Environmentally Friendly and Non-Toxic Cleaning Products for Your Home

These environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaning products for your home will not only keep your house clean, but will keep both the environment and your body free of toxins. As part of my quest to use more sustainable and healthier household products, I decided to create a list of all those preferred products for easy reference.

Researching ingredients at the store may require standing for hours in front of the cleaning product aisle. Trying to determine a product’s relative toxicity, skin irritant levels, or cancer-causing agents can turn out to be quite the task. I’ve seen my fellow brethren holding a bottle while researching on phones, only to sigh and put it back on the shelf.

Advertising and compensation disclaimer: I have NOT received any compensation to recommend any of these products, however, I may receive a commission for the sale of some linked products. This was NOT a factor in my evaluation.

Methodology and Sources of Research

I used 7 different factors in selecting the cleaning products cited below. In order of importance for my own ranking:

1. Cancer
2. Skin allergies and irritation
3. Respiratory and Asthma
4. Environment
5. Developmental and reproductive toxicity
6. Personal and trusted friends’ experience in cleaning effectiveness
7. Availability

A major source was the Environmental Working Group. They have a database that made searching for and weeding out products a lot simpler. It may be interesting to discover how bad some of the most common products on the market are for the environment. Here is a working list of some good ones available on Amazon:

All Purpose Cleaners

Drain Cleaner:

[amazon box=”B004L9V00U” template=”horizontal” grid=”1″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” description_items=”3″ value=”last_update”]

Hard Water Remover:

[amazon box=”B000SKX0N6″ template=”horizontal” grid=”1″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” description_items=”3″ value=”last_update”]

Bathroom Cleaners:

[amazon box=”B00IB0CWWA, B00QLKGQSI, B00IB0CWWA, B001CWIU8E, B004YIXADI” grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”]

Kitchen Cleaners

[amazon box=”B019WTCV7Y, B00AWSQHO8, B0014F0WVM, B075R6NPJS, B00TCHZZGQ, B000TG62IO” grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”]

[amazon box=”B001OHSXL6″ template=”horizontal” grid=”1″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” description_items=”3″ value=”last_update”]

[amazon box=”B0069GV50S” template=”horizontal” grid=”1″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” description_items=”3″ value=”last_update”]

[amazon box=”B001CWIU98, B007QV5IGW, B00E6OEBW4″ grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”]

Living Room Cleaners

Fabric and Upholstery Deodorizer and Stain Remover:

[amazon box=”B003A4I708, B00E6OEBW4, B001197PV6″ grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”]

Wood Furniture Wax and Polish:

[amazon box=”B00514DCJ6, B0794T5M13″ grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”]

Laundry Detergents

[amazon box=”B008MOK95W, B00B97OGY4, B0196VJ5FE, B00B97OGY4, B01M022ZA4, B019WVUC0K” grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”]

HE Laundry Detergent:

[amazon box=”B00FTC7DLS, B006T8273K, B0048IMXDM, B003X04HNA” grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”

Fabric Softener:

[amazon box=”B005KVGEMM, B01G351TPA, B0048IMXDM, B000TG62IO, B00FTC7DLS” grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”

Laundry Pods:

[amazon box=”B01G351TPA, B005KVGEMM” grid=”3″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” price=”none”

Stroller Cleaner:

[amazon box=”B006R2FED8″ template=”horizontal” grid=”1″ button=”none” link_icon=”none” description_items=”2″ value=”last_update”]

DIY Homemade Cleaners

A great alternative to buying many of the above cleaners is making your own. I’m a big fan of distilled white vinegar.

Ingredients for All Natural Cleaners:

• Baking soda
  Deodorizer and gentle scrub; softens hard water, removes acidic stains, and polishes shiny surfaces like stainless steel without scratching.
• Distilled white vinegar
  Deodorizer, disinfectant, mild acid, and preservative; breaks up dirt, grease, mineral deposits, mold, and soap scum.
• Tea tree oil
  Disinfectant and antifungal.
  
• Lemon
  Deodorizer, stain remover, grease cutter, acts as a mild bleach when exposed to sunlight.
• Mineral oil
  A natural oil that helps to nourish and polish wood
• Castile soap
  Plant-based liquid soap gentle soap made with oils such as olive, palm, and coconut, rather than petroleum derivatives or animal fat.

All-Purpose Scrub

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• Castille soap
• 1/2 of a lemon

Pour baking soda into container. Add just enough Castille soap to make a creamy paste as you stir. Squeeze lemon into paste. Stir until mixed thoroughly. Use with damp sponge or rag.

Window Cleaner

• 1/2 teaspoon Castile soap
• 3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups water

Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake. Spray onto window and wipe clean with rag.

Floor Cleaner

• 1/8 cup Castille soap
• 1/8 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 gallon water
• 10 drops tea tree oil

Mix all ingredients in a bucket and mop.

For ceramic and stone floors, eliminate Castille soap, which leaves a film, and use 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of water.

For unsealed wood floors, combine 2 cups of vinegar with 1 tablespoon of mineral oil in a bucket. Spread a thin coat over the floor with a mop or soft cloth. Let soak for 20 minutes, then dry mop to absorb excess liquid.

Mold and Mildew Spray

• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• Tea tree oil

Pour vinegar and water into a spray bottle and use on the moldy area. The smell will dissipate in a few hours.

For areas with persistent mold problems, use tea tree oil instead of vinegar. Combine 2 drops of tea tree oil per 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Tea tree oil will kill most types of mold and help prevent new growth.

Closing Thoughts

There are so many great alternatives, I simply don’t see a reason to continue to use products that are toxic or hurt the environment. It seems very common for companies to continually update their formulas multiple times a year, for better or for worse. I’m hoping with a list like this, I can influence some of these companies to find better formulas.

Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap was a recurring option for multiple types of cleaning. I’ve never used this before, but several of my environmentally conscious friends have and support it with great feedback. I’ll be adding this to my arsenal.