When it comes to cleaning, there are so many of us who tend to disregard the ingredients on the cleaner. As long as it gets the job done, who cares what’s in it, right?
As odd as it may sound, there are a ton of cleaning products out there that can actually cause serious harm to you and your body. About 50% of the mainstream, well-known cleaning brands on the market use chemicals that can hurt your lungs and make you or your family sick.
Some of the most popular cleaning products out there have caused people to faint or go unconscious, have headaches, migraines, seizures, coughing fits, rashes, and even asthma attacks. Just because the product is labeled "green" or "all-natural" doesn’t necessarily make it any better either.
Many of these products hide chemicals in them or use vividly colors bottles and nice labels to cover up for the fact that they are using harmful ingredients in their cleaning compounds.
How to Choose Natural Cleaning Products
Laundry Products
When shopping for safe, natural laundry products, you’ll want to make sure the ingredients-list has mostly plant-based products that you recognize. The more ingredients that you have trouble pronouncing on the label, the more likely that the product is not going to be natural.
A good first step you can take for a healthier laundry day is to ditch the fabric softener. Most fabric softeners are contain chemicals that in some people can cause rashes and irritate the lungs or adversely affect the respiratory system.
Recommended Natural Laundry Detergent Brands
The following are some eco-friendly brands we recommend you try. One of the first is Earth Friendly Products ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent. The next is the GreenShield Organic Laundry Detergent. Eco-Me Liquid Laundry Detergent. Zum Clean Laundry Soap is another great candidate on our list of best brands.
Molly Suds is a laundry detergent powder that is popular with individuals looking to use more natural products. The only laundry pod on this list for people that enjoy their convenience is Grab Green Natural 3-in-1 Laundry Detergent Pods.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND you keep these or any (often-colorful) laundry detergent pods out of the reach of children, as there has been an increase in emergency room visits from youngsters ingesting these pods believing they are eating candy.
Puretergent is a wonderful, all natural laundry detergent that comes in various formulas for your whites, delicates, and colors to make sure all your fabrics get the correct treatment. They offer a plethora of varieties with fabulous fragrances.
Seventh Generation’s laundry detergent is another great pick for a natural laundry detergent. It uses a plant-based formula that eliminates the use of any toxic, optical whiteners and is naturally biodegradable, making this detergent very environmentally friendly. Their formula is hypoallergenic and uses no synthetic fragrances or dyes either. It is available in several different scents, and even offers consumers a free and clear option.
Fabric Softener
Ecover fabric softener is another great product that keeps clothes soft and smelling fresh. All their ingredients are biodegradable. Even the container is 100% recyclable.
Seventh Generation also makes a great fabric softener. This product too, is totally hypoallergenic as well as free of any unnatural fragrances and latex.
Dryer Sheets
There are a lot of great natural and eco-friendly options for dryer sheets available to consumers.
Woolzies are 100% natural and environmentally friendly dryer balls you can use to dry your clothes and reportedly, dry them more quickly. They are perfect for use with essential oils and impart an aromatic fragrance to your laundry.
Grab Green wet dryer sheets are yet another nice option. They are 100% natural and totally free of wax and animal fat. It is also fragrance-free. Another great feature of these oxymoronic wet dryer sheets is they are reusable. An 18-count pack is good for up to 64 loads of laundry.
Kitchen Cleaners
Using natural and green kitchen cleaners is an essential step in protecting your overall health. Natural cleaners, from a health and environmental standpoint, are far better than the store-bought, chemical laden cleaners.
Shopping Recommendations
When shopping for natural or environmentally friendly cleaning products, make sure that they are plant based, and use essential oils or similar sources for scents for their fragrances instead of synthetic chemicals. Here are some Organic Daily Post recommendations for green kitchen cleaning brands and products.
Dishwashing Liquid
Seventh Generation dish soap uses powerful, plant-based ingredients that leave your dishes sparkling clean and without leaving any soap residue. This product is also totally hypoallergenic and free from harmful dyes and fragrances. Seventh Generation dish soap uses a USDA certified bio-based formula that makes it totally biodegradable and septic tank safe.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Dish Soap comes in seven (7) heavenly fragrances that will make your dishes sparkle.
Dishwashing Tabs
Method Smarty dish washer tabs use a formula that is tough on grease and excellent at removing stubborn baked residue from dishes. It offers the customer a natural formula that is totally free of any phosphates and bleach. These dishwasher tabs are environmentally friendly and completely biodegradable.
All-purpose cleaners
BioKleen All-Purpose Cleaner Spray+Wipe is great for anywhere you want to use it, whether it be the bathroom, kitchen, on stainless steel surfaces, granite, upholstery, and even stains on your carpet and clothes. It uses no artificial ingredients including fragrances, preservatives, or colors. This product is also biodegradable and entirely ozone safe.
Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds is perfect for using on various and sundry materials and surfaces including countertops, bathrooms, floors, walls, and even in your car.
Bathroom and Personal Products
Deodorant
Lafe’s Natural Deodorant Spray uses a combination of aloe vera, natural lavender oil, and mineral salts to make you smell great and help reduce perspiration. Additionally, this deodorant fights odor-causing bacteria. Moreover, it is hypoallergenic, free of aluminum, 73% certified organic, and boasts 24-hour protection.
Fat and the Moon Deodorant Cream is a little different from your run of the mill deodorant. This is a deodorant cream and uses baking soda along with coconut oil and natural fragrances to give you long lasting daily protection. It carries a pleasant scent as well. It uses all natural and organic ingredients and is totally aluminum free which is very important, as the use of aluminum has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease, although the direct correlation has not been established.
Shampoo and Conditioner
Evolvh Ultrashine Shampoo is made entirely of natural, organic, vegan, and sulfate free ingredients, providing the healthiest possible wash for your hair. This shampoo is quite versatile and is perfectly balanced for all types of hair. Evolvh also has an advanced, all-natural conditioner for dry and tired hair.
Body Lotions
GoodOnYa’s natural face moisturizing cream is perfect for sensitive skin. This product uses a combination of natural oils, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, shea butter and aloe vera to provide the best in natural skin care.
Nourish Organic body lotion is another great choice. Instead of having a few organic ingredients, this unique lotion is made with 100% organic ingredients and a heavy dose of vitamin A.