My 5 Favorite Natural Cleaning Products

Ever since I had my daughter almost 3 years ago, I've been thinking more about the environment and the legacy I'll leave behind. In order to live a more "green" lifestyle, I've tried switching a lot of the cleaning products I use to natural products. Here is a list of my five favorite natural cleaning products. All are not tested on animals and are from companies that use good recycling practices.

For disinfecting surfaces: Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner: I love that this cleaner kills 99.9% of germs like most conventional disinfecting cleaners, but it does so naturally and without the harsh chemicals. Whether it does so without the harsh fumes, though, is up to you. I personally don't mind the lemongrass and thyme scent, but I've read several reviews of the product in which the reviewer said the scent was too overpowering.

For wood furniture: Method Wood for Good Spray: I was on the lookout for a natural way to clean my wooden furniture. I tried out an online "recipe" for a natural olive-oil based cleaner, but it made my wooden furniture dull and took the shine out of them. I was apprehensive about natural wood cleaners after that, but when I tried Method Wood for Good spray, I loved it! One of the best parts about this is the scent: Almond. It really does have a pleasant almond scent, and it's not sharp as many cleaners are. It doesn't contain any wax so there is no residue or buildup left behind after cleaning.

For glass: Seventh Generation Free and Clear Glass and Surface Cleaner: I like using this on my glass. It clouds up my mirrors at first but dries to a streak-free finish. It's solvent-free and is certified Kosher. Since it's free and clear, not only are there no harsh fumes, but there is no scent which is great for sensitive skin/ noses.

For wood floors: Martha Stewart Clean Wood Floor Cleaner: It is 99% plant and mineral based. It works well and I've been able to get my hardwood floors shiny. It's concentrated so you'll need a bucket in which to mix the cleaner with some water. Because of this it's not as convenient as some of the squirt-directly-on-floor cleaners or the spray cleaners, but you can get around this by pre-mixing the floor cleaner with water and storing it in a spray bottle.

For toilet bowl cleaning: Method Lil' Bowl Blu Toilet Cleaner: Ok now first off I have to mention that this product is just plain cute. Method really designs their products well and this one actually makes toilet cleaning a little…fun. It has a nice eucalyptus mint scent and it's bright blue in color so you can see where it's been applied. It cleans naturally using lactic acid instead of conventional chemical cleaning agents.