Why Choosing Non-Toxic Products Matters
More Americans than ever are searching for ways to keep their families and children safe by using non-toxic products in their homes, reducing microplastics and choosing brands with honest and transparent labeling and sustainability practices, as our government continues to dismantle decades of progress toward reducing the amount of harmful chemicals in and around our homes and food.
These changing regulations and the politicization of health and wellness have left many consumers to do their own research, sorting through greenwashed products vs. those that are truly safe.
In this guide, we’ll help you break down how to spot a cleaning brand you can trust: both with the health of your family by using non-toxic ingredients and reducing use of plastics, and with your family’s future by supporting democracy, equitable practices, and values that center around human dignity. And we’ll tell you about some really great companies doing just that along the way!
What Makes A Cleaning Brand Ethical
Brand trust is something that should be earned, and trusting a company to keep your family safe is about more than avoiding harsh chemicals. Below, we’ve chosen a few things to keep in mind when choosing which products are best for your home.
Transparent Ingredients: A company willing to share its ingredients in detail is one you can trust! Look for companies that list ingredients by specific name, rather than listing them under vague umbrella terms (ex: “natural flavors”). When a brand is willing to share their ingredients with you and allow you to be a fully informed buyer, it’s because they trust in the safety of their product and want you to trust it too! While hiding ingredients does not always mean a product is dangerous, it does mean more research is needed.
Sustainability: Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the Earth – it’s about keeping you and your family healthy and safe! Did you know that the International Labor Organization reports that microplastics are found in up to 80% of human blood samples? These are ingested through air, food and drink that have either been cast off from the many plastics found throughout American homes, or degraded plastics polluting the Earth and affecting our food and water supplies. By purchasing from brands that focus on sustainability, we can significantly reduce the amount of microplastics in our homes and bodies and keep our families and children safe.
Leadership: Leadership matters. When you support businesses owned by people like you, you’re supporting your local economy rather than corporate greed. Not only do small businesses 2 out of every 3 new jobs in the U.S., but $68 out of every $100 spent stays in your community (vs. only $43 at big chain stores). Diverse leadership allows for inclusive decision making that enriches communities, and not just individuals.
Third-Party Review: Make them prove it. Every vendor you see listed in the Little Blue Cart business directory, or the Little Blue Market shop, has been thoroughly vetted to ensure they share your values around democracy, equity, and human dignity, allowing you to feel good about where you spend your money. Together, our economic impact can improve local communities instead of increasing the wealth of Amazon, Etsy and other algorithm-driven commerce sites.
You can also look for other safety indicators like cleanlabelproject.org approval, EPA Safer Choice accreditation, USDA Organic certification and more.
8 Non-Toxic Cleaning Product Companies To Keep Your Family Safe
1. MomRemedy
Why they’re great: MomRemedy is Green SealⓇ certified for sustainability, and uses hydrogen peroxide and 97% plant-based cleaners, all in eco-friendly packaging so that you’re not bringing non-toxic chemicals or plastics into your home. Even better? MomRemedy offers bundled subscriptions so that you never run out of your favorite kid and pet friendly cleaning products!
What they offer: All purpose cleaners, all surface wipes, stain removers and laundry strips.
Where they ship: Shipping available to the entire United States, also available at Costco and other local retailers.
2. A Drop In The Ocean
Why they’re great: Not only does A Drop In The Ocean offer natural, non-toxic and sustainable products, but almost all of their products are packaging free or are packaged in refillable glass or aluminum bottles or jars, which they’ll pay for you to send back to be washed, sanitized, and reused again and again and again. They also offer a subscription program, and for each item purchased, they will donate 1% of the sale back to ocean conservation and plant a tree in your honor.
What they offer: A little bit of everything, from dishwasher pods to laundry detergent to toilet cleaner (and hygiene products too, like shampoo and conditioner bars, toothpaste and body lotion).
Where they ship: Shipping available to the entire United States.
3. Woodlawn Refills
Why they’re great: Woodlawn Refills are handmade, eco-friendly, and free of plastics and harsh chemicals. And after your first bottle is purchased, you can simply trade it in for a refill, allowing bottles to be reused and reducing waste!
What they offer: Bathroom cleaners, laundry strips, all purpose cleaner, dish soap and more (including bath and body products!)
Where they ship: The Pompton Lakes, NJ area (in person drop-off and pick-up).
