Green Cleaning: The Best All Natural Cleaning Products

With more consumers interested in going green and utilizing more environmentally-friendly and sustainable products, the demand has grown to increase availability and awareness of organic and/or natural brands. Not only is there a demand in the food choices that are available, but also a demand in the household products that are available.

Natural household products reduce the amount of harmful toxins in the home's atmosphere, eliminate hazardous chemicals that are left behind on surfaces, and are safe for skin contact. Many natural cleaning products are also great for pet owners. Some of the best affordable, natural cleaning products for the home are:

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day^© All Purpose Cleaner
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day^© All Purpose Cleaner is good, general all-purpose cleaner. Safe, effective usage for floors, kitchens and bathrooms, and even outdoors. Earth-friendly and biodegradable, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day^© is a great alternative to Pine-Sol^© and Mr. Clean^© conventional cleaners. Made with Plant Derived Surfactants and deionized water, and can also include ingredients such as corn, sugar cane, coconut and palm. Available in Basil, Lemon Verbena, Lavender, Geranium, and Scent Free. Also offers outstanding natural laundry products, dishwashing products, baby products, and home fragrances. Visit their website for coupons and/or to purchase.

Seventh Generation^© Kitchen Cleaner - Wild Orange & Cedar Spice
This product is excellent for tidying up cooking surfaces, cleaning oil stains/splatters, and for sprucing up odors left behind from garbage. Non-toxic, biodegradable, no harsh fumes, no glycol ethers, and Kosher-certified. Active ingredient, hydrogen peroxide, removes stains using oxygen as an alternative to chlorine bleach. Made with plant-derived cleaning agents, and formulated for environmental safety. Biodegradable alternative to conventional cleansers like Lysol^© Antibacterial Kitchen Cleanser. Also offers natural laundry products, paper goods, dishwashing products, baby products, and feminine care. Log in for coupons/specials and/or to purchase.

Simple Green^© Naturals Dilutable Concentrated Cleaner
Simple Green^© Naturals Dilutable Cleaner is a safe and effective cleaner that can be diluted based on the task and/or consumer's need. It can be diluted to 1:1 (equal parts product and water) up to 1:7 (1 cup of product per 7 cups of water) depending on the task. Can also be utilized as an additive in the laundry. Water based, contains plant-based surfactants, an alkaline mineral "builder", a chicory root preservative, and essential oils of grapefruit, orange, spearmint, and rosemary. Also offers kitchen products, auto products, natural paint removers, and other households cleansers.

Clorox Green Works^© Natural Cleaning Wipes
Clean with the same power as any other Clorox^© product, but are 99% natural. Can be used on
most non-wood surfaces, including acrylic, fiberglass and vinyl. Made with essential oils, coconut based cleaning agent, glycerin, filtered water, corn-based ethanol, a biodegradable preservative, 100% wood based fibers, and silicon anti-foaming agent. Bleach and phosphorous free. Alternative to Clorox^© Disinfecting Wipes. Also offers greener versions of other conventional Clorox^© products, and now includes natural laundry products.

Biokleen^© Ammonia Free Glass Cleaner
Ammonia-free, streak-free, and odorless. Vinegar and natural soil removers make it easier to dissolve dirt, pollution, smoke, grease, etc. No harsh fumes. Safe around pets and plants. Also offers laundry products, produce wash, and other kitchen cleansers. Safe alternative to Windex^© products.

Earth Friendly Products^© Furniture Polish/Cleaner
Cleans and illuminates wood, Formica, particle board and vinyl surfaces. Made with purified water, olive oil, orange oil, and carnauba wax emulsifier. 100% biodegradable, and non-toxic. Restores and preserves all wood finishes, and contains cleansing conditioners which loosens particles, and removes fingerprints, smudges and dirt. Phosphate, chlorine, DEA and petroleum free. Easy alternative to Murphy's^© Oil Soap.

Method^© Tub-N-Tile Bathroom Cleaner
Eliminates soap scum, hard water, and mildew buildup with leaving any residue or harmful chemicals behind. Made from corn and coconut-derived surfactants, non-toxic and biodegradable solvent, purified water, potassium citrate, a fragrance oil blend, and corn alcohol. Great alternative to Clorox^© Tilex products. Also offers superb laundry, kitchen, bathroom, and other household products. Visit their website to purchase online.

Bon Ami^© 1886 Formula Cleaning Powder
Since 1886, Bon Ami had offered a natural formula that cleans and polishes glass, windows, mirrors, porcelain, unlacquered metals, chrome, aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic tile, cast iron cookware, whitewall tires and tools. No detergent, bleach, perfume or dye. Non-toxic alternative to Ajax^© Powder Cleanser. Also offers a natural polishing cleanser.

Major retailers include Whole Foods Market, Target, Drugstore.com, and may be available at local co-ops and natural/health food stores.