The top 5

April 18, 2007 | Print

Non-Toxic Household Cleaners

Lyndsey’s been using non-toxic cleaners forever.

Kelly switched 6 years ago (pre-kids and at Lyndsey’s suggestion of course) when her allergy prone dog Madison went under the weather and stayed there. A week after changing to the green cleaners Madison was happy and healthy again.

Our houses are clean, the air feels pure, and we can relax about our kids picking up (or licking up) toxic chemicals around the house.

The cleaning products we recommend:

1. Bon Ami Cleanser is a great alternative to Comet and available at many grocery stores.

2. Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner works so well even non-environmentally conscious floor installers recommend it. Non-toxic for the kids crawling on your floors.

*3. Earth Friendly Products makes a variety of cleaners. Our favorites, Parsley Plus All Purpose Cleaner, Orange Plus All Purpose Cleaner and Lavender Window Cleaner. Kelly uses Parsley Plus to remove permanent marker and blueberry stains from her biege stone countertop.

*4. Seventh Generation makes a range of goto cleaners as their products are often found at grocery stores. We’ve been using their Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner for years.

5. Simple Green is an all purpose cleaner capable of amazing feats. Like removing sunscreen smudges from car interiors.

* In April 2008, a consumer advocacy group report found 1,4-dioxane, a cancer causing chemical, in dish soaps from Seventh Generation and Earth Friendly Products. Both companies responded–Seventh Generation dish soap has low levels and they’re working to eliminate the chemical, Earth Friendly Products installed testing and removal equipment in their manufacturing process and expects to ship 1,4-dioxane free products as of May 1st (hopefully for all products not just their Dish Mate).

Top 5 addition: Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds, an all-purpose cleaner for dishes, counter tops, potentially everything. The added benefit–jewelry cleaning, Dr. Bronner’s soaps make our rings shine.

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