5 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products to Keep in Your Kit

Spring means warmer weather, budding flowers, and the implacable impulse to deep-clean everything in your home. Whether you count yourself among the ranks of avid spring-cleaners, or are simply looking to tidy up after a very homebound year, now is a great time to refresh your space with some eco-friendly cleaning products.

Many household cleaning agents aren't only hazardous to human health, but can also cause serious environmental damage. Components that are slow to biodegrade, emit volatile organic compounds, or function as endocrine disruptors can all be found lurking in ingredient lists. That's because most are still unregulated in the United States and pose a risk to both users’ health and the health of habitats and wildlife. 

Fortunately, there are several great eco-friendly cleaning products available that are as gentle as they are effective. We’ve rounded up five tried-and-true items from eco-conscious brands so you can polish up your home with peace of mind this season.

5 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for Your Kit

1. Grove Collaborative Cleaning Concentrates, $7

Since its debut in 2012, Grove Collaborative has been a powerhouse of the sustainable household goods industry. Its line of cleaning concentrates was developed by in-house scientists and is free of parabens, phthalates, phosphates, formaldehyde, ammonia, chlorine bleach, and synthetic fragrance and dyes. You can also purchase a glass spray bottle that can be used over and over again.

2. Public Goods Walnut Scrubber Sponge, $5

Swap that green-and-yellow kitchen sponge for an eco-friendly option. Most kitchen sponges contain polyester or nylon fibers, which aren’t recyclable or biodegradable, release harmful dioxins and formaldehyde (even after disposal), and harbor a chemical called triclosan, an antibacterial agent that can damage aquatic ecosystems. This option is made of natural vegetable cellulose.

3. Dropps Laundry Pods, $18

Kickstarting a more sustainable laundry routine is easy with Dropps. These eco-friendly laundry pods are cruelty-free, free of fragrance, dyes, and parabens, and have a water soluble casing that dissolves upon contact with water and is consumed by microorganisms. The brand also has dishwasher detergent, fabric softener, dryer balls, and more.

4. Branch Basics Oxygen Boost, $10

Branch Basics is a one-stop shop with a mission to marry sparkling clean with non-toxic living—and they deliver. The Oxygen Boost product is particularly unique, as it’s hard to think of something you can’t use it for. Apply it on clothes to treat stains, on burnt pots and pans to clean residue, on tile as a grout cleaner, in the shower as a soap scum remover, and even on carpets to lift stains. Talk about multipurpose!

5. Net Zero Co. Plant-Based Cleaning Brush Set, $30

You won’t miss your old sponge for a second after getting your hands on one of these cleaning brushes. Each is plastic-free, vegan, and has plant-based fiber bristles. The set comes with five different shapes, each suited to a different purpose. There’s a bottle brush, vegetable brush, pot scrubber brush, dish washer brush, and a versatile oval scrubbing brush. The brand also partners with Eden Reforestation Projects to help reverse deforestation.