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Gwen Lynn is an environmental health and safety scientist who provides environmental and safety consulting and monitors air, land and water resources. She is also the founder of In A Green Minute, who creates podcasts and informational videos on environmental progressiveness and green technology.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
You don’t actually need dangerous chemicals to clean things effectively. In fact, some of the best cleaners include ingredients that you might be able to buy yourself. Some ingredients that you might find are baking soda, vinegar, essential oils, and good old-fashioned soap.
Just be aware that vinegar and some essential oils may be unsuitable for certain surfaces, so always check to see the usage instructions before you get to cleaning your whole house. This is especially important for those looking to clean easily damageable surfaces like leather and unfinished wood.
Luckily, by checking to see if the cleaner even has an ingredients list, you’re likely cutting out the worst chemicals for you - because the ones that are full of harmful chemicals usually don’t want you to know exactly what’s in them.
But there are still a couple of seemingly benign things to avoid including artificial fragrances and dyes.
Artificial fragrances are full of phthalates, which are known hormone disruptors, as well as volatile organic compounds that can cause headaches and respiratory distress. Dyes, on the other hand, are simply added chemicals without added benefits.
It’s kind of trendy to be eco-friendly right now – that may even be the reason you’re here. In response to that, a lot of products now claim to be “natural,” “green,” or “organic.” But unlike food items, there’s no regulatory system to define what these terms mean for cleaning products.
A lot of times, these “green” versions of chemical-laden products are simply the same formulation minus one or two ingredients. So in order to really figure out what’s good and what’s not, you’re going to have to look past the appealing organic-looking labels, no matter how enticing they may be.
An easy way to cut past the greenwashing is to look for reputable stamps and certifications. Some examples of stamps to look for are Green Seal, EcoLogo label, or EPA Safer Choice Label. All of these involve high standards and rigorous testing.
The Environmental Working Group is an environmental advocacy group that conducts research and oversight on agriculture, toxins, and corporate accountability. To get a quick, simple overview of how green a product is, look towards the EWG’s A through F rating system available on their website.
The EWG considers a number of factors when coming up with a product’s grade including ingredients, transparency, and government toxicity datasets.
While it isn’t perfect—not all products are rated, products can be penalized for listing general ingredients instead of specific ones, and these ratings are based on calculations rather than testing—it’s a decent measure of how “green” you can expect a product’s ingredients to be.
So on top of creating antibacterial-resistant strains of the bad bugs, using too many antibacterial products actually disrupts the good bacteria too. Unless someone in your household has a compromised immune system and requires a squeaky clean environment, you can put the antibacterials away and stop freaking out about germs.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Green Gobbler Cold Pressed Orange Oil Concentrate | $21.98 High | 2 Ingredients Do Just About Everything | ||
2 | ECOS Parsley All Purpose Cleaner | $9.59 Low Mid | A Green Cleaner That Leaves the House Smelling Fresh | ||
3 | Aunt Fannie’s All Purpose Cleaning Vinegar - Eucalyptus | $8.99 Low Mid | Vinegar-Based Cleaner to Protect Your Microbiome | ||
4 | Biokleen All Purpose Cleaner, Super Concentrated | $12.56 Mid | Concentrated Cleaner Makes Up to 32 Gallons | ||
5 | Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner, Clary Sage & Citrus (3 pack) | $18.39 High Mid | A Super Tough, Truly All-Purpose Cleaner | ||
6 | Method All Purpose Cleaner, French Lavender | $3.58 Low | Effective, Non-Toxic Cleaner in Bulk | ||
7 | Puracy Natural All Purpose Cleaner (2 pack) | $11.97 Mid | Plant-Based and Works Well for Everyday Messes | ||
8 | CleanSmart Daily Surface Cleaner (2 pack) | $15.99 High Mid | Non-Toxic Disinfectant for Families With Children or Pets |
Reviewers love the fresh orange scent and that it can be diluted down to last longer. It works well for multiple purposes - including cleaning off mold, killing pests, and making your bathroom sparkling clean.
Although the picture on Amazon shows two bottles, note that you're only ordering one when you purchase it. But reviewers like the smell of the cleaner and say it works well.
Reviewers say it works well on glass, stainless steel, and kitchen counters. It's also great for stains and spills.
Some reviewers say that it doesn't work well on cutting grease, but many more say it works exceptionally well on cleaning almost everything else. It only has a slight citrus smell to it, so those sensitive to odors can still enjoy using this.
Some reviewers received their package damaged, with some of the cleaner leaking or spilling. They also say you might have to scrub harder than usual to use it effectively. But most say that the cleaner has a nice, subtle scent and doesn't leave any residue. They particularly love how it's safe, though.
The scent isn't too strong, but still clean and refreshing - which was the highlight for most reviewers. It also does clean well - just spray it, let it sit for a bit, then wipe it off. It works best with stainless steel and glass.
On the other hand, reviewers love that it leaves everything fresh smelling and how it's naturally sourced and nontoxic.
Since it does disinfect surfaces, reviewers really like this product. Many also use it on their CPAP machines or masks - it cleans and makes the products smell fresh - and you don't need to rinse it off.
There is a pervasive idea that although eco-friendly cleaners are better for us and the environment, they aren’t very great at cleaning.
While it may be true that some traditional cleaning products are super effective because they’re toxic (the chemicals in oven cleaners, for example, melt fat and protein - the stuff that humans are actually made of!), that doesn’t mean that eco-friendly options aren’t effective.
Many are just as effective as their toxic counterparts right off the bat. Those that are not may require more setting time or an extra layer of product, but they work in the end. And ultimately, isn’t it worth a little extra effort for a cleaner that isn’t going to harm you?
Thinking about changing your lifestyle to be more eco-friendly all around? It can be hard when getting started - there's a lot of information to sift through - so when you need help on finding clean alternatives, take a look at one of our other buying guides!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Green Gobbler|Cold Pressed Orange Oil Concentrate
No. 2: ECOS|Parsley All Purpose Cleaner
No. 3: Aunt Fannie’s|All Purpose Cleaning Vinegar - Eucalyptus
No. 4: Biokleen|All Purpose Cleaner, Super Concentrated
No. 5: Better Life|Natural All-Purpose Cleaner, Clary Sage & Citrus (3 pack)
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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