In today’s world, more and more people are becoming concerned about the environmental impact of the products they use in their homes. From laundry detergents to all-purpose cleaners, conventional cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to human health and the environment. However, there are now many eco-friendly options available that are just as effective at cleaning while being gentler on the planet and safer for families.
For those looking to green their home cleaning routine, here are eight top eco-friendly products to help create a spotless home in an earth-friendly way.
All-Purpose Green Cleaner
Harsh chemicals in conventional all-purpose cleaners can aggravate asthma and respiratory issues when inhaled. The vapors alone from these cleaners make them less than ideal for use throughout the home.
Eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners offer a non-toxic solution made from plant-based ingredients that provide a deep clean without harsh fumes or residues.
Brands like Mrs. Meyer’s, Seventh Generation, Method, and more create effective green all-purpose cleaners with ingredients like citrus extracts, essential oils, plant-derived alcohol, sodium citrate, and more. They break down grease, lift stains, disinfect surfaces, and leave a fresh scent without toxic chemicals.
When selecting an eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner, verify that it is non-toxic, biodegradable, and free of ammonia, chlorine, phosphates, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. Plant-based ingredients like lemon and vinegar work to cut grease and sanitize.
Lightly scented varieties with essential oils give a pleasant aroma without irritating respiratory issues. Look for Green Seal or EPA Safer Choice Certifications. sprays like Method’s sea mineral all-purpose cleaner offer an effective all-in-one green cleaning solution for any room in the home.
Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent
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Conventional laundry detergents often contain chemicals like phosphates, bleach, synthetic fragrances and more. These ingredients can irritate skin, harm aquatic life once washed down the drain, and contribute to air pollution. Eco-friendly laundry detergents provide an effective cleaning solution without these harsh additives.
Brands like Seventh Generation, Molly’s Suds, and Ecos create plant-based, non-toxic detergents using ingredients like enzymes, vegetable-derived surfactants, essential oils for fragrance, and more. They effectively remove stains and odors from fabrics while being gentle on the environment.
When shopping for an eco-friendly laundry detergent, look for plant-based ingredients, a lack of phosphates, dyes, artificial fragrances, and bleach. Biodegradable, readily renewable ingredients are ideal. For those with sensitive skin, hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested options are also available.
With multiple scent options like lavender, lemon, or unscented varieties, there’s an eco-friendly laundry detergent for every consumer. They can be used safely for all fabric types in standard, HE, and front-loading washing machines. An eco-friendly laundry detergent like Tru keeps clothes fresh and clean while nurturing the planet and home.
Eco-Friendly Dish Soap
Washing dishes multiple times per day adds up in chemical exposure over time when using conventional dish soaps. Luckily, eco-friendly dish soaps wash away grease and grime without subjecting hands to these harsh toxins.
Brands like Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer’s, Grab Green, and more use plant-based ingredients like coconut oil, vegetable glycerin, essential oils, and sodium citrate to eliminate grease. These eco-friendly formulas cut through stuck-on food residue and leave dishes sparkling clean.
When selecting an eco-friendly dish soap, avoid ingredients like SLS, triclosan, phthalates, synthetic dyes and fragrances. Instead, look for plant-based, biodegradable ingredients with naturally derived scents. Essential oils like lavender or lemon provide a pleasant aroma while effective grease-cutting agents like sodium citrate derived from citric acid clean dishes thoroughly.
Sal Suds biodegradable dish soap combines the cleaning power of sodium citrate and essential oils for an effective earth-friendly option safe enough for washing baby bottles.
Eco-Friendly Wood Cleaner
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Wood furniture and floors require gentle cleaning solutions to maintain their beauty safely. Harsh chemicals in conventional wood cleaners can strip finishes, dull surfaces, and leave toxic residues behind.
Eco-friendly wood cleaners offer a non-toxic solution using plant oils that nourish wood surfaces while restoring their shine. Brands like Aunt Fannie’s, Better Life, and more create effective wood cleaners from ingredients like coconut oil, plant-derived soap, essential oils, and more. These lift dirt from wood grain to reveal the natural beauty of the surface without chemicals (Rees, 2019).
When choosing an eco-friendly wood cleaner, avoid petroleum-based ingredients or those with synthetic fragrances. Instead, look for plant-derived oils like coconut or olive oil that protect wood while cleaning. Essential oils safely sanitize surfaces and provide light scents.
Citric acid or sodium bicarbonate lift grime without stripping finishes. OleAnts wood cleaner contains coconut oil and essential oils to nourish while restoring shine and removing smudges from wood, laminate, and tile. Its soy-based formula is non-toxic and biodegradable.
