No one wants a dirty home, and no one wants to get sick cleaning it. There are various types of cleaning products on the market. Some contain strong or harsh chemicals and substances, and some don’t. The ones that do not are called non-toxic. So, what are non-toxic cleaning products? and What is non-toxic cleaning?
Non-toxic cleaning is a cleaning activity that does not use potentially harmful chemicals that could harm you and the environment. Non-toxic cleaning products are products without toxic ingredients that could be irritating to the skin or mucus membranes and the planet.
If you want to learn more, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you can learn everything about cleaning with non-toxic products and procedures to keep your home safe and free from toxic substances.
Why Non-Toxic Cleaning?
Non-toxic cleaning is the process of using cleaning products that do not contain harsh chemicals. These products are better for both people and the environment. They are also safe to use around your family and pets.
Store shelves offer many cleaning products with strong chemical ingredients, especially in the household supplies area. These products are also known as toxic cleaners. They often have tongue twister names and may cause allergies, skin reactions, eye damage, asthma, lung damage, and many more.
The best part of cleaning with non-toxic substances is that they are just as effective at cleaning as cleaning with commercial cleaning products. Most of all, these cleaning products will not cause any adverse health effects.
What are Non-Toxic Cleaning Products?
Non-toxic cleaning products are products that have no carcinogens, pollutants, or irritants. However, the term “non-toxic” is non-regulated: so any manufacturer can claim their products are non-toxic even if they are not.
There are a handful of words that are synonymous with non-toxic, such as “green”, “sustainable”, and “eco-friendly.”
Truly identifying cleaning products without toxins is difficult because there is no law in the United States requiring companies or manufacturers to disclose ingredients in home cleaning products.
The best thing you can do is buy cleaning products that consist of plant ingredients or use household products like baking soda, vinegar, or lemons.
How Can You Tell If a Cleaning Product Is Non-Toxic?
The best way to identify whether a cleaning product is non-toxic is to check the label or the ingredient list. Most of the time, non-toxic cleaning products contain third-party certifications indicating that the ingredients are safe and non-toxic.
To learn more about third-party certifications, read our post – The Rise of Eco-Friendly Cleaning Brands and Their Impact on the Environment
Moreover, the ingredient list can tell you a lot about the product. The best thing to do if you are in a hurry is if the cleaning product doesn’t have an ingredient list, don’t buy the product. While manufacturing companies are not legally required to disclose the ingredients of cleaning products, the absence of one is a red flag.
How Can You Tell If a Cleaning Product is Toxic?
As mentioned earlier, one way to determine whether a cleaning product is toxic is to read the label. If the label doesn’t give you much of an ingredient list and you have time, you may still be able to find out information about the product from your smartphone.
There are some resources such as apps or websites to find out if a product is considered safe to use or not and what may be in it.
Besides the ingredients, you can also determine that the toxic cleaner contains the harshest chemical based on its cleaning purpose. For instance, toilet bowl cleaners tend to have higher levels of harsh chemicals than dishwashing products or kitchen cleaners. Even chemicals that contain bleach or ammonia can be toxic to pets and humans.
If you choose to use toxic cleaners beware of the following substances:
- Allergens – ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions
- Neurotoxins – ingredients that may affect brain function
- Endocrine disruptors – chemicals that can mimic hormones
- Carcinogens – chemicals that can cause cancer
The cleaning ingredients below may also cause certain reactions and effects when using them.
| Ingredients | Purpose & Effects |
| Formaldehyde | Purpose: Preservative and disinfectant Effect: linked to neurodegenerative diseases |
| Phthalates | Purpose: Disinfectants, preservatives, surfactants Effect: Skin and lung irritation |
| Perchloroethylene | Purpose: Dry cleaning agent Effect: Potential neurotoxic and carcinogen |
| Quarternary ammonium compounds (QACs/Quats) | Purpose: Disinfectants, preservatives, surfactants Effect: Skin and lung irritation |
| Polyethylane glycolic compounds (PEGs) | Purpose: Used as softeners, surfactants, and thickeners Effect: Potential carcinogen |
Do Non-Toxic Cleaning Products Work?
Yes, they work. However, some non-toxic cleaners are for specific purposes like other chemical-based cleaners. Hence, they may only be effective in some cleaning situations.
For instance, baking soda can act as a natural degreaser. However, it cannot disinfect and remove germs and bacteria in the house, like rubbing alcohol.
Are Cleaning Products Without Toxins Safe for the Environment?
The apparent advantage of using cleaning products without toxins is that it is safe for the environment. Since non-toxic cleaners don’t contain toxic chemicals and use biodegradable ingredients, they will not harm our planet.
Toxic cleaners contain non-biodegradable ingredients (sometimes carcinogens) that are harmful, if not deadly, to our aquatic and wildlife resources.
To learn more about cleaning products and the environment, read our article –Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe for the Environment?
Are Non-Toxic Cleaning Products Safe to Use at Home?
It is safe to use cleaning products without toxins at home. Since they contain safe ingredients, non-toxic cleaners won’t harm you, your family, and your pets.
Are Cleaning Products Without Toxins More Expensive?
Typically, cleaning products without toxins are less expensive than chemical cleaners. After all, some non-toxic cleaners like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and more are already in your pantry or can be purchased from the store at affordable prices.
However, there are also branded cleaning products without toxins that you can buy in stores or online. These products are also known as eco-friendly and are usually more expensive than commercial cleaners.
But the good thing is that they are cost-efficient in the long run. Thus, while the price of cleaning products without toxins in the market seems more expensive, you are saving your health and as a result, money.
Read our article – Why Are Eco-friendly Cleaning Products More Expensive? to learn why eco-friendly products are higher in price.
Is Non-Toxic and Green Cleaning the Same?
Non-toxic and green cleaning are somewhat different. Both want to be safe and environmentally-friendly, but they focus on different areas.
For instance, non-toxic cleaners promote the safety of mother nature, but their primary focus is maintaining the user’s health. Green cleaning also promotes the end user’s safety, but its main goal is to reduce the carbon footprint for environmental sustainability.
Conclusion
Cleaning is one of those household chores that you either hate or love. But whether you love or hate cleaning, it has to be done. So, do it the safe and environmentally friendly way with non toxic cleaning and non toxic cleaning products.
Use our guide above to choose non toxic cleaning products and avoid the harmful side effects of harsh toxins in some commercial cleaners.
Non-toxic branded cleaning products have become popular and are widely available in stores and online. But if you don’t want to pay a higher price for them, you can also make non-toxic cleaning products at a lower cost using natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, lemons, salt, and others.
If you want to learn more about safe cleaning, check our article – What Everyone Needs to Know About Green Cleaning
Question: What is your favorite non-toxic cleaning product?
