Boulder Clean Disinfectant Cleaner

Last Updated on July 9, 2023

This is a guest post by Sori. Joshua also contributed to this post.

This post contains affiliate links.

With the current pandemic situation, it’s not a coincidence that Aldi is displaying more household cleaning products. My eyes lit up when I saw the shelves stocked with Boulder Clean Sanitizer Disinfectant Cleaner Spray (Fresh Lemon). After being left frustrated and disappointed with the empty aisles at other stores, this cleaner was a savior.

So why not share my experience with my fellow Aldi lovers?

First off, it’s important to know that this isn’t an Aldi house brand. It would be easy to think so, since Aldi sells a number of paper towel products under the Boulder label. But while “Boulder” is a trademark of Aldi, “Boulder Clean” is actually a trademark of 1908 Brands, and Boulder Clean products are sold at other retailers, including Walmart and Home Depot.

For the price of $3.99 for a 28-fl. oz. bottle, I wouldn’t say this spray is a bargain, since the plant-based Seventh Generation’s disinfectant goes for around $3.99 for 27 fl.-oz. at my local Target in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After reading that Boulder Clean’s disinfectant was safe for children and animals, I was in awe while heading to the register.

The fine print. (Click to enlarge.)

I do have to praise the manufacturers for the aesthetics and durability of the packaging. The clear bottle and white nozzle give a fresh impression. Boulder Clean reports that this cleaner is free from harsh chemicals, which seems accurate since the ingredient list is quite short despite its ability to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. To truly disinfect any surface, this must be sprayed and left for 10 minutes. The packaging brags that it can be used for essentially any non-porous surface.

Now for my thoughts on its sanitizing abilities, I have to say that it cleans pretty well. Or so I hope. (Isn’t that really the case with any disinfectant? Unless you look at crime scenes all day, of course.) I have used this to clean the stove top and it performed well with grease. You can either spray it and let dry or spray it and wipe. However, this is not in an aerosol container, so I always ended up wiping the excess with paper towels.

Regarding the scent, this definitely did not smell like “fresh lemon” as advertised. I was expecting sort of a lemony delight like Pledge lemon cleaner but was bombarded with a homeopathic medicine scent. I can’t even really describe the aroma, but it was almost like a rancid herbal fragrance with a hint of citrus? If I had to say why, it probably has to do the thymol ingredient, thyme extract, which is used as the main disinfectant (natural, since it’s from a plant).

To the company’s credit, I do have a sensitive nose as even the slightest smell of rubbing alcohol has me opening all the windows in the house. I’m still giving this product the benefit of the doubt since it is supposed to be safe and natural, so perhaps this aroma would be the downside. I have been using this cleaner for anything related to the kitchen and pets in our house. I feel much better using this plant-derived disinfectant to clean the dog’s crate and toys. I have also been using this to sanitize cutting boards where I don’t feel safe using abrasive chemicals.

The Verdict:

I would pass on this disinfectant unless you are running out of options (which might certainly be the case considering how things are looking for us). The fragrance is tolerable but not great. I do think that this is still suitable for children and pets as they are more prone to putting peculiar objects in their mouths. For my regular go-to use, I think I’ll just stick with my Clorox and Lysol. Stay safe out there, folks!

Sori is a graduate optometry student who adores Aldi.