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Safer household products
Choose safer, more environmentally-friendly products
The best way to reduce your family’s exposure to potentially harmful materials is to choose home and garden products that don’t contain toxic chemicals. When shopping for household products, it’s safer to read the label and choose the least hazardous products available.
How to read labels to choose safer home products
Safest: Find products with the Cradle to Cradle or Safer Choice logos on the front or back. (Please note: EPA Safer Choice products are the safest in their class, even if it says CAUTION on the label.)
Safe enough: Select products that do NOT have the words CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER, or POISON.
Somewhat harmful: Select products that have the words CAUTION or WARNING.
Avoid: Avoid products with the words DANGER or POISON. They are most harmful for you and your family.
Six effective recipes for safer cleaning
You can save money and a trip to the store by making cleaners with ingredients you already have at home. These recipes are safer than many conventional cleaning products, which often contain harsh, toxic chemicals.
Tub and sink cleaner
Sprinkle baking soda in the tub or sink.
Wet the surface with sprinkles of water.
Scrub with a sponge and rinse when finished.
Toilet bowl cleaner
Sprinkle baking soda in the toilet bowl.
Add 2 or 3 drops of liquid dish soap.
Scrub with toilet brush and flush when finished.
Window and mirror cleaner
Pour 1/2 cup vinegar in spray bottle.
Fill the rest of the spray bottle with water. Spray and rub with a lint-free cloth or newspaper.
Note: Do not apply to painted surfaces.
Drain cleaner
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda in drain.
Pour 1/2 cup white vinegar in drain.
Wait a few minutes.
Pour boiling water down the drain.
Repeat if needed.
Note: Vinegar smell goes away once dry.
Floor cleaner
Measure 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.
Add to 1 gallon of warm water.
Mix dish soap with warm water in a bucket and mop directly onto floor.
Note: Adjust recipe depending on liquid dish soap you use.
Counter cleaner
Fill a container with 1 gallon of warm water.
Add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap.
Mix dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray counters and wipe with a microfiber cloth.
When finished, rinse cloth with hot water and air dry. Use any leftover mixture to clean floors.
Microwave cleaner
For routine maintenance
Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a microwave bowl.
Microwave for 3 to 5 minutes.
Wipe down the microwave with warm, soapy water.
For tough, greasy stains
Combine 1 cup of water with 1 to 2 tablespoons of white vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the mixture boils and steams.
Allow the mixture to sit inside the microwave to clean tough stains for 5 minutes.
Wipe down the microwave with a wet microfiber cloth.
Oven cleaner
For routine maintenance
Ensure the oven is off and has cooled down. (1)
Sprinkle water inside the oven and on the oven door. (2)
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda inside the oven and on the oven door. (3)
Wait for 10 to 15 minutes.
Wipe with a wet microfiber cloth.
For tough, greasy stains
Repeat Steps 1 to 3 above.
Cut a lemon into thick slices before squeezing the juice on top of the baking soda.
Wait for 15 to 20 minutes.
Wipe with a wet microfiber cloth.
Tip: Allow time to thoroughly wipe your oven. Expect to wipe up baking soda about 2 to 3 times for a final clean.