We all want to make the best product choices when it comes to cleaning our homes. We want to make our homes cleaner and safer, not add harmful fumes or chemicals to it. But while many brands can claim to be “natural” or “green,” it’s important to know what truly makes a cleaner safe for you and your home. Here’s what to look for in a green cleaning product and a few of our go-to favorites.
What Makes a Cleaner Green?
Truly green cleaners are ones that keep your health and the environment in mind. They shouldn’t leave behind any toxic chemicals or fumes. Green cleaners should be natural with sustainably sourced ingredients and biodegradable surfactants. And to help our planet, green cleaners usually include some way to reduce waste, whether it be through recyclable packaging, concentrated formulas, or both. As a bonus, it’s good to keep certain sensitivities in mind when choosing a cleaner; it may be a good idea to choose cleaners that are free of bleach, chlorine, or fragrances.
Our Top Picks for Green Home Cleaners
While it’s important for us to switch to green cleaners, we also want them to be powerful and effective. Here are our favorite cleaners that achieve just that.
Basic H2® Biodegradable Cleaner If you want a cleaner that checks all the boxes, this is it. Basic H2 is truly all-purpose for the thousands of household jobs you could use it for. This is achieved by the super-concentrated formula; Basic H2 is meant to be combined with different amounts of water depending on the job at hand. One 16-ounce bottle of Basic H2 has the potential of creating 48 gallons of powerful cleaner! Best of all, Basic H2 is nontoxic, free of toxic fumes and hazardous chemicals, and fragrance free.
Scour Off™ This heavy-duty paste is a green cleaner made for the tough jobs in the kitchen, bathroom, indoors, and out. Scour Off uses natural abrasives to handle grease, grime, and stains that other cleansers can’t. So it’s a great solution for the stuck-on messes that doesn’t leave harmful fumes or chemicals.
Germ Off+ Wipes Tough cleaning is truly made easy with this one. With powerful clean and the convenience of a wipe, Germ Off+ makes it easy to clean and disinfect any room in the house. Germ Off+ Wipes are effective against bacteria and viruses* on hard, nonporous surfaces in the bathroom, classroom, playroom, car, and more. These wipes have a cloth-like texture for scrubbing power and can be used without rinsing in kitchens and on food contact surfaces. Finally, they are bleach-free, phosphate free, fragrance free, and leave no harsh chemical residue.
*Including SARS-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cause of COVID-19, Human Norovirus, Influenza A Virus H1N1