When your home needs a little TLC, it's easy to forget about the harsh chemicals that come with so many of today's cleaning supplies. Sure, you're caring for your home, but are you doing so at the expense of Planet Earth? While going completely sustainable is a tall order, there's nothing stopping us from making small steps to improve our cleaning practices. I, for one, could do a lot better.
That doesn't mean spending hours trawling the web, though. Lucky for you, we have done the hard work already. All you need to do is read on, and pick out your essential eco-friendly cleaning products to stock up your cleaning caddy. Whether it's time for a bathroom blitz (AspenClean, we're looking at you!), if you're fixing up the roof, or simply putting a wash on, every chore has an easy-to-use solution, designed mindfully. This might just mean your chosen cleaner comes in recycled packaging, uses plant-based ingredients, or is non-aerosol. Perhaps, it's simply the ever-resourceful microfibre cloth that helps you do more and create less waste. Together, these form a move in the right direction.
See our favorite eco-friendly and non-toxic cleaning products below, and start the year by slowly stacking your cabinets with solutions that are kind on the planet. You definitely won't regret it.
12 non-toxic and eco-friendly cleaning products we really love
Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Our favorite eco cleaning spray
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
The perfect everyday cleaning supply, this cleaner is great for all-around your home. Affordable, well-scented and cruelty-free, this is essential for your cleaning caddy. This spray is a golden pick because it's made with plant-derived ingredients, and avoids artificial colors, parabens and glycol solvents. Well-scented and thoughtfully made, what could be better to spritz your home with?
Our favorite eco cleaning kit
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Reusable glass bottles
Start afresh with this wonderful set that includes a range of different scents, all packaged up lovingly in glass bottles. You can use these concentrates to clean floors, glass, mirrors, bathrooms, and tiles, making them the most versatile pick for getting started. The packaging is super-stylish, too, which always helps. The best part? They're made using plants, minerals, and essential oils. Very here for it.
Our favorite eco cleaning cloths
Cruelty-free? Yes
Packaging: Washable cloths
Using these E-Cloths alongside your cleaning products makes a big improvement to the sustainability of your set-up. You can get any and every cleaning task done with these cloths, which are suitable for countertops, appliances, and glass. Thanks to the precision-engineered microfiber texture, they work wonders on dustier spots, and with the option to wash them up to 300 times, they're sure to last. I practically swear by mine.
Our favorite eco toilet cleaner
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Reusable metal tin
Going plastic-free is a simple swap to help you live more sustainably. This perfect little toilet cleaner set can make your bathroom an eco-friendly Eden, with 14 foaming toilet cleaner tablets, toilet cleaner tins to keep them in, and refill tablets available for an absolute steal of a price. And yes, it's plant-based powder doing the magic here.
Our favorite eco glass cleaner
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
This is without a doubt our favorite glass cleaner, and we use it for cleaning everything from our windows to our glass coffee tables, our shower screens, and even our television. It gets rid of streaks with one wipe, and you can either use it with newspaper or a microfiber cloth. Plus, its mint scent means it smells way better than vinegar!
Our favorite eco air freshener
Cruelty-free? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable spray bottle
Puressentiel's Purifying Air Spray is our favorite air freshener, and the best part is that it's made with no synthetic chemicals – just a unique blend of 100 percent pure and natural essential oils. Just one spray will make a difference and you'll immediately notice the air clearing. As for the scent, it's natural and fresh with notes of tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus.
The best eco-friendly laundry detergent
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
Method is an eco-friendly brand that goes the extra mile, with its excellent packaging, amazing scents, and plant-based stain removers. This eco-friendly laundry detergent is just one example of the excellent work Method is doing to make cleaning your home a little kinder on the planet. The bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic, and you can also recycle it after use. Love that! You can also choose a refill option that comes in a recyclable pouch instead.
A fragrance-gree eco cleaner
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recycled & recyclable plastic bottle
This cleaner is free from harmful fumes and perfect to use across your home. But that's not the only reason I love it. Indeed, it's also great for battling against dirt and grease, and so affordable, too. Free of fragrances and with a 100% recyclable bottle, this solution is my definition of an all-rounder.
Our favorite sustainable cleaner for wood surfaces
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
Yet another plant-based icon to add to your caddy, this wood cleaner is ideal for daily use, not to mention non-toxic and cruelty-free. Capable of removing dust and grime, and created to prevent harm to your surfaces, this handy spray can be used to your heart's content. Oh, and that almond fragrance is ever-so nice on the nose.
Our favourite eco shower cleaner
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
Take it from me, this is the easiest shower cleaner to use in the history of all shower cleaners. Simply spritz it around your shower (when it's wet), and it gets on with the job: dissolving watermarks, soap scum, and residue. Oh, and it's free from toxic chemicals. Add to this a recycled bottle, a fresh eucalyptus and mint scent, and a rinse-free formula, and we have a legend in the making. Now you know how to clean a shower quickly (and thoroughly), you've got no excuse.
Our favorite eco bathroom cleaner
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recycled & recyclable plastic bottle
With organic lime and lavender essential oils infused into the formula, this all-natural bathroom cleaner helps you get the bathroom in gleaming glory in record time. And did I mention that it's made using plant-derived ingredients, which are toxic-free, too? Yep, it's 100% natural, just the way we like it.
