Discover the best non-toxic cleaning products that really work for every type of cleaning job in your home – from laundry to dishes to floors and everything in between.
Shout. Lysol. Windex. Clorox. Tide. Pledge. I’m guessing that like 97% of the population, you’ve got one or two of these cleaning products under your sink right now.
Today I’m going to tell you why it’s time to STOP using those conventional cleaning brands and switch to products that are safer for people and the planet.
Plus I’ll share my favorite non-toxic cleaning brands because after testing out dozens (probably hundreds) of cleaning products over the years, I have narrowed the list down to the ones that work best for each type of cleaning job!
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Cleaning Products Dirty Secrets
Surprisingly, U.S. federal laws do not mandate health testing for the chemicals used in most cleaning products. And to make matters worse, manufacturers are NOT required to provide a full list of ingredients on cleaning product labels.
This is starting to change on a state-by-state level, with disclosures now required in California (the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act) and New York, but in most states companies can still keep toxic chemicals hidden from the public eye.
And if we don’t know what’s in our cleaning products, how can we make an educated decision about whether or not they are safe to use?
Cleaning Chemicals and Your Health
The ingredients in those secret cleaning formulas are often toxic to breathe, bad for the environment and some are even dangerous to touch with your bare hands.
According to an investigation by the Environmental Working Group of over 2000 cleaning products on the American market, exposure to cleaning substances have been linked to:
- asthma and other respiratory problems
- release of cancer causing formaldehyde
- elevated risk of birth defects
- chemical burns and allergic reactions
- poisonings
- hormone disruption
On top of the health concerns, layer in the environmental issues caused by cleaning product ingredients, like algae buildup, drinking water degradation and harm to aquatic life, and these products are not looking very “clean” at all.
RELATED: 4 Good Reasons to Switch to Natural, Non-Toxic Products
How to Make Safer Swaps
Knowing all that, are you ready to swap out some of your old standbys for non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products? I’ve tried a lot of cleaning product brands over the years, so I’m here to help!
My recommendation is to start with the three products you use the most and then continue on from there. Maybe that’s dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent and an all-purpose cleaning spray. Or start by ditching the most toxic cleaning products like oven cleaner or toilet cleaner. It’s really up to you!
BONUS: If you sign up for my mailing list, you’ll get a printable shopping guide of my top green cleaning products in 10 different cleaning categories. I have cherry-picked the best ones just for you!
Non Toxic Cleaning Products for Home
Here’s a list of the best green cleaning products and brands I recommend and rely on for my general household cleaning routine:
Branch Basics: Best Multi-Purpose Cleanser
- Brand mission: To help people create healthy homes
- Known for: Their multi-purpose cleaning concentrate.
- Primary ingredients: Plant and mineral based ingredients
- Sustainability points: All bottles are refillable using the cleaning concentrate.
- Certifications: MADE SAFE
- EWG ratings: A
- Favorite Branch Basics Products: The Concentrate
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Aspen Clean: EWG-Verified Cleaning Sprays
- Brand mission: To create a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products.
- Known for: A wide range of cleaning products suitable for individuals with allergies or sensitivities.
- Primary ingredients: Natural and organic ingredients, including organic essential oils for scent.
- Sustainability points: Products are biodegradable and packaged in 100% recycled plastic bottles.
- Certifications: EWG Verified, EcoCert
- EWG ratings: EWG-Verified and A
- Favorite Aspen Clean Products: Bathroom Cleaning Spray and Glass Cleaner
Aunt Fannies: Best Floor Cleaner
- Brand mission: To bring wellness to the home through nature-inspired cleaning products
- Known for: Floor cleaners and other household cleaning products
- Primary ingredients: Products are vinegar based and have less than 10 natural ingredients each.
- Sustainability points: Floor cleaner is a concentrate. Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic is used in packaging whenever possible. Net zero plastic footprint.
