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I thought it was about time that I wrote a full blog post of my favorite non-toxic products. I know this list might seem a little overwhelming, but please know that I did not switch all of our products at the same time! It took many months of researching ingredients, brands and products and I gradually swapped out all of our “conventional” products for cleaner ones over time. So here’s a list of my favorites!

Cleaners

Like I have mentioned a few times, Chris and I switched over a lot of our personal care products to non-toxic versions when we were trying to get pregnant. But it wasn’t until I actually became a mom that I realized how important it is to switch over household cleaners, too! I started questioning which laundry detergent I should use for my baby’s clothes… and when she started to crawl, would she come in contact with whatever we had used to clean the floors? You bet! Conventional cleaners contain a host of toxic ingredients and chemicals (such as triclosan, chlorine, and ammonia), and can really impact your health because you inadvertently breathe in the fumes and touch residues left on household surfaces.

Thankfully, there are some really great cleaners out there that are formulated with good ingredients. Here are the ones that we personally use in our home.  

Branch Basics (for everything!)

Branch Basics is our go-to house cleaner because it’s a multi-purpose cleaner that can tackle almost any cleaning job in your home. The ingredients are plant and mineral-based, free from fragrance and preservatives, and super safe to use around kids and pets. There is one main cleaning product, called the Concentrate, and to use it, you dilute the concentrated formula with water in one of their bottles (which are marked with fill lines). Each bottle is reusable so we only need to re-order the Concentrate to refill!

When I say you can clean your entire house with it, I am serious! We use it in the kitchen to spray down counters, sinks and ovens, in the bathroom to clean towels, tubs and showers… we even use it on our windows and mirrors. Oh and we use it as hand soap in our kitchen and bathrooms!

Molly’s Suds (for laundry)

While you can use Branch Basics for laundry, I actually prefer Molly’s Suds. Molly’s Suds laundry powder is all-natural and made of high-quality ingredients – and it really works! Conventional laundry detergents like Tide, All, Gain and even Mrs. Meyer’s and Seventh Generation contain a number of harsh and toxic chemicals (even Tide Free & Clear was found to have concerning levels of 1,4-dioxane – a carcinogen associated with cancer and organ system toxicity).

Molly’s Suds contains no harsh chemicals, parabens, GMOs, toxins, preservatives, aluminum, synthetic dyes, phthalates, surfactants, or fragrances. It’s safe for sensitive skin and for those with eczema. They make a specific Baby Laundry Detergent Powder that is specially formulated to work on formula, poop and spit-up stains, but we have always used the Original Unscented – it works great for the entire family (even Chris’s stinky workout clothes).

Side note – even though we use an unscented laundry detergent, I still want my clothes to smell nice! I use a few drops of lavender essential oil on these wool balls and throw them in the dryer and viola!

Molly’s Suds (for the dishwasher)

We use Molly’s Suds dishwasher detergent pods (unscented, of course). We have the subscription on Amazon and they arrive on our doorstep every couple of months! It doesn’t leave a residue, the dishes are blissfully clean, and they don’t have a chemical smell or taste. (We wash a lot of the kids’ silicone bowls, cups and utensils in our dishwasher, and I’ve found that silicone can sometimes get a “soapy” taste if you are using the wrong dishwasher detergent.) Since this is a “clean” product, it might not be quite as potent as conventional dishwasher detergents, so just make sure that your dishes aren’t too greasy when you put them in the dishwasher. A simple solution is just to run your dishes over with water before putting them in the dishwasher. There are also no microplastics in this product – they’re 100% biodegradable and do not contribute to micro-plastic pollution! 

Force of Nature (for disinfecting)

While I don’t think you should disinfect your entire house, there are certain times and places that a natural disinfectant is needed. Force of Nature is an EPA registered medical-grade disinfectant that kills 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew, but is better than bleach and much healthier for your family! Force of Nature turns tap water, along with a capsule of salt, water and vinegar, into a cleaner, deodorizer and disinfectant. It’s perfect for sanitizing toys and doorknobs during flu season, and it also works WONDERS on Collins’ high chair. To get really crusted-on foods, you’ll want to spray Force of Nature and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Afterward, the grime easily wipes away with a paper towel – like magic! We have also used it on pet accidents in the house. 

Better Life Dish Soap (for bottles and dishes)

I first became concerned about dish soap when we started washing baby bottles. Conventional dish soaps are packed full of chemicals and harmful ingredients that can leave traces behind on your baby bottles (and pump parts, pacifiers, etc.). Even these trace amounts could get into your baby’s milk or water and pose a health hazard over time. 

We use Better Life Dish Soap (the unscented version) to wash all our dishes. It’s 100% plant-based and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals (there are no sulfates, fragrances, triclosan, dyes, petroleum-based compounds, or parabens). This product contains Aloe Vera and vitamin E, which means it won’t dry out and irritate your hands (which is great, because as a mom, I spend sooo much time washing baby bottles and kid’s plates and dishes!).

Personal Care Products

Cinnamon Toothpaste

Hey I know what you’re thinking… cinnamon toothpaste, really?! It sounds kinda strange, but once you start using it, you’ll never go back to mint again! Dr. Bronner’s cinnamon toothpaste is made without synthetic detergent foaming agents or preservatives. It contains organic ingredients such as Coconut Oil, Coconut Flour andCinnamon Oil to help polish teeth and reduce plaque build-up. And I swear, I really love how my teeth feel after using it!

Organic Cotton Rounds

I have an Amazon subscription for these organic cotton rounds because they really are the best! I use them to take off my make-up and apply my toner at night. They’re 100% organic and chlorine-free, so they are a lot gentler on my skin. They are super soft, but they don’t fall apart or leave little fuzzies on my face.

Cleansing Balm

This cleansing balm is a bit of a splurge but is THE best face wash I have ever used. I don’t say that lightly. It’s a balm, so you apply it to dry skin first and gently massage it in until it melts into your skin. It magically dissolves makeup (even mascara), sunscreen and dirt andleaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. There’s zero fragrance and it’s SUPER gentle. It’s made without irritants, parabens, sulfates (SLS & SLES), silicones, DEA, heavy metals, talc, and petrolatum, paraffin or mineral oil.

Skin & Senses Body Butter

I fell in love with this brand when I was pregnant (I used their pregnancy belly butter every single day), and now I’ve switched over to this body butter and I’m obsessed. I slather this on at night (it’s especially nice after taking a bath). It does have a nice, gentle scent (the “Luminous” is my favorite) and it has THE BEST ingredients, like Cocoa Butter, Aloe Butter, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, and Mango Butter!

Dental Floss

Floss may seem harmless, but a recent study brought awareness to the fact that many popular floss brands contain harmful PFAS. I switched over to this brand (which is PFAS-free), and have never looked back. This plant-powered dental floss is infused with Australian Tea Tree Oil to naturally kill harmful bacteria in your mouth. It’s also made with beeswax to help the floss glide easily between your teeth and gums. Even though it’s non-toxic, it’s also high quality anddoesn’t fall apart while you’re using it. 

If you have any favorite non-toxic products that aren’t on this list, I’d love to hear about them!