Our favorite eco cleaning paste
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable pot
Whether you're cleaning saucepans, your grill or even rusted patio furniture, this mighty paste has your back. Designed using a non-toxic, environmentally responsible formula, the Pink Stuff is my definition of an all-rounder. Its ingredients? 99% natural and completely cruelty-free — always winners where I'm concerned.
Our favorite bulk buy eco cleaner
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
Without any artificial fragrances, colors, or preservatives, this takes down grime and grease with ease. Simply dilute with water, add to a spray bottle, and get to work. Then, wipe away and inspect the results: streak-free, gleaming, and no fumes. I should also note that it uses biodegradable ingredients, too. Indeed, this is the real deal.
The best eco cleaning sponges
Biodegradable? Yes
Completely biodegradable, Airnex's sponges are made using white cellulose and coconut fiber, providing you with some seriously eco-kind dishwashing equipment. In fact, their plastic cousins pale in comparison! Not only does this design dry faster and, as a result, prevent germ build-up, but it's also — despite the rustic appearance — gentle on more delicate surfaces.
Our second favorite eco all-purpose cleaner
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
This cleaner is somewhat a staple in several Real Homes team members' homes. Why? It's a multi-purpose solution so you can use it pretty much anywhere, and it smells AMAZING — just like fresh rhubarb. Just spray, leave for a few minutes and wipe away. It kills bacteria yet is plant-based and cruelty-free. Its bottle is recyclable but the cap, trigger and pump aren't, just an FYI.
For cleaning granite
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable plastic bottle
Granite surfaces can be a real problem, so invest in this cleaner for a smoother cleaning experience. This one can be used daily and is plant based too. It'll leave your countertop sparkling and won't damage your precious granite top.
For cleaning up after your pets
Cruelty-free? Yes
Biodegradable formula? Yes
Packaging: Recyclable spray bottle
Take care of all of the more unpleasant duties of having a super lovable pet with this product, which smells like fresh oranges and is safe to use around your fave furry friends. We think this is a great thing to have in your supply, as it can be used in your home, garage, and car, and cover all bases.
Real Homes review process — how we chose these eco cleaning supplies
Some of the eco-friendly cleaning supplies we've reviewed
The vast majority of the eco-friendly cleaning supplies we've included above have been tried, tested and (obviously) loved by a member of Real Homes. Now, in order to test a load of products from a range of brands, we split this task between the team. This way, no one has to unnecessarily clean or use any products they don't actually need to. Because we're very keen on trying to be eco-friendly here at Real Homes.
We're not going to go through each product one by one and say who reviewed it, but what we will list is our favorite eco-friendly brands that we buy when shopping for underneath our sink. Here's who we love...
Hi! I'm Annie, the head ecommerce editor at Real Homes. I'm forever trying to be more eco-friendly at home, through both my cleaning and buying habits. I have a couple of eco cleaning brands I really love, although I am based in the UK so the majority of them aren't available in the states. The one I do love that you can buy in the US is Mrs.Meyer's Clean Day. Everything I've tried from them always smells incredible, not to mention the cleaning power in their products is impressive. I love the Lavender fragrance the most.
Hello, I'm Christina, Real Homes' ecommerce editor. I look after all of our small kitchen appliance content, which is both a blessing and a curse. Yes, this means I spend a lot of time cleaning appliances. So, you can bet I always have a bottle of Method'd Anti Bac (rhubarb scent ftw), or Mrs. Meyers Clean Day spray (in lemon verbena) under my sink.
Hi, I'm Nishaa, staff writer at Real Homes. I swear by the entire Method range of cleaning products, but my three staples are the clementine kitchen cleaner, eucalyptus mint bathroom cleaner, and the glass cleaner. The products are all plant-based and biodegradable, so they're pet-friendly and planet-friendly too.
What brands are actually eco-friendly?
With such a glut of options to choose from, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. That's why it's important to know which brands do eco-cleaning products well. Blueland, in particular, specializes in this area, presenting sustainable and reusable cleaning products in simple but chic designs. With these guys, products live forever. Take their soap tablets, for example: once you've got a bottle in place, this can be refilled with water and tablets for as long as you live.
Another great name to keep in your cleaning Rolodex is AspenClean, a brand that offers zero-plastic products, natural cleaners, and eco-friendly laundry detergents alike. Oh, and its hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. The brand has an array of certifications and awards proving its sustainable integrity.
Browse more eco-friendly cleaning products...
If it's really important to you to be able to switch your normal buys for an eco-friendly or non-toxic cleaning product alternative, to clean every corner of your house sustainably, then you might still be looking for more cleaning supplies. These are our favorite retailers for picking up planet-friendly options...
- Amazon eco-friendly cleaning products (opens in new tab)
- Blueland eco-friendly cleaning products (opens in new tab)
- Goldune eco-friendly cleaning products (opens in new tab)
- Target eco-friendly cleaning products (opens in new tab)
- Walmart eco-friendly cleaning products (opens in new tab)
