Green Cleaning: The Best Low and Non-Toxic Products for Every Room

There’s nothing quite like a clean, clutter-free home. But so many cleaning products contain ingredients that most of us can’t pronounce, let alone recognize. That’s why non-toxic cleaning products are ballooning in popularity as households everywhere focus on health and sustainability.

As an eco-conscious mom of two, I know the importance of using non-toxic cleaning products in my home. Not only am I concerned about the environmental impact of using products that contain chemicals or come in bulky plastic jugs, but I also want to ensure that my kids grow up healthy and learn sustainable behaviors from me. Below, I’ll share what I found after reviewing the best low- and non-toxic cleaning products for every room, so that you can detoxify your cleaning routine and set a good example for your family.

Why Choose Non-Toxic Cleaning Products?

Traditional cleaning products promise to eliminate bacteria and make our homes sparkling clean. But many products use potentially harmful chemicals to achieve this goal. Non-toxic cleaning products can keep your home clean and germ-free without yucky ingredients that can harm your health and the environment.

Here’s what I found about the health benefits and environmental impact of using non-toxic cleaning products.

Health Benefits

Using non-toxic cleaning products in your home can reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals. That makes it safer for children and pets.

Research suggests that many cleaning products increase exposure to primary and secondary air pollutants. When we use these products in our home, we inadvertently inhale, absorb, and ingest these pollutants into our bodies. This can aggravate asthma and increase the risk of developing COPD.

I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer to keep those chemicals out of my home and away from my kids.

Environmental Impact

Cleaning chemicals can also hurt the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chemical cleaners often release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere, contributing to smog formation. Surfactants, a common ingredient in cleaning products, can become toxic when they undergo biodegradation, posing a threat to aquatic life. 

Choosing non-toxic cleaning products with biodegradable ingredients can help reduce water and air pollution, thereby keeping the planet in better shape for future generations. 

Common Harmful Chemicals to Avoid

When you’re giving your cleaning closet a makeover, you need to know what to avoid. The following ingredients can be harmful to your health and the environment:

• Phthalates
• Parabens
• Ammonia
• Chlorine bleach
• Artificial dyes and fragrances
• Formaldehyde
• Phosphates
• Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
• 1,4-Dioxane

Non-Toxic Cleaning Products for Every Room

Now you know what to avoid, here are the non-toxic cleaning products I recommend for every room.

Kitchen

The biggest challenges in the kitchen include grease, food residue, and surfaces that come into contact with food. When you’re scrubbing your kitchen, the last thing you want is a leftover chemical residue that your kids ingest alongside their chicken nuggets and mac and cheese.

I stick with non-toxic kitchen cleaners that cut through grease and grime without affecting my family’s health.

Recommended Products:

• Branch Basics All-Purpose Cleaner is a plant- and mineral-based, concentrated formula that you dilute with water to use on any surface in your home. It contains decyl glucoside, sodium citrate, and chamomile extract to cut grease and leave your kitchen smelling fresh as a flower.
• Blueland Multi-Surface Cleaner is made with plant-based ingredients and has a fresh lemon scent. Drop a tablet into a spray bottle filled with water and use it to keep your kitchen sparkling clean.
• Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds contains plant-based surfactants and piney essential oils for a clean home that smells amazing. It can clean countertops, mop floors, and even scour bathtubs.
• HeySunday dishwasher sheets are an eco-friendly alternative that cleans as well as, if not better than, traditional dishwasher tabs. Each sheet contains plant-based, cruelty-free ingredients and is fully recyclable and septic system safe.

‍DIY Tip: In a pinch, mix vinegar and baking soda for a natural kitchen degreaser.

Bathroom

Your bathroom is susceptible to mold, mildew, and soap scum—not to mention all the usual grime that accumulates on your sink and around your toilet. You might be tempted to spray your toilet with chlorine to kill all the germs, but there’s a more eco-friendly option.

I use non-toxic cleaners specifically designed for the bathroom to ensure that germs and bacteria are banished without the unpleasant side effects.

Recommended Products:

• Seventh Generation Bathroom Cleaner features a fragrant lemongrass citrus scent and kills 99.9% of germs, including norovirus, flu A, and the COVID-19 virus. It’s an excellent alternative to traditional antibacterial bathroom cleaners.
• Method Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner cleans and sanitizes sinks, tubs, tiles, toilet seats, and other bathroom surfaces. And it leaves behind a zingy scent of peppermint, spearmint, menthol, and geranium.
• ECOS Toilet Bowl Cleaner is septic system safe and has a woody, warm cedarwood oil scent. Squirt it around your toilet bowl and let it work its magic for 5–10 minutes, and use a toilet brush to scrub any stubborn stains.

