Cleaning Products

Using non-toxic cleaning products helps keep the toxins in your house at a minimum. Spraying a product that releases volatile organic compounds can cause health issues such as headaches. That’s why it’s important to buy non-toxic cleaning products. You want to make sure you are breathing in safe products. Single-use plastic is a huge issue with cleaning products as they contribute to the 35 million metric tons of plastic that are produced each year. Blueland reports that the average home uses 30 single-use bottles of cleaning product each year. This is completely avoidable with a reusable bottles and zero waste refills. Unfortunately companies will continue to produce plastic products that pollute the environment and consumers. Single-use plastic also has to end up somewhere, and it’s often exported to third-world countries. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act hopes to change this. It would hold companies accountable and reduce the amount of single-use plastic that cause pollution and illnesses. You can contact you congressman here to ask them to support the act.

DIY

Making your own cleaning products is so easy, you’ll be done in a matter of minutes. You can create a very simple solution or a more complex one depending on what you are looking for. You probably have the ingredients, like vinegar, alcohol, and baking soda, already. Customize it by adding citrus peels and essential oils. Vinegar is a disinfectant, rubbing alcohol kills germs, and baking soda cuts through grease and grime. If you have pets be careful when adding essential oils to your home made cleaners. Cinnamon, peppermint, and tea tree are a few essentials oils that can be toxic to cats and dogs.

Here are a few simple recipes

All Purpose- 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup distilled water, juice of half a lemon, optional 1-15 drops of essential oil depending on how strong you want the scent to be

Floor- 1/4 cup of white vinegar, hot water, castile soap

Window- 1 part white vinegar, 4 parts water, optional 10 drops of essential oils

Bathroom- white vinegar, baking soda, optional essential oils

Repurpose

While you can’t really buy your cleaning products second hand, you can repurpose and refill products. All those old bottles whether they be glass or plastic can be repurposed. You can fill them with homemade cleaning solutions, use them as watering cans, maybe even use them in the garden as planters. Giving containers a new life is important when wanting to reduce the amount of waste people create. When creating homemade solutions food waste can be repurposed too. Citrus peels, flower petals, and herbs are an all-natural way to add fragrance to cleaners. Their oils also help fight bacteria and dirt. Going to refill shops or buying refills at the store are another way to reduce the amount of waste produced. Refill shops have a great selection of cleaning products that make zero waste more attainable. Take old bottles to fill up at refill shops. This link here helps you find a zero waste/refill shop in all 50 states.

Buy New

Buying non-toxic cleaning products is a huge step in reducing the amount of toxins in your home. With a wide range of companies in the market, you can make a choice to not only buy non-toxic products but ones that are also reusable and plastic free. Manufacturers that use harsh chemicals in their products release toxins into the air first during production and then again when the consumer sprays it in their home. These toxins cause health issues and pollute the air, causing environmental damage. Make sure you buy products that you know are safe to breathe and come in contact with because your body can absorb the product through your skin.

My Picks

Blueland

Non-toxic products that are 100% zero waste after buying the reusable bottles. The founders of Blueland are on a mission to reduce the use of single-use plastic. Refill tablets are sold and come in compostable packaging which makes your cleaning products zero waste!

Free of parabens, VOCs, ammonia, phthalates, chlorine bleach

Ingredients are vegan, gluten-free, soy/nut free

Cruelty-free, EPA Safer choice, USDA Biopreferred, Cradle to Cradle certified, Certified B corp

Branch Basics

Branch Basics makes non-toxic cleaning products. The three female founders of Branch Basics are helping others live healthier lives through natural products. Containers are reusable and refills are sold, though they are not plastic free.

Fragrance-free, biodegradable, Non-GMO, Made Safe certified, recyclable

Common Good

Cleaning products made from simple and natural ingredients. Common good products are designed to be gentle on you and the environment.

Recycled packaging, biodegradable, free of harsh chemicals, product available refill stations
Cruelty-free, Non-GMO, sulfate free, paraben free, phthalate free

Grove Co

Natural cleaning products that come in reusable containers and have refills.

Certified B Corp, plastic neutral, non-toxic

Veles

Cleaning product made from food waste, reducing the amount that ends up in landfills. The spray bottle is a recyclable aluminum bottle from an overstock supplier, the nozzle is recyclable plastic, and refills come in a glass bottle.

Hypoallergenic, free of VOCs, naturally derived

So many companies ignore the effects of their products on the environment. Both the chemicals in their products and the materials used in their packaging are causing harm.

Harsh chemicals such as ammonia that cause irritations
Synthetic fragrances
Volatile Organic Compounds
single-use plastic products

Let’s Compare

Except for killing bacteria and viruses, there is no other reason to use harsh products like Clorox in your house. All three of these products are multi-surface/all-purpose cleaners. You can choose use a safer product that still uses plastic, or a safer and reusable option. Take a look, you’ll see that safe products are more affordable than you may think.