You’re doing all the right things: Feeding your family nutritious meals, encouraging your kids to stay active, and raising your babies as healthy as possible.
But there’s one area that moms often forget to health-ify, and that’s household cleaning products.
Doesn’t it seem counterproductive to dress your baby in organic cotton clothes and then spray toxins throughout the house?
Most moms don’t even realize they’re doing this, but it’s true! Think of all the cleaning products you use on a regular basis: dish soap, laundry detergent, disinfectant spray, and so on.
Every time you use one of those products, you’re unintentionally exposing your family to harmful toxins.
Recommended Natural Cleaning Brands to Try
Seventh Generation
The Honest Company
Mrs. Meyers
Dr. Bronner's
There’s good news, though. You can easily avoid unhealthy cleaning products by switching to natural cleaning products.
Here are the 22 best natural cleaning products that are actually safe to use around your family.
Best Natural Kitchen Cleaners
To make the switch to natural cleaning products easiest for you, we’ve organized them by room. Let’s start with my favorite room—the kitchen.
Food often comes in contact with the surfaces in your kitchen. Think countertops, the stove, and even the shelves in your fridge.
You don’t just want these areas to be squeaky clean. They should also be toxin-free.
Ecover Zero Dish Soap
When you wash your dishes, you may notice a chemical residue left on them. If you wash dishes by hand, this is inevitable.
Since you and your family may consume trace amounts of the dish soap, you use you want to make sure they’re as natural and safe as possible.
The Ecover Zero Dish Soap is a natural alternative to toxic, chemical-filled dish soaps on store shelves. It’s plant-based, biodegradable, and cruelty-free.
I especially like this natural dish soap because it’s fragrance-free and doesn’t contain any dyes or chlorine.
Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner
A general purpose cleaner is a kitchen must-have. This is a great way to disinfect greasy counters and germy fridge handles.
If it’s not non-toxic, it’s also a great way to spread unnecessary chemicals in your house.
Seventh Generation’s Multi-Surface Cleaner is the perfect solution. It kills 99.99% of germs with all botanical ingredients. I really like that I can recognize each ingredient on the ingredients list.
You can use this cleaning spray as a disinfectant and deodorizer, too. To do so, just let it sit for about 10 minutes before wiping it clean.
Honest Company Dishwasher Packs
Like dish soap, dishwasher pods can leech onto your dishes and eventually get onto your food. When switching to natural cleaning products, this is one of the first products to switch.
Honest Company’s Dishwasher Packs are made with all clean ingredients. They’re free of fragrances, dyes, chlorine, formaldehyde, phthalates, and more.
The ingredients are derived from plant-based and mineral sources, and each ingredient is carefully chosen for safety and efficacy.
Mrs. Meyer’s Surface Scrub
Before I found this product, I used a chlorine bleach powder to clean my sink and grimy appliances. I can’t tell you how many times I would start coughing and rubbing my eyes after using those products.
I later found out that bleach exposure and ingestion causes irritation, stinging, and a slew of other symptoms. Bleach toxicity is a real concern. No, thank you!
Mrs. Meyer’s Surface Scrub is a natural alternative that uses minerals to clean and brighten greasy surfaces. It works in the same way as traditional bleach powders, but it’s much healthier for your family (and pets).
Grove Collaborative Floor Cleaning Concentrate
Cleaning kitchen floors is the bane of my existence, but it must be done. And preferably, it must be done safely.
If you have little kids that like to walk around barefoot, you have to be mindful of the surfaces they walk on.
I mop my kitchen tile floors with the Grove Collaborative Floor Cleaning Concentrate. It’s free of harsh chemicals, and it’s super affordable.
I shop on Grove Co. whenever possible because I can trust that the products are safe, and I love a good deal.
I’m also a sucker for essential oils, and I love that this floor cleaner uses essential oils as its fragrance.
Best Natural Bathroom Cleaners
The bathroom is one area of the house that we don’t need to explain why it needs a good cleaning.
But we do have to emphasize that you should use natural cleaning products even in the bathroom.
The reason is that bathroom cleaning products often contain the harshest chemicals. You’ve seen the soap scum commercials, but those are the last products you should go for.
Instead, here are some natural cleaning products to clean your bathroom.
Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Yes, even your toilet should be cleaned with non-toxic ingredients. Think about how many times you and your children visit the bathroom on a daily basis.
Though the bathroom is associated with being dirty and germy, it doesn’t have to be a place for toxins.
The Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner is organic, plant-based, and biodegradable. This product has a short and simple ingredients list, and it’s easy to use.
I like that it’s available on Thrive Market, an online marketplace for healthy and natural products.
Method Tub & Tile Spray
If you have little ones, bath time is likely a regular part of your routine. I wouldn’t want my kids exposed to soap scum in the tub, nor would I want them exposed to toxic chemicals from traditional bathroom cleaners. You should clean your tub and shower tiles, but do so with a natural alternative.
Method’s Tub & Tile Spray is an excellent go-to because the ingredients are mainly derived from plants and minerals. It’s also safe to use around children, pets, and people with allergies.
Another thing I like about this product is that it’s free of Triclosan, a toxin commonly used in soap and cleaning products.
According to EWG, Triclosan is moderately to highly hazardous.
Blueland Glass & Mirror Tablets
If you’re looking for a natural cleaning product to wash your mirrors and glass windows, check out this one.
Blueland’s Glass & Mirror Tablets are truly safe, not to mention unique. They’re free of toxins like parabens and ammonia, and Blueland products are eco-friendly.
Here’s how it works: When you purchase a starter set, you receive a glass bottle that you can reuse forever.
Fill the bottle with water and add a cleaning tablet. Give it a couple of minutes to dissolve, and then it’s ready to use.
I highly recommend Blueland for various types of natural cleaning products because they’re safe, sustainable, and super easy to use. Be sure to check out their other products.
Dr. Bronner’s Castile Liquid and Bar Soap
This is one of the most versatile cleaning products on our list, and it’s one that I think everyone should have.
You’ve probably heard of it before: Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap available in liquid soap and bar soap. I keep one of these on my bathroom counter and in the shower.
You can use this for cleaning surfaces or as a hand, face, and body wash. It’s made with all natural oils that you can actually recognize and pronounce.
You can choose from several different scents. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with unscented.
Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray
EWG estimates that 53% of cleaning products contain ingredients that are harmful to the lungs.
Disinfectant sprays are among those products and should be replaced immediately with natural alternatives since they’re airborne.
Seventh Generation’s Disinfectant Spray is a natural cleaning product that you don’t have to worry about. It uses a derivative of Thyme Oil to kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses, making it the perfect natural alternative to bathroom cleaners.
To use, spray directly onto the intended area and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then wipe clean with a dry towel. A convenient feature of this product—no need to rinse!
Best Natural Bedroom & Living Room Cleaners
Your family probably spends a lot of time in the living room and common areas. Kids also love their playrooms, bedrooms, and spaces with soft carpet.
You want to keep those places clean, but don’t put your family’s health at risk in the process.
Here’s how to keep living areas and bedrooms clean with natural cleaning products.
Biokleen Carpet and Rug Shampoo
Carpets and rugs can be breeding grounds for germs. They’re prone to dirtiness and stains, but routine shampooing will help.
Since your kids will likely play and walk barefoot on carpet, be sure to use natural cleaning products like this one.
Biokleen Carpet and Rug Shampoo uses fruit extracts and plant-based ingredients to relieve your carpet of stains and odors.
Biokleen also has a long list of harmful ingredients they don’t use in their products. That list includes known toxins like chlorine and ammonia.
Though this product is all-natural, it has the power of professional cleaning formulas...all without harsh chemicals.
You can feel good letting your kiddos play on the carpet with this product.
Earthworm Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator
If you have pets, this product is for you. When your fur babies potty in the house, it can be impossible to clean without resorting to harsh cleaners filled with toxic chemicals. Use this product instead.
Earthworm Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator is fragrance-free and dye-free. It also doesn’t leave behind chemical residues.
You can use this on carpet, rugs, fabric, bedding, and other breathable materials to lift stubborn stains and odors.
Use natural pet cleaners not only protects your children but also your pets. Pets can be extra sensitive to chemicals and cleaning products, so this is a safe alternative for your entire family.
Force of Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
This is the last all-purpose cleaner you will ever need.
Force of Nature works much like Blueland. First, you order the starter kit, which is enough to make five bottles of their all-purpose cleaner.
When you run out, you only need to order replacement capsules to make more of the cleaning solution.
This brand is also really strict when it comes to ingredients they never use. Their all-purpose cleaner is free of allergens, fragrances, dyes, irritants, preservatives, and more.
Mrs. Meyer’s Room Freshener Spray
Let’s be honest: As much as we try, our house isn’t immune to stinky smells. Whether it’s from pets, dirty diapers, or food gone bad, escaping odors is impossible.
