Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning Products to Use Around the House

a plunger in a sink with a clogged drain at home

Everyone loves a sparkling clean house. Whether you’re staging your home for sale or just want to spruce things up in your home, cleaning products can help you get the job done. There are many reasons why people should use environmentally friendly cleaning products.

For starters, all homeowners want to keep their space happy, healthy, and free of common safety hazards. Some of the most important reasons to use eco-friendly products are that they are safe for both people and pets, and are often non-toxic and biodegradable. Additionally, using environmentally friendly cleaning products helps to reduce air pollution and protects our planet.

Plenty of consumers have decided that they prefer to use sustainable products, and the manufacturers are responding. Many companies are selling more natural cleaning products because there is a growing demand for them. Consumers are becoming more aware of the dangers of using traditional chemical-based cleaning products, and they are looking for safer alternatives.

Companies have to adapt to keep profit margins up, so there’s an influx of products hitting the market with eco-friendly buzzwords. With so much saturation, how can people tell which eco-friendly products are best?

Keep reading to learn all about using eco-friendly home cleaning products in your house.

How to Find EPA-Approved Cleaning Products

To uphold quality standards, organizations like the EPA regulate the private sector to ensure that cleaning products are environmentally friendly. By applying a scientific certification process to the labels of cleaning products, consumers can make eco-friendly choices, without becoming experts on the names of hazardous chemicals and biodegradable materials. The EPA has two labeling programs to help people spot environmentally friendly products.

The first is called Safer Choice. To qualify to carry the Safer Choice logo on their products, companies must submit all ingredients used to the EPA for review. The chemicals are tested for stringent criteria to ensure that they don’t contain cancer-causing elements, toxic particles to aquatic life, or anything that could harm humans or pets at home. Safer Choice products must also have approved pH levels to prevent skin irritations, and the packaging must be compliant with sustainable practices.

Design for the Environment (DfE) is a voluntary program sponsored by the EPA that encourages manufacturers to develop and market safer products for both people and the environment. DfE products must meet specific criteria, including being non-toxic and biodegradable.

Products eligible to be considered for Design for the Environment status include antimicrobial pesticides like:

Toilet bowl cleaner
Tub and shower disinfectants
Bathroom surface sanitizers

How to Spot Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

a person spraying cleaner and wiping a wood table

Even though there are many thorough databases listing all of the EPA-certified cleaning products, you may not always be able to find the ones you’re interested in. When that happens, it can help to have a general idea of how to identify eco-friendly home cleaning products, ingredients, and packaging on your own in the supermarket (rather than relying on online databases).

The best place to start is by checking out the ingredients list. Green cleaning products will almost always have shorter ingredient lists than their non-eco-friendly counterparts. For a more advanced search, keep an eye out for natural ingredients like:

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
White vinegar
Quartz
Limestone

Also, be on the lookout for the chemical names of non-biodegradable dyes. Natural dyes usually go by the names of the organic compounds from which they’re derived. For example, cochineal, red basil, saffron, and turmeric are all examples of naturally biodegradable dyes.

Sustainable packages are another tell-tale sign of green cleaning products. Avoid single-use plastics whenever possible, and opt for glass or other recyclable vessels instead. The best option is to buy in bulk and use sturdy containers that can be used repeatedly for years.

How to Make DIY Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning Products

a cleaning team wearing latex gloves and a woman giving thumbs up

If you’re looking for effective ways to clean your home with natural products, you can always make your own eco-friendly home cleaning products. This saves money in the long run and can also be a fun experiment, testing new combinations of ingredients safely to find the perfect cleaning solution for your needs.

DIY Bathroom Cleaner

Some bathroom cleaners on the market contain harmful chemicals that wash down the drain and bring toxicity into our water supply. Try this cheap and easy DIY solution instead:

1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
A few drops of your favorite essential oils

This bathroom cleaner can be used on the toilet, counters, and sinks.

DIY Kitchen Cleaner

Grease in the kitchen can be hard to get rid of, but this DIY solution can keep your cooktops sparkling:

Mix olive oil and baking soda in a jar at a 1:2 ratio
Let sit overnight
Apply to the cooktop, then wipe down with all-purpose cleaner

Always use a suitable sponge for the surface you’re cleaning to prevent damage to a property. For example, use non-abrasive sponges on metal or composite sinks and on glass hobs or splashbacks.

Conclusion

While it may seem challenging to switch to eco-friendly home cleaning products, it is well worth it in the long run. By doing so, you help the environment and keep the air and surfaces in your home healthy.

Many EPA-certified products on the market can help make this transition easier. Or you can even try making your cleaning products using simple ingredients from your kitchen.

Are you cleaning your house in preparation for a sale? Brotherly Love Real Estate are your local property experts. Our expert team of real estate agents can help you sell a house faster in Philadelphia, San Diego, and New Jersey. Call us to sell your property online versus cleaning it.