15 Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products That Actually Do What They Say They Will

Good for the planet? Check. Effective? Double check.

We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

1. An all-natural stain remover because sometimes accidents happen, and that's perfectly okay.

amazon.com

A fellow BuzzFeeder has used and loves this stuff — read her full review!

Promising review: "This is by far the BEST stain remover I have ever used. I have a 2 year old and a newborn so we have allllll the stains happening around here. Vomit, poop, fruit (including oranges, cherries, and watermelon!), dirt, grease... there isn’t anything this stuff hasn’t gotten out. It has also worked on old stains, even year old stains that have been washed and dried multiple times.

I love that you can leave it on for long periods of time (I can’t always get to laundry right away!). It doesn’t have any smell so it doesn’t clash with our laundry soap. It comes out as a thick liquid, and seems to ‘stick’ to the stains. Get it and stock up!" —Katie K.

Certifications: Leaping Bunny cruelty-free

Get it on Amazon for $11.99.

2. A dish soap that will surprise you, because it's just as tough on grease and grime as that favorite brand you swear by.

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Promising review: "I was a big big Dawn fan...until I found out that artificial fragrances were irritating my skin. I did not want to switch brands and was rather pouty about it...then I discovered Seventh Generation Free and Clear. This product is just as effective fighting grease, has just as many suds, but it doesn't irritate my skin. Now I'm a little embarrassed about my pout! Great product." —Grandma Bob

Certifications: EPA Safer Choice, dish soaps; Leaping Bunny cruelty-free; USDA biobased product

Get a pack of six bottles on Amazon for $17.70.

3. And equally eco-conscious dishwasher detergent because you want to make sure every single aspect of your house cleaning's okay for the planet earth.

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Promising reviews: "So I don't scrub my dishes, at best they soak and in the dishwasher they go. I used "regular" dishwasher soap before because I don't scrub dishes and didn't think natural stuff would work, but I was pleasantly proven wrong." —CodingTutorials360

"We have been using this for years in our dishwasher with pretty good luck. It doesn't work quite as well as the very high-chemical versions like Cascade, but we like that it is a little safer for us and the environment and are willing to wash dishes just a tad more before we put them in the dishwasher. Our dishes always smelled strongly of chemicals when we used the stronger stuff and I felt the need to run them through again to rinse them, which didn't seem to be a good use of water and was very time-intensive. We are pleased with this and buy it in bulk every few months." —Elizabeth

Certifications: EPA Safer Choice, dishwasher detergents; Leaping Bunny cruelty-free; USDA biobased product

Get the pack of six bottles on Amazon for $27.93.

4. A countertop cleaner that you can use once a day to make your kitchen look *chef kissing fingers emoji*.

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Promising reviews: "Does the job like a rock star. Super clean and smells fresh. Concrete countertops are not always the easiest to keep clean but this stuff makes it a breeze. Countertops are beautiful — no dirt, no smudges — and I can't recommend highly enough." —Edward O

"This cleaner actually works. I spray it on and let it sit about 10 minutes, then clean the area and it looks brand new! I will definitely buy more. Plus it doesn’t have that horrible harsh chemical smell." —Amazon Customer

Certifications: Cradle to Cradle Gold, Leaping Bunny cruelty-free

Get a bottle from Amazon Prime Pantry for $5.99.

5. An all-purpose cleaner to cut through grease and grime wherever you happen to find it lurking in your home.

Target

Promising reviews: "I recently switched to Green Works from another all-natural all-purpose cleaner spray. My main reason for the switch was the difference in price. Greenworks is one of the few eco-friendly cleaners on the market that is reasonably priced. I hate the idea of spending so much extra money for natural products. Fortunately, the low price doesn't mean low quality. This cleaning spray works. It cleans my countertops, stovetop, and kitchen table very well. It also works great in the bathroom, even in the shower and tub. In fact, there was a stain on my countertop (due to homemade jello that had spilled, of all things!) and this removed it when other sprays didn't. The nozzle also works very well to deliver a powerful, quick spray.

I really appreciate the fact that it doesn't have a scent. It's virtually odorless. I can't use sprays with strong, chemical smells. They make me sick and I have health problems as it is, so this was a huge bonus." —Kylie

Certification: EPA Safer Choice, all-purpose cleaners (Note: the EPA's site calls it "all purpose cleaner spray", not the "multi-surface cleaner", but the UPCs match.)

