At first glance, Pinalen and Pine-Sol seem nearly identical. While they’re both multipurpose cleaning products that smell like pine, several differences that set them apart. So, what are those differences, and which option is the best?
Pinalen can be used for nearly all indoor and outdoor applications, but Pine-Sol is only recommended for hard, nonporous surfaces. Pine oil is Pinalen’s main cleaning agent, while Pine-Sol only contains a small amount of pine essential oil as fragrance. Pinalen is slightly more expensive, but Pine-Sol is better at removing stains and grease due to its higher concentration.
In this article, we’ll get into specifics regarding the uses of each cleaning product. We’ll also talk about how Pinalen and Pine-Sol compare and which is best for various cleaning jobs.
Pinalen Vs. Pine-Sol: Which Is Better?
Check out the table below for a quick overview of these two products’ similarities and differences. If you’d like to learn more about Pinalen and Pine-Sol, read on!
| Characteristics | Pinalen | Pine-Sol |
|---|---|---|
| Product Range | Six products: Original Multipurpose Cleaner, Max Aromas Multipurpose Cleaner, Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser, Dishwashing Liquid, Max Power Multipurpose Cleaner, Glass & Surface Cleaner | One product (Original Pine-Sol) with four scent options |
| Uses | Can be used nearly everywhere inside and outside your home | Recommended for use on hard, nonporous surfaces only |
| Active Ingredients | Pine oil, dodecanoic acid, sodium salt, and C12-16 alcohol ethoxylates | Benzoic acid, glycolic acid, and C10-12 alcohol ethoxylates |
| Scent | Original (Pine), Lavender, Floral, Lemon, and Ocean Breeze | Original Pine, Lemon Fresh, Lavender Clean, and Sparkling Wave |
| Cost | Very affordable, but slightly more expensive than Pine-Sol | Inexpensive |
1. Product Range
Pine-Sol’s product range contains four products, which are essentially the same cleaner with four different scents:
- Original Pine-Sol
- Lemon Fresh
- Lavender Clean
- Sparkling Wave
Meanwhile, Pinalen’s product range consists of six products:
- Original Multipurpose Cleaner
- Max Aromas Multipurpose Cleaner
- Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Max Power Multipurpose Cleaner
- Glass & Surface Cleaner
2. Uses
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Pine-Sol is mainly recommended for use on hard, nonporous surfaces. It’s great for floors, counters, sinks, garbage cans, toilets, tile, bathtubs, showers, stoves, and diaper pails.
You shouldn’t use Pine-Sol on marble, aluminum, or copper surfaces. It can damage oiled, waxed, unsealed, or visibly worn wood as well. In addition, Pine-Sol is not suitable for use as a car cleaner, dish soap, or pet shampoo.
Pinalen has a wide variety of uses. It’s advertised as a cleaning product that can clean, deodorize, and degrease your entire home!
You can use Pinalen to remove stains and grease from various surfaces, including carpet, rugs, linoleum, and vinyl. Pinalen also works effectively at removing odors and stains from clothing. It cleans dust and dirt from walls, floors, windows, and ceiling fans.
The bathroom is yet another area where Pinalen shines. It can clean sinks, toilets, bathtubs, floors, and tile. In the kitchen, Pinalen is perfect for removing grease and grime from walls, range hoods, ovens, and stoves.
You can also use Pinalen to deodorize and clean your car and garage. It’s excellent at removing oil stains from tools and eliminating grease marks made by bicycle chains.
3. Formulation
Pine-Sol’s ingredient list includes water as a base and C10-12 alcohol ethoxylates as cleaning agents. There’s also isopropyl alcohol, an antimicrobial and disinfectant, and propylene glycol, an enzyme stabilizer.
Other ingredients in Pine-Sol are benzoic acid, sodium sulfate, glycolic acid, caramel (a colorant), paraffin, and fragrance.
You might be surprised to discover that pine oil is not an active ingredient in Pine-Sol. This cleaning product only contains a very small amount of pine essential oil to contribute to its fragrance.
Pinalen also uses water as a base, and pine oil is one of its active ingredients that acts as a cleaning agent. Other cleaning agents include dodecanoic acid and sodium salt, as well as C12-16 alcohol ethoxylates.
Additional Pinalen ingredients are isopropyl alcohol and several colorants.
4. Scent
Pine-Sol has four scents: Original Pine, Lemon Fresh, Lavender Clean, and Sparkling Wave. Sparkling Wave is described as a refreshing ocean breeze, but reviewers say it’s reminiscent of a spring shower and flowers.
The Pinalen Original scent is that of pine. As Pinalen explains, it smells like “walking in the middle of a cool, crisp pine forest.” Meanwhile, its Lavender scent features both lavender and eucalyptus.
Pinalen’s Floral scent contains notes of fresh flowers and roses, and the Lemon scent mixes lemon, bergamot, and orange. Finally, the Ocean Breeze scent consists of fresh rosemary, warm sandalwood, iris, and jasmine.
5. Cost
Pine-Sol and Pinalen are comparably priced, but Pinalen products tend to be a bit more expensive. Prices vary depending on the specific product, size, and where the item is purchased.
Is Pinalen Like Pine-Sol?
Pinalen and Pine-Sol are similar cleaning products, but Pinalen is more versatile. While Pine-Sol isn’t recommended for some surfaces, Pinalen can be used nearly everywhere.
Pine-Sol is more suited to specific cleaning jobs like kitchen and bathroom floors, counters, and sinks. It also tends to be better at removing stains because it’s more concentrated.
Another area where these two cleaning products differ is their active ingredients. Pine-Sol uses benzoic acid, glycolic acid, and C10-12 alcohol ethoxylates.
Pinalen’s main active ingredient is pine oil. Dodecanoic acid, sodium salt, and C12-16 alcohol ethoxylates are also cleaning agents.
Can I Mop With Pinalen?
Yes, you can mop with Pinalen. All you have to do is mix ¼ cup of Pinalen Multipurpose Cleaner with half a gallon of water.
The video below demonstrates the use of Pinalen in mopping the floor clean:
You can also mop with Pine-Sol. However, since it’s more highly concentrated, you’ll want to mix ¼ cup with one full gallon of water.
The Final Verdict: Pinalen Vs. Pine-Sol
Both Pinalen and Pine-Sol are multipurpose cleaning products, but Pinalen has many more applications. Its main cleaning agent is pine oil, while Pine-Sol uses benzoic acid, glycolic acid, and C10-12 alcohol ethoxylates.
Pinalen has more products and a larger selection of scents than Pine-Sol, but it also costs a bit more.
If you’re looking for a highly versatile product that can fulfill all your cleaning needs, Pinalen is your best choice. But if you’re in search of a highly concentrated product that’s great at removing stains and grease, you may prefer Pine-Sol.