We’ve been trained to associate the smell of harsh chemicals with a clean home. For most people, it’s hard to imagine that your home is clean without using bleach, harsh chemicals, or chlorine products on every surface. But, the reality is that non-toxic cleaning products are just as effective as normal, toxic products!
You would be shocked to learn how many toxic ingredients and harsh chemicals are in the products that we use in our homes. On a daily basis, we are exposed to hundreds of these toxins through consumption, absorption, and inhalation. Everything that comes into contact with our bodies has a major impact on our health. It only takes 27 seconds for a product we put on our skin to make its way into the bloodstream.
You might be surprised to learn how much manufacturers are allowed to hide about the dangers their products pose. Companies are realizing that people are becoming conscious about the products they use in their homes. They are getting clever with their marketing by using words like “natural, good for you, non-toxic”. The problem is that those words mean nothing. There are no laws regarding the words or strategies a company can use to market their products.
It is truly disturbing that these toxins are allowed into our products and that there isn’t better regulation. So, this means that the burden is on us to figure out what is healthy, what is harmful, and what are safe choices to use in our homes. This guide to non-toxic cleaning products is designed to help you make safe choices in the daily cleaning products you are using in your home.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, the following are toxic ingredients that you definitely want to avoid in your cleaning products.
Toxic Ingredients To Look For
- 2-Butoxyethanol: asscoiated with skin, throat, and eye irritant, damage to blood, and kidney toxicity
- Ammonia: linked to respiratory and skin irritation
- Chlorine: associated with respiratory irritation, destruction of gut bacteria, and thyroid disruption
- DEA (diethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine) and MEA (monoethanolamine): Known as a hormone disruptor, carcinogen, and organ toxicity
- DEHP & Phthalates: known as major endocrine disruptors and linked to reproductive toxicity
- Ethanolamines, Phosphoric Acid, Chloric Acid: can burn the eyes, skin and lungs and is a respiratory irritant
- Ethoxylated Surfactants, 1,4-Dioxane, Ethylene Oxide: can react to form formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
- Formaldehyde: Associated with allergies, irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat, a carcinogen
- Fragrance/Parfum: This industry is self-regulated. The FDA says that companies don’t have to disclose what is used to make their fragrance as its a trade secret. Classified as carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, skin and respiratory irritants.
- Perchloroethylene (PERC): associated with neurotoxicity
- Quats (Quarternary Ammonium Compounds), Glutaral, and Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine bleach): associated with allergies, asthma, birth defects, and fertility issues
- Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide: can burn the eyes, skin and lungs and is a respiratory irritant
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate: linked to skin & eye irritation, organ toxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption & ecotoxicology
- Triclosan: linked to skin irritation, liver damage, hormone disruption, and antibiotic resistance
How To Make the Switch to Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to make the switch to natural products. Reading labels can seem like a daunting task and it is hard to know what to believe as product claims aren’t always true. My biggest tip is to search every products ingredient list. Just because a brand makes a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner does not mean that their other products in the same line are also safe. Take everything product by product, not brand by brand. This resource is designed to ease the overwhelming feeling and bring you a compiled list of non-toxic cleaning products to refer back to as you need.
I use The Environmental Working Group Website and App to check the ingredients in my products. Be sure to research any questionable ingredients or ratings yourself.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
All-Purpose Cleaner
- Force of Nature (great bleach alternative/disinfectant)
- Thieves Concentrate
- The Clean Republic
- Branch Basics Concentrate
- Supernatural Concentrate
- MamaSuds All-Purpose Cleaner
- Pure Haven Surface Cleaner
- Attitude Unscented Surface Cleaner
- Glass Spray Bottle
Multi-Surface Wipes
Dusting Products
Floor Cleaner
I recommend you use a spray mop with a diluted amount of all-purpose concentrate.
- ProMist Microfiber Spray Mop
- E-Cloth Deep Clean Mop
- Supernatural Wood & Floors Concentrate
- Carpet Shampoo
- Dyson Vacuum
Glass Cleaner
- E-Cloth Glass Towel
- Aunt Fannie’s Glass & Window Cleaning
- Aspen Clean Glass Cleaner
- Make Your Own
- Glass Spray Bottle
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 cups warm water (distilled or filtered is best so it doesn’t leave residue)
- Optional: 10 drops essential oil of choice – I use lemon
Bath Tub Cleaner
I wish I could give you a recommendation in this category, but there honestly was not one product I felt comfortable recommending. However, I recommend you use an all-purpose concentrate (or this) with baking soda for a great scrub.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- MamaSuds Toilet Bombs
- Use an all-purpose concentrate with baking soda and scrub with your toilet wand.
- Seventh Generation Emerald Cypress & Fir Toilet Bowl Cleaner – This does not have a perfect rating (rated 1, so there are a few questionable ingredients), but this is what I leave for my house cleaner.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
- E-Cloth Stainless Towel
- Supernatural Stainless Steel Cleaner
- I use a small amount of dish soap on a soft cloth and moisten it with a modest amount of water. Wipe along the grain of your appliances. Next, dry the appliances with a soft cloth. Lastly, dab a few drops of baby oil onto a soft cloth. Wipe along the grain, moving in either direction. This will give your appliances a nice polish!
