We all want our homes to feel safe, welcoming, and clean. But here’s the problem: many conventional cleaning products hide a long list of toxic ingredients behind shiny labels and “fresh scent” promises.
Harsh chemicals like bleach, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives may leave counters sparkling, but they can also pollute the air we breathe, irritate our skin, and wash into waterways where they harm wildlife. Even worse, most come in single-use plastic packaging that ends up in our landfills and oceans.
The solution? Non-toxic cleaning products made with natural ingredients that work with your family and the planet.
At EarthHero, we believe a healthy home starts with safe, effective cleaners you can feel good about using every day. This guide will take you room by room, showing you how easy it can be to swap out toxic sprays and soaps for products that are plant-based, biodegradable, and packaged with care. Together, we can create spaces that are just as clean, but far kinder to people and the planet.
Contents
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What Are Non-Toxic Cleaning Products?
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Toxic Ingredients Found in Conventional Cleaning Products
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Environmental Impact of Conventional Cleaning
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Natural Home Ingredients You Can Use for Cleaning
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Non-Toxic Cleaning Essentials by Room
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Laundry Room
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Kitchen
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Bathroom
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Living Spaces
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Whole Home
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Final Thoughts
What are Non-Toxic Cleaning Products?
Non-toxic cleaning products are made without harmful chemicals that put your health or the environment at risk. Instead of synthetic detergents, they rely on simple, safe ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, coconut-based soap, or essential oils, that clean effectively without side effects.
Toxic Ingredients Found In Conventional Cleaning Products
Did you know nearly 70% of general-purpose laundry detergents failed the Environmental Working Group’s safety assessments?
Common offenders include:
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Phosphates, which disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
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Synthetic fragrances, often made up of potentially carcinogenic chemical blends.
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Bleach, formaldehyde, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can irritate skin, lungs, and eyes.
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Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), banned in the EU and Canada, that mimic hormones and threaten wildlife.
Once you know what’s inside these bottles, it’s easy to see why so many families are choosing natural, non-toxic alternatives instead.
Sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG), American Lung Association
Environmental Impact of Conventional Cleaning
The impact of toxic cleaning products doesn’t end once you rinse them away. Harsh chemicals flow into rivers and oceans, where they harm fish, coral, and other aquatic life.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to indoor air pollution and even smog outside. And plastic bottles, sprayers, and scrubbers pile up in landfills, where they’ll linger for centuries.
Choosing natural cleaning products is about more than a clean sink. It’s about clean air, clean water, and a cleaner future.
Natural Home Ingredients You Can Use for Cleaning
The good news is that some of the most powerful cleaners are already in your pantry:
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Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that scrubs sinks and deodorizes carpets.
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Vinegar dissolves hard water deposits and cuts through grease.
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Lemon juice offers a natural antimicrobial boost and leaves behind a fresh scent.
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Castile soap, made from plant oils, is a versatile base for dish soap, floor cleaner, or even hand wash (learn more here).
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Olive oil can even bring a natural shine back to wood furniture.
Paired with staples like reusable disinfectant wipes or reusable paper towels, these basics can replace many harsh synthetic cleaners.
Laundry Room
Meliora Natural Powder Laundry Detergent
Made with all-natural ingredients like baking soda, pH boosting washing soda, and skin softening coconut oil, this detergent skips dyes and synthetic fragrances. It’s gentle on sensitive skin while powerful enough to lift everyday dirt and stains.
Dropps Stain and Odor Laundry Pods
Powered by plant-based ingredients, these pods fight tough stains and odors without chlorine or phosphates. The packaging is compostable, making it a low-waste option.
Laundry Detergent Sheets
Ultra-lightweight sheets dissolve in hot or cold water and eliminate the need for bulky plastic bottles. Cruelty-free, vegan, and hypoallergenic.
Meliora Natural Laundry Stain Stick
A super-concentrated vegetable soap bar made from organic coconut and sunflower oil, ideal for spot-treating grass stains, food spills, and everyday messes.
