Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products and Where to Find Them
One of my favorite brands is Method, which offers a wide array of products, scents, and even colors. Their products are all eco-friendly, their packaging is biodegradable, non-toxic, and their company stays true to the belief that “…Toxic chemicals aren’t needed to get your home sparkly clean.” They are one of the true environment friendly companies, and one of the few who bring their knowledge to the masses.
1) Best in Glass Cleaner-Mint fragrance-$4.00 retail
The Best in Glass Cleaner by Method is the very first product I tried, and I found it at my local Whole Foods Market, in the cleaning product aisle. The product is wonderful, and the scent is truly heavenly. The retail cost for the product is about $4.00(USD) and well worth the expense, especially when a little goes a long way with this product. I can typically clean a large mirror with two sprays of Best in Glass Cleaner. The product leaves no streaks, and I do not have to fret if my cat decides to lick the product from the mirror.
2) All Surface Cleaner-French Lavender Fragrance-$4.00 retail
The All Surface Cleaner by Method is truly all surface. I use it in the kitchen, the bathroom, the dining room, bedrooms, and everywhere I can find a surface to clean. It works well on glass, leaving a streak free shine and is very eco-friendly. I do not have to worry what kind of chemicals I am sending down the drain, and the scent is incredible. Even my oldest son, who is very much against anything clean, loves the smell of the All Surface Cleaner.
Another eco-friendly brand that you can find at Whole Foods and Wild Oats is Mrs. Meyers Clean Day: Aromatherapeutic Household Cleaners. Mrs. Meyers is a great brand, and one that keeps things honest. On their site, they give the following explanation as to why they will not advertise their products as non-toxic:
“In order to make a true claim of non-toxic – one that is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency – animal testing is required. Because we do not test on animals, we do not make the claim of non-toxic”
Their packaging is recycled and biodegradable, their products are not harmful to the environment, and whenever possible they use concentrated formulas to help reduce waste. Here are a few Mrs. Meyers, eco-friendly products found out my local Whole Foods Markets in Dublin, Ohio.
3) Mrs. Meyers Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner– available in Basil, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, and Geranium Fragrances-$8.00 retail
Mrs. Meyers Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner is a wonderful product for any non-porous surfaces. Each fragrance contains essential oils, and it is important to note that everyone should check the ingredient list to ensure they are not allergic to any of the oils. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner works very well on Formica counter tops, and cultured marble vanity tops. It is concentrated, so a little goes a long way and well worth the expense.
For big cleaning jobs just dilute the product with a �¼ cup of water and one gallon of warm water. This mixture will handle the toughest jobs and last through an entire kitchen cleaning, which includes cabinets, counters, floors, and all surfaces. For smaller jobs using a spray bottle just add four tablespoons of the cleaner to a �½ bottle of water. This mixture creates a portable way to clean using a spray bottle; you can even use the bottle from your previous cleaner; after rinsing it out of course.
Mrs. Meyers also offers complete line of baby care products that are organic, eco-friendly, and tested to ensure the safety of each product for use around children of all ages. Whole Food and Wild Oats Markets carry these products, I found a few of them shelved in the Baby Care section, while others were in the Cleaning aisle.
4) Mrs. Meyers Clean Day: Baby Blossom Surface Spray-A fresh scent-retails for $4.99
The Baby Blossom Surface Spray is wonderful to use in nurseries, high chairs, and even for cleaning toys. Like many other products, this spray works well on non-porous surfaces, although I do not recommend using it on mirrored or glass surfaces. I used the product on a mirror in my son’s nursery and did find that it left a lot of streaking, which meant an extra bit of time cleaning the mirror. It does use essential oils for fragrance, and vegetable extract to neutralize odors in an environmentally, eco-friendly way. The odor neutralization worked very well in the diaper pail I have in my son’s nursery and in the garbage can in our bathroom.
5) Mrs. Meyers Clean Day: Baby Blossom Laundry Detergent-Fresh Scent-$11.99 retail
Something I love about the Baby Blossom Laundry Detergent is the “HE” rating, which means it is compatible with the newer, energy efficient washers and dryers. This is important as many manufacturers recommend using “HE” rated detergents to help keep your laundry appliances in good shape. The Mrs. Meyers web site states that one bottle can do 32 loads of laundry, and that is about right when you use one capful of the detergent per load, however I recommend using a cap and half of detergent for larger loads like bedding and winter clothes.
The Baby Blossom Detergent is very gentle, which is important when you have children with sensitive skin. Neither of my children broke out in rashes as they had with previous detergents I tried, and neither complained of any itching or other common complaints when it comes to sensitive skin.
Mrs. Meyers does offer a stain removing product, however I found that applying a bit of the detergent to the stain prior to washing worked quite well in removing the tougher stains like strained baby foods. I found this product in a couple of aisles at my local Whole Foods Market, including the baby care aisle and the laundry aisle. I am not sure if this was a mistake, but you may want to check both aisles.
