Why is Norwex Expensive? Is it worth the money?

“Is Norwex expensive?” After more than 17 years of using, sharing and teaching people about Norwex products, I have heard some version of this question MANY times. Some people declare it to be true.

And my answer might surprise you:

Some Norwex products absolutely cost more upfront than what you might grab off the shelf at your local grocery store. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But I think we’re asking the wrong question. Instead of asking:

“Is Norwex expensive?”

I think a much better question is: “What products are Norwex replacing — and what will it cost me NOT to make the switch?”

Because price and cost are two very different things. And once you look at Norwex that way, the math starts to math very differently.

Why Can it Seem Like Norwex is Expensive?

Let’s take something as simple as a cleaning cloth. If you’re comparing the price of one Norwex EnviroCloth to a package of inexpensive cleaning cloths at a big-box store, Norwex may look expensive. But that’s not really an apples-to-apples comparison.

The question isn’t:

“Which cloth is cheaper?”

The question is:

“What can I STOP buying when I start using this cloth?”

That is where Norwex begins to make a lot more sense. Normal microfiber cloths degrade very quickly requiring them to be replaced OFTEN. This is also awful for the environment.

1. My Norwex Cloth Replaces Cleaning PRODUCTS — Not Just Cleaning Cloths

This is probably the biggest thing people misunderstand about Norwex. An EnviroCloth isn’t simply a more expensive, upgraded rag. No, Norwex silver-embedded fiber is designed to clean surfaces using primarily water, physically removing dirt, grease, grime and up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when used and cared for properly.

Think about what’s under the average person’s kitchen or bathroom sink:

• Glass cleaner
• Countertop cleaner
• Stainless steel cleaner
• Dusting spray
• Bathroom spray
• Floor cleaner
• Paper towels
• Carpet cleaner
• Pet-Stain cleaner
• Disposable cleaning wipes
• Specialty cleaners for different surfaces

What if instead of buying product after product after product, you could simplify? That’s one of the things I fell in love with about Norwex. Less stuff. Less waste. Less complicated cleaning. And potentially a lot less money being spent repeatedly on products that eventually end up in the trash or down the drain. #nomorecashinthetrash

2. One EnviroCloth Can Clean an Incredible Number of Things

This is where I think the value becomes much easier to understand. I use my EnviroCloth throughout my home. I mean virtually everywhere. (I do like to color-code a special color dedicated to my toilet cleaning, though.)

Kitchen counters. Cabinet fronts. Bathroom counters. Sinks. Appliances. Doors. Door handles. Screens. Walls. Baseboards. And on and on.

Pair it with a Window Cloth, and now I clean and polish windows, mirrors, glass and many shiny surfaces without purchasing a traditional glass cleaner. I’m not buying a separate bottle every time one runs out.

I wet my cloth. Wring it out. And clean. That’s it. Just water. It’s rather mind-blowing! Need to see it in action- be sure to watch this video I did comparing it to disinfectant wipes! Simplicity is one of my favorite things about Norwex.

3. Norwex Microfiber Is Reusable

This is where we need to talk about cost per use instead of purchase price. If I buy something inexpensive and throw it away after one use, I have to buy it again and again. A Norwex cloth is designed to be washed and reused again and again and again!!

Norwex microfiber products carry a two-year warranty, subject to Norwex’s warranty terms. But here’s what I’ve experienced personally: Many of my Norwex cloths have lasted me far longer than two years.

I have used some for YEARS. My oldest Norwex cloth is actually 17 years old! So let’s say you spend more upfront on a quality cleaning cloth but use it hundreds — potentially thousands — of times.

Suddenly the question isn’t: “Why does this cloth cost more?”

It’s: “How much money does Norwex save me over one year… two years… three years?”

4. Think About the Paper Towels You DON’T Need to Buy Anymore

Paper towels are one of those sneaky household expenses. A few dollars here and there. Month after month, year after year. And every single sheet ultimately ends up in the trash. Reusable Norwex options like Counter Cloths and microfiber cleaning cloths can dramatically reduce how often you reach for disposable paper products. Norwex Counter Cloths, for example, are designed specifically as a reusable alternative to paper towels.

Instead of grab one, use it, throw away. It’s grab one, use it, reuse it, let the magical microsilver go to work between uses, and then launder, and reuse again. That, my friend, is a fundamentally different household economy.

5. The Norwex Mop Is a Great Example of Upfront Price vs. Long-Term Cost

I’ll admit it. When someone first looks at the price of a complete Norwex Mop System, there can be a little sticker shock. But again:

What are we comparing it to?

A disposable mop system where you continually purchase:

• Disposable wet pads
• Disposable dry pads
• Replacement cleaning solution
• Replacement mop heads
• Floor-cleaning products?

With my Norwex Mop System, I have washable, reusable mop pads. For everyday floor cleaning, my Wet Mop Pad primarily needs… just water. And the system isn’t limited to floors. I use my mop system for walls and other hard-to-reach surfaces too.

So yes, the initial purchase is higher than some disposable mop systems. But I don’t think the purchase price tells you the whole story. The mop base and handle come with a five-year warranty, but I have had my Norwex mop for 17+ years and it is still going strong! This one product has saved us SO much money, time, and frustration… no more sticky, tacky, streaky floors!

