The Best Budget Friendly Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaning Solution

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In looking for the best non-toxic all-purpose cleaning solution, you want one that has super clean ingredients and also performs well!

It is safe to say that I have gone through a good number of cleaning products in my non-toxic living journey, and I have learned so much! The biggest takeaway I have learned, however, is that even though a cleaning product may be labeled well, doesn’t mean it has ideal ingredients. Household cleaners are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to polluting our indoor air quality!

There is unfortunately a lot of “greenwashing” in the world of non-toxic products. Meriam Webster describes greenwashing as:

“the act or practice of making a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is”

There are numerous companies out there that claim their natural cleaners are “clean and non-toxic” and use natural ingredients, but when you look at the ingredients, they are not clean at all.  Today I am going to share with you my favorite best non-toxic all-purpose cleaning solution that actually works, is actually clean and non-toxic, and is budget-friendly as well! I will share my favorite, and then talk about what you should avoid when looking for a non-toxic cleaning solution.

Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post along with Amazon associate affiliate links. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.  This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company.  I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly.  If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product. 

*Taylor(The Clean Living Nurse) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

*These prices are accurate as of this blog post, there may be some updates to the prices as time goes along

What is the best non-toxic all-purpose cleaning solution?

As I have shared, I have tried my fair share of non-toxic cleaning products since beginning my journey a little over 6 years ago. There are some great products out there, but I wanted to share one brand I have been loving as they have amazing ingredients, are easy to use, and are budget and eco-friendly.

Truly Free Non-Toxic Everyday Cleaner is the absolute best all-purpose non-toxic cleaning solution. Truly Free creates powerful and family-safe products that are reusable and refillable also reducing environmental impact. I am all about eco-friendly cleaning products! I love that this company was started by a family who was in search of clean products after their newborn son broke out in horrible rashes as a baby from using conventional laundry detergents.

Truly Free has so many great non-toxic products for all your cleaning routine needs. Laundry detergent, dish soap- check out my dish soap post here! Fabric softener, fruit and veggie wash, floor cleaner, glass cleaner, oxy-boost, and the list goes on! Truly Free stands out in their products and formulas:

Key Features:

• Non-toxic formulas: All Truly Free products are formulated without harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, or dyes.
• Eco-friendly packaging: Packaging materials are recyclable, biodegradable, or made from post-consumer recycled materials to minimize environmental impact.
• Plant-based ingredients: Utilizing natural, plant-derived ingredients that are safe for people, pets, and the environment.
• Effective cleaning: Despite being gentle on the planet and health-conscious, Truly Free products deliver powerful cleaning results on various surfaces.
• Transparency: Providing full ingredient lists and transparent information about product efficacy and safety.
• Minimizing single-use plastic with their refills

The multipurpose cleaner rates an “A” on EWG environmental working group which means is has top-of-the-line clean ingredients that you can be sure are safe.

This cleaner is:

• Plant-powered to tackle tough messes
• Safe for surfaces that pets, babies & children play on
• Sensitive skin safe
• Use on: Countertops, stainless steel, porcelain, cabinets, appliances, hard flooring, toys, door handles, plastic, vinyl and so much more!
• Unscented: Free from synthetic fragrance and all harmful toxic chemicals
• Comes in a refillable bottle, reducing waste and promoting sustainability

Check out the ingredients:

Coco-Betaine ,

 Decyl Glucoside ,

 Water , 

Cocamine Oxide ,

 Sodium Citrate , 

Alkyl Polyglucoside , 

Sodium Benzoate

Some people believe that sodium benzoate is a questionable ingredient, and it definitely can be if mixed with ascorbic acid(vitamin C) as it can then turn into the ingredient benzene, which is a known carcinogen, however, this isn’t the case here. Sodium Benzoate the ingredient itself has a “B” rating on EWG.

This all-purpose cleaner is great on most surfaces: Stainless Steel, Appliances, Toys, Tables, Chairs, Kitchen Countertops, Sinks/Basins, Porcelain, Cabinets, and many other hard surfaces.

Cost: $16.95 for 2 refill pouches. If you need a spray bottle make sure to go and add the spray bottle one time for $4.95 and then you can just order the refill pouches after.