- Certifications: None
- EWG ratings: As
- Favorite Aunt Fannies Products: Floor Cleaner
Bon Ami: Best Powder Cleanser
- Brand mission: To use simple ingredients to produce a high-quality cleaner that works.
- Known for: Mineral based powdered cleaner.
- Primary ingredients: Calcium carbonate, feldspar and other minerals
- Sustainability points: Product comes in a cardboard container made from 65% post-consumer recycled materials.
- Certifications: None
- EWG ratings: A
- Favorite Bon Ami Products: Powder Cleanser
ECOS: Favorite Furniture Polish
- Brand mission: To make safe cleaning products available and affordable to everyone.
- Known for: A whole range of cleaning products, from household to laundry to dishwashing.
- Primary ingredients: Biodegradable formulas based on plant-derived ingredients. They have a never-ever list of over 500 ingredients.
- Sustainability points: Climate positive throughout every step of business from manufacturing to shipping.
- Certifications: EPA Safer Choice, Leaping Bunny
- EWG ratings: Mostly As and Bs and a couple Cs
- Favorite ECOS Products: Furniture Polish and Parsley Plus All Purpose Cleaner
Ecover: Non Toxic Toilet Cleaner
- Brand mission: To pioneer clean through science inspired by nature, and to create products that won’t harm people or the planet.
- Known for: Dishwashing and laundry products.
- Primary ingredients: Naturally derived ingredients and a natural fermentation process to create solvents.
- Sustainability points: All bottles are made with a blend of 75% Plantplastic® and 25% post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR).
- Certifications: Certified B-Corp
- EWG ratings: Mostly As and Bs
- Favorite Ecover Products: Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Rosey by Thrive Market: Affordable Non Toxic Cleaning Products
- Brand mission: To give everyone access to healthy products, reliable information, and affordable prices.
- Known for: A wide selection of Thrive Market brand cleaning products.
- Primary ingredients: Plant and mineral based ingredients.
- Sustainability points: Powdered detergent available for those who want to avoid plastic bottles.
- Certifications: Certified B-Corp
- EWG ratings: Mostly As and Bs
- Favorite Thrive Market Products: Dishwasher Detergent Powder and Liquid Laundry Detergent
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Non Toxic Dishwashing Products
After lots of experimentation with different brands, these are the dishwashing products I keep going back to. (Note: these brands have other great cleaning products too)
ATTITUDE: Refillable Dishwashing Liquid
- Brand mission: To inspire families to live healthier, more sustainable lives, with high-quality personal care and household products that are better for the body and our planet.
- Known for: A variety of household cleaners, laundry and dishwashing products.
- Primary ingredients: Natural, plant and mineral based ingredients
- Sustainability points: Bulk refills available for many of their cleaning, dishwashing and laundry products.
- Certifications: ECOLOGO®, PETA Certified, EWG Verified
- EWG ratings: EWG Verified, As and a few Bs
- Favorite ATTITUDE Products: Dishwashing liquid
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Blueland: Best Dishwasher Tablets
- Brand mission: To help you make a sustainable choice for cleaning products
- Known for: Cleaning tablets that are completely plastic-free
- Primary ingredients: People and planet-friendly ingredients that follow Cradle-to-Cradle recommendations
- Sustainability points: Refillable tins
- Certifications: USDA BioPreferred, EPA Safer Choice, and Leaping Bunny
- EWG ratings: EWG-Verified and A’s
- Favorite Blueland Products: Dishwasher Detergent Tablets
Seventh Generation: Rinse Aid
- Brand mission: To transform the world into a healthy, sustainable & equitable place for the next seven generations.
- Known for: A full range of cleaning products for the home.
- Primary ingredients: Renewable, plant-based ingredients
- Sustainability points: Post-consumer recycled plastic is used for packaging.
- Certifications: Certified B-Corp, USDA Certified BioBased, Leaping Bunny, Rainforest Alliance
- EWG ratings: Mostly As and Bs but some Cs and Ds
- Favorite Seventh Generation Products: Rinse Aid
Non Toxic Laundry Products
These are my tried and true non-toxic and eco-friendly laundry products – the one’s I keep buying over and over again!
