15 Michigan-made swaps for everyday essentials

From your morning cup of coffee to laundry detergent to luxury hair care, we rounded up 15 Michigan-made products to swap into your household. 

With a lot of chatter about buying more “American-made” products in the news lately, you can take things one step further and stock some Michigan-made products for everyday essentials in your house. Honestly, I had no idea that you could find products like laundry detergent, deodorant, and even freshly-roasted coffee right here in the Mitten. 

Whether you’re looking to buy more local goods or are just curious about what Michigan-made swaps for household products are out there, take a look at these Michigan merchandise options. 

1. Fresh Roasted Coffee by Ground Control Coffee Roasters

• Cost: $18.00+
• How to get it: Order online or store pickup available at the Farmington location.

What better way to start your day than with a hot cup of joe freshly roasted right here in Michigan? With headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich., Ground Control Coffee Roasters roasts imported coffee beans from premium growers in places like Brazil, Ethiopia, and Colombia. While a good cup of coffee starts with quality beans, the roasting process is crucial in developing the beans’ flavors, richness, and taste.

You can shop for Michigan-roasted coffee online for delivery to your home, or if you’re local to Farmington Hills, stop by for a cup to try for yourself and take home a full bag to brew at home! 

2. Bar Soap by Cellar Door Bath Supply CO

• Cost: $8.00
• How to get it: Order online. Available as a one-time purchase or Subscribe and Save.

With bar soap scents like Leelanau Sunset, Tahquamenon Woods, and Mackinac Island Lilac, the Cellar Door Bath Supply Co. not only features handmade Michigan products but also celebrates pivotal Michigan landmarks. The company was founded by the husband-and-wife team of Elizabeth and Brandon Mitchell, along with a team of passionate soap and candle makers. The couple started making soap as a hobby and has since grown their business globally, now shipping products worldwide. 

You can experience the man-made goodness of Cellar Door Bath Supple Co. candles and soap by ordering online or finding one of their in-person retailers (they have a store locator online, too, so you can locate a store near you). All of their products are plant-based, cruelty-free, and free of synthetic dyes and detergents. Additionally, all products are designed, tested, and produced in-house in Canton, Michigan.

3. Laundry Powder Detergent by Moon Works

• Cost: $19.75+
• How to get it: Order online or buy in person at various locations. 

For some reason, of all the Michigan-made products on this household essentials guide, laundry detergent blew my mind the most. It just never occurred to me that an all-natural, eco-friendly laundry detergent company could exist in Michigan—and yet, Moon Works absolutely does. 

As many good stories do, Moon Works began with the company’s mother, who started mixing up all-natural laundry detergent in her backyard using a simple 5-gallon bucket. While the company may have upgraded from that 5-gallon bucket, the detergent is still hand-crafted in Traverse City, Mich. Moon Works offers Lavender, Balsam Fir, or Unscented options. I’m especially intrigued by the bulk option, which promises 832 loads of laundry—or approximately one day’s worth of laundry in my household. 

4. Natural Deodorant by Rustic MAKA

• Cost: starting at $13.00 (product pictured is $15.00)
• How to get it: Order online as a one-time purchase or as a Subscribe and Save 15%. Also available in bundles.

I’ve never had a lot of luck with natural deodorants myself, but I love that Michigan has the option for people who can use it. Founder Kasia Rothe, who dubbed herself the “stinky sister,” set out on a mission to create a natural deodorant with healthy ingredients that actually worked. Today, the company makes all-natural deodorants and special prebiotic deodorants that work with the skin’s natural bacteria, rather than against it, to deliver healthy skin protection.

The company also offers other health and wellness products, including pre-shave balm, lip balm, bar soap, and face and body serums. 

Rustic MAKA all-natural deodorant pictured by a stream of running water. (Kasia Rothe/Rustic MAKA)

5. Dish Soap by Fresh Coast Clean

• Cost: $6.49 16 oz glass bottle; $11.49 32 oz refill package
• How to get it: Available online as a one-time purchase or with Subscribe and Save 15% off retail. Free shipping on orders $35+.

Stemming from the basic principle that “cleaning should be healthy, not harmful,” Fresh Coast Clean founders Jen and Michael make plant-derived, biodegradable household cleaning products. “We want our products to give you that toes-in-the-sand, Lake Michigan sunset, cherry blossom good feeling,” they write on their website. 

