Our Eco-friendly Guide to Cleaning Products
Lots of cleaning products claim to be "all-natural" or "organic." But knowing the difference between eco-friendly cleaning products that are truly non-toxic and better for the environment and those that simply purports to be "green" can require a level of knowledge most shoppers don't have time to acquire. You'd hope that you could just check the ingredients, but unfortunately, there are no federal regulations mandating that manufacturers list the ingredients on their packaging. Lack of regulations is a big problem considering that so many conventional cleaning products emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can trigger allergy symptoms and asthma.
So, if eco-friendly cleaning products are as effective as conventional cleaning products, why would anyone want to clean their home with products containing harsh chemicals and toxic substances? For us, we prefer products that are made using sustainable manufacturing practices and safe, naturally derived, non-toxic, and biodegradable ingredients that don't harm the environment or our family's health.
One way to be sure that you know what your cleaning products are made of is to make them yourself. One of the best natural cleaning solutions is a simple mix of baking soda and white vinegar with a little citrus essential oil added for fragrance. However, if you don't want to mix and bottle your own eco-friendly cleaning products, there are lots of fantastic options available in stores and online. Check out the list below for some of the best environmentally friendly cleaning products that will keep your home wonderfully clean and safe.
For the Kitchen
Ecover Zero Dish Soap
Ecover's plant-based, fragrance-free dish soap is gentle on hands but tough on dirty dishes and cuts through grease for spot-free, sparkling clean dishes. The formula is non-toxic, biodegradable, and contains 0% fragrance, chlorine, or dyes. Just one squeeze is enough for a sink full of dirty dishes.
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Packs
These convenient dishwasher pods cut through grease and food residue with an enzyme-rich formula free of fragrances, phosphates, dyes, and chlorine bleach. The single-dose detergent packs are a USDA BioPreferred Certified way to keep your dishes sparkling clean.
Fit Organic Cleaner and Degreaser
This eco-friendly cleaner, made with organic plant oils and other naturally derived ingredients, easily cuts through grease and grime on just about every surface imaginable. The non-GMO formula is never tested on animals and tackles even the toughest jobs without leaving any harsh chemicals behind.
Attitude Kitchen Cleaner
This ECOLOGO® Certified cleaner is made with natural, plant- and mineral-based hypoallergenic cleansing agents and has a refreshing natural citrus scent. This powerful spray can be used on all cooking and dining surfaces to clean without harming the environment – or your health.
For the Bathroom
Seventh Generation Zero Plastic Toilet Bowl Foaming Powder
Formulated with unique waterless technology and dry-locked cleaning powder, this toilet bowl cleaner is biodegradable and made without animal ingredients, dyes, fragrances, or chlorine bleach. This standout cleaning powder is activated by water and is U.S. EPA Safer Choice Certified.
MamaSuds Toilet Bombs
These little sodium bicarbonate beauties make toilet cleaning easier and safer than ever. Just drop a bomb into the toilet and let it fizz out. Ten bombs come in a reusable muslin bag making this product completely plastic-free. You can even use the bombs to keep diaper pails and garbage disposals deodorized.
Seventh Generation Tub & Tile Natural Cleaner
This powerful tub & tile cleaner is formulated with plant-derived cleaning agents and is both U.S. EPA Safer Choice Certified and USDA BioPreferred Certified. The invigorating emerald cypress and fir scent is made from 100% essential oils to ensure that you won't be inhaling any toxic fumes while you clean.
PUR Home Bathroom Cleaner
These all-natural bathroom sprays work hard to keep all your bathroom surfaces fresh and clean, including the tub, sink, toilet, floor, and walls. Scented with pure essential oils, in lavender & lemon, citrus, mint, and rosemary citrus scents, these cleaners are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and contain no animal-based ingredients.
For the Laundry Room
AspenClean Laundry Detergent
AspenClean's laundry detergents are some of the safest and most eco-friendly on the market. Non-toxic and hypoallergenic, these plant and mineral-derived detergents are perfect for babies, people with sensitive skin or allergies, and anyone who wants to avoid harmful chemicals or toxins being left behind on their clothes.
9 Elements Laundry Detergent
This vinegar-powered, plant-based laundry detergent removes tough stains and odors without artificial preservatives, thickeners, or dyes. This rosewater or lemon-scented detergent even goes one step further to rid fabrics of residues, like hard water metals, that other products leave behind.
9 Elements Purifying Softener
A perfect complement to 9 Elements laundry detergent, this softener purifies fabrics of trapped odors and hard water metals, solving common problems like fabric fading and stiffness. Your lights will stay light, darks will stay dark, and whites will stay white.
BuggyLOVE Organic No-Wash Stain Remover
Say goodbye to spots! This highly concentrated, organic solution is safe for use on cotton, linen, micro-suede, and most other fabrics. The tangerine-scented formula quickly and naturally removes hard to lift stains on furniture, upholstery, clothes, and more.
For Any Room
Bon Ami Powder Cleanser
Bon Ami is an effective yet gentle household cleaner that can be used on everything from kitchen countertops and bathtubs to floor tiles and sinks. Bon Ami's simple ingredients include baking soda, limestone, feldspar, and soda ash.
Meliora Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub
Meliora's gentle cleaning scrubs come in both scented and unscented formulas. This scented version has the refreshing scent of tea tree and peppermint. The scrubs are 100% biodegradable and can be used on many surfaces, including ceramic tiles, stainless steel, and stovetops.
ECOS All-Purpose Cleaner
Family-owned and -operated for nearly 50 years, ECOS uses carbon-neutral plants, and their facilities are powered by 100 percent renewable energy. This all-purpose spray is perfect for any water-safe surface and is U.S. EPA Safer Choice Certified.
Aunt Fannie's Vinegar Wash Floor Cleaner
This super effective floor cleaner, powered by vinegar and plants, safely cleans your floors and leaves no residue behind, so there is no need to rinse. A multi-surface cleaner that comes in scents such as bright lemon, sweet mandarin, and fresh lime mint, it can be used on ceramic tile, hardwood, vinyl, bamboo, and laminate.
Do your health and the environment a favor by researching even more natural and organic cleaning products that score an "A" on the Environmental Working Group's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. By purchasing products from these and other eco-friendly brands, you are actively and purposefully contributing to the safety and preservation of Earth's precious resources.