Who knew the household cleaning aisle was such a mess? As if motivation to house-clean wasn’t tough enough, learning that most conventional cleaners dirty our environment with toxins more than they eliminate messes makes us want to throw in the proverbial (dirty) towel—but instead, let’s learn how to green clean.

Research indicates that hazardous chemicals lurk in more products than we realize: 53% of cleaners contain ingredients and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) known to negatively impact indoor air quality, harm the lungs, and contain asthma-causing chemicals.

And the dirty joke (not that kind of dirty) about household cleaners is that ingredients don’t require full disclosure. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 93% of brands conceal certain ingredients.

Instead, eco green cleaning products will keep your home sparkling clean and smelling fresh without the negative (even fatal) consequences. But what are green cleaning products?

Contents: How To Clean Green

  1. What Is Green Cleaning’? Jump to section
  2. Why Is Green Home Cleaning Important? Jump to section
  3. Greenwashing Of Green Cleaning Products Jump to section
  4. Finding Truly Green Cleaning Products Jump to section
  5. Green Cleaning Guide: Tips & Strategies Jump to section
  6. Greener Cleaning Products Jump to section

What Is Green Cleaning’?

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Like many modern buzzwords in the sustainable living sphere (biodegradable, for instance), the vague and unregulated term can mean a number of things, and naturally, green cleaning will mean something slightly different to every person. For example, some people believe it’s only simple, natural solutions like vinegar and essential oils, while others seek manufactured green cleaners that are are absent the most toxic conventional cleaning ingredients.

But what most can agree on is that it’s namely a process of evaluating, purchasing, and using products that ensure our environment and health remain free of harmful toxins.

The following are typically characteristic of non-toxic cleaning products:

  • No artificial fragrances
  • No artificial colors
  • No chlorine
  • No phosphates
  • No petroleum-based compounds
  • No or low VOCs
  • Biodegradable or recyclable packaging
  • Harmless to humans and ecosystems
  • Ideally organically grown ingredients using sustainable farming practices
  • Have a pH level between 2.5 and 12 (This eliminates things like chlorine bleach with its pH of 13, but it’s still a broad range that alone can encompass other less desireable ingredients like ammonia at pH 11.)

Why Is Green Home Cleaning Important?

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There are 17,000 petrochemicals available for home use, and only 30%(!) were actually tested for exposure to human health and the environment.

But even among that 30%, numerous studies have demonstrated the negative effects of these ingredients that contribute to cancer, asthma, and birth defects—not to mention environmental impacts like ozone reduction, ecosystem depletion, and air and water pollution. Here are some reasons to switch to green cleaning supplies:

  • Safer for kids and pets: From chemical poisonings to a surge in asthma risks and cleaning chemicals discovered in newborn umbilical cords, the dirty truth is most cleaners are harmful. Pets and children are more vulnerable due to their small size and developing immune systems.
  • Better indoor air quality: The average American home has 25 gallons of harmful toxins pass through annually. This is the main cause of indoor air pollution, which the EPA estimates to be 2–100x higher than outdoor air pollution levels.
  • Water conservation: Green cleaners minimize water pollution and protect local water sources, which is essential given that 44% of all wastewater returns to the environment untreated.
  • Sustainability: Eco green cleaners are made with renewable and natural ingredients. A sustainable manufacturing process and sustainable packaging also improve our health and environment in the long run.
  • Reduced allergen and irritants: The American Lung Association says harmful chemicals and VOCs contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and headaches.
Common Cleaning Ingredients To Avoid

It can feel like you need a doctorate in chemistry to read labels. Thankfully, the EWG offers a helpful guide in which you can look up both ingredients and products. Here is a small sampling of the literal thousands of harmful toxins present in popular products:

  • Ammonia: Often in polishers and glass cleaners, but burns the nose, throat, eye, and respiratory tract. High concentrations result in lung damage, blindness, or death—not to mention global pollution.
  • Artificial Fragrances: A legal loophole means ingredients of fragrances aren’t required, which can feature 200-plus undisclosed known endocrine disrupting chemicals. Scents don’t improve product performance and only give a fake impression of cleanliness.
  • Artificial Dyes: Says EWG, “Twelve percent of products use the terms “dyes,” “colorants”, or “colors” instead of listing the specific chemical dyes… FD&C Yellow 5 and FD&C Red 40… may cause allergic reactions or be contaminated with impurities known to cause cancer.”
  • Chlorine: Found in toilet cleaners, mildew removers, and laundry whiteners, high concentrations of chlorine cause nausea and an allergy-like reaction. Inhaled, it can cause asthma and it burns the skin and eyes. It’s especially harmful for people with respiratory or heart conditions, and fatal when combined with ingredients like ammonia.
  • Ethanolamine compounds: Found in floor and tile cleaners, laundry detergents, and hand soaps, these surfactants (often under the name of DEA and TEA) help remove dirt, stains, and grease. Toxic enough to be banned in the EU, they’re linked to hormone disruption, cancer, liver tumors, and organ toxicity from accumulation in the liver and kidneys.
  • Isothiazolinone preservatives: Synthetic antimicrobial widely used in household cleaners. Studies indicate they cause allergic reactions, contact dermatitis, and chemical burns.
  • Methylisothiazolinone: A common preservative and antimicrobial already banned in the EU, since it can cause respiratory irritation, skin sensitivities, skin burns, and eye damage.
  • Perchloroethylene: Contained in carpet cleaners, spot removers, and dry-cleaning solutions. The EPA classifies it a neurotoxin and possible carcinogen, proposing a nationwide ban.
  • Fluorocarbons (PFOA/PFAS): Stain removers, dishwasher detergent, and laundry detergent will contain these “forever chemicals” to “improve” their effectiveness. They’re linked to hormone disruption, cancer (kidney and testicular), liver and thyroid problems, reproductive harm, increased cholesterol, and abnormal fetal growth.
  • Phosphates: Found in countless household cleaners like detergent, dish soap, and more. Residues on dishes can cause nausea, diarrhea, skin irritations, and respiratory issues. In the environment, they cause eutrophication and harmful algae blooms that eventually choke out natural life.
  • Phthalates: A key ingredient in just about anything scented and often not labeled, these endocrine disruptors that negatively impact human reproductive health. They also cause cancer in rats.
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: A potent disinfectant found in fabric softeners and most “antibacterial” cleaners. “Quarts” lead to resistant superbugs, and contribute to asthma and likely lower sperm count and fertility in women.
  • Sodium Hydroxide: Found in drain and oven cleaners, this is a highly corrosive chemical (as in: they use it to turn tree pulp into viscose fabric). Ingesting it will lead to internal burns, nausea, and vomiting. Inhalation of high concentrations can lead to fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency.
  • Triclosan: An antibacterial compound found in commercial liquid soaps that causes allergies, skin irritation, and hormonal problems. It’s likely a human carcinogen and toxic to algae. Even the FDA recently banned it from antibacterial soaps.
  • VOCs: These include phosphorus, nitrogen, and ammonia compounds that are emitted as gasses from products and destroy indoor air quality. Inhalation can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, nausea, headaches and loss of coordination, and damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system. Some VOCs are carcinogenic. They’re also known to kill marine life.
  • 2-Butoxyethanol: A solvent used in all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, lacquers, soaps, enamels, varnishes, and paint thinners. It’s associated with asthma, allergies, pulmonary edema and severe liver, kidney, and red blood cell damage. Chronic exposure can cause neurological and blood effects, like nausea, tremors, and anemia. The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants regulates 2-butoxyethanol because it potentially causes reduced fertility, low birth weight, and toxic liver metabolites.
Why Don’t I See These Listed On Cleaning Products?

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to discern what products are toxic or not. To effectively evaluate a product, the consumer has to know all the ingredients and their potential interactions. Yet US federal law NOT require manufacturers to fully disclose ingredients, and only two states (California and New York) have proposed acts to do so.

Additionally, vague and unregulated terms like “eco-friendly,” “non-toxic,” and “natural” emblazon products, but they usually mean little. This is why the FTC now issues guidance against brands making overly-general environmental or health benefit claims, though it’s worth noting these are still just that: guidelines. There’s nothing that legally binds manufacturers to follow them.

Greenwashing Of Green Cleaning Products

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Greenwashing is the practice of using misleading claims and vague terms about the positive environmental and/or health benefits of a product. It preys on the willingness of consumers to “do the right thing” and “dollar vote” for brands they’re tricked into thinking share their values. And in the whopping $247 billion dollar cleaning industry, greenwashing is not only dishonest, but it hurts consumer health thanks (no thanks) to lame product labeling laws.

