Are homemade cleaners better?

Not necessarily. Homemade mixes have no tested label or ingredient disclosure, and they may not work on every surface. Follow reliable instructions for each surface.

What should I swap first?

The product you use most often, since it changes the most.

Is a non-toxic cleaner safe for children and pets?

Follow the label directions and storage instructions. Keep all cleaning products out of reach, whatever the front of the package says.

Easy Non-Toxic Cleaning Swaps to Start With

Start with the products you use most, such as the all-purpose spray, the glass cleaner and the dish soap, and swap them one at a time for versions with shorter, clearer ingredient lists. Non-toxic is a marketing word, so judge each swap by its label and its maker's disclosures.

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Swap one product at a time

Switching everything at once is expensive and hard to judge. Pick the product you reach for daily, finish what you already own, then replace it. That way you can tell whether the new one does the job you need.

Our non-toxic label page explains why the term has no single legal meaning, so the swap itself should rest on the ingredient list and any third-party program the product names.

Where to begin

All-purpose spray: a concentrate you dilute in a reusable bottle, or a ready-to-use spray with a full ingredient list.
Glass and mirrors: a plain glass cleaner, or water with a microfiber cloth for light dust and fingerprints.
Toilet bowl and bathroom: a product that states what it is meant to remove, such as limescale or soap scum.
Floors: a cleaner that matches your floor type, since the maker's instructions differ for wood, tile and vinyl.
Paper towels: reusable cloths for most spills, with paper kept for the messes you would rather throw away.

What to read on the label

Look for a full ingredient list on the package or the maker's site. The EPA Safer Choice program certifies some cleaning products against its published criteria, and the logo on a package is one way to check a claim. Absence of the logo does not mean a product is poor, since many makers never apply.

Check the directions as well. A concentrate only saves money and plastic if you dilute it as instructed.

Do not mix products

Natural does not mean it is fine to combine products. Household chemical safety guidance from poison control centers and the EPA says to use cleaners as directed and not to mix different cleaners, especially bleach with other products. Keep the original labels on every bottle you refill so the directions stay with it.

Where to compare

Our all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and bathroom cleaner guides list products by type, and the household essentials guide shows what to restock together. Compare cost per use, not shelf price, because concentrates and refills change the math.

Sources

EPA Safer Choice program information
Product ingredient lists and manufacturer directions
Poison control center household product safety guidance

What are easy non-toxic cleaning swaps?

At a glance