6. Concentrated Norwex Products Change the Math Too

Not every Norwex product replaces a cleaner with water. Nor should it. Sometimes we need a Specialty Cleaner for a specialty job. There are some jobs that aren’t perfect for just mechanical cleaning. Like toilet cleaning, doing dishes, dishwasher, laundry, and something to get in the nooks and crannies where the fiber alone can’t quite reach.

But these Norwex Specialty Cleaners are concentrated, which is another place where simply comparing the price on the bottle can be misleading. Instead, look at: cost per use.

How much product do you actually need? How many loads, washes or cleanings do you get from the package? How frequently are you replacing it? And how EFFECTIVE is it at actually getting the job done WITHOUT toxic, harmful ingredients and fumes?

This is especially important with products such as laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent. If Product A costs less but requires significantly more product per load, while Product B costs more but requires much less, comparing the price of the containers doesn’t tell you which is actually less expensive to USE.

7. Then There’s Something Harder to Put a Price On: Simplicity

As I mentioned above…this may be one of my favorite benefits. I don’t WANT 47 bottles under my sink off-gassing harmful fumes into my home. I don’t want to remember which cleaner goes on which surface or if it may be harmful to me, my family, my fur babies… I don’t want to keep running to the store because we’re out of another cleaning spray.

I want my home to be easy to clean. And for me, and so many of my very satisfied customers, Norwex has helped simplify cleaning enormously, saving us TIME! Grab a cloth. Add water. Clean.

There’s something so wonderful about that. But you may need to try it to actually believe it. Otherwise you’ll just think we all “drank the koolaid”… but trust me, I was skeptical too. I’ve learned that my Norwex skeptics fall the hardest… because the products actually DO what they say they do! And it’s very much in keeping with the Norwegian philosophy behind Norwex:

Less is more.
Fewer products, but EFFECTIVE products.
Less clutter.
Less waste.
Less plastics.

And more time for the people and things that actually matter. It aligns well with the Norwex Norwegian Way that our products were built on.

8. I Also Care About WHAT I’m Bringing Into My Home

For me, this has never been only about money. One of the original reasons I became so passionate about Norwex was the opportunity to reduce the number of unnecessary chemicals and cleaning products I was bringing into my home. If I can clean a surface effectively with a high-quality microfiber cloth and water, why would I automatically reach for another bottle?

That doesn’t mean that every chemical is bad. It doesn’t mean you’ll never need another cleaning product. And it certainly doesn’t mean water and microfiber are appropriate for every cleaning situation.

But I love asking: “Do I actually NEED a chemical cleaner for this?”

And over 90% of the time, the answer in my home is no. And that makes my heart happy.

9. Don’t Replace Your Entire Home Overnight!

This is really important.

If you’re brand-new to Norwex, PLEASE don’t look through the catalog and think:

“Sonya says Norwex saves money, so apparently I need $800 worth of Norwex!”

No. (Although, in full disclosure, that is sort of how I jumped into Norwex once I realized how much it was going to change my life!) But really…start with the products that will replace things you’re already buying and using. For most families, I recommend starting with a few hardworking basics.

An EnviroCloth.
A Window Cloth.
A Dusting Mitt to replace those disposable dusters!
Some reusable kitchen microfiber – maybe Counter Cloth House Set to replace paper towels.

And, depending on if your home has non-carpet flooring… I’d definitely say the Mop System.

And if you are a sucker for the Norwex BEST DEAL, like me…

then definitely look at the Norwex Way Package Plus… with this, you essentially get to try FOUR of the Specialty Cleaners for FREE (after you do the math on the insane 25% discount)!!! This way you also get to try the Dishwasher Detergent, Dishwashing Soap, Multipurpose Hard Surface Probiotic & Enzyme Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaner, Mattress & Soft Surface Cleaner and Cleaning Paste…

Use them. Let them replace things. Then add other products as they make sense for YOUR home.

That’s how I think Norwex delivers the greatest value.

10. So… Is Norwex Expensive?

Here’s my answer after more than 17 years: Some Norwex products are expensive if you only look at the purchase price. But I don’t believe purchase price is the best measure of value.

I look at:

How long will I use it?
How many disposable products can it replace?
How many cleaning products can I stop purchasing?
What is my cost per use?
Does it simplify my life?
Does it help me reduce unnecessary products and waste in my home?

And perhaps most importantly:
Will I actually USE it?

A $5 product you continually replace isn’t necessarily cheaper than a $25 product you use for years.
And a $100 gadget sitting untouched in a closet isn’t a good value at any price.

My Advice? Start Small and Let Norwex Prove Itself.

You don’t have to take my word for it. I’ve spent more than 17 years teaching people how to use these products, and one of my favorite things is helping someone figure out which few products would make the biggest difference in THEIR home. Not everything in the catalog (although if you DO want everything in the catalog, look at either hosting a party or joining my team and become a consultant— these are both great ways to deal with a condition we fondly refer to as “Norwexia”… and a GREAT way to Norwex your home for FREE or at a huge discount! The Norwex hosting program is SO generous!)

So if you’re looking at Norwex and thinking: “I love the idea…but is Norwex really worth the money?” Start with a few products that can replace things you’re already purchasing. Then do your own experiment.

Notice what disappears from your shopping list.
Pay attention to how often you’re buying paper towels and cleaners.
See how long your Norwex products last.

Because the cheapest product isn’t always the product with the lowest price tag. Sometimes the better value is the thing you don’t have to keep buying again and again.