Their cleaning products include everything from dish soap to room freshener to a multipurpose cleaner you can use all around the house. They also have liquid laundry detergent if you’re looking for an alternative to powder. 

6. All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate by MamaSuds

• Cost: $42.00
• How to get it: Available for online order or in various store locations.

Founded by a Michigan mother of three (you can read more about her story here), MamaSuds operates out of Goodrich, Mich., and produces handmade, small-batch cleaning and home products. One of their most popular products is the all-purpose cleaner concentrate, which can be used for up to eight 16-oz refills. Just mix the concentrate and use it to clean everything from floors to sinks and counters. 

The cleaner concentrate is made of water, Castile Soap (potassium olivate), aloe vera gel juice with non-GMO citric acid, pure essential oils of clove bud, organic cinnamon leaf, lemon, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary. MamaSuds is focused not only on providing healthy cleaning products that are safe for humans, but also on ensuring they do not harm the environment during the production process. 

7. Natural Bug Spray by The Little Flower Soap Co.

• Cost: $6
• How to get it: Order online or stop by the Retail Shop and U-Pick flower farm in Chelsea, MI.

I have no firm scientific data to provide, but I will share this anecdote: We live near woods and a very swampy area that is inundated with mosquitoes. I am one of those people whom mosquitoes seem to love, so I’m always on the hunt for a bug spray that actually works. And after years of trying traditional DEET-based sprays, I finally tried a natural bug spray made from essential oils. And I swear to you, I was able to take a walk through the woods at the height of mosquito season on a post-rainy afternoon with nary a mosquito bite. The mosquitoes just hovered around me like I had a protective bubble. 

Maybe it was a coincidence, but ever since then, I’m convinced the natural bug spray is superior for some people, which is exactly why you should give The Little Flower Soap Co.’s natural bug spray a chance. Run by a husband-and-wife team in Chelsea, Michigan, the company produces a range of products, including small-batch soap, candles, hand sanitizer, and bath and body items, and hosts classes and events on their small farm. 

8. Eco Bags by June Apothicarie

• Cost: $13.99 
• How to get it: Available online. Select products available at various store locations. 

June Apothicarie, a Boyne City, Mich.-based company, produces eco-friendly bags made from recycled plastic bottles, resulting in a plastic material called rPET fabric. The fabric makes excellent, durable, and heavy-load-ready bags to hold all your goods. Each bag features a compact zipper pouch, a metal security clip, an interior pocket, a 50-pound weight load, and a roll tab. Take it along with you for your next grocery trip, while running errands, or use it to pack your library books. 

The Michigan State University bag is designed in Boyne City and features MSU fan-favorite scenes. All of the bags are also machine washable and safe to put in the dryer, which feels like a really big deal. The company’s founder, Lindsey June, earned her own Biochemistry degree from MSU and leveraged her education to launch her line of Michigan-based products, which include lotion, candles, and bags. She has an entire line of MSU products for the Spartans among us. The company offers free Boyne City delivery and free shipping on online orders over $169. 

Michigan State University Eco Reusable Bag by June Apothicarie. (Lindsey Bell/June Apothicarie)

9. Tallow Sunscreen Balm by Michigan Nature Co.

• Cost: $22.00
• How to get it: Order online with free shipping over $75. Order pickup also available at Rockford HQ (usually ready in 24 hours) at 106 East Bridge Street Northeast, Rockford, MI 49341.

Beef tallow is having a moment, and some enthusiasts swear you can use beef tallow as a sunscreen base. While we believe it’s always important to talk with your doctor or dermatologist about skin protection, Michigan Nature Co. uses beef tallow as a base for their sunscreen balm and includes the protective element of zinc oxide, which is the UVA/UVB repellent in all mineral-based sunscreens. 

In other words, it’s the real deal as a sunscreen. Also the real deal? The company itself, which was founded by a Michigan family of four who live and breathe all Michigan has to offer and are dedicated to bringing the natural beauty of the state to others through their products. 

10. Hair Care by Moy Hair Essentials

• Cost: Starting at $13.00
• How to get it: Available for order online as well as retail shelves at Meijer Rivertown Market, 1475 E. Jefferson. Detroit, MI 48207 and Woodward Corner Market, 30955 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48073.

