5 Non-toxic & Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products
FOOD & HOME
5 Non-Toxic & Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products
BY: Tanya Flink
The weather may still be cold and gloomy depending on where you call home, but it’s just about time for spring cleaning. During these in-between months—when it’s not quite warm and sunny but not so despairingly cold—we could all use a refresh to feel our best. Doing more than just a quick vacuum or cursory wipe-down of the kitchen counter will help you feel light and revitalized. It may take a bit of work, but the satisfaction you get from a good spring clean is well worth the effort. Put on an old t-shirt and comfy pants, turn up the music, and stock up on these five non-toxic cleaning products to make your living space fresh and bright.
What’s wrong with traditional cleaning products?
We all know cleaning products are poisonous if ingested, but that’s not the only way traditional cleaners can cause harm. Many common cleaning products are laced with harsh chemicals that—while effective—can linger on your surfaces and in the air. For example, many leading laundry detergents contain 1,4-Dioxane. The EPA defines this chemical as a solvent that can cause acute (short-term) dizziness, drowsiness, and irritation to the skin, eyes, mouth, and throat when it is inhaled or exposed to the skin. All-purpose cleaners often contain a number of solvents, detergents, and other chemicals that can cause skin, nose, and throat irritation. Ingredients to watch out for in these products include ammonia, ethylene glycol monobutyl acetate, sodium hypochlorite, and trisodium phosphate, among others. Toilet bowl cleaners that contain bleach can also cause irritation when inhaled or come into contact with bare skin. These products can even cause poisonous gases when combined with other common cleaning agents. Over time, inhalation of these gases can lead to breathing problems.
The effect these products have on your overall health depends on concentration and exposure. Using these products as instructed can help cut back on any acute dangers these chemicals may present, but one must consider how these cleaners affect our health over time.
At Abbot’s Butcher, we believe in reducing risk and using the cleanest ingredients possible—from our food to what we use to freshen up our homes.
5 Non-toxic cleaning products for spring cleaning
1. Blue Land
This company not only uses certified EPA Safer Choice ingredients in all of its products, it is also is on a mission to drastically reduce plastic consumption by implementing a refill model. Purchase the bottle once, fill it with water, and drop in a cleaning tablet. With these sturdy vessels on hand, all you need to purchase in the future are the tablets—which means less plastic ends up in landfills. With lines from all-purpose cleaners to laundry and dish soap, you could equip yourself with Blue Land products to make everything in your home sparkle.
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2. Dr. Bronner’s
The Bronner family has been using non-toxic ingredients and upholding fair labor practices for over a century to make its spuds. The brand’s signature product—Pure Castille Soap—claims to have 18 uses from cleaning your dishes to your floors. The mult-purpose liquid is biodegradable, 100 percent organic, and certified Fair Trade. Be sure to dilute before using—a little goes a long way.
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3. Seventh Generation
This family of household cleaners utilizes renewable resources in both its products and its packaging. Everything that goes into the bottle is EPA Safer Choice certified and a vast majority of the ingredients are bio-based (derived from plants or renewable resources). Seventh Generation bottles are also made of recycled materials and crafted to be recycled themselves, closing the loop and generating a less-wasteful way to clean. Products range from laundry to disinfectants and dish soap to toilet cleaners. The brand also creates a line of paper towels and trash bags made with recycled materials.
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4. BioKleen
People with pets know that a thing or two about cleaning, and the right (or wrong) product can turn a simple chore into a major effort. BioKleen crafts a wide range of products, but its pet stain removers are a must for anyone with a furry or feathered friend. All of its cleaners are free of phosphates, chlorine, ammonia, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, brighteners, artificial colors, and artificial fragrance, and none of them (or their ingredients) are tested on animals. Once you’ve gone through a bottle of Bac-Out Stain + Odor Remover, toss it in the recycling bin. BioKleen’s packaging isn’t made for the landfill.
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5. ECOS
All ECOS products abide by strict standards to ensure you’re doing more good than harm when cleaning your home. The detergents, soaps, and cleaners are all free of harsh toxic chemicals and include indigenously sourced ingredients as part of the brand’s sustainability commitment. Curious about an ingredient you see on the label? Check out the ECOS website—it’s incredibly detailed and transparent.
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For more recipe inspiration and other lifestyle tips, check out the other posts in Our Journal.