Switching to non-toxic cleaning products is one of the most simple, cost-effective ways to start transitioning to a non-toxic lifestyle.
Obviously, we use cleaning products to clean our homes. But what we are often unaware of is that those cleaning products are actually making our home more dangerous to live in.
We’ve been trained through clever marketing to associate the smell of harsh chemicals with a clean home. For some people, it’s hard to imagine that your home is clean without using bleach or chlorine products on every surface.
But the reality, is that non-toxic cleaning products are just as effective as conventional, toxic products!
It can be overwhelming when you first start reading the ingredients on your cleaning products and look to start making swaps.
I hope this resource helps simplify the process for you!
How Do I Know Which Products Are Good/Bad?
My very favourite resource to look up any household products is the EWG Database. EWG (The Environmental Working Group) is a trusted source with references and resources to back it up.
My preference is to look up products and/or on their website, and then purchase online or in stores!
They do also have an app, called HEALTHY LIVING, but I find it has less products listed. However, this is still a good resource if you’re at a store and want to find information about a product!
Another popular app called THINK DIRTY is very convenient while searching for non-toxic products in stores! Think Dirty is a slightly less reliable source as there are rumours of companies being able to pay for a better review. However, I still like to use Think Dirty especially to look at individual ingredients in a product!
Ingredients
Over time, you’ll become more familiar with ingredients in a product! Here’s a list of some that I always avoid.
POISON LABEL – Any product that has a poison label, or says to call poison control if ingested. I promise it’s very possible to effectively clean your home without these risks!
FRAGRANCE – “Fragrance” is an umbrella term that companies can legally use to hide 1000s of individual ingredients. The FDA allows this because it deems the ingredients proprietary, or trade secrets. There is no way to know exactly what a company includes in their fragrance, so I always chose to avoid it!
I have an entire blog post dedicated to why we ditched fragrance!
PHTHALATES – A very common plastic-y ingredient. Used to make nail polish flexible, in skin products to penetrate the skin, or to increase the longevity of many other products . Have been shown to cause serious fertility issues such as sperm mobility, or birth defects. Pthalates aren’t always obvious on labels. Some ingredients to look out for:
- DBP (dibutyl phthalate)
- DNOP (di-n-octyl phthalate)
- DiNP (diisononyl phthalate)
- DEP (diethyl phthalate)
- BBzP (benzyl butyl phthalate)
- DEHP (di 2-ethylhexl phthalate)
- DiDP (diisodecyl phthalate)
- BPA (bisphenol A)
- BPS (bisphenol S)
TRICLOSAN – A very common anti-bacterial ingredient used in toothpastes, mouthwash, cleaners, deodorants, detergents. The use of triclosan in products may be related to antibiotic-resistant bacteria because it kills the good bacteria that our bodies need. It can be toxic to aquatic life, and irritating to the skin.
SODIUM LAURYL/LAURETH SULFATE – A common foaming ingredient. Considered highly toxic to aquatic life.
METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE – Highly toxic to aquatic life. Can cause skin irritation, allergies and contact dermatitis. A possible human carcinogenic.
BUTYL CELLOSOLVE/GLYCOL – An industrial and domestic cleaning product which can be a neurotoxin when absorbed through the skin or breathed in. May cause damage to the reproductive system
CLEANING AGENT – Some cleaners contain a vague ingredient called “cleaning agent”. With no information about the ingredient or it’s safety, I would 100% avoid this.
AMMONIA – A popular disinfecting agent. It is highly toxic if inhaled or swallowed, a known asthma trigger and a possible human carcinogenic.
CHLORINE BLEACH (Sodium Hypochlorite) – One of the most commonly used cleaning/disinfecting agents. Toxic to aquatic life. Dangerous to the respiratory system, endocrine system (hormones), skin. A possible human carcinogenic.
GREENWASHING
Companies are realizing that more and more people are becoming conscious about the products they use in their home. They are getting clever with their marketing – using earth coloured labels, or words like “natural, good for you, non-toxic”.
The problem is that those words hold no meaning. There are no laws regarding the words or strategies a company can use to market their products.
This is why it’s so important to learn to read ingredients for yourself! Don’t trust what the label says. Do your own research to find the best non-toxic products for your home!