Detroit native and curly girl Miranda Moy founded her company after searching for information about how to care for her unique curl pattern and hair type. Like many curly girls with textured hair, Moy struggled to find products that worked for her hair. So, she made her own. 

Today, Moy has grown her small, Detroit-based business from just one signature hair oil to a full line of haircare. She’s been recognized by Essence and the Detroit Pistons, and now sells her products at Meijer in two Michigan locations. Swap your normal shampoo and conditioner, curl mousse, or edge paste for some of MHE’s products for that Detroit-based style.  

11. Gen 2 Gloves by Michigan Mitten 

• Cost: $49.95
• How to get it: Online orders $50+ get free shipping; store locator.

Michiganders are known for hard work and grit, but if you need gloves to get your dirty work done, Michigan Mitten has your back. (Or, er, your hands?) Whether you’re working in the shop or digging in the dirt for some spring gardening, these gloves are up for the job. 

Michigan Mitten was “born” in Northern Michigan, according to the company, and produces premium leather gloves and mittens designed to withstand even the toughest of Michigan winters. The gloves are crafted from grain pigskin leather and feature a liner for warmth and reinforced patches for durability. They can also be used as regular outdoor gloves during the winter, which makes them even more appealing. 

12. Hand Thrown Ceramic Mugs by Grayling Ceramics

• Cost: $38.00
• How to get it: Order online. Pieces are made to order, so please allow 10-12 business days to be shipped.

Picture this: You grind your whole-bean coffee from Ground Control Coffee Roasters, brew up a fresh pot, and pour a piping-hot cup of coffee into your new hand-thrown ceramic mug straight from Grayling Ceramics. It’s the picture-perfect Michigan morning!

All of the coffee mugs from Grayling Ceramics are handmade on a potters’ wheel and are made to order, which means that there is a slight production delay (expect 10-12 days before shipping). The mugs are dishwasher and microwave-safe and can be used with cold and hot liquids. You can choose an entirely unique mug, from picking the color to the imprint (or no imprint at all). Grayling Ceramics is based in Kalamazoo, Mich., and all the pieces reflect the “color and form of the Great Lakes region,” the company explains. 

Michigan hand-thrown ceramic mug with a pine tree imprint. (Grayling Ceramics)

13. Dog Collars and Leashes by Herzog

• Cost: Collars starting at $42.00, leashes at $56.00
• How to get it: Order online.

As a small, family-owned business in Northern Michigan, Herzog is focused on eco-friendly materials that serve dogs and their owners, as well as the planet. They sell dog collars and leashes, with some products made out of silicone, which they claim is waterproof and “stinkproof,” making it ideal for Michigan dog families who want to explore all the great outdoors our state offers. 

Many of the products are also recycled, adding to their eco-friendly reputation. You can even pick yourself up a high-quality poop bag holder on their website.

14. Lip Balm by Michigan A to Izzy

• Cost: $4.00 or $35.00 for 10 assorted flavors
• How to get it: Order online on Etsy.

If you’re anything like me, you have endless lip balms in your car, bag, and coat, so why not ensure those lip balms are Michigan-made? Made from jojoba oil, coconut oil, candelilla wax, natural coloring, mica, natural flavors, Michigan A to Izzy lip balms were perfected by an Alma University professor and are 100% organic. 

Each lip balm is inspired by Michigan scents and locations, such as Grand Rapids Green Tea, VanBuren Vanilla, and Mackinac Island Mint. 

15. Soy Wax Candles by Finnmaker

• Cost: Starting at $14.95
• How to get it: Order through Etsy.

Light up your room on a rainy Michigan night with a handcrafted, soy wax candle from a family business in Atlantic Mine, Michigan. (Am I the only Michigander who had never heard of this city? I definitely had to Google! If you’re as curious as I was, it was a former mining town now home to only around 526 people.)

Regardless, the all-natural soy wax candles feature Michigan scents like U.P. Pine, Michigan strawberries, and Great Lakes mist. Finnmaker’s owner, Ricky, claims his teenage daughter is the company’s chief scentologist, and the family incorporates their Finnish heritage into their work.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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