DIY Tip: Use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for grout cleaning.

Living and Dining Rooms

If your living room is anything like mine, you probably fight a daily battle with dust, allergens, and upholstery stains. And your dining room constantly shows signs of last night’s dinner that no one had time to clean up properly. 

These are the non-toxic products I prefer for my living and dining rooms.

Recommended Products:

• Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner can clean your coffee and dining table in seconds. And if your toddler accidentally licks the table, no worries—Better Life products are safe enough to ingest without harm (not that you should be drinking them).
• Puracy Natural Surface Cleaner is a plant-powered formula that can help you achieve a spotless home. It can clean tables, chairs, mirrors, desks, shelves, and even walls!
• Attitude Floor Cleaner is safe for use on wood and tile, leaving a fresh, citrusy scent in its wake. Although it’s designed for floors, it can also be used to clean your toilet bowl in a pinch.

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DIY Tip: Use olive oil and lemon juice for polishing wooden furniture.

Bedrooms

Your bedroom should be a peaceful and tranquil place, but unless you wash your sheets daily, they can start to smell less than fresh. Additionally, dust mites can accumulate on surfaces in your room, exacerbating symptoms of allergies and asthma.

I keep my bedroom fresh and clean with a couple of different eco-friendly cleaning products.

Recommended Products:

• ECOS Fabric Odor Eliminator features a pleasant lavender-vanilla scent and utilizes plant-based ingredients to eliminate odors in fabrics effectively. It’s perfect for freshening up your clothes or other fabrics between washes.
• Ecover Stain Remover features a built-in brush for scrubbing out stubborn stains on sheets, comforters, drapes, carpets, and upholstery.

DIY Tip: Sprinkle baking soda on mattresses, let sit, then vacuum to remove odors.

Laundry Room

My four-person household produces more laundry than I can handle most days. My kids have sensitive skin, so traditional detergent makes them break out. My laundry room used to be a colossal mess with various bulky plastic detergent jugs lining the shelves—but then I discovered non-toxic laundry detergent sheets, and I’ve never looked back.

My top recommended products clean just as well as toxic laundry detergent, but without any of those harsh chemicals. And, since those bulky jugs have gone, my laundry room has never been tidier!

Recommended Products:

• HeySunday Laundry Detergent Sheets are tough on stains and gentle on skin. I love washing my clothes with these detergent sheets, which are safe for HE machines and fully recyclable. 
• HeySunday Dryer Sheets help reduce static cling and make your clothes feel and smell great, without any of the harsh chemicals or artificial scents that traditional dryer sheets contain.

DIY Tip: Use white vinegar as a natural fabric softener.

Garage

The biggest challenges in my garage are oil stains and chemical residues. It’s tempting to use chemicals to remove these stains and residues, but there are natural cleaners that work just as well as their chemical-laden counterparts.

Recommended Products:

• Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is tough on dirt, grease, and stains, yet it contains no harsh chemicals. It can clean carpet, floors, fabrics, and even vehicles without causing damage.
• Aunt Fannie’s Vinegar Wash Floor Cleaner contains vinegar, sugar surfactant, and natural oils to cut grease and grime with one swipe. Use it on your garage floor—yes, even concrete—to make it look as good as new.

DIY Tip: Use baking soda paste for oil stain removal on concrete..

Tips for Transitioning to Non-Toxic Cleaning

If you’ve always used chemical cleaners in your home, it might seem daunting to make the switch to non-toxic cleaning. I’ve been there; when I first decided to ditch the chemicals in favor of plant-based alternatives, I didn’t know where to start. Plus, replacing all your cleaning supplies at once can add up—and, as a cost-conscious mom, I didn’t want to blow hundreds of dollars at once.

But making the transition doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are some tips that helped me along my non-toxic cleaning journey.

• Start by replacing one product at a time. If you use a multi-purpose cleaner in several rooms, start there. If possible, wait until your current cleaner is empty and then buy a non-toxic replacement.
• Read labels carefully. When I first started replacing my cleaning products with non-toxic ones, I had no idea what to look for. Check the labels for certifications, such as EPA Safer Choice, which offers assurance that the product you’re considering uses safer and less toxic ingredients.
• Be cautious of greenwashing. Any product can claim to be “natural” or “non-toxic,” but that’s not always the case. Read ingredient lists to check that the product doesn’t contain chemical ingredients. If you’re not sure, look up each ingredient to see if it’s a chemical in disguise.

Conclusion

Switching to non-toxic cleaning products can have a positive impact on your family’s health and the environment. If you’re ready to take steps toward a healthier home, this guide will help you along the way. Take it from this practical suburban mom: you won’t regret ditching the chemicals.