The best natural cleaning products for your home

With ingredients like phthalates and single-use plastic containers, cleaning products can be some of the most toxic for the planet. But wading through marketing claims and chemical definitions to find the best natural cleaning products can be tricky.

“Environmental chemical exposure is a major concern for consumers of packaged goods, [but] consumer product claims use language in ways that can be misleading to the average consumer,” says the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Additionally, the federal government doesn’t regulate words on packaging, including “green,” “natural,” or “nontoxic.” So you can’t be sure that the eco-friendly cleaning product you’re thinking about buying is in fact good for the planet. 

To help you find the best natural cleaning products, we examined nontoxic and biodegradable ingredients against Environmental Working Group’s safe list as well as packaging. With those elements in mind, we chose the Bon Ami powder cleanser as our overall top pick, chiefly for its versatility.

We have other favorites too, from glass cleaners to dish soap and sponges. But before you read on for our top eco-friendly cleaning products for the home, note that some products are available on Amazon. To reduce your environmental impact for those products, combine purchases into one shipment, choose standard shipping instead of one-day, and recycle the boxes.

Best overall: BON AMI 

Buy now at Thrive Market or Amazon

Why we like it: A personal favorite, the Bon Ami powder cleanser can tackle dirt and stains on nearly any hard surface, from countertops to floors, even on pots and pans. You can use it to scrub with a sponge as dry powder, mix it with water into a paste for tougher stains on tile or metals, or add more water to dissolve completely for shower doors, or stovetops. It contains just five naturally occurring or biodegradable ingredients that don’t typically release harsh fumes or irritate skin. We also appreciate that it comes in a cardboard container with a metal top you can remove and recycle. 

Keep in mind: Because it’s a powder, Bon Ami may leave a residue on surfaces. Simply wipe with a clean, damp cloth or rinse with water. 

Product details: Ingredients: Limestone, feldspar powder, soda ash, baking soda,   (surfactant) | Recyclable container: Metal and cardboard; no plastic | Scent: None 

Best all purpose natural cleaner: Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Cleaner

Buy now on Amazon

Why we like it: Like its biodegradable castile soaps, Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds is a multipurpose cleaning product for the home. It’s made from plant-based ingredients and surfactants, plus essential oils that release a light scent. 

Customers appreciate that Sal Suds is concentrated, so you can use it in different ways, from mopping up floors to running a load of laundry. Sal Suds comes in a plastic bottle, but they’re large enough (16 ounces, 32 ounces, and a gallon) to last a long time before you need to toss them in the recycling bin. 

Keep in mind: Sal Suds contains sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant. While independent studies have shown sodium lauryl sulfate is nontoxic and biodegradable, some people are sensitive and can be allergic to it. 

Product details: Ingredients: Water, sodium lauryl sulfate, lauryl glucoside, sodium coco sulfate, sodium benzoate, abies siberica (Siberian fir) needle oil, picea glauca (white spruce) branch/leaf oil, picea mariana (black spruce) leaf oil, citric acid, sodium chloride, limonene | Recyclable container: Yes | Scent: Pine 

Best natural cleaning spray: Blueland Glass + Mirror

Buy now at Blueland

Why we like it: Blueland is an ingenious tablet-based natural cleaning product that comes with a reusable spray bottle. To create the cleaning solution (in this case, glass cleaner), fill the bottle with water and drop the tablet in it to dissolve. We also appreciate that the tablet doesn’t contain  bleach, phthalates, ammonia, parabens, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene. The bottle comes with the starter kit. After purchasing that, you just need to reorder the tablets. 

Keep in mind: The starter kit requires an up-front investment. But at under $20, it’ll pay for itself in a short period of time.

Product details: Ingredients: Citric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium gluconate, sodium laurel sulfate, hydrated dextrates, monosodium citrate, sorbitan caprylate, blue colorant | Recyclable container: Reusable | Scent: None 

Best natural disinfectant: Seventh Generation Zero-Plastic Kitchen Cleaner 

Why we like it: Seventh Generation’s water-activated powdered kitchen cleanser is made from biodegradable ingredients. We love that it comes in a recyclable steel container. 

Because it’s a powder, this green cleaning product is easy to use. We’ve found that it works best if you sprinkle a little on a cloth or sponge, lather it up with water, and then clean. It’s formulated to lift grease and disinfect, yet it’s gentle on surfaces. We also appreciate that this eco product doesn’t contain fragrances, dyes, or bleach, so you don’t have to worry about toxic chemical residue on surfaces where food is prepared.

Keep in mind: Like other powdered eco-friendly cleaning products, it may leave streaks. Just use a damp cloth to wipe over surfaces. 