Get three bottles on Amazon for $8.37.

6. And the same company's compostable cleaning wipes, because TBH sometimes wipes are just plain more convenient.

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Promising review: "Works very well and cuts grease easily. I use this at work to clean my desk and I use it at home to wipe down the kitchen after I cook. It's a nice scent and cleans up great! Would definitely purchase again. Also, it's not harsh on your hands either. My hands don't feel dry after using them compared to some other brands." —Berudandi

Certification: EPA Safer Choice, all-purpose cleaners

Note that they're not disinfecting wipes, they just clean up grease and dirt.

Get a pack of three on Amazon for $13.73.

7. An enzyme-based carpet and upholstery cleaner that can tackle almost any food or pet stain you throw at it.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This stuff is the best. We once spilled a glass of red wine on our white carpet and this product removed the stain. In that case, we began the clean-up immediately. I have also removed pet stains that were not removed with another "Pet Cleanup" product. I was dismayed when I could no longer find this at the grocery store, but Amazon has it. Five stars." —Thomas W.

Certification: None, but based on the ingredients listed on their website, they'd qualify for the Whole Foods yellow tier.

Get it on Amazon for $14.64.

8. Or an carpet and upholstery cleaner to wipe away the oldest set-in stains even after you forget what on earth happened in the first place.

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Promising review: "This product is my saving grace. I have two young kids, a dog, and an affinity for light gray couches and rugs. Those things do not work well together in the normal world, but these cans of Woolite Upholstery Cleaner have saved my life (and my couches, and my rugs, and my carpets).

One of my kids even got Behr PAINT from our drying fireplace on the couch, and this cleaner took that off too! It’s absolutely incredible. Food, marker, pens, snot, poop, puke... you name it; this removes the stain and the smell. I will forever be indebted. LOVE YA’LL." —Amazon Customer

Certification: EPA Safer Choice, upholstery cleaners. (Though it does come in an aerosol can, which is questionably recyclable, which, boo/ugh/why. But it's at least a slightly better formula for the planet and your health than some other non-enzyme stain removers, if you're going to reach for one. You can also search for the full list of safer choice upholstery cleaners for the home on the EPA's website.)

Get a pack of four on Amazon for $14.99.

9. A lightly-scented laundry detergent that's perfect for anyone looking to lessen the impact that their multiple weekly wash loads have on the water system.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I love this product! The built in fabric softener helps my clothing last longer. I’m not sure there is such a thing as 100 percent natural laundry detergent, but this comes pretty darn close and it’s a whole lot of detergent for the money." —Kim

Certifications: EPA Safer Choice, laundry detergents; Leaping Bunny cruelty-free

Get two gallons (200 loads worth) on Amazon for $14.70.

10. Six reusable wool dryer balls for softening your clothes just as well as those single-use disposable dryer sheets.

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Because they're wool, they're theoretically compostable. Although you won't be getting rid of them anytime soon — they'll last for years. They also can help your clothes dry faster and with fewer wrinkles.

Promising review: The reduction in drying time is easily the most impressive part. The wool is gentle on the fabric; and towels, sheets, clothes, all came out soft and just dried SO FAST. I hate wasting natural resources, but drying on the line is out for me (I live in Oregon, so...there's lots of rinsing outside, but little drying), so these are perfect. Your dog may think someone's at the door the first load or two. Very soft bumps. He'll get used to it." —Rene Bogue

Get them on Amazon for $9.95.

11. A stronger bath and kitchen cleaner that can bust through hard water deposits and built-up soap scum with just a spray, wait, and wipe.

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Promising review: "This is the only thing to use! It's CLR that foams and stays on walls without dripping down like the liquid stuff. Helps keep you from rigorously scrubbing except in only the case of a really dirty sink or shower, but you can just leave it on longer and apply more to loosen up the grime." —Kitsuku

Certifications: EPA Safer Choice, tub/tile cleaners

Get two bottles on Amazon for $20.46.

