Guide to Natural Cleaning Products: Why & How to Make the Switch

Long before natural cleaning products became a thing, most people cleaned with whatever the big chemical companies offered. It didn’t occur to the general public that the chemicals in household cleaners might not be all that great for them — or the environment.

Nowadays, we know better. Decades of research have produced a large body of evidence showing the potentially harmful effects of a long list of cleaning chemicals. We’re exposed to them both through our skin and the air when we do the dishes or scrub the tub. And the environment fares even worse, with many chemicals (not to mention most products’ plastic packaging) finding their way into our oceans and waterways.

While most of us may have wised up to the fact that those chemicals that scour our toilets or eat away tough stains probably aren’t, well, all that great for us or our surroundings, misconceptions around natural alternatives still persist. They don’t work as well, or they won’t leave my house smelling as fresh. It’s time to kick those outdated thoughts to the curb!

If you’ve been dragging your feet on making the switch, our guide is here to make the process easy, effective, and fun — or as fun as cleaning can be.

Just because a product calls itself “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it contains only natural ingredients. “Natural” is not a regulated term, which means that conventional companies can add rosemary oil to a toxic stew of industrial chemicals and slap on a label that says, “Made with natural ingredients.” It’s true — but it doesn’t mean what you might think it means.

And not all types of natural ingredient additions are nontoxic. Just because it’s derived from plants or otherwise found in nature, it doesn’t mean it’s not harmful to humans.

Arsenic, botulism toxin, and urushion (which is the active ingredient in poison ivy) are all natural substances, but they’re far from gentle on the body.

When consumers are looking for a “natural” cleaning product, they’re usually looking for something that’s safe, nontoxic, biodegradable, naturally derived, plant-based, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and/or responsibly packaged — and preferably from a company that lives up to its values.

These green guides are also very helpful for consumers, who can use them to better understand what label claims really mean. For example, “free-of” claims are considered deceptive if an alternate substance with the same or similar health or environmental risks is present in the product instead of the bad ingredients it's stating it is free of.

Another way to determine whether a product is truly natural, nontoxic, or cruelty-free is to look for third-party certifications. Certifications signify that a product has been thoroughly tested and found to meet rigorous industry standards for things like environmental impact, chemicals used, and sustainability of packaging.

Conventional cleaning products often contain a large number of potentially harmful chemicals that are volatile, which means that without any prompting, they evaporate from a liquid to a gas when they’re exposed to air.

These volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, can do significant damage to the human body and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cites studies that show VOC levels in the average home are up to five times higher than outside, in large part due to the chemical cleaners we use around the house.

Here are potentially problematic ingredients that are likely in those cleaners:

Switching from conventional cleaners to their natural counterparts doesn’t have to be confusing or stressful. In fact, the switch can happen over time. Relax, take your time, and enjoy the process of finding wonderful new products that smell great and feel good to buy.

Here are four ways to start the switch:

• Ask around. Maybe your friends and family have favorite natural cleaners they’d love to recommend.
• Read online reviews. Numerous online product review sites will give you both sides of the story.
• Follow your fancy. Buy based on a scent, a product design, or even the cool packaging.
• Stick with a brand. If you love a brand’s toilet bowl cleaner, maybe you’ll love its dryer sheets, too.

A little extra muscle

In some instances, you may feel like natural cleaners don’t perform quite like your old conventional products. For example, a natural dishwashing liquid may not be as powerful against cooking grease as the famous product used to degrease animals after an oil spill.

Sometimes, you may need to scour a little harder or scrub a little longer to get the best results, but the energy you expend in elbow grease, you make up for in clean air — and muscle tone!

A satisfied feeling

Green brands tend to give a portion of their profits to organizations and initiatives that educate, advocate, and support a clean environment. Grove Collaborative and many of the brands we partner with are Certified B Corporations, which are companies that balance profit with purpose, using their power, platform, and pocketbook as a global force for good.

Sustainable packaging

Most authentic natural or eco-friendly cleaners come in packaging that’s sustainably sourced and biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable. Concentrated formulas usually come in smaller containers, and some companies sell refills that will fill your original container two or three times, which reduces waste and saves you a little money.