Thank goodness for air fresheners. If your mind went straight to Febreze or Glade, let me stop you right there.
The majority of products by those brands get D and F safety ratings from EWG.
Mrs. Meyer’s Room Freshener Spray is a much safer option. It contains essential oils, so it smells great naturally.
Air fresheners are products that your family will breathe in. Always go the safe route in this category.
Real Simple Clean Leather Cleaner
If you have leather couches or recliners, this natural cleaning product is a must.
Real Simple Clean Leather Cleaner is a product you can trust. It’s free of harsh chemicals like Triclosan, BPA, and parabens. It also uses only natural fragrances, and it’s allergen friendly.
The best part is that this product contains only five ingredients. Cleaning products don’t have to have long ingredients lists to be effective.
Truce Wood Cleaner
This one is for your wood furniture and tables.
Truce Wood Cleaner is the way to go if you have little ones who use your wooden dining table often.
It keeps your wood furniture clean without causing your family to come in contact with toxins.
This product contains no SLS, phthalates, phosphates, or parabens. It also contains aromatherapeutic essential oils in place of artificial fragrances.
Best Natural Laundry Cleaners
If you’re just starting to switch to natural cleaning products, try starting with your laundry cleaners.
If your laundry detergent contains toxic ingredients, those toxins can stick to clothing and come in contact with your babies’ sensitive skin.
Here are the best natural cleaning products for your laundry room.
Branch Basics Liquid Laundry Concentrate
Everyone should use a non-toxic laundry detergent, especially for people with sensitive skin and children.
Branch Basics Liquid Laundry Concentrate is a plant and mineral based laundry soap that’s hypoallergenic. It’s tough on stains and odors yet easy on the skin.
It’s also free of dyes and artificial fragrances—neither of which belong in laundry detergent.
Mrs. Meyer’s Fabric Softener
Want to keep your clothes soft and comfy without dousing them in chemicals?
Try Mrs. Meyer’s Fabric Softener. The plant-based ingredients are carefully chosen, and it even uses essential oils to make your clothes naturally smell fresh.
The ingredients list is much shorter yet way safer than traditional fabric softeners.
Plus, it’s free of phthalates, formaldehyde, artificial colors, parabens, and animal-derived ingredients.
Method Stain Remover
A good stain remover shouldn’t hold back. You definitely want it to be powerful enough to lift dark stains, which are inevitable if you have kids.
Method’s Stain Remover is a safe and natural alternative that’s up for the task. It’s packed with stain-fighting enzymes and has a built-in brush to help you scrub.
This one is free of dyes and perfumes. It was also tested for skin irritation and allergies.
Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Packs
A good stain remover shouldn’t hold back. You definitely want it to be powerful enough to lift dark stains, which are inevitable if you have kids.
Method’s Stain Remover is a safe and natural alternative that’s up for the task. It’s packed with stain-fighting enzymes and has a built-in brush to help you scrub.
This one is free of dyes and perfumes. It was also tested for skin irritation and allergies.
Honest Company Dryer Cloths
Many people overlook dryer sheets when switching to natural cleaning products.
This is something almost all of us use, yet we never question the ingredients because dryer sheets don’t have a traditional ingredients list.
Honest Company Dryer Clothes are both safe and eco-friendly. You can use each sheet for two loads of laundry.
They’re also made without fragrances, dyes, formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, and animal byproducts.
These sheets help soften and reduce static in your clothes without exposing them to toxins.
Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Bleach
You never thought a natural bleach existed, did you?
Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Bleach has done it, and it only contains two ingredients: Water and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Hydrogen Peroxide is a mineral-based stain removal agent. It naturally brightens your white clothes while fighting stains and odors.
This product is proof that you can still use powerful cleaning products—just opt for the natural, safer alternatives.
Now get cleaning!
Cleaning isn’t fun, but you have to admit that it’s satisfying. It’s even more satisfying when you tidy up with natural cleaning products that you know are safe and non-toxic.
I want to end on a positive note, but I also want to reinforce the importance of safe household products. Many cleaning ingredients—such as parabens, formaldehyde, and Triclosan—are known carcinogens.
Other ingredients like ammonia and bleach are very irritating to the eyes, skin, and lungs.
Back to the good news: Switching to non-toxic cleaning products is an easy way to protect your family from harmful chemicals. These products are also affordable and accessible, so there’s no excuse.
Which natural cleaning products are you adding to your online shopping cart right now?
Let us know your favorites in the comments below!
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