Our Favorite Green Cleaning Products

All you need to create a home-eco-home every time you clean

By Renée Loux

The EPA estimates that indoor air is nearly 100 times more polluted than outdoor air; standard cleaning chemicals are one of the main culprits. Plant-based, biodegradable products are easier on the earth; gentler on skin, lungs and eyes; and often smell great too. This batch of purifying products can help us transform our home and planet.

Renée Loux is an eco-advisor, organic chef, and green-living maven. She's the host of "It's Easy Being Green" on the Fine Living Channel and author most recently of "The Balanced Plate: The Essential Elements of Whole Foods and Good Health" (Rodale, 2006). She can be reached at EuphoricOrganics.com.

Seventh Generation Liquid Dish Soap

This plant-based biodegradable cleanser gets dishes sparkly clean, yet is gentle on your paws and the earth. I'm nuts for the lavender variety's gentle bloom of natural fragrance and I'm thrilled that all of them are packaged in bottles made partially from post-consumer recycled--and recyclable--plastic. And one of the many things I LOVE about Seventh Generation is that it discloses all its ingredients and never tests on animals.

Amazon.com, $4

Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner

I don't know anyone who actually enjoys cleaning the john, but this cleanser does the job brilliantly with a pine-fresh smell and without toxic chemicals. Ecover manufactures in an ecological factory with a grass roof, sustainable wood beams from managed forests, and bricks made from coal mine waste. And their products rock! I find the toilet cleanser works best if you squirt it in the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes (the snazzy top makes this almost fun).

Drugstore.com, $4

OxiClean Oxygen Bleach

This mighty oxygen powder has all of the powerful cleaning action of bleach but with none of the toxic side-effects. It's safe for colors--it actually brightens them--and doesn't weaken fabric. It biodegrades into oxygen, water, and natural soda ash (whereas when chlorine bleach meets nature, it forms chemicals that harm humans, ecosystems and wildlife). I can't live without oxygen bleach and fortunately, I don't have to, because it's easy to find and a little goes a long way.

Oxiclean.com, $15 for a 2-3 lb. tub

Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent

Completely plant-based and biodegradable, this detergent works well in all water temperatures. It's phosphate-free, so it won't cause algae to bloom in the oceans and suffocate fish like regular detergents do. With low-sudsing action, it's suitable for HE machines. What I am bonkers for is the unbelievable smell (all-natural, plant-based, no synthetics, of course)--the Magnolia version makes me want to roll in my laundry.

Shopnatural.com, $8.50

Mrs. Meyer's Countertop Spray

This countertop spray is non-toxic and completely biodegradable--and has fab retro packaging that makes cleaning feel hip. It works well on all kinds of surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, not just countertops. The added essential oils smell heavenly enough that you may cause a mess just to be able to use them.

Mrsmyers.com, $5

Begley's Best Spot Remover

Ed Begley, Jr. is the man. The actor and eco-freak has created one of the ultimate products of all time. This spot-remover can be used on clothing, carpet, upholstery, and more. It's non-toxic, non-caustic, and completely biodegrades in three to seven days. Its ingredients include pine, citrus, palm, maize, fermented sugar, and olive seeds. And to up the ante on responsible coolness, all profits go to charity.

Begleysbest.com, $6

Seventh Generation Dishwashing Detergent

I love squeaky clean, sparkling dishes and don't care for chemical residue, chlorine, phosphates or the environmental mayhem they cause. This detergent has stellar ingredients that don't create noxious fumes when hot water hits. With no artificial fragrances or dyes, lungs and eyes rejoice and dishes come out spotless and safe for every meal.

Amazon.com, $6

Citra-Solv Concentrate

This stuff can remove ink, lipstick, and blood stains. It can remove stubborn adhesive stickers and even gum. It's like the duct tape of cleaning products and seriously potent. A tablespoon or two can be diluted with water to fill a spray bottle for an all-purpose spray. It gets its power from citrus and is non-toxic and biodegradable. It's a cure-all for really tough grime everywhere.

Villagegreenmarket.com, $6.50-$15

Green Forest Toilet Paper

I really like trees, especially old-growth forests, and I also appreciate soft, white fluffy tissue products. I can comfortably enjoy both with this toilet paper because it's made from 100% recycled content (80% post-consumer) and is bleached without chlorine, which means no dioxins are produced as byproducts. That's a relief: Dioxins are perhaps the most toxic, carcinogenic, and nasty chemicals known to humankind.

Drugstore.com, $2.20 for a 4-pack

Natural Value Ecosafe Garbage Bags

What could possibly be natural about a plastic bag? Well, all of Natural Value's plastic products are PVC- and plasticizer-free. That means no toxic off-gassing or hormone disruption. Yay! But these bags take it to another level: They have a proprietary additive called DCP(degradable compostible plastic) that's triggered by heat, light, or mechanical stress to break down into compost without toxic residue. The products are even packaged in 100% recycled cartons. And they're cheap as beans.

USA.ecosafeplastics.com, $5

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