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The Best Green Cleaning Brands You Need Under Your Sink

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Discover the best green cleaning brands that really work - for laundry, dishes and the whole house! Plus learn why you should make the switch to non-toxic cleaning products in the first place. #greencleaning #nontoxic #healthyhome #momtested via @MindfulMomma

Get the scoop on the the best green cleaning brands that are safe for people and the environment and really work!


The Best Green Cleaning Brands

Shout. Lysol. Windex. Clorox. Tide. Pledge. Unless you’ve grown up living an extremely green lifestyle, you’re probably pretty familiar with those names and the types of products they represent.

And I’m guessing that like 97% of the population, you’ve got one or two of them under your sink right now.

Why Green Cleaning Matters

Conventional cleaning products are well known for their ability to get the dirty jobs done, but there is a price to pay for their version of “clean”. While they may be good at scrubbing off grime and busting germs, they are not healthy housemates.

The ingredients in those secret cleaning formulas are often toxic to breathe, bad for the environment and some are even dangerous to touch with your bare hands. According to an investigation by the Environmental Working Group of over 2000 cleaning products on the American market, cleaning substances have been linked to:

  • asthma and other respiratory problems
  • release of cancer causing formaldehyde
  • elevated risk of birth defects
  • chemical burns and allergic reactions
  • poisonings
  • hormone disruption

Surprisingly, federal laws do not mandate health testing for the chemicals used in most cleaning products and to make matters worse, manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on cleaning product labels. If we don’t know what’s in our cleaning products, how can we make an educated decision about whether or not they are safe to use?

On top of the health concerns, layer in the environmental issues caused by cleaning product ingredients, like algae buildup, drinking water degradation and harm to aquatic life, and these products are not looking very “clean” at all.


RELATED: 4 Good Reasons to Buy Natural, Non-Toxic Products for Your Home & Life


The Best Green Cleaning Brands under my sink.

What to Look For in a Green Cleaning Brand

The market for non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products has exploded in the past few years but still it can be hard to separate the greenwashing from the truly green. I’ve been adding to my green cleaning arsenal for years and I’ve found that the best green cleaning brands meet these criteria:

  • Disclose ingredients (even though they are not required to)
  • Contain plant-based ingredients (not petroleum-based)
  • Are biodegradable (preferably USDA Certified Biobased Product)
  • Do not contain artificial colors or fragrances*
  • An A or B rating in the EWG’s cleaning product database (a C rating can also be acceptable – see fragrance note)
  • Bonus: are ultraconcentrated or refillable

And of course they need to work. That goes without saying. Eco-friendly cleaning products have come a long way and I would argue that many of them work just as well or better than conventional cleaning products. Sure, I’ve tried a few that were duds, but over the years I’ve found the specific products that work best for me from a bunch of different green cleaning brands.

*A note about fragrance: Artificial or synthetic fragrance had become an evil buzz word in the natural product industry – and for good reason. HOWEVER, fragrance is complicated (as my friend Lindsay explains in this helpful post). Essential oils are usually, but not always a good fragrance option and safer synthetic fragrances (phthalate-free for starters) are also available. The good news is that companies are becoming more transparent about fragrance ingredients and I expect the world of fragrance to become easier to navigate in the future.

My personal preference is for lightly scented cleaning products that smell like something you would find in nature (lavender, pine, lemon) as opposed to strongly scented “tropical breeze” or “floral mist” fragrances. A couple of the products I like do use safer synthetic fragrances and hence have a lower rating on the EWG database.

 

The Best Green Cleaning Brands

Best Green Cleaning Brands

(Note: there are affiliate links in this post. If you make a purchase through a link I may receive a small commission (at no extra charge to you). Thank you for supporting Mindful Momma if you do!)

So are you ready to swap out some of your old standbys for greener, safer cleaning products? I’ve tried a lot of brands over the years, so I’m here to help!

My recommendation is to start with the three products you use the most and then continue on from there. Maybe that’s dishwashing soap, laundry detergent and an all-purpose cleaning spray. Or maybe it’s the toilet cleaner that’s got to go. It’s really up to you!

BONUS: If you sign up for my mailing list, you’ll get a printable shopping guide of my top green cleaning products in 10 different cleaning categories. I have cherry-picked the best ones just for you! 