4. Seas of Action Laundry Detergent
Why they’re great: Seas of Action provides plastic-free, water-conscious laundry products that do not contain harsh chemicals, phthalates, parabens, dyes and more. They use plant-based products, and donate a portion of their proceeds to nonprofits that align with their mission, like The 5 Gyres Institute, a leader in the fight against plastic pollution.
What they offer: Laundry sheets and organic, reusable dryer balls to replace dryer sheets.
Where they ship: Shipping available to the entire United States.
5. RiseUp Refill
Why they’re great: RiseUp Refill offers non-toxic, plant-based products with a focus on zero waste thanks to Jamie, a mom tackling how much of our “recycled” goods actually still end up in landfills and oceans.
What they offer: From dish soap to laundry detergent, and toilet cleaner to all purpose cleaner, RiseUp Refill sells a bit of everything. They even have beauty, menstrual and children’s products!
Where they ship: Shipping available to Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
6. Refillism
Why they’re great: Dedicated to sustainability, Refillism sells non-toxic, eco-friendly home products for subscription or one-time purchase, and offers a refill program allowing you to reuse containers and keep single-use plastics out of your home. Plus major cool points: Refillism offers an eco-calculator that allows you to find out its exact impact on your personal carbon footprint!
What they offer: Refillism has it all! All purpose cleaners, carpet powder, laundry sheets, dishwasher pods and more (plus personal care items like shampoo, toothpaste, and diffusers!).
Where they ship: Shipping available to the entire United States (or available for pickup!)
7. Wild Clementine Co.
Why they’re great: Wild Clementine Co. dish covers are 100% food grade with no BPAs or PFAS (forever chemicals). So ditch the tupperware and plastic wrap leaving microplastics in all your favorite foods, and replace them with these reusable covers! Plus, they come in loads of cute prints and colors.
What they offer: Reusable dish covers and hot/cold therapy packs.
Where they ship: Both United States and International shipping available.
8. BYO Long Beach
Why they’re great: BYO Long Beach lives by the motto “Refill Over Landfill,” making it easier for you to reduce waste without overhauling your entire life. They offer refillable soaps, sustainable household swaps, and thoughtfully sourced personal care products so you can reuse, compost, and recycle more and throw away less. Their approach is refreshingly realistic: perfection isn’t the goal, progress is. You don’t have to do everything. You just have to start somewhere.
What they offer: Refillable hand and body soaps, sustainable household cleaners, low-waste personal care products, and everyday eco-friendly swaps for home and body.
Where they ship: Shipping available across the United States. Shop in person at their Alamitos Bay and East Village Arts District locations in Long Beach, California, and at the Marina Farmer’s Market.
Remember! Small, American-owned businesses are not billionaires. These orders will not arrive in two days, but they will arrive safe for your families, and with the peace of mind of knowing your home is non-toxic, and free of microplastics and forever chemicals from an ethical company that shares your values.
More Ways to Support Ethical, Small American Businesses (and stay healthy too!)
Shop Little Blue Market: At Little Blue Market, you can shop products that have already been vetted to ensure each vendor aligns with your values around democracy, equity, and human dignity. Can’t find a product you’re looking for? Visit Little Blue Cart for a directory of even more vetted businesses!
Choose Local: When you shop local, rather than chain stores and restaurants (and giants like Amazon and Etsy), you keep jobs and money in your community! Local businesses know their communities and support people in them, so choosing local businesses puts people over profits: which are often the reason corners are cut when large corporations choose to use plastics and harsh chemicals. Browse Little Blue Cart businesses by state.
Find Alternatives: Trying to break that Amazon or big brand habit? Baby steps! If a small, ethical, minority or non-toxic brand you love is at Amazon or Target, visit their website: You may be able to buy direct, find a local distributor, or ask a neighborhood store to begin carrying their products. Visit farmers markets for non-toxic products made by local makers, push brands you love to disclose full ingredient lists and political support, or make a fun day of visiting vintage shops for ceramic and glassware to replace plastics and cookware with toxic coatings.
Tell A Friend: Everything is better together! A single purchase may feel small, but together we can have a major economic impact. Our dollars tell corporations and politicians what we value and what we’ll accept. So tell your friends about small brands you love with values you support, follow the brand you love on social media platforms and share their content, refer friends to local artists, makers and service providers who depend on nearby word of mouth. Each sale we withdraw from CEOs focused on profits over people, and give to our neighbors and community, improves the world we live in. Our dollars can tell companies we demand diversity, equity and inclusion, we demand sustainability, and we demand non-toxic, healthy, transparent ingredients for our families.
