Tri Nature, Koala Eco & More: Which Eco Cleaner Suits Your Home?
“Best eco cleaner” is usually the wrong question. The real decision is fit: how strong your cleaning jobs are, how fragrance-sensitive your household is, whether you prefer powders or sprays, and whether bulk buying matters. Below is a practical comparison of four popular ranges—Tri Nature, Koala Eco, Abode and Simply Clean—so you can choose the right backbone for your routine and avoid buying the wrong thing (or quitting because it’s annoying to use).
This guide stays neutral. It focuses on how each brand behaves in real homes, what each one is known for, and the trade-offs that actually matter over months of use. For product-level specifics (including cost-per-use maths and individual product picks), jump into each full review from the links throughout this page.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
At-a-Glance: Which Brand Fits Your Home Best?
Use this table to pick your best-fit “backbone” brand. There’s no single winner—each range suits a different cleaning style. Once you’ve chosen the best match, jump into the linked full review for product-level specifics.
| Brand | Best for | Not ideal for | Fragrance style | Cleaning strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri Nature | High-volume cleaning, larger homes, performance-focused routines, concentrates and dilution economics | Households wanting ultra-minimal scent or only light maintenance products | Low–moderate | High |
| Koala Eco | Fragrance-led daily cleaning, essential-oil scent experience, lifestyle-style routines | Very fragrance-sensitive households or anyone avoiding essential-oil scent profiles | Stronger essential-oil | Moderate |
| Abode | Ingredient-first routines, calmer scent preferences, practical maintenance cleaning across kitchens, bathrooms and dishes | Restoration jobs or extreme build-up without mechanical help | Low–moderate | Moderate |
| Kin Kin Naturals | Dishwashing and laundry-focused routines, dependable everyday performance, calmer fragrance for frequent use | Whole-home cleaning or heavy restoration tasks beyond dishes and washing | Low–moderate (essential-oil style) | Moderate |
| Simply Clean | Very low-fragrance maintenance cleaning, powders with strong value (especially bulk), predictable everyday use | Restoration-level cleaning or people wanting strong “clean smell feedback” | Very light | Moderate |
Brand Background: What Each Range Is Known For (and Where They Come From)
These brands sit in distinct “lanes” within the eco and low-tox cleaning space. Understanding not just how they clean, but where they come from and why they were built that way, makes choosing between them far easier than relying on star ratings alone.
Tri Nature: performance-first concentrates from Newcastle, NSW
Tri Nature is an Australian cleaning brand based in Newcastle, NSW, and its local roots show clearly in how the range is designed. The brand has long focused on practical, high-performance cleaning for real homes rather than lifestyle positioning. For many NSW households, supporting a locally established brand with a strong manufacturing and formulation background is part of the appeal.
Tri Nature is best known for its concentrated formulas, which are designed to be diluted accurately depending on the task. This makes it especially popular in larger homes, busy family households, and situations where cleaning volume is high—think frequent mopping, regular disinfecting, or hard-working kitchens. When used correctly, the economics improve quickly, which is why many long-term users see it as a value brand rather than a premium one.
The trade-off is that Tri Nature prioritises function over fragrance minimalism or aesthetic experience. It’s often chosen as the “muscle” layer in a low-tox routine, paired with lighter daily cleaners for smaller or more sensitive tasks. Read the full review: Tri Nature review.
Koala Eco: Sydney-founded, scent-led everyday cleaning
Koala Eco was founded in Sydney by Paul and Jess, and its origins help explain the brand’s distinctive personality. From the outset, the goal was to create household cleaners that replaced harsh chemical smells with native Australian essential oils, turning everyday cleaning into something that feels more enjoyable and considered.
Koala Eco is best known for its fragrance-forward approach. The scent experience is central, not incidental, which is why many people gravitate to it for kitchens, bathrooms and visible living areas. For households who want their home to smell fresh and botanical—and who treat cleaning as part of a broader lifestyle routine—Koala Eco often feels like the most “rewarding” brand to use.
The trade-off is that essential-oil scents are not universally loved, particularly in fragrance-sensitive households. Koala Eco works best when scent is a positive feedback mechanism rather than something to avoid. It’s typically chosen for daily maintenance cleaning rather than heavy restoration jobs. Read the full review: Koala Eco review.
Abode: ingredient transparency for calmer, everyday routines
Abode is an Australian brand built around a simple idea: make cleaning products easier to understand and easier to live with. Rather than leaning into strong fragrance or heavy-duty positioning, Abode focuses on ingredient transparency and calmer formulations that suit regular, repeat use.
