How many cleaning products do I need?

Many households manage with an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, a toilet bowl cleaner and dish soap.

Are concentrates worth it?

Compare the cost of the finished cleaner each pack makes with a ready-to-use spray, using the maker's stated dilution.

Do I need a special cleaner for each room?

Usually not. Check the label for the surfaces it covers.

Non-Toxic Cleaning Supplies: A Short Checklist

Most homes can cover nearly every job with a small kit: one all-purpose cleaner, one glass cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, dish soap, and a few reusable tools such as cloths and a brush. Fewer products also means less to store and less to throw away.

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The core products

Read the label for each one. Use the product only on the surfaces the maker lists, and check the ingredient list on the package or on the maker's website. The EPA Safer Choice logo, where present, shows that a product was reviewed against that program's published criteria.

All-purpose cleaner for counters and general surfaces.
Glass cleaner, or a microfiber cloth used with water.
Bathroom cleaner for soap scum and limescale.
Toilet bowl cleaner.
Dish soap, and laundry detergent if you do not already have one.

Tools that replace disposables

Reusable tools reduce the number of items you throw away. A set of microfiber or cotton cloths replaces most paper towels for wiping. A scrub brush with a replaceable head or a plant-fiber bristle handles dishes and sinks, and a cellulose or plant-fiber sponge is an alternative to plastic sponges.

Our guides on cleaning brushes, sponges and Swedish dishcloths compare these by material and by what the maker says about disposal.

Concentrates and refills

Concentrates and refill tablets are sold to be diluted in a bottle you already own. Divide the price by the number of bottles of finished cleaner the maker says one pack makes, so you can compare it with a ready-to-use spray. Use the dilution on the label, since a stronger mix is not always better and may be unsuitable for some surfaces.

What you can leave out

A separate product for every surface is rarely needed. A specialty cleaner makes sense for a specific problem, such as a drain or an oven, but the daily kit can stay small. Check the household essentials guide to see how these items are grouped for restocking.

Storage and safety

Keep products in their original containers with the labels attached, store them out of reach of children and pets, and do not combine different cleaners in one bottle. When a bottle is empty, check your local recycling rules for the bottle and the pump, since they may differ.

Sources

Product ingredient lists and manufacturer directions
EPA Safer Choice program information

What non-toxic cleaning supplies do you actually need?

At a glance