Product details: Ingredients: Sodium carbonate (mineral-based builder), sodium gluconate (plant-derived chelating agent), fumaric acid (synthetic pH adjuster), sodium percarbonate (mineral-based oxygen stain removal agent), alkoxylated alcohol (plant-derived surfactant), ethoxylated alcohol C12-C18 (plant-derived surfactant). Phosphate free. | Recyclable container: Yes, recyclable or reusable | Scent: None 

Best natural degreaser: Groovy Goods Dish Soap Bar

Why we like it: This bar soap is made of plant-based ingredients, including organic and essential oils. In our testing, it did a good job of cleaning up grease, oils, and even dried and burnt food on pans. The best part is there’s no packaging, making it a great green cleaning product all around.

Reviewers appreciated that it’s an economical cleaning solution too, noting its large size (seven inches) and concentrated formula. 

Keep in mind: Bars of soap can be a bit messy. A soap holder with drainage will keep your sink area tidy and make the soap last longer. 

Product details: Ingredients: Sodium coco-sulfate, zea mays starch, cetearyl alcohol, aqua (water), lauryl glucoside, sodium gluconate, glycerin, cymbopogon citratus oil, geranial, neral, geraniol, linalool, limonene | Recyclable container: Plastic-free paper envelope | Scent: Lavender or lemongrass 

Best natural stain remove: Biokleen Bac-Out Pet Stain Remover

Buy now on Amazon

Why we like it: Biokleen Bac-Out is a great natural cleaning product for handling pet stains and odors, especially when time is of the essence. The cleaning solution contains bacteria-containing enzymes that “digest” stains, like dirt and urine, and turn odors into carbon dioxide. We also found Biokleen Bac-Out was effective in cleaning up red wine and coffee spills, when treated quickly. 

Keep in mind: While Biokleen Bac-Out works well on many stains, it’s most effective on organic matter. It may not work as well on mechanical grease and synthetic substances. 

Product details: Ingredients: Water, glycerin (plant-derived), viable bacteria culture (plant-derived), phenoxyethanol, C12-16 pareth-7 (plant-derived), tetrasodium glutamate diacetate (plant-derived), disodium citrate (plant-derived), citrus species leaf oil (plant-derived), linalool (plant-derived), fragrance, and lavandula hybrida oil (plant-derived) | Recyclable container: No | Scent: Lime or lavender 

Best natural laundry soap: Tru Earth Laundry Strips

Buy now on Amazon

Why we like it: A big bonus with Tru Earth laundry strips is that it doesn’t come in plastic. Besides that, we found that the unscented version of this eco-friendly cleaning product tackled everyday stains and tougher ones like set-in pasta sauce. It even did a nice job brightening up wool sweaters (washed in cold). Other reviewers reiterated the strips’ ease of use and the rewarding feeling of not buying plastic jugs. 

Keep in mind: The laundry strips work well, but not every product from Tru Earth is hypoallergenic. The company’s other cleaning products didn’t score as high as the laundry strips with reviewers.

Product details: Ingredients: Corn starch, polyvinyl alcohol, glycerine, sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, aqua, glyceryl cocoate, cocamidopropyl betaine, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, sodium gluconate, paraffinum liquidum, potassium sorbate, lauryl glucoside, C10-16 olefin, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate | Recyclable container: Plastic-free, comes in a thin paper envelope | Scent: Unscented, Fresh Linen, Lilac Breeze  

Best organic cleaning product: Public Goods Scrubbers 

Buy now at Public Goods or Amazon

Why we like it: Many kitchen sponges are made of plastic. That’s a problem because bits can flake off over time and flow down the drain, contributing to microplastics. Public Goods Scrubbers are made of chemical-free walnut fibers on one side that can tackle tough cleaning jobs, and vegetable cellulose on the other that sops up spills. 

Keep in mind: Like most sponges, the walnut side isn’t effective at stubborn stains and burned bits on pans. 

Product details: Ingredients: Walnut-based scrubbing abrasive, all natural vegetable cellulose | Recyclable container: Plastic-free paper envelope | Scent: None 

Our review process

With so many products out there claiming to be “all natural” and “green,” searching for the best natural cleaning products can be frustrating. Here’s what we prioritized in determining the right green cleaning products for different needs: 

• Third-party reviews: In addition to our own testing, we combed through online reviews for insights into the pros and cons for each product. 

• Brand reputation: We looked for brands with established track records for producing ecologically safe and responsible products, rather than just one or two products labeled as “natural.” We also tipped the scale in favor of brands that make their products in the U.S. or Canada when possible, where there’s more transparency in the manufacturing process. 

• Testing & Certifications: We tested many of these products and awarded extra points to products recognized by groups like Green Seal, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Environmental Working Group, among others. 

• Recyclable containers: The best natural cleaning products are not only biodegradable, but also responsibly packaged. The containers and shipping products (if applicable) should be minimal, easily recyclable, or free of plastic to minimize pollution.