Our Journey: The Timeline
Nantucket Spider's Original Offerings
Our Story: Where it All Began
Nantucket Spider began as a true family effort, born from the need for a better bug repellent that parents could trust. Long before it became a company, our family faced the same challenge many others did; traditional bug sprays that smelled harsh, relied on chemicals, or simply didn’t work. Natural essential oil options were limited, and the few available often contained sticky emulsifiers, chemical dispersants, or ineffective formulas.
Wanting a more comfortable alternative for summer camps and outdoor adventures, we started experimenting with essential oil blends right in our garage. What began as small batches made for family and friends quickly grew into something more. Word spread, people kept coming back for refills, and we realized we weren’t alone in wanting a plant-based repellent that truly worked.
In 2013, Nantucket Spider officially took shape. Those early years were as hands-on as it gets; bottling sprays in the garage with a hand-filler, placing each label by hand, and refining our blends based on real-world feedback. Over time, that first recipe expanded into a complete line of essential oil bug repellents, all created with the same mission we started with - providing families with effective plant-based protection that feels good to use.
Nantucket Footprint Cleaning Line
Expanding the Company: A New Brand for A New Problem
By 2021, our family found ourselves frustrated again, this time in the cleaning aisle.
For people who care about their homes, their families, and the planet, finding truly eco-friendly cleaning products wasn’t easy. Many brands used words like “green” or “safe” without making meaningful changes. Most “eco” options still looked and acted like traditional cleaners. They came in plastic, relied on the same types of ingredients we preferred to avoid, and didn’t offer the level of trust we were looking for in our home.
Real sustainability comes from the product itself, not from clever branding. Existing cleaning options fell short in several ways:
1.Questionable ingredients:Many relied on artificial fragrances or contained ingredients banned in other countries.
2.Lack of transparency:Some brands used vague language or avoided ingredient disclosure entirely.
3.Hidden toxins:Even “green” cleaners often included preservatives like methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone
4.Poor performance:The few products with cleaner ingredients often left streaks, smears, or grease behind.
Our family decided to create a better option ourselves. That idea became Nantucket Footprint, a line of low waste, thoughtfully formulated cleaning products made to meet higher standards. What started as a frustration became a new arm of the business.
Our Mission: Giving Back, Creating Change
Low Waste by Design
Across both Nantucket Spider and Nantucket Footprint, sustainability is built into every detail. We prioritize:
-Compostable packaging materials when possible to minimize our footprint
-Concentrated, water-free formulas, such as our cleaning and laundry strips, which reduce shipping emissions and packaging waste
-Clear, transparent ingredient lists without hidden chemicals or harsh preservatives
Rainforest Trust Partnership
We are proud partners of Rainforest Trust, an organization that protects the world’s most threatened tropical forests and the species that depend on them. 2% of our sales goes to Rainforest Trust to:
- Safeguard endangered wildlife
- Protect biodiverse ecosystems
- Preserve critical rainforest land
- Sequester carbon by preserving old-growth rainforest
Transition CT Partnership
Closer to home, we partner with Transition CT, an organization dedicated to helping young individuals with mental disabilites prepare for their futures through student programs, vocational training, and day services.
As part of this partnership, we provide Transition CT participants with meaningful work opportunities and hands-on training, giving them valuable experience in a supportive, real-world environment.
Our Values
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Quality Guarantee
We offer a money back guarantee for any customer who is not completely satisfied with any aspect of our products. If there is anything we can improve, reach out to us and let us know.
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Ethical Manufacturing
All of our products have a positive impact on people and the environment. We source each ingredient with people and the planet in mind.
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Giving Back
We are committed to giving 2% of the proceeds from every item you purchase directly to rainforest conservation through our partnership with Rainforest Trust.