Depending on what type of floor you have or if you have pets and children, you may clean your floors more often than the average person.
Even though we want a good cleaner is it possible to find a non-toxic cleaner that is safe for our family? The short answer is yes, and we are giving you our recommendations!
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Just interested in our top picks? Skip ahead to our list of favorite non-toxic floor cleaners!
Are Floor Cleaners Toxic?
Who doesn’t love clean floors? A house with pristine floors elevates the cleanliness of the entire house and can make it look new. You might be tempted to go buy any floor cleaner off the shelf, but some contain toxic ingredients.
Most conventional floor cleaners contain ingredients that help its effectiveness but are also toxic to humans. This means you should wear gloves and eye protection, and use floor cleaners in a well-ventilated area. Floor cleaners aren’t the MOST toxic cleaning products, but many carry some serious health risks.
Although floor cleaners contain toxic ingredients, you can avoid any harm by using them properly. Most will have directions you can follow to ensure you safely use the product.
Also, it’s best to keep floor cleaners away from pets, children, and anyone else who might come in contact with them. There are also plenty of non-toxic floor cleaners to look out for next time you’re shopping.
Harmful Ingredients in Conventional Floor Cleaners
In most conventional floor cleaners you’ll find these ingredients: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), phthalates, MEA (monoethanolamine), other sulfates and phosphates, and triclosan. These ingredients are a cause for concern. Conventional floor cleaners usually contain at least one of these ingredients, so always check the ingredients list before buying.
What’s so bad about these ingredients anyway?
Well, SLS is a detergent that can potentially damage the skin or eyes by burning them. Phthalates are a binding agent, and they’re also found in many “fragrance” ingredients. They can cause asthma, reproductive issues, and developmental disorders. MEA is a hormone-disrupting chemical that has been shown to have cancer-causing nitrates. It can also irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
Sulfates and phosphates are extremely bad pollutants for the environment and can cause discomfort in the lungs. Lastly, triclosan is a disinfectant and antibacterial chemical that can cause severe allergies and endocrine imbalance (and it can potentially lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria).
Okay, I think we all get how bad floor cleaners can be, but don’t worry. There are natural ways to disinfect your floors and non-toxic floor cleaners to help you get away from these harsh chemicals!
How Can I Disinfect My Floors Naturally?
You can create a non-toxic floor cleaner and disinfect your floors naturally with some ingredients you probably have in your pantry!
Combining equal parts white vinegar, baking soda, 1 tablespoon of organic dish detergent, and a gallon of hot water should do the trick. This will create a powerful but natural floor cleaner that you can mop your floors with. Simply mop your floors with this solution then go over it with fresh water and allow it to dry. If you’re looking for a more powerful solution or don’t have these ingredients, there are plenty of safe non-toxic floor cleaners available, and we’ve chosen our favorites below.
Safe Non-Toxic Floor Cleaners
For every harmful floor cleaner, there is usually a non-toxic, natural alternative on the same shelf. We’re going to share our favorite non-toxic floor cleaners so you can have a cleaner home while staying healthy and safe!
Supernatural Non-Toxic Wood Floor Cleaner
This wood floor cleaner actually comes in a concentrate. While it may seem a little expensive for the bottle size, it will last a very long time. All you have to do is mix 2 tablespoons of Supernatural Wood + Floors with tap water and start cleaning! They also offer glass bottles to add your mixture to. This not only cuts down on plastic usage, but it’s reusable!
Attitude – Non-Toxic Tile Floor Cleaner
Attitude is a natural floor cleaner that contains a plant and mineral-based formula. It is PETA-certified vegan and has a natural citrus zest scent, which leaves your home smelling fresh! We should also mention that the cleaner is biodegradable, sustainable, and hypoallergenic so it earned an ECOLOGO certification too! To use, simply add ¼ cup of cleaning solution to room temperature water and get mopping!
Puracy Non-Toxic Carpet Cleaner
Even though this product is all-natural it offers clinical-grade cleansing power! You can use it as a carpet cleaner or as a spot cleaner. Puracy is safe to use on upholstery as well. It was actually developed by doctors! The brand never adds sulfates, phosphates, animal by-products, bleach, dyes, or other harmful chemicals. You’ll be reminded of how clean your carpet is by the fresh citrus scent, and it’s also safe for greywater and septic systems!
Sometimes finding all-natural non-toxic cleaning products is tough and hard to distinguish, but in this case, shopping was easy! By the way, if you have been tempted to clean with Norwex, read our honest review first!
