Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:
TLDR: Even supposedly “green” cleaning products can emit VOCs. It’s more cost-effective, more sustainable and healthier to make your own cleaners out of simple stuff you probably already have in the house.
Why you should care: VOCs cause lots of health issues. It’s not worth it.
What you should buy: https://www.lung.org/getmedia/3030b2d9-02f0-4be4-ab86-d6bd86f88b88/ALA-Safe-cleaning-products-MHE-program-August-2022.pdf or, if you don’t want to make your own, https://www.shopetee.com/collections/household-cleaners
I like Etee for SO many reasons. They’re based in Canada so they’re not too far away. They donate to good causes. They don’t do plastic. They don’t test on animals, and use safe materials. They care about their workers and supply chain. Their soap doesn’t have a strong scent, which is great if you have smell sensitivities.
Remember that there’s a difference between cleaners and disinfectants. See my post on bleach for more information. https://lospatiperros.com/eco-friendly/bleach-is-bad-for-you-and-the-environment/
Additional Reading:
https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/things-you-should-never-clean-with-vinegar-distilled-white-vinegar-a3336471803/
https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/cleaning-supplies-household-chem
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/household-cleaning-products-emit-chemicals-associated-with-heart-disease-cancer
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/14/health/cleaning-products-chemicals-safety-wellness/index.html
https://www.ewg.org/cleaners/content/cleaners_and_health
https://sixdollarfamily.com/how-to-make-liquid-castile-soap-from-a-bar
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31264367/is-vinegar-a-disinfectant/
https://www.healthline.com/health/is-vinegar-a-disinfectant#products
Image Credit: Jeshoots.com