12. And a no-bleach toilet cleaner — it works smart (and hard!) to completely rid your bowl of buildup.

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Promising reviews: "Squirt it on, leave it for 10-15 minutes and sponge it off. Toilet bowl is sparkly clean! Even takes off that nasty calcium buildup." —AA

"I couldn't believe how well this removed the stains directly under the bowl. I have been cleaning with vinegar and baking soda for years and it just didn't cut it on certain things. Glad I found this specifically for the one area that has been the hardest to clean." —smcg

Certifications: None, but it's sold at Whole Foods and would qualify as "green" on their Eco-Scale, based on the ingredients on the manufacturer's website. It's also Leaping Bunny cruelty-free.

Get a bottle on Amazon for $11.11.

13. A stainless steel spray for cleaning and polishing up your kitchen appliances so they shine like they did on day one.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I've used this stuff for years and I love it! I use it with a cotton cloth and go with the grain of the surface, and it's perfect. You really do have to use a cotton cloth to get it to polish, but that's not difficult. Also, love the smell too." —J. Welchman

Certifications: Cradle to Cradle Gold; Leaping Bunny cruelty-free. It's also sold at Whole Foods and would qualify as "yellow" on their Eco Scale based on the listed ingredients.

Get a bottle on Amazon for $10.98.

14. A no-rinse hard floor cleaner to shine up every square inch that you walk on and leave it with a pleasant, lightly citrusy scent.

amazon.com

Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this floor cleaner. The smell is wonderfully energizing and pleasant, a soft minty citrus. I am extremely sensitive to chemicals and perfumes and have had no problems what so ever with this product. It cleans my floors really nicely, both tile and laminate wood. I know it says for floors but I went over my walls, dressers, mirrors, windows and other objects with this and it got stuck on grime that scrubbing has not been able to remove over the years. I have ton of inside/outside cats and no matter how much I vacuumed and cleaned everything, my room just had a lingering smell of dirt. For the first time without harsh cleaners (that made me not be able to use my room for days) my room smells and looks clean." —Shelly

"LOVE, LOVE THIS STUFF! You will read in some reviews that it was sudsy, and that is because they squirted too much cleaner on the floor. Do small sections at a time. I used a microfiber mop and got beautiful results. Change that water too, for every room. Make sure all dirt and dust is vacuumed off the floor before using the cleaner." —Eddie

Certifications: None, but it's sold at Whole Foods and with the ingredients listed on the brand's website, it would qualify as a "yellow" on the Whole Foods Eco Scale; Leaping Bunny cruelty-free.

Get two bottles on Amazon for $17.61.

15. A concentrated cleaner you mix with other ingredients for dirt- and grease-busting power all around your home.

amazon.com

Unlike traditional Castile soap (which can also be used for cleaning), this has a few stronger ingredients that make it too harsh to use on your skin, but extra effective against almost anything that's grimy.

Promising review: "This soap is amazing. I use it in all of my cleaning products. It is stronger than the Dr. Bronner's Castile soap, so don't use it on your face or body! I use it only to clean. Mix in a teaspoon or two with water and about 1/2 a cup of rubbing alcohol in a large spray bottle for a great, clean and natural all purpose cleaner! Use a teaspoon in a bucket of warm water to wash your car. Add a few drops to a bucket of water to mop your floors. The uses are endless. No artificial ingredients or harsh chemicals. If you want a greener, cleaner home, this is the product for you!" —Shea

Certifications: None, but is sold at Whole Foods and with the ingredients listed on the brand's label (which is a PDF), would qualify as a "yellow" on the Whole Foods Eco Scale.

Get a bottle on Amazon for $16.58.

BTW, here's a bit about the certifications I used to determine if a product counted as ~eco-friendly~ or not:

The EPA's Safer Choice standard works with with brands to make sure products are okay for both your health and the environment — you can read more about it on their website and from Consumer Reports.

USDA Biobased Products = they avoid ingredients that traditionally come from petroleum in favor of renewable-resource-derived ingredients.

Whole Foods has a stringent, transparent system they use to evaluate and rate the products they carry in their stores.

Cradle to Cradle is a third-party certification for manufacturers who show commitment to sustainability and local communities.

Leaping Bunny isn't related to the earth-friendliness of particular products, but think of it as an extra bonus: you know none of the company's products or the ingredients in those products were tested on animals at any point.