The best part of these cleaning products is that they are super concentrated and a little goes a long way! Not only are these products better for your health, they are also very cost effective.
Don't be fooled by the marketing efforts of companies advertising their products as "natural" -- there is no regulation for this word. The only way to know if a product is healthy is to look up the ingredients for yourself! I only use fragrance-free products in my home. "Fragrance" is a catch-all word that can mean anything. If you see this word on a label, be wary of why the manufacturer is not displaying the actual ingredients themselves. Unless a product specifies what ingredients are in the fragrance (such as lavender essential oil), I will generally buy the unscented version. Be careful because some fragrance-free products contain masking agents. Scroll through my favorite household products to use and more details are below.
Cleaning + Laundry
Dishwashing + Soaps
Cleaning + Laundry
All Purpose Cleaner
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Cleaner
Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Cleaner is basically the only multi-purpose cleaner you need. I use it to clean windows, counter tops, and floors. Make your own counter spray and glass cleaner by mixing a 1/4 teaspoon Sal Suds with 2 cups filtered water in a spray bottle. If you have an empty spray bottle from a previously purchased glass cleaner, repurpose that one instead of buying a brand new bottle! I keep one bottle in my kitchen and one in my bathroom. It has a spruce scent and I like to use it as is, but you can also add in a few drops of your own essential oils, such as lemon, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil.
To make a DIY floor cleaner, add a half tablespoon Sal Suds to 2 cups water to mop with my favorite OXO Good Grips Spray Mop. This mop is excellent and it comes with a washable microfiber pad and a refillable container.
Sal Suds is concentrated so make sure to dilute with enough water, otherwise everything will be soapy. See Lisa Bronner's Sal Suds Dilutions Cheat Sheet for a full list of uses.
EWG Rating: A
Laundry Detergent
Biokleen Free & Clear Laundry Liquid
This unscented laundry detergent is very gentle, but effective. It is very concentrated, so a little goes a long way. I've been using it for 3 years and am happy with how it cleans my laundry. This is safe to use for babies and the ingredients here are much better than some of the advertised "for baby" brands, which contain toxic chemicals. It's so easy to just use one product for the whole family!
EWG Rating: A
I stopped using dryer sheets and now use Woolzies Wool Dryer Balls to keep my laundry fluffy and static-free. This is also an environmentally-friendly option since the wool balls are reused many times, instead of using disposable sheets. If you want scented laundry, add a drop of lavender essential oil to the balls before drying.
Dishwashing + Soaps
Dish Soap
Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid, Free and Clear
I don't need my dish soap to be bright orange or smell like fresh citrus; I just need it to work. This product contains SLS, which can be a mild skin irritant, but this dish soap does a good job of getting out grease. I've tried other brands with a better EWG rating, but I have yet to find anything rated A that works well. I use dish gloves when washing a lot of dishes by hand so it doesn't come in contact with my skin.
EWG Rating: C
Dishwasher Detergent
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Powder, Free & Clear
This detergent works well in the dishwasher. Occasionally, I see some streaks on glasses, but it is easy to wipe off with a microfiber cloth. I've also used the Dishwasher Packs, which work just as well, but I'm opting for a product with less packaging.
EWG Rating: A
Hand Soap (and more!)
Dr. Bronner's Unscented Pure Castile Soap
This is my favorite mild, all-purpose soap! I keep a foaming soap pump near my kitchen sink with homemade foaming soap (fill the container 1/5 of the way with castile soap and fill to the top with filtered water) since I wash my hands so frequently in the kitchen. I also use this soap as a fruit and veggie wash and scrub them with a brush. This product also works great as a body wash and baby wash. Read Lisa Bronner's Liquid Soaps Dilutions Cheat Sheet.
EWG Rating: 1
EO Lemon & Eucalyptus Hand Soap
I use this soap in my bathroom and love how it smells. It has a nice, light smell and the formula does not dry out my hands. I buy the giant refill container and keep refilling the same soap dispenser.
EWG Rating: 2
What are your go-to cleaning tips? If you can recommend a great dish soap with an EWG A rating, please share in the comments!