The final group of eco-friendly products that I use regularly and purchase at Whole Foods Market is Seventh Generation. The Seventh Generation Company produces everything from cleaning products, diapers, paper supplies, and much more. Their corporate headquarters are located in Burlington, Vermont and primarily manufacture their products in North America. They do claim their products as non-toxic, however they use the definition of toxicity set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
6) Seventh Generation: Free and Clear Chlorine-Free Bleach-Fragrance Free–Fragrance Free-Price varies as coupons are available on the Seventh Generation web site
One thing I love about Seventh Generation is the Free and Clear line of products. Both of my children are sensitive when it comes to various detergents, and especially bleach. In the past, they developed skin rashes, or even just severe itching despite my using products that claimed “fragrance and dye free”. I searched and scoured the internet for products and recommendations, finally stumbling upon the Free and Clear line by Seventh Generation. I called my local Whole Foods Market and sure enough, they carried the products, which made shopping much easier as I only had to visit one store.
Many companies will mask the fragrance with an agent and then claim to be “free of dyes and fragrances”; Seventh Generation does not do that. In fact, they list the ingredients on their web site, and on the bottle. Their Free and Clear Bleach uses hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine, which degrades into oxygen and water leaving the consumer with a fully biodegradable product.
The chlorine-free bleach works amazingly on whites and colors, leaving no residue and no fading of colors. One capful works great for large loads of laundry and a half-capful works well for smaller loads or loads do not need a heavy bleaching. I found the Free and Clear Chlorine-Free Bleach also works in removing stains from bathtubs, and in cleaning shower tiles.
7) Seventh Generation: Carpet Spot and Stain Remover All-Natural Carpet Care-Several Fragrance Varieties-Price varies due to available coupons
Do you have kids and pets? Then this product is for you. My children are notorious for spilling things on the carpet, even when the only carpet we have is an area rug. The rug still had stains despite cleaning both at home and professionally. My husband and I tried everything but hated the fact that the products we were using all contained harmful chemicals. We finally tried Seventh Generation: Carpet Spot and Stain Remover; purchased from Whole Foods Market and it was amazing. We followed the instructions exactly, spraying the cleaner on and then letting it sit. We actually left it on over night as the stains were bad, but the recommended time varies depending on the stain and the depth of the stain.
8) Seventh Generation: Free and Clear Natural Powdered Laundry Detergent-Fragrance Free-Price varies with coupons
The Seventh Generation: Free and Clear Natural Powdered Laundry Detergent is environmentally friendly, and available in the laundry aisle at Whole Foods Market. It works wonderfully and is especially good for stain removal; it is also “HE” compatible. For tough stain removal, I will soak the item in cold water, then put a bit of the powdered laundry detergent right onto the stain. I rub the material gently together, and then toss it into the wash. A scoop of the Seventh Generation: Free and Clear Natural Powdered Laundry Detergent, cold water, and you are ready to go.
9) Seventh Generation: Free and Clear Natural Fabric Softener-Fragrance Free-Price varies with coupons
Another in the Free and Clear line by Seventh Generation available at Whole Foods Market is the Free and Clear Natural Fabric Softener. Like the other Seventh Generation products, the packaging is biodegradable and made from recycled materials. The fabric softener is environmentally, eco-friendly and contains no harmful fragrances or dyes. The unique thing about the Free and Clear Natural Fabric Softener is where it comes from. It is a canola-derived product, and kosher friendly like most of the Free and Clear line.
The Free and Clear Natural Fabric Softener works great when it comes to helping clothes feel soft and cuddly; it is also very good for hand-washing delicate items. Prior to using this product, I dealt with a lot of static when it came to my clothing. However, after using this product I noticed the static was virtually gone and my clothes were much softer than before.
10) Seventh Generation: Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes-Unscented-Price Varies depending upon coupons
I could not forget to include the Seventh Generation: Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes in this list, and so far Whole Foods Market is the only place I have found them. They can handle even the toughest jobs when it comes to cleaning an infant or toddler, and have many other uses. My toddler is the master of messes, and these wipes do the job when it comes to cleaning him up! I have used them to clean finger paint off of him, baby food, pudding, and much more; each time they lasted and it only took a couple of wipes at the most.
One thing I want to mention about the Seventh Generation: Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes is how they contain an Aloe gel that helps heal skin. My toddler developed a nasty diaper rash that was incredibly painful for him. We treated the rash with Burt’s Bees: Baby Bee Diaper Ointment and used the Seventh Generation: Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes; the results were amazing. My son’s rash healed in a couple of days, and he did not fuss when having to wipe him down. I have to say these wipes are incredible and well worth the money.
In conclusion, there are many environmentally, non-toxic, eco-friendly, humane products available at your local Whole Foods or Wild Oats market. It is always wise to read the ingredient list, and take note of any ingredients you or your family members may have a reaction too. Out of all the products, I would say Seventh Generation is the best when it comes to consumer friendliness. They offer coupons on their web site for a wide variety of their products, and the coupons offer a great deal of savings on the products.
