Five Best All Natural Cleaning Products

In recent years, many people have been changing their lifestyles in an effort to "go green." One of those particular areas that several individuals have altered is that of the cleaning products they use to keep their homes tidy and neat. In this article, I will list five all natural cleaning products that I personally use and absolutely love.

1. Clorox Green Works Natural All-Purpose Cleaner - This product is absolutely wonderful. It is made with all plant- and mineral-based ingredients that are biodegradable, is not tested on animals, does not have any harmful fumes, and comes in two scents: original and simply tangerine. The cleaner can be used on a variety of surfaces, such as stainless steel, sealed granite, chrome, appliances, cook top hoods, sinks, and toilets, and works well on removing grease, grime, dirt, soil, and other messes. If you want to use it on a painted surface or a wall covering, test it in an inconspicuous spot first. I personally have used it on my kitchen cabinets that are painted, and they are now as clean as they were the day that we bought our house nine years ago.

This cleaning product is found at such stores as K-Mart, Kroger, CVS, Walgreen's, and Walmart and can be purchased online for $4.08 (for a 32 oz. bottle) at amazon.com. If you would like to buy it in bulk, you can purchase 12 32oz. bottles for $39.86 .

2. Earth Friendly Products Ready-To-Use Orange Plus All Purpose Cleaner- This spray cleaner consists of three natural ingredients: water, pressed orange oil, and biodegradable surfactants. It can be used on any non-porous surface including sealed stone, hardwood floors, painted surfaces, linoleum, vinyl, porcelain, chrome, stainless steel, and wood. You simply spray it onto the desired area and wipe it off with a clean cloth. My husband and I have used it not only to clean various parts of our home but also to coat our wooden garden boxes outside. The orange oil helps to preserve the wood, so it will last longer.

The product can be purchased from the Earth Friendly Products website . It is available in concentrate as well as ready-to-use form. A 17 oz. bottle of the concentrate is $4.49 while the ready-to-use bottles are priced at $3.69 for 17oz., $3.99 for 22oz., and $5.99 for 32 oz.

3. Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner- This natural product is composed of plant-derived cleaning agents and a mineral-derived alkalinity builder. It cleans and degreases hard surfaces both inside and outside the home and is excellent for wet mopping. However, this cleaner is not recommended for use on wood floors. It is available in two varieties: free and clear (which does not contain a scent) and green mandarin and leaf.

This product can be purchased for $5.49 from the Toys R Us website. You can also go to the Seventh Generation website to find out about local stores that handle this cleaner.

4. Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid - This dishwashing liquid contains plant-derived cleaning agents, a natural thickener, and a cornstarch-derived water softener. It is biodegradable, pH neutral, hypoallergenic, nontoxic, and nonirritating. It is available in three scents: free and clear, lavender floral and mint, and lemongrass and clementine zest. This is my favorite dishwashing detergent.

This product can be purchased from a number of locations; to find out where it is available near you, go to http://www.seventhgeneration.com/where-to-buy. It retails for around $3.99, or you can purchase it in bulk from amazon.com for $18.13 for a pack of 6 25 oz. bottles.

5. Young Living Thieves Cleaner - This fantastic cleaner is named after four thieves in France who covered themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other essential oils to keep them from becoming sick as they robbed plague victims. This combination of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary oils is very effective at killing microbes, and I have used this product in a spray bottle in diluted form to clean my own bathroom as well as my kitchen, and it can be straight without dilution for extra strength. The dilution ratios are located on the cleaner's label. It is recommended to store this cleaning item away from excessive heat and direct sunlight.

This product can be purchased from the Young Living website for $28.29 for a 14.4 oz bottle, or you can become a preferred customer of Young Living and receive it for $24.89. Check out some of the other great products on the Young Living website while you are there as well.

If you haven't already tried any of these five all natural cleaners, I encourage you to do so today. Your home will not only be clean and fresh, but you also can feel good about not using any harmful chemicals that could harm you, your family, your pets, or the environment. Happy cleaning!