Growing up, I had the privilege of living in one of the most tidiest homes in America (I’m not even kidding…my mom cleaned daily and was extremely neat). Sometimes I would just watch her out of pure amazement and curiosity and then somewhere along th...
However, there is a tiny difference in how we approach things when it comes to cleaning. She tends to gravitate towards popular commercial cleaning products, whereas I find joy in creating my own cleaning products and reaching for sustainable brands ...
Even so, I’ve been able to create a pretty solid cleaning system centered around sustainability. I know there are others out there that desire to implement sustainability into their cleaning technique(s) as well, so I compiled a list of eco friendly ...
So if you’re ready to ditch the commercial cleaning brands and start shopping for/creating your own sustainable cleaning products…then scroll down below to browse through my list of eco friendly cleaning products I can't live without!
Sections
3
All Purpose Cleaners
Natural Polishes
Natural Cleaning Tools
All Purpose Cleaners
Honestly... I’ve never found myself reaching for a product so much. I use white vinegar to clean and sanitize my retainers (retainer cleaner is ridiculously expensive in my opinion so using white vinegar as a substitute is a more cost effective alter...
White distilled vinegar is also a key ingredient that I use in my homemade, all purpose house cleaner (more information on that later!).
Most people are fine with using any white vinegar brand, but I personally have to have HEINZ (because it’s literally the best!). I will say that I’m a little more flexible on apple cider vinegar brands though but I’d still put HEINZ first!
Heinz All Natural Distilled White Vinegar 5% Acidity, 32 fl oz Bottle
Growing up, every now and then I would hear the term baking soda. Naturally, I thought it was for baking (and it is), but I never imagined that the same product that you would use for baking would become a staple for household cleaning products.
I use baking soda to clean my drains, get grime off my stovetop, remove stains from countertops/carpet/Tupperware, and I’m also looking to add it to my laundry routine and use it to deep clean and freshen up my carpets as well.
ARM & HAMMER Pure Baking Soda & All Purpose Cleaner for Baking & Deodorizing, 4 lb Box
When I'm not using white vinegar, then I'm using apple cider vinegar. Although I don't like the smell of vinegar at all, apple cider vinegar is slightly more tolerable (don't get me wrong though…the smell is still not my favorite but it's much better...
I primarily use apple cider vinegar when cleaning my floors and carpets to give the house a refreshing smell and I definitely use it to add a pleasant scent to my drains too.
White House Organic, Raw Unfiltered, Apple Cider Vinegar, 32 fl oz
Hear me out. Laundry liquid isn’t just for clothes. In fact, I use mine to clean my drains, treat stains (especially on upholstery), and as the main ingredient for my all purpose house cleaner to give it a pleasant smell and scrub all dirt away.
In addition to that, I also use it to sanitize my cleaning brushes and it’s one of the main ingredients in the solution I make to clean my sneakers. Ever since I discovered fresh ways to use my laundry liquid, I feel like I’m getting more value for m...
Surprisingly, hydrogen peroxide has become one of my all time favorite household cleaning products. I originally purchased some a few years ago as an alternative to using alcohol, but little did I know it would be used for a lot more. I have a lot of...
The thought of stains use to stress me out. So much so that I cleaned my white countertops frequently with my homemade all purpose cleaner. However, recently (as in like two months ago) I got a really ugly stain on my bathroom countertop and my all p...
So I panicked and started researching how to resolve the issue. While researching, I found out that hydrogen peroxide can be used to get stains out of countertops depending on what kind of countertop you have (crazy right?!).
So after I learned that, I tested it out by making a paste with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. I let the paste sit on the countertop for 24 hours and I’m not even kidding…the majority of the stains went away! There was one stubborn stain that dec...
I think it was at that moment my love for hydrogen peroxide grew tremendously. Now I’m looking to use it to clean my mirrors (once I run out of Windex), disinfect my toothbrushes, deep clean my stovetop, and even clean/disinfect my washing machine. I...
CVS Hydrogen Peroxide, 32 OZ
Lemons aren't just for lemonade…the juice makes a fabulous deodorizer for drains, a lifesaving stain remover in a pinch, and an excellent bug repellant.
