Meliora Cleaning Products

Meliora Cleaning Products was founded in 2013 by Kate Jakubas and Mike Mayer, a husband-and-wife team of engineers who wanted to create cleaning and laundry products safe for both people and the planet. Kate (majority owner) and Mike (co-founder and president) started the company in their home, driven by a mission to eliminate harmful chemicals from household cleaning while reducing plastic waste. "Meliora" is Latin for "better things"—a name that reflects their commitment to continuous improvement.

Today, Meliora manufactures all products in their 12,000-square-foot facility at the ICNC manufacturing incubator in Chicago. They remain independently owned and operated with no outside investors (Tracxn confirms zero funding raised). Kate and Mike are both actively involved in daily operations, product development, and community engagement. Kate even authored a book, Maker to Manufacturer, sharing lessons to help other small businesses grow sustainably. Meliora is a Woman-Owned Certified B Corporation and was named a Best for the World honoree by B Lab for Community Impact.

Products

• Laundry Powder — Concentrated, plastic-free laundry detergent in recyclable paperboard packaging. Gentle on skin, tough on stains. Available in unscented and scented varieties.
• Laundry Detergent Pods — Pre-measured, mess-free laundry pods in compostable packaging.
• Dish Soap Bar — Solid dish soap bar that replaces plastic bottles. Lasts for months and works beautifully on grease and grime.
• Liquid Dish Soap — Plant-based liquid dish soap in refillable glass bottles.
• Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub — Non-toxic scrub for tough cleaning jobs without harsh chemicals.
• All-Purpose Cleaning Spray — Refillable cleaning spray for everyday surfaces.
• Oxygen Brightener — Natural oxygen-based stain remover and brightener for laundry.
• Wool Dryer Balls — Reusable dryer balls to reduce drying time and static.
• Castile Soap — Multi-purpose liquid castile soap for cleaning, bathing, and more.
• Hand Soap — Gentle, plant-based hand soap bars and liquid soap.

Why We List Them

• Independently owned and operated — Founded and run by Kate Jakubas (majority owner) and Mike Mayer (president) with no outside investors or corporate ownership (Tracxn confirms unfunded status).
• Woman-Owned Certified B Corporation — Meets rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
• Best for the World honoree — Recognized by B Lab for exceptional Community Impact score on the B Impact Assessment.
• Made in Chicago — All products manufactured in-house at their 12,000-square-foot facility, supporting local jobs.
• Plastic-free and sustainable packaging — Products packaged in recyclable paperboard, glass, and compostable materials to eliminate single-use plastic.
• Safe ingredients, rigorously tested — EWG Verified, Made Safe Certified, and Leaping Bunny Certified (cruelty-free).
• Full ingredient transparency — Every ingredient listed on labels and website with no hidden formulas.
• Refillable options — Many products designed for refill to reduce waste.
• Founders actively involved — Kate and Mike remain deeply involved in product development, community outreach, and sustainable business education.
• Kate authored Maker to Manufacturer — Sharing lessons to help other small businesses grow responsibly.
• Celebrating 10+ years — Over a decade of people- and planet-friendly cleaning innovation.