Truly Free: Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
- Brand mission: To FREE over 10,000,000 homes from harmful toxic chemicals and excess plastic waste.
- Known for: Laundry wash in refillable jugs
- Primary ingredients: powerful plant-based ingredients including essential oils for scent (unscented also available)
- Sustainability points: Plastic jugs and bottles need only be purchased once and can be refilled using sustainable refill pouches.
- Certifications: None
- EWG ratings: As and Bs
- Favorite Truly Free Products: Laundry Wash and Softening Rinse
Biokleen: Non-Toxic Odor Remover
- Brand mission: To produce highly effective cleaning products, without toxic chemicals, that are safe for families, pets and our planet.
- Known for: Products for household cleaning, odor control (including pets), laundry and dishwashing.
- Primary ingredients: Plant and mineral based ingredients, including live enzyme cultures to breakdown stains and eliminate odors.
- Sustainability points: Ultra-concentrated formulas.
- Certifications: Green Seal Certified
- EWG ratings: As and B’s
- Favorite Biokleen Products: Bac-Out Stain and Odor Remover
Molly’s Suds: Non Toxic Stain Remover
- Brand mission: To formulate products without carcinogens or known human toxins. To strive to be good stewards of the Earth and give back to our community and those in need.
- Known for: Laundry, household cleaning and dishwashing products.
- Primary ingredients: Earth and plant-based ingredients derived from corn, coconut, or sustainable sourced palm oil, as well as natural fragrances.
- Sustainability points: Some products are packaged in glass and others in recyclable plastic.
- Certifications: EPA Safer Choice, Leaping Bunny
- EWG ratings: A
- Favorite Molly’s Suds Products: Stain Remover Spray and Laundry Powder
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Discover more of my favorite laundry products!
Homemade Cleaning Products
Not everyone has the time or the interest in making homemade cleaning products – but if you are one of those who likes to DIY everything possible, take a look at the DIY cleaning products I’ve got up on the blog (more to come!)
How to Identify Safe Cleaning Products
The market for non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products has exploded in the past few years but still it can be hard to separate the greenwashing from the truly green.
I’ve been adding to my green cleaning arsenal for years and I’ve found that the best green cleaning brands meet these criteria:
- Disclose all ingredients (even though they are not required to)
- Contain mineral and plant-based ingredients (not petroleum-based)
- Are biodegradable (preferably USDA Certified Biobased Product)
- Do not contain artificial colors or fragrances
- EWG-Verified or rated an A or B in the EWG’s cleaning product database (a C rating can also be acceptable – see fragrance note below)
- Bonus: Are ultraconcentrated or refillable
And of course they need to get the cleaning job done! That goes without saying!
Eco-friendly cleaning products have come a long way and I would argue that many of them work just as well or better than conventional cleaning products. Sure, I’ve tried a few that were duds, but over the years I’ve found the specific products that work best for me from a bunch of different green cleaning brands.
A Note About Fragrance in Cleaning Products
Artificial or synthetic fragrance had become an evil buzz word in the natural product industry – and for good reason. HOWEVER, fragrance is complicated (as my friend Lindsay explains in this helpful post).
Essential oils are a great natural fragrance option but they do not have the lasting scent that many people prefer. Other natural fragrances (from plant stems, tree bark resins etc…) add more scent options.
Safer synthetic fragrances (phthalate-free for starters) are also available. The good news is that companies are becoming more transparent about fragrance ingredients and I expect the world of fragrance to become easier to navigate in the future.
My personal preference is for lightly scented cleaning products that smell like something you would find in nature (lavender, pine, lemon) as opposed to strongly scented “tropical breeze” or “floral mist” fragrances.
What are your favorite green & healthy cleaning products?
Want even more info about non-toxic cleaning so you can be CONFIDENT that your cleaning routine is safe? Check out my Green Cleaning Kickstart mini-course!