Fresh Lemons, 2 lb Bag
Rubbing alcohol is not something that I commonly reach for when cleaning, but I do love that it can be used as a disinfectant (which is great during cold and flu season) and to safely and effectively clean my artificial plants (if you plan to use it ...
Equate 70% Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol Antiseptic, 16 fl oz
Natural Polishes
I don’t have a lot of wood furniture, but I do have a couple of eye catching pieces that I love to keep looking vibrant. About once a month I try to make it a goal of mine to polish my wood furniture and instead of purchasing expensive (and harmful) ...
BetterBody Foods Refined Organic Coconut Oil, 56 fl oz
Although coconut oil can make wood furniture look and smell amazing, the oil that I typically lean towards to polish my furniture is old fashioned olive oil.
I don't know if I use it out of convenience (I'm always quick to replace this oil the minute it starts getting low because I cook with it and I'm also looking to use it in my hair care routine) or because I'm just use to it (this was the first oil th...
Regardless of the reason, I will ALWAYS recommend olive oil as furniture polish and my favorite brand will always be “Newmans Own” because it's organic and supports a great cause with each bottle purchased.
Newmans Own 16.9z Organics Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Natural Cleaning Tools
As I slowly (and steadily) move towards using less and less paper towels, I find myself getting more interested in microfiber cloths.
I don't own any as of right now, but they are currently on my wishlist. I plan to use my future microfibers cloths to wipe down the glass in my house, to wash and dry my car, and to clean the interior of my car.
When you think about a steamer, I'm pretty sure you don't think about it as a cleaning tool, but it is (and a sustainable one at that!).
Steaming kills approximately 99% of bacteria making it the perfect tool to use on your curtains in between washes, your couch, and even your mattress.
I'm always looking for ways to get the most out of everything I own, so one day I was like how can I get more use out of my steamer? And lo and behold, I did some light research and got a few ideas.
Now steaming my furniture has become routine for me and the investment in my steamer feels so much more worthwhile.
I only use this brush for one specific cleaning task…but it is so worth it!
I use this clothing brush to brush away dirt and get lint off of my couch.
It makes a noticeable difference in the appearance of my couch, it makes vacuuming it so much easier, and it sounds a little strange…but it makes my couch look smoother as well (if that makes sense).
Natural Bristle Beechwood Clothing Brush — Styled by Breyana
Okay so….
One of my toilet brushes broke (don't ask me how…I truly don't know. It was probably husband's fault).
I was going to to try to fix it (and I may still attempt to do that and move it to a completely different bathroom).
Transparently speaking though, I stopped caring about my old toilet brush when I stumbled across this eco friendly one!
This specific toilet brush meshes perfectly the design that I'm building out for my master bathroom plus I think it would indirectly communicate such a positive message on sustainability for visitors (and by visitors I really mean plumbers and contra...
I'm also really looking forward to making yet another swap from plastic to natural.
I'm super excited to let you know about the feel of it and all the different ways it transforms my bathroom space!
Plastic-Free Wooden Toilet Brush and Stand | Natural Sisal Bristles
I haven't tried these just yet, but they are extremely high on my wish list and I plan to get them soon.
I added them to this list because they are 100% natural and can be used for various things – washing dishes, exfoliating your body, etc. giving you TONS of value for your money while simultaneously protecting your health and the health of those aroun...
I'm eventually looking to replace all of my plastic cleaning brushes for a more sustainable and sturdier alternative.
I have my eye on these brushes as I feel they are going to work wonders on my floors (I'm starting to prefer handwashing them) and the other one can be used for the floor of my bathtub (it's just something about scrubbing the floor of my bathtub that...
I'll let you know what the final verdict is when I get them!
All-Natural Wooden Scrub Brush Set | Wooden Handle | Palmyra Bristle Brush for Cleaning | Eco Friendly Cleaning Products | Scrub Brush Set of 2
I love being able to switch between a sponge and grout brush when cleaning my shower and bathtub.
Having said that, I'm really excited about adding these (seemingly sturdy) grout brushes to my cleaning tool collection.
I have a really strong feeling that they'll tackle some of the tough stains that I often experience and give my shower and bathtub that beautiful shine that I'm looking for.
All-Natural Grout Brush Set | Eco Scrub Brushes for Tile, Bathroom, Shower and Corners | Palmyra & Tampico Compostable Bristles | Pack of 2