This makes Abode particularly appealing to households that are refining a low-tox routine over time—families with kids, people sensitive to strong scents, or anyone who wants confidence in what they’re using without needing a chemistry degree. Abode products are designed to slot into everyday tasks like kitchens, bathrooms and dishes without drawing attention to themselves.
The trade-off is that Abode is not positioned as a restoration brand. For neglected build-up or extreme mess, mechanical action or a targeted treatment may still be required. Abode’s strength is steady, predictable maintenance rather than one-off “miracle” cleans. Read the full review: Abode review.
Kin Kin Naturals: Queensland-founded, dishwashing & laundry–first eco cleaning
Kin Kin Naturals was founded in Kin Kin, Queensland, and its regional origins help explain the brand’s practical, no-frills approach. Rather than trying to cover every cleaning category, Kin Kin has focused on the jobs most households do most often—dishwashing and laundry—with formulas designed for frequent, repeat use.
Kin Kin Naturals is best known for its dishwash liquids, dishwasher powders, laundry liquids, powders and soakers. These products are designed to clean effectively without relying on heavy perfume, making them a popular choice for households that want calmer fragrance and predictable results in high-frequency tasks like washing dishes and clothes.
The trade-off is that Kin Kin is not positioned as a broad whole-home or restoration-focused range. It works best as a “core routine” brand for dishes and laundry, often paired with another cleaner for bathrooms, floors or heavier jobs. Read the full review: Kin Kin Naturals review.
Simply Clean: Northern Rivers–made simplicity with bulk value in powders
Simply Clean began in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, founded by Becky and Huw with a focus on creating genuinely low-tox, easy-to-use cleaning products made with Australian ingredients. The brand’s origins help explain its no-frills philosophy: practical formulas, familiar formats and a clear preference for calm, repeatable cleaning over marketing-led “wow factor.”
Rather than chasing strong fragrance or novelty, Simply Clean is built around products people use most often—especially dishwasher and laundry powders—where dosing control and consistency matter. For households that want very low fragrance and predictable results, this approach removes a lot of the friction that causes people to abandon eco cleaning altogether. The use of Australian-grown essential oils like lemon myrtle also resonates strongly with shoppers who prefer to support local supply chains.
Simply Clean’s real strength shows up over time. Once a product fits your routine, bulk sizes (such as 5kg dishwasher powder or 4kg laundry powder) significantly improve cost per use and reduce packaging waste. The trade-off is that Simply Clean isn’t designed for restoration-level jobs or dramatic “clean smell” feedback. It’s best understood as maintenance cleaning—calm, repeatable, and built for everyday life rather than occasional deep resets. Read the full review: Simply Clean review.
How to Choose the Right Eco Cleaner for Your Home
Most households don’t need a single “perfect” brand. They need a reliable backbone that matches their priorities, then a second option for edge cases. Use the scenarios below to choose your starting point, then follow the links to the full reviews for deeper product-level detail.
If you’re fragrance-sensitive (or cleaning in enclosed spaces)
Start with brands built around calmer scent profiles and repeatable maintenance cleaning. Simply Clean is usually the best first pick when you want very low fragrance and minimal sensory fatigue, especially if powders suit your routine. Abode is the next best option for ingredient-first households who want a restrained scent profile across everyday kitchen and bathroom tasks.
If you enjoy essential oils and scent is a positive part of your routine, Koala Eco can still work—but it’s typically not the first recommendation for very scent-sensitive homes because fragrance is part of the brand experience. For people who want low-to-moderate scent but stronger cleaning power, Tri Nature can fit as a “muscle layer” on specific tasks while keeping your day-to-day routine calmer.
If you need stronger performance for larger areas or high-volume cleaning
When cleaning volume is high, dilution economics and consistent strength matter most. Tri Nature is usually the most performance-driven option in this set—particularly for floors, whole-home disinfecting, and heavy-use routines where you’re cleaning large surface areas frequently. This is the brand that tends to feel “closest” to conventional performance without relying on chlorine or ammonia.
A practical strategy is to use Tri Nature for the demanding jobs (floors, deep cleans, high-traffic zones) and pair it with a calmer daily brand like Abode or Simply Clean for routine wipe-downs where fragrance and ease of use matter most.
If you want the simplest “set and forget” routine you’ll actually keep using
Choose the brand you won’t abandon after two weeks. For many households, that’s either Simply Clean (very low fragrance, powder-based formats with controlled dosing and strong long-term bulk value) or Abode (ingredient transparency and calm, predictable maintenance across kitchens, bathrooms and dishes). Both reduce the “friction” that causes people to quit eco cleaning: overpowering scent, residue, or complicated routines.