In the UK, greenwashing has become such an issue that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated a formal investigation into the green claims of household essentials.

Since there are so many “green” and “natural” cleaning products that aren’t really natural or green, here are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to greenwashing:

  • Dawn antibacterial soap: The bottle promises “Dawn helps save wildlife;” meanwhile, its ingredient triclosan is known to significantly harm aquatic life.
  • Biodegradable J Cloth: Lacks a proper compostable seal, which means it can’t go in the green bin and will get sent to the landfill, where it becomes anaerobic.
  • Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner: Says “green” and “non-toxic,” but features 2-Butoxyethanol, which is associated with everything from asthma to red blood cell damage to neurological disorders and reduced fertility.
  • Sunlight Green Clean laundry soap: While the label promises “plant-based cleaning ingredients,” a CBC-commissioned test showed 38% of the product derived from petro-chemicals.
  • Vim PowerPro Naturals: Virtually zero of the ingredients are made available for this bathroom cleaner, which means the use of the word “natural” is likely bunk.
  • Arm & Hammer Clean & Simple laundry detergent: Labeled phosphate-free, but all laundry detergents have been phosphate-free for thirty years due to algae blooms.

All this is to say: criteria are needed to evaluate if a green product is legit before you purchase it.

Finding Truly Green Cleaning Products

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Certifications and third-party verification can help bolster our trust in healthy products, since the terms “green” and “natural” are unregulated. The best-regarded green cleaning product certifications include:

  • Green Seal: The original green house cleaning certification, around for over thirty years.
  • Ecologo: Ecolog’s founders UL have developed and implemented safety standards for building, cleaning, paper, plastic, electronics, electricity, and more.
  • EPA Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE): Verify a product uses the safest possible ingredients. DfE is specifically for antimicrobials, like sanitizers and disinfectants.
  • Environmental Working Group (EWG) Verified: Products must be free of their ingredients of concern, disclose all ingredients to consumers, and meet their air quality standards.
  • USDA Biopreferred: According to the USDA, “In biobased cleaning products, fossil fuel-based ingredients are generally replaced with ingredients such as biobased surfactants and enzymes.” They offer a catalog of certified items.
  • USDA Organic: Indicates that some portion of ingredients are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, though not all.
  • MADE SAFE: One of the most stringent non-toxic certifications, indicating a product is free of any toxic ingredients known or suspected to harm human health, animals, or ecosystems.
Sustainable Jungle’s Criteria For Green Cleaning

Because certifications along aren’t infallible (and because they don’t necessary consider all the other non-health impacts of cleaning), we’ve also developed our own green cleaner standards to sift out eco-friendly cleaning products from greenwashed offenders. Our criteria includes:

  • Non-toxic: From laundry soap to dish soap, we not only look for products absent ingredients on that list above, but for those that use widely understood natural ingredients like organic coconut oil, baking soda, lemon juice, and Castile soap.
  • Vegan & cruelty-free: A popular ingredient in household cleaning products is glycerin, which can be sourced from animal fat or plant oil. We want brands that use zero animal byproducts. To protect our furry friends, zero testing on animals is also key.
  • Palm oil free: Common in detergents and soap. While it’s often tricky to avoid, we prefer to because of its ties to deforestation, environmental destruction, and unfair workers rights. If it’s present, RSPO certification is a must.
  • Ethical ingredient sourcing: We like to learn about a brand’s ethical sourcing, because human rights and equitable, traceable supply chains are a crucial component of sustainability.
  • Thoughtful packaging: In our quest to live zero waste, we prefer compostable packaging or refillable cleaning products.