All Things Dishes
Dish Brushes
- Long-Handled Heavy Duty Dish Brush
- Long-Handled Dish Brush
- Natural Scrub Brush
- Bamboo Scrub Brush and Dispenser
- Bamboo Dish Brush Set
Dishwashing Soap
- AspenClean Dish Soap
- Thieves Dish Soap
- Puracy Dish Soap
- Clean Cult Dish Soap
- Common Good Dish Soap
- Attitude Dish Soap
Dishwasher Detergent
- MamaSuds Automatic Dishwasher Powder
- Ecos Wave Dishwasher Gel
- Branch Basics Dishwasher Tablets
- Young Living Automatic Dishwasher Powder
- Nice! Dishwasher Packs Single Dose Detergent
- Puracy Dishwasher Detergent Packs
- Cleancult Dishwasher Pods
- AspenClean Dishwasher Pods
- Earth Friendly Products Wave Auto Dishwasher Gel, Free & Clear
- Better Life Dishwasher Gel
Air Fresheners & Candles
Scented candles, aerosols, plug-ins, gels, and incense sticks are full of toxic chemicals. I wanted to share this post from Wellness Mama where you can read more.
- Diffusers with 100% Pure Essential Oils
- Clean Candle Brands: Fontana Candle Company / Fig & Fire Candles / Wellness by Ari / Stonelight Candles
- Make Your Own Room Spray
- 1 oz of Vodka
- Splash of Mexican Clear Vanilla
- Essential oils of choice
- 7 oz of Water
Laundry Essentials
- Thieves Laundry Detergent
- Aspenclean Laundry Detergent
- Attitude Baby Laundry Detergent
- Better Life Laundry Detergent
- Clean Cult Laundry Detergent (Fragrance-Free, Juniper Sandalwood, Sea Spray & Aloe, Sweet Honeysuckle)
- Young Living Thieves Laundry Soap
- Hello Bello Concentrated Organic (Fragrance-Free and Sweet Baby)
- EcoMe Laundry Detergent (Fragrance-Free, Vanilla Bean, Lavender Blossom, Citrus Berry)
- Whole Foods Organic Unscented
- Common Good Laundry Detergent
- Molly Suds Laundry Powder (Peppermint, Unscented, All Sport Activewear)
- Truly Free Laundry
- Branch Basics
- Humble Suds Laundry
- Pure Haven Laundry Detergent
- ECOS Packs – Free & Clear
- Meliora Laundry Powder
Laundry Miscellaneous Items
- Branch Basics Oxygen Boost – Bleach alternative
- White Vinegar – Fabric softener replacement and no your clothes won’t smell like vinegar!
- Wool Dryer Balls – Dryer sheets are one of the most toxic things within the home, so try dryer balls scented with 100% pure essential oils.
- Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Remover
- Puracy Free & Clear Stain Remover
Hand Soap
- Sally B’s Skin Yummies Foaming Hand Soap
- Made Of Foaming Hand Soap
- Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
- Be Green Bath & Body Hand Soap
- Follain Hand Soap
- Puracy Foaming Hand Soap
- Kosmatology Hand Soap
- Beauty Counter Softening Hand Wash Neroli
- Attitude Hand Soap
- Cleancult Liquid Hand Soap
- Aunt Fannie’s Hand Soap
- Dr. Bronners Rose Castile Soap
- Pipette Hand Wash Bergamot & Lemon
- Young Living Foaming Hand Soap
- Branch Basics Foaming Hand Soap
- Make Your Own
- Foaming Soap Dispenser (1, 2, 3)
- Fill up your dispenser with 3/4 of water (use distilled water or filtered water). It’s best to add the water first to avoid creating too much foam.
- 4 Tbsp of Castile Soap
- 1/2 tsp of Vitamin E Oil
- 10-20 drops of Essential oil (optional)
Miscellaneous Cleaning Items & Hacks
- Seventh Generation Paper Towels: Made out of 100 percent recycled paper with no chlorine, dyes, inks or fragrances.
- Goop Unpaper Towels
- Trash Bags
- Multi-Purpose Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
- Goo Gone: Apply a few drops of Lemon EO to a sticky surface and scrub off
Take your time and practice patience as you transition to a cleaner lifestyle. Maybe switching out products one room at a time is best for you, or maybe even one product at a time. Remember that baby steps will still lead you to the same goal as long strides. It may take you a little longer, but that is okay. This journey is all about giving yourself grace and taking it at your own pace so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.
In conclusion, I hope that this guide to non-toxic cleaning products helps ease the transition in your journey to healthier living. You’ve got this, friends!
If you are looking to switch other household items, you can check out my guide to toxic-free personal care products!
xx,
Ashley
Related Readings: Essential Oils for Beginners
This is such an important blog post- many people don’t realize how many chemicals are in their cleaning products! Until I started having kids, I didn’t really think about the chemicals in the household cleaners I was using, but now I’m more cautious about what I buy and use. I’m fortunate to have a carpet cleaner near me that uses non-toxic cleaning solutions and this really helps keep my home clean. Thank you for providing a such a great list of store-bought products and DIY cleaners for me to also use!
Yes. I wrote this post in hopes to shed some light into all of the chemicals we are exposed to daily. So glad you found this post helpful. Cheering you on in your journey!
What about Meyers products? Are they clean to use?
Unfortunately, most of them have questionable ingredients such as fragrance, laureth-7, sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate, methylisothiazolinone, polysorbate-20, peg-5 cocoate, and the list goes on. I steer clear of their products. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much! This must have taken a very long time to find all these nontoxic items.
Of course! I always love to hear when y’all find the post helpful. Makes the effort 1000% worth it. Hope you are doing well on your journey and hope you have a Merry Christmas!
I love the idea of making my own room spray. However, we are an alcohol free home, so I’m wondering if there is an alternative to vodka that can be used.
Thank you so much for all the great ideas!
Yes you can use 50/50 witch hazel and distilled water!
Great! Thank you so much.
This really is so helpful; thank you, Ashley! I made a New Year resolution to shift over to using more non-toxic products in my home, and cleaning products are a huge aspect of that. Thank you for shedding light on this.
Of course. So glad you found it helpful!