11 Best Non-Toxic Cleaning Products to Help You Green Clean

Cleaning has a soundtrack. The spray-spray-wipe rhythm, the chime of a bottle hitting countertop, the satisfying scrunch of paper towel meeting smeared mirror. It also has a smell. The lemon-pine-bleach trifecta most of us came to file under “all done here.”

But the lemon note in most bathroom sprays comes from synthetic fragrance compounds whose ingredients are protected as trade secrets, which means the brand doesn’t have to tell you what’s in them.

Here at SJ, we’re fundamentally against products that clean the counter and leave the room measurably worse. A twenty-year study from the University of Bergen tracked more than 6,000 people and found that women who regularly used cleaning sprays had lung function decline comparable to smoking around twenty cigarettes a day, because the chemicals in these cleaning products were doing damage on every.single.spray.

That’s just not going to fly now is it?

The eleven brands below all use plant- or mineral-based formulas, hold up to scrutiny on ingredient transparency, and in most cases have been tested by us across months of cleaning our own homes.

What We Looked For

• Plant- or mineral-based formulas with full ingredient disclosure on the label or website
• Reputable third-party safety certifications including MADE SAFE, EWG Verified, and EPA Safer Choice
• No synthetic fragrance, quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), parabens, phthalates, or optical brighteners
• Refillable or zero-waste packaging to reduce plastic exposure
• Products that perform well in their cleaning duties

Our Testing, Ratings & Research

Eight of the eleven brands below have been hands-on tested by our team over years of cleaning our own homes, with the longest testing history on Blueland, Meliora, Common Good, etee, and Puracy.

For brands we work with through our sustainability rating system, we evaluated their initiatives across 22 criteria covering supply chain, materials, certifications, and packaging. See other rated brands in our sustainable brand directory.

Related Guides: Eco-friendly Cleaning Brands, Refillable Cleaning Products, Eco-friendly Sponges, Eco-friendly Mops, How To Avoid Microplastics, Non-toxic Living

Branch Basics was co-founded in 2012 by three women, after each of them experienced chronic health issues that improved when they removed conventional cleaning and personal care products from their environment. The result is one bottle of concentrate with dilutions for different cleaning jobs, and a clear, easy-to-read label.

• Cleaning product range: Their “Concentrate” can be diluted to make stain remover, dishwashing liquid, laundry liquid, pots & pans cleaner, shower and bathroom cleaner, and more. They also offer laundry detergent, oxygen boost, and wool dryer balls
• What makes it non-toxic: MADE SAFE Certified, EWG Verified. Free of scents, sulfates, chlorine, phosphates, phthalates, parabens, VOCs, and endocrine disruptors.
• What we love: Radical simplicity replaces numerous products, refillable glass spray bottles. Leaping Bunny Certified
• Location: USA
• Pricing: $$$

No Tox Life is a Los Angeles mother-daughter family business that pretty much made dish blocks a category. The Dish Washing Block is a solid bar that replaces an entire bottle of liquid dish soap and lasts considerably longer per gram.

• Cleaning product range: Dish soap bars, and cleaning accessories
• What makes it non-toxic: Plant-based and biodegradable, phosphate-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, fragrance-free options, septic-safe.
• What we love: Made in a solar-powered Los Angeles facility, plastic-free packaging across the range, accessibly priced and long-lasting. Palm-oil free and vegan.
• Location: USA (Los Angeles)
• Pricing: $

ZWS Essentials is the in-house line from ZeroWasteStore.com, one of our favorite zero-waste online stores in the US. For cleaning, they mostly offer plastic-free and non-toxic cleaning accessories.

• Cleaning product range: Swedish sponge cloths, agave dish brushes, coconut kitchen scrubbers, loofah sponges, and reusable paper towels
• What makes it non-toxic: Their accessories are plastic-free and made with wood or biodegradable materials. Note that ZWS does offer laundry sheets which contain PVA as a binder. PVA has mixed reviews on environmental persistence.
• What we love: Carbon-neutral shipping, plastic-free shipping materials, hundreds of other personal care products.
• Location: USA
• Pricing: $$

Many conventional cleaning products may do a decent job of getting your house cleaner, but they’re dirtying up our air, our bodies, and our planet.

There is no shortage of reasons to choose safe cleaning products:

• Healthier indoor air quality: Non-toxic & organic cleaners contain no harsh chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The EPA found that cleaning chemicals cause indoor air pollution and several health effects (some of which are quite serious).
• Safer for children and pets: Pets and children are more vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals because of their smaller size and developing immune systems, so pet-safe cleaners are a must.
• Reduced chemical exposure: Natural cleaners use gentle ingredients that are less likely to cause skin reactions.
• Water quality preservation: You’re minimizing water pollution and protecting local water sources.
• Sustainability: Many non-toxic cleaning products are made using renewable and sustainable resources.
• Allergen & irritant reduction: Non-toxic house cleaner are less likely to contain allergens or irritants that can trigger allergies or sensitivities in vulnerable individuals.

And let’s not forget about the long-term health benefits you get from all that. When you consistently use non-toxic cleaning products, you’re contributing to your long-term health and well-being by reducing your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals over time.

Here’s what we recommend considering:

Ingredients to Actively Avoid

The chemicals that show up most often in the peer-reviewed concern literature include quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), synthetic fragrance, optical brighteners, parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and chlorine bleach. But there are many more.