Also note that even when a company has one A+ product, that doesn’t mean all of their products are safe! So it’s important to research every product individually!
Disclaimer: Links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, should you choose to purchase! All opinions are my own. I only share items that I personally love, or have thoroughly researched and would use in my own home! I am so grateful when you chose to support me this way!
LAUNDRY
EWG Rating: A
This Branch Basics Oxygen boost can be used in the laundry to whiten whites, or to get out touch stains! It can also be used in the bathrooms, floors, or wherever you need some extra scrubbing power!
EWG Rating: B
Dropps is a non-toxic, sustainable option for laundry! They have eliminated single-use plastic, and use all eco-friendly packaging as well as carbon-neutral shipping!
*TORY’S CHOICE*
EWG Rating: Not yet on EWG but individual ingredients are between 1-3
I’ve been using this On Guard laundry detergent for years and it does a great job at making our clothes look & smell clean! The formula is concentrated, meaning no water is added. You only need a tiny amount, so this bottle goes a long way!
You can purchase Doterra products through my link! Feel free to contact me if you have questions about how to do this.
EWG Rating: A
Conventional dryer sheets are one of the worst products in our homes! They are designed to coat our clothing with fragrance (full of harmful chemicals) that lasts for days or weeks and transfers onto our skin. I love using dryer balls with a few drops of Essential Oils instead!
BLEACH ALTERNATIVES
I mentioned above why Chlorine Bleach is such a harmful ingredient. Thankfully, there are safe options to help whiten our clothing!
EWG Rating: A
EWG Rating: A
DISH SOAPS
A lot of people overlook their dish soap, but it’s actually very important! Think about the ingredients you want to be using to clean the items you are eating off of!
EWG Rating: A
DISHWASHER
Full transparency: We do not own a dishwasher, so I have not had an opportunity to try or compare any of the dishwasher products. These are the products with the best reviews and cleanest ingredients!
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Pods
EWG Rating: A
EWG Rating: A
ALL PURPOSE/FLOORS/BATHROOM
*TORY’S CHOICE *
EWG Rating: Not on EWG yet but each individual ingredients rates 1-3 (out of 10).
You can purchase Doterra products through my link! Feel free to contact me if you have questions about how to do this.
I absolutely love this cleaning concentrate! Just like the On Guard laundry detergent, this is highly concentrated. One bottle of concentrate lasts me about 6 months. I use this to clean EVERYTHING – my floors, toilets, glass/mirrors, kitchen counters, car, and even as a laundry spot treatment. It’s definitely one of my very favourite non-toxic cleaning products!
EWG Rating: B
I know so many people rave about this all-purpose cleaner!
EWG Rating: A
Any time I need a little bit more scrubbing power with my all-purpose cleaner, I use baking soda! I just sprinkle it over the surface, let sit for a few minutes and then spray with my all-purpose spray and scrub!
EWG Rating: A
I haven’t found this at any Canadian retailers yet, but I’ve heard so many good things! It’s similar to baking soda but even more powerful!
HAND SOAP
EWG Rating: A
Most hand soaps contain triclosan and fragrance! Two things I for sure want to avoid in my home. I just make my own by filling a foaming soap dispenser with 1 part castile soap and 3 parts water! And then I’ll add whatever Doterra Essential Oils I’m feeling!
EWG Rating: Not on EWG, but Puracy has a good reputation and the ingredients are clean!
If you’re not into DIY-ing, this is a good option!
AIR FRESHENERS
DOTERRA ESSENTIAL OILS
I replaced all scented products in my home with Doterra Essential Oils 3 years ago and couldn’t be more thrilled with them! If you want to learn more about EO’s, I have a few posts completely dedicated to them!
You can purchase Doterra products through my link! Feel free to contact me if you have questions about how to do this.
EWG Rating: A
Baking soda is an excellent deodarizer! I always keep a small bowl of baking soda in my fridge the neutralize odours. It can also be used as a carpet/furniture refresher!
You may have noticed a theme throughout these suggestions. When you switch to non-toxic cleaning products, you realize that you don’t actually need a separate product for every room/surface! One product can clean your entire home.
I know many people believe that making these swaps is expensive, but it will actually simplify the process so much!