Kin Kin Naturals also fits this category well—particularly if your highest-frequency tasks are dishwashing and laundry and you prefer liquid formats. It’s often chosen by households that want a repeatable, comfortable routine for everyday washing without committing to ultra-minimal powder-only systems.
If you want your routine to feel enjoyable and scent is part of your motivation, Koala Eco can be the easiest brand to stick with because the experience feels rewarding. If your definition of “set and forget” means maximum strength with fewer repeats—especially in larger homes—Tri Nature may be the better backbone.
If value over time matters most (cost per wash, bulk buying, less packaging)
Powders and bulk formats are usually where value becomes obvious. Simply Clean tends to lead on bulk powder value for regular dishwasher and laundry users, while Tri Nature often wins when concentrates are used correctly and you’re cleaning large areas regularly.
Abode sits in the middle—often chosen for confidence and calmer routines rather than lowest possible cost—while Koala Eco is usually a “pay for the experience” brand where value is felt in daily enjoyment, not cheapest-per-use.
If you’re building a mixed-brand routine (the most common real-world outcome)
Most households end up with a hybrid approach:
- Performance layer: Tri Nature for heavier jobs and larger areas.
- Calm daily layer: Abode or Simply Clean for routine maintenance without strong fragrance.
- Scent-led “nice to use” layer: Koala Eco when fragrance is part of the appeal.
The best system is the one you’ll maintain consistently—because maintenance cleaning beats occasional deep cleans every time.
Value & Cost Per Use: What Changes the Maths
Sticker price can be misleading. The most useful way to compare value is cost per use—powder dosing, dilution ratios, and bulk options are usually the biggest drivers. The table below shows where value tends to come from for each brand.
| Brand | Where value shows up | Best “value lever” | What to watch | Quick guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri Nature | Concentrates and dilution control across floors, disinfecting and whole-home cleaning | Dilution economics (use as directed) | Over-dosing concentrates cancels the value | Ideal when you clean large areas or need consistent strength |
| Koala Eco | Daily use experience and packaging choices; value is often “routine enjoyment” rather than cheapest-per-use | Use-frequency fit (buy what you actually reach for) | Essential-oil scent intensity isn’t for everyone | Best for scent-led households who clean often and enjoy the experience |
| Abode | Everyday maintenance categories; trust/clarity value, plus bulk formats for regular users | Refill/bulk once it fits your routine | Not designed for restoration without some mechanical help | Great for ingredient-first shoppers who want calmer fragrance day-to-day |
| Kin Kin Naturals | High-frequency dishwashing and laundry; liquids and powders used consistently week to week | Routine fit for dishes & washing (choose the format you’ll actually use) | Not a whole-home system; value drops outside core categories | Best when dishes and laundry are your main focus and comfort matters day to day |
| Simply Clean | Powders (dishwasher/laundry) and bulk sizes; very competitive per-use when you clean regularly | Bulk powders (e.g. 5kg / 4kg where available) | Conservative dosing assumptions matter—don’t expect “miracle power” | Best when you want very low fragrance and predictable maintenance cleaning |
Quick Decision Guide: If This Sounds Like You, Choose This
- You want the strongest performance and concentrates: start with Tri Nature.
- You prefer a fragrance-led, essential-oil cleaning experience: start with Koala Eco.
- You want ingredient transparency and calmer maintenance cleaning: start with Abode.
- You want a simple dishwashing & laundry routine (liquid-first, repeatable weekly use): start with Kin Kin Naturals.
- You want very low fragrance and strong bulk powder value: start with Simply Clean.
Where none of these replace heavy-duty restoration cleaning: All four ranges are best as maintenance systems. For years-old baked-on grease, severe limescale, or neglected grout, you’ll still need mechanical action (a scourer) or a targeted heavy-duty treatment before returning to routine use.
Read the Full Reviews
- Tri Nature review (performance-focused concentrates & value per clean)
- Koala Eco review (essential-oil, scent-led daily cleaning)
- Abode review (ingredient-first, calmer maintenance routines)
- Kin Kin Naturals review (dishwashing & laundry-focused, everyday routine fit)
- Simply Clean review (very low fragrance, strong bulk powder value)
Next step: Build your routine using the Non-Toxic Home Hub and browse options in our Cleaning Products collection.
About this article
No citations provided.
-
Notes:Article published
