The Non-Toxic Cleaning Products You Should Be Using In Your Kitchen
by Lisa Elbert, Tastemaker in Residence
What you need to make your cleaning routine green.
If you’re going to #eatclean, you may as well clean clean, too. When the amount of chemicals in your cleaning product warrants one of those lime green stickers with Mr. Yuk on it and the words POISON HELP in bold and all caps—80’s babies, you know what I’m talking about—do you really think you should be using it to clean the counter on which you cook your food? Probably not. So, I rounded up a few non-toxic cleaning products you should use instead. Happy scrubbing.
For Washing Dishes by Hand: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dish Soap
Mrs. Meyer makes a mean all-natural dish soap. It contains soap bark extract that cuts right through grease and aromatherapeutic essential oils. I use her for my dishes and my hands and really everything else you'd use soap for. She lives next to every sink in my apartment, all two of them.
For the Dishwasher: Seventh Generation Powerful Clean Dishwashing Detergent Gel
Seventh Generation products aren't just non-toxic, they’re all natural. They’re made from a mix of water and plant-derived cleaning agents that get to the heart of the dirt and grease. The products are biodegradable (because they’re made from plants, keep up), and if you ask me, that’s a good quality to have if you’re going to eat off of what they're sanitizing.
Buy it: Seventh Generation Powerful Clean Dishwashing Detergent Gel, $7.50 on Jet
For Wiping the Counters: Method All-Purpose Cleaner
You'll recognize this one for its minimalist packaging and brightly colored contents. It’s derived from corn and coconut (so yeah, all natural and stuff), and is the heavy-duty, biodegradable cleaner that you can and should use on every surface. The chemistry behind every Method product is called Powergreen Technology because it is both powerful and green. Get it? Bonus: the bottle itself is biodegradable. Top that, other cleaners!
For Cleaning the Refrigerator: EcoKindness Essential Fridge Eco Cleaner Spray
Apparently there are levels of ‘greenness’, and EcoKindness has been categorized as ‘Ultra Green,’ which is the highest level. It is above and beyond, you guys. Its proprietary blend of ingredients—including purified water, liquid castile soap, coconut oil, and aloe vera—does a world of good to the inside of your refrigerator, plus you can use it without emptying and airing out the refrigerator because it’s composed of entirely plant-based products.
Buy it: EcoKindness Essential Fridge Eco Cleaner Spray, $8.22 on Jet
For Removing Grease: Grab Green Kitchen Degreaser
This bad boy will remove grease and grime from your kitchen counters, stovetops, ranges, and floors with zero toxins. Instead of harsh, phosphate-based chemicals, it cuts through grease like butter with natural minerals and bacteria-fighting preservatives, leaving nothing behind but wafts of tangerine and lemongrass for your olfactory pleasure.
For Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances: Method Steel Polish For Real Stainless Steel
Method: a cleaner so nice, we’re shouting it out twice. This steel cleaner cleans and polishes. It’s non-abrasive, so no need to worry about damage or streaks to your precious stainless, plus it will leave your appliances smelling like an apple orchard in September.
For Mopping the Floor: Begley's Natural Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Hardwood floors, specifically. Begley’s hardwood is effective because its primary solvent is denatured ethyl alcohol—it’s denatured with eucalyptus oil—so it’s powerful enough to remove dirt while still avoiding harmful chemicals. The solvent is also citrus-based, so it smells nice, too. And I just have three words with which to leave you: Ed Begley Jr.
Buy it: Begley's Natural Hardwood Floor Cleaner, $9.95 on Jet