How To: Green Clean Your Home

Awareness about chemicals in everyday products—from cosmetics to household cleaners—is growing, and many of us want safer alternatives. Fortunately, the market for green cleaning solutions has expanded, with household names offering more environmentally friendly formulas.

Over time I’ve swapped common products for gentler options. One favorite is Castile soap, which I use in multiple ways around the house.

Below is a curated list of effective, EWG-rated cleaning products and simple natural supplies you can use to create a clean, non-toxic home.

What is EWG?

The EWG is the Environmental Working Group, an independent organization that helps people make healthier choices through research and education. EWG evaluates ingredient safety and assigns grades that make it easier to pick safer products.

Use the EWG database to check the safety of products you already own and to find top-rated alternatives. Their grading system is straightforward and useful when comparing cleaning brands.

Green Clean: The Basic Supplies

These natural pantry staples are versatile, inexpensive, and effective—great for cleaning without harsh additives.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a gentle abrasive and deodorizer. Use it as a soft scrub for sinks and tubs, to brighten surfaces, clean grout, or neutralize odors. It’s an essential item in a green cleaning kit.

Castile Soap or Sal’s Suds

Plant-based Castile soap and products like Sal’s Suds work for many everyday cleaning tasks: countertops, laundry, dishes, and handwashing. These concentrated soaps are natural degreasers—dilute before use.

You can make homemade cleaners with these ingredients, including grout cleaner, liquid hand soap, and even gentle pet shampoos. Always follow dilution guidelines and avoid mixing Castile soap with vinegar.

Thieves Cleaner

Thieves cleaner is a popular, essential-oil-based all-purpose cleaner. It’s effective for many household tasks and is a preferred option for people seeking botanical-based cleaners.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a naturally occurring acid that removes hard-water buildup, soap scum, and grease. It’s an inexpensive, effective option for many cleaning jobs—especially when you want a no-frills approach.

Note: I’ve chosen not to include borax on this list; many people seek alternatives for various reasons, including safety preferences.

Name-Brand Green Cleaning Products

Below are brand-name cleaning products that have earned high EWG ratings for low toxicity. These options are effective, widely reviewed, and safer alternatives to many conventional cleaners.

If you want to replace traditional cleaners with greener options, these products are a solid starting point.

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Spray:

This is one of the few disinfecting sprays with a top EWG rating. Some users note the scent is unusual, but if you need a verified disinfecting product, this is a reliable option.

A-Ben-A-Qui:

This cleaning paste is known for removing tough marks like paint, scuffs, and hard-water stains. It’s especially useful on porcelain sinks and tubs and is a favorite among maintenance professionals.

Aunt Fannie’s Vinegar Wipes:

Many Aunt Fannie products receive high EWG ratings. The vinegar wipes are convenient for cleaning high chairs, toys, and quick messes in kitchens and bathrooms.

ECOS All-Purpose Cleaning Spray:

ECOS provides a budget-friendly all-purpose spray with a strong EWG rating. It’s ideal for everyday wipe-downs of counters and surfaces and offers good value for the price.

Castile Soap

Castile soap is versatile for handwashing dishes, cleaning countertops, and hand soap. It’s a concentrated, plant-based cleanser—dilute for different uses. Do not use in automatic dishwashers and avoid mixing with vinegar.

Fit Organic Degreaser & Cleaner

If you need a dedicated degreaser, Fit Organic is among the few options with a high EWG rating. Castile soap can also handle many degreasing jobs and is often more economical.

Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent

Choosing a non-toxic dishwasher detergent is an easy step toward greener cleaning. Seventh Generation offers effective, gentler formulas for dishwashing.

Seventh Generation Rinse Aid:

Rinse aid matters because residues can end up on the dishes you use daily. Seventh Generation’s rinse aid is highly rated and budget-friendly, making it a practical green switch.

Attitude Bathroom Cleaner:

Attitude removes mildew and mold without harsh chemicals. With a strong safety profile, it’s a dependable all-purpose bathroom cleaner.

