
www.navs.org
www.peta.org
www.leapingbunny.org

Given our strong stance on animal rights, it's probably no surprise that we're also big supporters of pet rescue and adoption. In fact, our cat, D.C., was adopted from a local Connecticut Humane Society. Over the years, we have made many contributions to the Humane Society of the US, as well as several other pet welfare and rescue organizations around the country. We commend these organizations and everyone involved in them for everything they do to protect animals.

To learn more or become involved with the Humane Society please click the link. www.hsus.org

Rustle the Leaf

We can all learn a lot from a talking leaf.

What better way to get an environmentally friendly message across to children (and let's face it, adults), than with a comic strip? Rustle The Leaf provides engaging, thought-provoking, conversation-starting information about the challenges facing our environment and our society, all from the perspective of Rustle the Leaf and his friends. It is meant to support and inspire those people who are already concerned with environmental issues as well as to educate those who aren't. We are proud to sponsor this wonderful Environmental Educational Outreach Program.

In addition to the comic strips, Rustle the Leaf offers wonderful lesson plans that focus on Earth Science and Environmental subjects for school children ages K–12. All of this content is available free of charge to individuals, schoolteachers and non-profit groups.

We encourage you to visit (and share) Rustle The Leaf: www.rustletheleaf.com