Eco-Friendly Glass & Window Cleaner
For sparkling windows and mirrors throughout the home, typical glass cleaners rely on chemicals like ammonia to do the job. However, natural solutions can clean as effectively without the harmful toxins.
Eco-friendly glass and window cleaners use plant-based ingredients to cut through grease, grime, and visible streaks on glass surfaces. Brands like Mrs. Meyer’s, J.R. Watkins, and more craft glass cleaners with plant oils, corn/coconut-derived alcohol, essential oils, and more.
When paired with microfiber cloths, these solutions leave behind brilliantly clear surfaces without chemical residues.
When selecting an eco-friendly glass and window cleaner, look for ammonia-free formulas without synthetic fragrances or dyes. Plant-based alcohols effectively remove grime without streaking while essential oils sanitize surfaces and provide pleasant scents.
Biodegradable ingredients like vinegar and water work well for homemade solutions. Mrs. Meyer’s glass cleaner uses ammonia-free plant ingredients and bergamot, lemon, and orange essential oils to leave glass pristine and naturally scented.
Eco-Friendly Toilet Bowl Cleaner
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To power through grime, stains, and clogs in the toilet bowl, conventional toilet cleaners rely on harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach. While effective, they can be both an environmental and respiratory hazard. Eco-friendly options provide a non-toxic solution with the same scrubbing power.
Brands like Seventh Generation, Earthworm, and more craft toilet cleaners from plant-based ingredients like citric acid, essential oils, and hydrogen peroxide. They break down mineral deposits, lift stains, remove odors, and sanitize without toxic fumes.
When selecting an eco-friendly toilet bowl cleaner, look for non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients without chlorine bleach. Plant-derived acids like citric or lactic acid effectively remove stains and kill germs. Essential oils provide pleasant scents to override odors.
Hydrogen peroxide formulas bubble away grime without irritating respiratory issues. Puracy Natural’s plant-based toilet cleaner uses a bubble bath of coconut-derived cleaners and essential oils to dissolve grime and make toilets literally sparkle.
Eco-Friendly Hand Soap
Washing hands multiple times per day with chemical-laden conventional soaps translates into more toxin exposure over time. Eco-friendly hand soaps provide effective cleansing without these harsh chemicals.
Brands like Mrs. Meyer’s, Everyone, Dr. Bronner’s and more rely on plant oils, essential oils, vegetable glycerin and more to lift germs and leave hands clean, smooth, and lightly fragranced. These soaps avoid the use of triclosan, phthalates, parabens, and synthetic dyes and fragrances common in conventional soaps.
When selecting an eco-friendly hand soap, look for plant-based ingredients and essential oils. Coconut oil, olive oil, and vegetable glycerin offer effective cleansing and moisture. Antibacterial essential oils like lavender safely destroy germs.
Biodegradable plant oils create gentle lather and light fragrance. Hand Soap with coconut and lemon essential oils provides effective cleansing power with certified non-toxic plant ingredients safe for the earth and skin.
Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Detergent
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The dishwasher makes light work of piles of dirty dishes with the help of conventional dishwasher detergents. However, their chemical formulas come with environmental and health consequences.
Eco-friendly dishwasher detergents offer an effective wash for dishware and glassware using plant-based ingredients instead. Brands like Seventh Generation, Grab Green, Mrs. Meyer’s, and more craft non-toxic dishwasher detergents with plant enzymes, vegetable-derived surfactants, citric extracts, essential oils, and more to power through stuck-on food residues
When selecting an eco-friendly dishwasher detergent, avoid added bleach, phosphates, and synthetic fragrances. Instead, look for plant-based ingredients like lemongrass essential oil, coconut-derived cleaners, and enzyme streak removers.
Products made in the USA like Cleancult’s powder dishwasher detergent effectively wash dishes using foaming coconut cleaners, purified enzymes, and geranium and lemon essential oils for a non-toxic clean. The eco-friendly ingredients provide a sparkling clean for dishes and glassware while nourishing the earth.
Transition to Eco-Friendly Cleaning
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More and more consumers are going green with their home cleaning supplies. The good news is there are now effective eco-friendly products widely available to replace conventional cleaners in every room of the home.
From plant-based laundry detergents to naturally antimicrobial wood cleaners, these earth-friendly solutions provide the same scrubbing power without the toxic formulas. With some trial and error, each household can find the right combination of green cleaners to keep their home spotless in an environmentally responsible way.
Small changes like switching to an eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner or dish soap make a meaningful difference over time. As demand grows, more plant-based innovations will reach the cleaning products aisle. The future looks bright for effective green cleaning.