CLR:

CLR is a long-standing product that tackles mineral deposits, soap scum, and stains on a wide variety of surfaces. It’s versatile and useful in many cleaning scenarios.

Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner:

Toilet cleaners can be harsh; finding an effective product with a top safety rating is a welcome option for households prioritizing non-toxic cleaners.

Seventh Generation Tile & Tub Cleaner:

This cleaner helps prevent and remove soap scum on tubs and tiles without heavy chemicals. Some users find the scent strong, so consider trying a small bottle first.

Attitude Window & Mirror Cleaner:

Hypoallergenic and effective, this glass cleaner delivers streak-free results and is an economical choice for household glass surfaces.

Murchison & Hume Glass Cleaner (fragrance free):

Murchison & Hume’s fragrance-free glass cleaner avoids ammonia, bleach, dyes, and many synthetic additives. Choose the fragrance-free version if you are sensitive to scents.

ECOS Furniture Polish:

This polish uses essential oils and olive oil to clean and protect wood surfaces without common harsh ingredients. Some buyers report shipping issues, so purchasing in-store may be preferable.

Microfiber Dusting Cloth:

Microfiber cloths are excellent for dusting and polishing without chemicals. They leave minimal lint and produce streak-free results on wood and glass.

BioKleen Carpet & Rug Shampoo:

This concentrated shampoo is ideal for spot and steam cleaning. A gallon of concentrate goes a long way, making it a cost-effective, non-toxic choice for carpets and upholstery.

Aunt Fannie’s Floor Cleaner:

This vinegar-based floor cleaner is concentrated and economical. A little goes a long way, and it’s safe for hardwood, tile, bamboo, vinyl, and laminate floors.

Martha Stewart Hardwood Floor Cleaner:

This concentrate is formulated for wood floors and carries high safety ratings. A gallon lasts a long time and is convenient for regular maintenance.

Fit Organic Laundry & Carpet Stain Remover:

Fit Organic offers a stain remover that is EWG-rated, though user reviews are mixed. If you prefer alternatives, there are other natural stain removers with strong reputations.

LA’s Totally Awesome Oxygen Cleaner:

A budget-friendly, oxygen-based cleaner that works like OxiClean without some of the harsher additives. It’s color-safe and chlorine-free, and useful in DIY detergent recipes.

Seventh Gen. Chlorine-Free Bleach:

A chlorine-free bleach with a high safety rating—useful for towels, sheets, and laundry where you want whitening power without traditional chlorine bleach.

Planet 2x Laundry Detergent:

Certified biodegradable and hypoallergenic, Planet detergent is free of added fragrances, dyes, and synthetic preservatives. It works in standard and high-efficiency machines and is a cost-effective choice.

Castile Soap:

Castile soap remains a favorite for laundry when diluted appropriately. A small concentrated container can last through many loads and doubles as a multi-purpose cleaner.

Bissell Spot Cleaner

A spot cleaner can be a game-changer for upholstery and carpets. If you do a lot of spot cleaning, a compact machine is a worthwhile investment paired with a non-toxic cleaning solution.

Glass Spray Bottles

Reusable glass spray bottles are perfect for storing homemade cleaners and reduce plastic waste.

Scrubber Brush

Sturdy scrub brushes are essential for tackling grout, sinks, and tough stains. They work well with natural scrubs and pastes.

Pop-Up Sponges

Cellulose-based sponges are more sustainable and compact than many synthetic alternatives. They’re useful for everyday kitchen cleaning.

Linen Rags

Reusable linen rags are a sustainable substitute for paper towels and work well for most kitchen and household cleaning tasks.

Glass Soap Dispenser

Glass dispensers are ideal for homemade liquid hand soap and reduce single-use plastic waste.

Glass Bottles

Use glass bottles for mixing and storing homemade cleaners or pantry ingredients like vinegar and diluted solutions.

Amber Bottles

Amber or dark glass bottles protect light-sensitive solutions and are useful for homemade blends with essential oils.

Dust Broom & Pan

A simple, well-made broom and pan make daily tidying easier—and look nicer in storage too.