Here’s a list of the best green cleaning brands I rely on every day:

ECOS - Best Green Cleaning ProductsEarth Friendly Products (ECOS)

Known for: A wide variety of cleaning products

(Related: The 5 non-toxic cleaning sprays you’ll find in my home.)

Ecover - Best Green Cleaning ProductsEcover

Known for: Dishwashing and laundry products

Biokleen - Best Green Cleaning ProductsBioKleen

Known for: Bac-Out odor remover and laundry products

Better Life - Best Green Cleaning ProductsBetter Life

Known for: Cleaning sprays for every cleaning task

Molly's Suds - Best Green Cleaning ProductsMolly’s Suds

Known for: Powdered laundry detergent

ATTITUDE

Known for: Cleaning sprays

TruceTruce - Best Green Cleaning Brands

Known for: Concentrated, refillable products – you add the water

Thrive Market - Best Green Cleaning BrandsThrive Market

Known for: Private label cleaning products (get up to $20 off you first order, plus free shipping when you use my affiliate link)

Seventh Generation - Best Green Cleaning BrandsSeventh Generation

Known for: Dishwashing, laundry and bathroom cleaning products

Dr. Bronner - Best Green Cleaning BrandsDr. Bronner’s

Known for: Sals Suds biodegradable cleaner

Orange House - Best Green Cleaning BrandsOrange House

Known for: Orange oil based cleaning products

Non-Toxic Cleaning Sprays

Don’t forget DIY!

Not everyone has the time or the interest in making homemade cleaning products – but if you are one of those who likes to DIY everything possible, take a look at the DIY cleaning products I’ve got up on the blog (more to come!)

  • All-purpose cleaning spray
  • Fizzy scouring powder
  • Laundry freshener
  • Tub & tile cleaning remedies
  • 15 ways to use vinegar in the home

What are your favorite green cleaning brands?

 

 

 

Related

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  • The Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent For Your Family’s NeedsThe Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent For Your Family’s Needs
  • Compare: The Best Places to Buy Organic Food Online to Help You Save MoneyCompare: The Best Places to Buy Organic Food Online to Help You Save Money
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Filed Under: Featured, Green Cleaning, Green Home, Green Living, Healthy Home, Natural Living, Non-Toxic Cleaning, Non-Toxic Products, Product Guides Tagged With: biokleen, cleaning products, Earth Friendly Products, Ecover, Seventh Generation, Thrive Market, trader joe's

About Micaela

Micaela Preston is natural living educator and safe and sustainable product activist. She has spoken at conferences and events, has lobbied for safer chemical laws, and has consulted with many brands and businesses. Her book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Eco Friendly Decision Making was published in 2009.

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Comments

  1. Erika says

    January 10, 2018 at 9:52 am

    This is so thorough – thanks for your advice! I’ve been meaning to switch to better cleaning products. Will remember you recommendations.

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      January 10, 2018 at 11:56 am

      Happy to help! I’d love to know which brands/products you end up with!

      Reply
  2. Jessica says

    January 10, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    this is timely! I like using green products but admittedly haven’t done the research on it – thank you for compiling this list. I’m surprised I’ve only heard of ONE of the brands on here (Seventh Generation) which I guess makes sense because it’s at Target. Think that making DIY options is worth it??

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      January 11, 2018 at 4:11 pm

      Hi Jessica – glad I was able to help you discover some new brands! As for DIY – yes I think it’s totally worth it – but not everyone is into it. Buying something you can trust from a store is so easy!

      Reply
  3. Alisha says

    July 13, 2020 at 11:58 am

    Thank you for sharing this comprehensive list! I enjoy making my own DIY cleaning supplies, but I also like to have a few natural cleaning products. I’m a huge fan of Dr Bronner’s, Seventh Generation, and Better Life! It’s always good to have a list of non-toxic cleaning products on hand.

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      July 14, 2020 at 11:01 am

      I’m in a similar situation – I’ve made plenty of DIY cleaning supplies but don’t always have the time or need a specialty product. These are all brands I’ve used and recommend!

      Reply

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Hi there – I’m Micaela!

Micaela Preston I'm here to help you make lifestyle and product choices that are better for your health & the planet!
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