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We all love a sparkling clean home, but did you know that many traditional cleaning products are packed with toxic chemicals and come in plastic packaging that end up polluting our oceans and landfills? These chemicals and plastics can make their way into our food and water, causing detrimental health effects. In fact, the average American eats about a credit card's worth of plastic per week. That sounds pretty dirty, right?
Conventional cleaners, they’re not just tough on grime—they're tough on our planet too, seeping into our bodies and wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
But don’t worry, there's good news! We have a great lineup for you of the best environmentally friendly products that keep your home shiny clean and Mother Earth too.
With B Corp, Climate Neutral, Cradle to Cradle, EPA Safer Choice, USDA Biobased, EWG Verified, and Leaping Bunny certifications, you can be sure that when you shop at Blueland you are getting environmentally and socially responsible products that are vegan and free of toxic chemicals. Sarah, the CEO and co-founder, was appalled at the amount of plastic in household products, so she started Blueland to eliminate waste, while not compromising quality. Making your dish soap concoction could not be easier. Simply fill your forever bottle with hot water, drop in your dish soap tablet and you are ready to clean. Customers make a one-time purchase of a forever bottle and can get refills of their dish soap tablets either through one-time purchases or a subscription. At an average cost of $0.35 per load, Blueland tablets are a bit on the pricey end of dish soaps but still affordable.
Etee is giving dishwashing a new twist with its plastic-free dish soap concentrate. Simply squeeze the concentrate from the compostable pods (which are backyard compostable) into a jar and mix it with water to make your dish soap that is free of SLS, phthalates, sulfates, sulfites, and synthetics. With an average 4.5 star rating, Etee is not sacrificing quality. Even more, their lightweight products reduce emissions from transportation, are cruelty-free, and are manufactured with 100% renewable energy.
Dropps is a B Corp with a vision to eliminate single-use plastics from household cleaning. With commitments to sustainability, inclusion, diversity, and transparency, you can feel good about using Dropps fabric softener pods in your home. The pod is encased in a Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) membrane, which dissolves in water. Just add the pod to your laundry during the wash cycle and ta-dah your laundry will come out fluffy and soft. Free from harmful chemicals like phthalates or Methylisothiazolinone, Dropps uses a mineral called bentonite, which forms a protective layer on fabrics to prevent pilling. For 64 of these pods, it will cost you around $25 or you can choose a subscription for 25% off. Even better, when you receive your pods you can expect recyclable packaging and trust that the shipping process was 100% carbon neutral.
We are sure you have heard of dryer sheets, but have you heard of dryer balls? These reusable wool balls naturally soften and fluff your laundry, reduce static cling, decrease dry time, and are completely biodegradable. We love the ones from Friendsheep Wool, which is a women-owned company that is a part of 1% for the Planet, uses organic ingredients, and is combating deforestation! The dryer balls are handmade in Nepal by women with disabilities who are paid fair and equitable wages. Formulated without synthetic dyes or fragrances these dryer balls make the perfect addition to any laundry room. You can purchase them from EarthHero. They even come in fun shapes like penguins and pandas!
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Did you know you probably have a natural replacement for dryer sheets and fabric softeners already in your pantry? Just dampen a washcloth with some vinegar and toss it into your dryer. The acid from the vinegar will dissolve any leftover laundry detergent that may cause stiffness and the smell of the vinegar will dissipate. Vinegar is a great alternative to dryer sheets as it is both cost-effective and you can be sure exactly what is going into your laundry. Or you can try adding a teaspoon of baking soda during the wash cycle, which will alter the pH of the water killing odor-causing bacteria and leaving your laundry soft and fresh! Both vinegar and baking soda are all-natural, so they are safe for you and the environment. Just be sure not to use baking soda and vinegar together as you might turn your laundry room into a 3rd grade science experiment!
HoldOn is a B corp based in Santa Monica California that is revolutionizing the trash industry. Traditional trash bags take thousands of years to break down, emitting greenhouse gasses and leaving behind microplastics that can contaminate our water sources. HoldOn bags are made with 100% non-toxic plant-based materials that are clean for both the environment and our bodies. Their bags can be used for trash, compost, and recycling (depending on your local recycling program). With the majority of their products bearing BPI and TUV certifications their bags can be composted both industrially and at home. Plus, they use minimal responsibly sourced packaging that is completely recyclable. You can purchase the 13-gallon Kitchen bags for $25.70 or you can order a subscription, which will save you 15%. HoldOn bags are also sold in select grocery stores like Target and King Soopers.
Evolution Trash Bags are manufactured with 94% post-consumer plastic in a closed-loop recycling process that guarantees they can be recycled over and over again. These heavy-duty bags are extremely durable and cost-effective. Evolution Bags has UL ECOLOGO, USGBC LEED, EPA, and 1% for the Planet certifications. These bags are a great way to help curb the amount of virgin plastic being produced and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Switching to environmentally friendly cleaning supplies is a small change that can make a big difference. By choosing products that are free from toxic chemicals and reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, we can help reduce pollution and protect our planet. With innovation happening every day, many green alternatives are just as effective if not better than their conventional counterparts, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice quality for your conscience.
So, next time you're stocking up on cleaning supplies, consider making the eco-friendly choice for both a cleaner and greener home.