Quats in particular have come under scrutiny since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated their use, with a 2023 review in Environmental Science & Technology flagging dermal and respiratory effects, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and disruption of metabolic function.

Synthetic fragrance is a particular black box, because manufacturers can shield the contents under trade-secret protections, and many use PFAS or “forever chemicals” or microplastics as carriers and stabilizers.

Related Guide: Ingredients To Avoid In Skincare & Cosmetics

Certifications

We mostly look out for the following three certifications when it comes to cleaning (though there are others):

• MADE SAFE: The products have been screened against a database of more than 6,500 chemicals of concern.
• EWG Verified: The product meets EWG’s standards for ingredient disclosure and excludes their banned list.
• EPA Safer Choice: The formula was reviewed against the agency’s safe ingredient standards.

B Corp certification, while broader than just non-toxic, is a strong signal that a brand is being audited on supply chain and labor practices alongside its product claims.

“Natural Cleaning Products” vs “Non-toxic Cleaning Products”

Both terms are good indicators that a brand likely uses plant-based ingredients without harmful additives. But because both terms are unregulated, they can also mean nothing at all and can hide greenwashing.

Ingredient transparency and certifications are the only ways to verify the “natural” and “non-toxic” claims. Look for full ingredient lists on the website or product label.

The DIY Route for the Health and Budget-Conscious

A surprising amount of household cleaning can be done with white vinegar, baking soda, castile soap, and a few essential oils.

The active ingredients overlap considerably with what’s in the bottled non-toxic brands above, just without the convenience and the cute packaging.

Our guide to homemade cleaning product recipes covers the basics if you want to test the waters before committing to a refill subscription.

What are non-toxic cleaning products?

Non-toxic cleaning products are safe formulations that exclude ingredients linked to known health concerns, including respiratory effects, endocrine disruption, skin sensitization, and aquatic toxicity.

The category isn’t regulated by a single agency, so the most reliable way to identify a non-toxic product is through third-party certifications like MADE SAFE, EWG Verified, and EPA Safer Choice, combined with full ingredient disclosure on the label.

Are non-toxic cleaning products as effective as conventional ones?

Yes, for the vast majority of household cleaning tasks. Plant-based surfactants cut grease, mild acids dissolve mineral buildup, and oxygen-based brighteners lift stains.

The one area where non-toxic options can struggle is heavy disinfection in high-contamination contexts, like hospitals or daycare outbreaks, where products with stronger antimicrobials are sometimes needed. For everyday home cleaning, the brands above perform comparably to conventional cleaners.

Is Blueland non-toxic?

Yes, by most reasonable definitions. Some of Blueland’s cleaning range is EWG Verified, free of synthetic fragrance, ammonia, bleach, parabens, and phthalates, with full ingredient disclosure on every product. They also have Cradle to Cradle, EPA Safer Choice, and USDA BioPreferred certifications for some products. The tablet format eliminates the need for preservatives that liquid cleaners often require.

Are Method cleaning products non-toxic?

Method has plant-based formulas but uses synthetic fragrance across most of the range, which is a concern for people sensitive to undisclosed scent compounds. The brand is owned by SC Johnson, which has been criticized for greenwashing in the past. Compared to the brands listed above, Method has weaker third-party certification coverage and less ingredient transparency. It’s a step up from conventional cleaners but not the strongest non-toxic option.

Are Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products non-toxic?

Mrs. Meyer’s products are plant-derived but rely heavily on synthetic fragrance, which means the strong garden scents are powered by undisclosed fragrance compounds. The brand is also owned by SC Johnson. While the formulas avoid some of the worst conventional cleaning chemicals, the fragrance load makes them a weaker fit for non-toxic households, especially those with respiratory sensitivities or pets.

Are Grove Collaborative cleaning products non-toxic?

Grove sells a mix of third-party and own-brand products, with significant variation in quality across the lineup. Their own-brand line has improved over time and many products are EWG Verified, but Grove has also faced criticism over greenwashing claims in their broader catalog. If you shop Grove, stick to the EWG Verified own-brand products and read individual labels carefully.

What’s the best non-toxic cleaning product for pets?

Butterfly & Bee offers shampoo and other cleaning products for pets that are non-toxic and safe. All the brands on this list are safer household cleaners than most popular cleaners for pets and loved ones (see the note on essential oils below though).

Are essential oils safe in non-toxic cleaning products?

Mostly yes, but with one caveat for pet households. Essential oils are the standard scent solution for plant-based cleaners, and at the diluted levels in finished products they’re well within safe-use thresholds for humans. However, some essential oils (particularly tea tree, pine, and citrus oils) can be toxic to cats in concentrated forms. If you have cats, look for fragrance-free options or brands that disclose specific essential oils used.

The cleaning aisle is one of the easier swap categories to make stick, because the products work as well as what they replace and the formats (tablets, concentrates, blocks) tend to cost less per use once you’re past the upfront bottle purchase.

But we think the bigger shift is psychological because you stop equating “clean” with that specific lemon-pine-bleach smell, and you start equating it with the absence of any smell at all. It’s amazing that after a few weeks, the conventional cleaning smell can feel overpowering and uncomfortable.

If you’re somewhere between “researching” and “ready to swap,” start with whichever of these non-toxic cleaning brands sells the product you’d run out of next, and build from there.

Please share this list with any friends or family you think might benefit from cleaning out their cleaning cupboard.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in August 2023 and has been refreshed many times since. This June 2026 update includes new rated brands and additional context on choosing non-toxic brands.