Green Cleaning Guide: Tips & Strategies

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Before setting out to buy green cleaning chemicals, try these tips to clean up your home first:

  • Set up your house with cleanliness as a focus: We’re not saying go full-blown minimalist or zero-waste, but more clutter and stuff means more dust and dirt.
  • Improve indoor air quality: Do this by opening windows and doors to allow fresh air inside. Oftentimes indoor air quality is actually more toxic than outdoor city air. Having a house full of plants helps.
  • Safely dispose of harmful cleaners: Throwing them in the trash or down the drain is harmful and dangerous. Instead, contact your municipal waste management about when they provide pick-up.
  • Baking soda is your bestie: Carpet cleaner, fridge refresher, odor eliminator, grit and grime remover, and more, it’s a must-have in your cleaning arsenal.
  • Filter your air naturally: If you have indoor air filters, make sure to replace them regularly. Air fresheners should be avoided at all costs—boil herbs, keep fresh cut flowers, or use essential oils instead.
  • Skip the dry cleaners: In many cases, they use Perchloroethylene, or perc, which is unhealthy for humans and makes smog. Find a local cleaner who uses greener methods, like carbon dioxide cleaning.
  • Forget “antibacterial”: They breed “superbugs” and the FDA suggests they work no better than good ole’ soap and water, and should be avoided.
  • Take off your shoes: In most Asian cultures, shoes are off before you’re in the door—for good reason! Our shoes carry all kinds of yuck and muck like animal waste, herbicides, pesticides, salt, pollution, dirt (and the lead found in it), and more. Less floor dirt also means less cleaning work, resources, and energy.

Greener Cleaning Products

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After you’ve tackled those cost-free tips, you can start to look at the products you use. For a clean conscience to match your clean home, make the healthy swap to any one of these green cleaning brands:

  • Biokleen: We especially love the carpet cleaner from this 30+ year old people and planet friendly cleaning brand.
  • Blueland: A Certified B Corp with everything from PVA-free laundry pods to dish soap refills that also has certifications from Cradle to Cradle, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Safer Choice, MADE SAFE, USDA BioPreferred, and EWG.
  • Common Good: A natural cleaning brand designed with refills in mind.
  • Dr Bronner’s: Their legendary Castile soap is super versatile. With advertised “18-in-1” uses (and probably more if you’re creative), it can become everything from laundry detergent to body wash.
  • etee: This Canadian brand commits to reducing their environmental impact with a range of plastic-free alternatives, including reusable food wraps, non-toxic dishwasher detergent, and much more.
  • Grove Collaborative: With green home cleaning essentials like natural sponges and recycled trash bags, this B Corp is a veritable groveof products, both from themselves and other trusted brants.
  • SuperBee: Reusables like this woman-owned B Corp’s cloth paper towels and reusable laundry detergent reduce waste associated with home cleaning.
DIY Green Cleaning

While we love and have personally tested a lot of the brands above, let’s not forget that the best green cleaning products are those you can make yourself using simple everyday ingredients—most of which are probably already lying around your home or sold at your local bulk store or supermarket.

Here are some of our favorite recipes, per this trusted medical source:

  • Air Freshener: Use either dried or fresh flowers to refresh the air. Or boil water with vanilla, cinnamon, slices of lemon or orange, or your preferred spices. To deodorize your fridge, leave baking soda in an open bowl. For carpets, sprinkle it generously, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuum it up.
  • All-Purpose Cleaner: Combine equal parts water and vinegar in a reusable spray bottle. Works on many hard surfaces. Avoid natural stone surfaces, stainless steel, cast iron, or unfinished wood, which don’t like the acidity.
  • Drain Cleaner: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into a clogged drain, then 1 cup of vinegar. Let it work for 15 minutes and then pour boiling water down the drain.
  • Disinfectant: Mix 1 tbsp of liquid Castile soap, 1 tsp of tea tree oil, and 2 cups of water to create a multipurpose disinfectant that kills germs.
  • Glass Cleaner: Shake 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 2 cups warm water, and 1 tbsp of cornstarch in a spray bottle. Cleans glass surfaces and stove tops.
  • Laundry Soap:Combine 1/2 cup of washing soda, 1/2 cup of baking soda, and 1 cup of soap flakes (or grate the soap yourself!). Add 1 to 2 tbsp of oxygen bleach for extra sparkle, which is natural and biodegradable.
  • Multipurpose Scrub: Combine enough baking soda and water to make a paste. Use the paste with a sponge, scrubber, or brush to clean sinks, stoves, and other hard surfaces. Wipe with warm water after. For extra stuck-on grime, spray white vinegar on the baking soda and let the foaming action work its magic.
  • Stain Remover: If you need a green upholstery cleaner, carpet cleaner, or stain remover, mix two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap. Add in one tablespoon of baking soda and mix to form a paste.
  • Toilet Cleaner: Equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water will create a powerful disinfectant.