Eco Dryer Balls
Replace single-use dryer sheets with these wool balls that soften fabric, reduce static, and cut down drying time naturally.
Guppyfriend Washing Bag
A clever bag that captures microfibers shed by synthetic fabrics during washes, keeping them out of rivers and oceans.
Kitchen
Dropps Dishwasher Detergent Pods
Mineral-based ingredients that leave dishes sparkling without phosphates, chlorine, or synthetic fragrances.
Meliora Organic Castile Dish Soap
Crafted with organic coconut and sunflower oils, this gentle soap tackles grease and grime without harsh surfactants.
Zero Waste Dish Brush Kit
A sustainable set featuring bamboo handles and plant-fiber bristles that replace disposable plastic brushes.
Biodegradable Coconut Kitchen Scourers
Made from coconut husk fibers, these scourers are tough on pans but gentle on non-stick surfaces.
Sponge Cloths
Durable, reusable cloths made from cellulose and cotton, that can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels! They absorb like a sponge and dry quickly, then compost when worn out.
Biodegradable Sponges
100% wood pulp sponges that clean dishes and counters effectively, breaking down at end-of-life instead of shedding microplastics.
Reusable Paper Towels
Washable towels made from GOTS-certified organic cotton. They’re soft and absorbent, plus the cotton material naturally clings together for super easy rolling.
BioBag Compostable Kitchen Bags
Plant-based bags that break down in home compost systems, making waste disposal easier and greener.
GreenPolly Recycling Bags
Produced from recycled plastic and renewable sugarcane, offering a responsible alternative to traditional plastic trash bags.
Bathroom
Plastic-Free Toilet Brush
A bamboo handle paired with plant-fiber bristles creates a 100% plastic-free brush that keeps bathrooms clean without adding more plastic waste.
Earthy Edith’s Simple Bathroom Cleaner
Made from non-toxic ingredients like distilled water, organic essential oils, and organic distilled white vinegar, this spray chemically changes the proteins and fats in hazardous germs, leaving your tubs, sinks, and tiles bacteria-free!
Reusable Disinfectant Wipes
Cloth wipes you can pair with ingredients purchased at any local store, for natural DIY disinfectant wipes. Wash, reuse, and skip the single-use waste.
Washable Mop Covers
Cotton flannel mop covers that can be washed and reused, helping you cut down on disposable pads.
Living Spaces
Earthy Edith’s Carpet Fresh Powder
Combines baking soda and essential oils to refresh carpets and rugs without synthetic fragrances.
Earthy Edith’s Power Scour
A blend of organic essential oils and sodium bicarbonate that takes on stubborn messes around the house. Deodorises, whitens, scrubs, and enhances.
Circular Bodies Home Cleaning Powder
Simple ingredients and recyclable packaging, for an everyday, safe, and natural clean.
Home Farm Fruit + Veggie Cleaner
A plant-based spray designed to remove dirt and pesticide residues from produce, making it safer for your family.
Whole Home
Meliora Natural All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
A refillable spray, safe and effective across surfaces. Plus, for each purchase, Meliora pledges to donate at least 2% of all sales towards nonprofits like the Women's Voices for the Earth.
3-Pack Surface Cleaning Refill Starter Kit
Concentrated tablets made with plant-based ingredients. Add water for a powerful, low-waste cleaner that replaces endless plastic bottles.
Final Thoughts
Switching to non-toxic cleaning products is a simple yet powerful way to make your home safer and more sustainable.
From laundry detergents made with baking soda and vegetable soap to dish brushes crafted from bamboo and plant fibers, there’s a natural alternative for every corner of your home. These swaps not only reduce toxins in your living space but also cut down on plastic waste and chemical pollution.
At EarthHero, we’ve gathered the best natural cleaning products to make this transition easy and rewarding. Explore our full eco-friendly cleaning collection and take the first step toward a healthier, more mindful home, room by room.