Easy to use!

Simply just fill the reusable plastic bottle with warm water up to the fill line, add all of the contents of the refill packet to the bottle, top off with water, attach the sprayer head, give a gentle shake, and use!

Convenient

What I love about Truly Free is how convenient it is to get non-toxic cleaning products delivered to your home. They offer subscription services where you can save money on bundles and setting up a subscription service, or you can simply just pay per product

What about vinegar?

I am a huge fan of vinegar for cleaning! If you are super sensitive to the vinegar smell, however, it might not be the best bet for you. I have definitely taken a spray bottle, filled it with white vinegar, and some essential oils, and cleaned my home when in a pinch and it does work very well, but it’s not great to use on wood floors which I have in my home. The Truly Free all-purpose cleaner works great on wood floors and I know I am avoiding harmful chemicals.

I have a full blog review on Force of Nature which works great as a natural disinfectant and is rated as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectant.

Why avoid conventional cleaning products?

There are several reasons you should switch over to using non-toxic cleaning products from conventional cleaning products. 

Harsh Chemicals: Many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to human health. These chemicals can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, and some have been linked to long-term health issues like asthma and endocrine disruption. 

Environmental Impact: Conventional cleaning products often contain ingredients that are harmful to the environment. These chemicals can pollute waterways, harm wildlife, and contribute to air pollution both indoors and outdoors.

Air Quality: Many cleaning products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which can contribute to indoor air pollution and exacerbate respiratory issues, especially in enclosed spaces.

Antibiotic Resistance: Some cleaning products contain antibacterial agents like triclosan, which can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Safety: Conventional cleaning products can pose risks if ingested or accidentally mixed with other chemicals, leading to potential poisoning or other safety hazards.

Opting for more natural non-toxic cleaning products can help mitigate these concerns while still effectively cleaning your home. 

Ingredients to avoid in cleaning products:

Conventional cleaning products can contain a slew of chemical that you don’t want in your home. These are the common ingredients found in conventional cleaning products:

• Phthalates: These are often found in fragrances and can be endocrine disruptors.
• Triclosan: An antimicrobial agent found in many antibacterial products, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance and disrupt hormone regulation.
• Ammonia: This can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, especially in high concentrations or when mixed with bleach.
• Chlorine bleach: While effective as a disinfectant, it can release harmful gases when mixed with other substances and can be corrosive to surfaces.
• Sodium hydroxide (lye): A highly caustic substance that can cause severe burns and irritation.
• Petroleum-based solvents: These can contribute to indoor air pollution and may be toxic if inhaled or ingested.
• Formaldehyde: A known carcinogen and respiratory irritant often found in certain cleaners and disinfectants.
• Perchloroethylene (PERC): Commonly found in carpet and upholstery cleaners, it’s a possible carcinogen and can also affect the nervous system.
• Artificial fragrances: These can contain a mix of potentially harmful chemicals, including phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can irritate the respiratory system.
• 2-Butoxyethanol: Found in some window and kitchen cleaners, it can contribute to respiratory and skin irritation.

Do non-toxic cleaners work?

It really just depends on what you choose to use, as I have said that I have tried many brands that just didn’t cut it for me. Truly Free is absolutely incredible though and cleans without all the nasty chemicals. Non-toxic cleaners can be effective at cleaning various surfaces and removing dirt, grime, and germs just like traditional cleaners. 

Which cleaner is the safest?

Truly, any cleaner that uses minimal ingredients, ingredients you can read and look up preferably on EWG.org(simply put the ingredient in the search bar and it will give you a grade!) I try to only use products that have “EWG verified” and “A” or “B” ratings. This means these ingredients or products are safe to use. Truly Free all-purpose cleaner checks all those boxes

Mollys Suds(if you know, you know!) Also makes a great all-purpose non-toxic cleaner. The only downfall is they are not refillable so that are not a very eco-friendly option. 

Obviously, there are a lot of great options out there for non-toxic multi-purpose cleaners on the market, unfortunately, it just takes a little research if you want to do it on your own. I hope that this blog post helps a bit as to what I think is the best budget and eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner on the market.