8 Non-Toxic Floor Cleaners
Many conventional floor cleaner brands and cleaning products are actually made with toxic chemicals that can cause skin irritation. And for people who have serious allergies, it’s even more problematic. So I put together the ultimate list of the best non toxic floor cleaners to keep your floors clean.
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Toxic Ingredients to Avoid In Non Toxic Floor Cleaners
- Chlorine Bleach: This is a disinfectant that can release harmful fumes. It can irritate the skin and eyes.
- Ammonia: Ammonia is a strong alkaline cleaner that can potentially hurt the respiratory system.
- Phthalates: This is often used as a plasticizer to enhance fragrances and increase flexibility. It’s a known endocrine disruptor and can cause health issues.
- Phosphates: Phosphates are used to soften water but they can affect the environment by causing pollution.
- Sulfates: SLS and SLES are both surfactants that can cause eye and skin irritation. It’s often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which is a potential human carcinogen.
- Artificial Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances in floor cleaners can trigger allergies and hurt the respiratory system.
- Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is used as a preservative and is considered a carcinogen.
- Phenol: Phenol is damaging to the respiratory system as well as the liver.
- Glycol Ethers: Glycol Ethers can cause liver and kidney damage.
- Triclosan: Triclosan can hurt the endocrine system.
Luckily, the recommendations I have below do not contain any of these toxic ingredients.
Best Non Toxic Floor Cleaners For Hardwood Floors
1. Best Non Toxic Hardwood Floor Cleaner: Aunt Fannie’s Floor Cleaner
Aunt Fannie’s Hardwood Floor Cleaner is the best floor cleaner because it’s vinegar-free, plant-based, and incredibly concentrated. It’ll last a long time.
You just need to dilute a 1/2 cup solution per 2 gallons of water to clean hardwood floors. The fragrance is made with 100% essential oil blends so there are no artificial fragrances involved.
The best thing about this wood floor cleaner is it’s pet safe and safe around kids. It’s also made in the USA and has an A rating on EWG.
2. Best Eco Friendly Floor Cleaner: Blueland Multi-Surface Cleaner
The Blueland Multi-Surface Cleaners works not just well on hard floors but also anything around the house.
It’s truly an all-purpose cleaner so using this cleaner means you don’t need an extra cleaning bottle that takes up space.
The good news about this hard floor cleaner is it’s very eco friendly and reduces plastic. You just need one bottle and multi-surface floor cleaner refill tablets.
You just drop one of those tablets into the bottle along with water and you’ve got yourself an effective cleaner.
3. Best Non Toxic Vinyl Floor Cleaner: Aunt Annie’s Vinegar Floor Cleaner
Aunt Fannie’s Vinegar Wash Floor Cleaner is the best non toxic vinegar cleaning solution. This natural wood floor cleaner is made with vinegar and 100% essential oil blends with a fresh scent.
Since it’s very concentrated, all you need is 1/2 cup of the solution per 2 gallons of water. It’s also EWG A-rated.
Vinegar is effective for cleaning vinyl and wood floors but keep in mind that it may strip the finish off the floors. So be sure to mix this solution with lots of water and use it extremely infrequently.
4. Best Non Toxic Wood Floor Cleaner: Koala Eco Floor Cleaner
Koala Eco Floor Cleaner is a natural non-toxic floor cleaner that’s made with a plant-based formula and Australian essential oils.
The strong and natural formula is able to clean grime off most surfaces. And the Koala Eco natural floor cleaner doesn’t contain sulfates, phosphates, chlorine, dyes, or synthetic fragrance.
The packaging is also made of 100% post-consumer recycled materials.
5. Best Natural Floor Cleaner: Best Floor Cleaner Attitude Nature Technology Natural Floor Cleaner
If you read our post on nontoxic hand soaps, you probably know how much I love Attitude. Almost all their products are made safe and with toxic free materials.
This Attitude Nature Technology Floor Surface Cleaner is no different because it’s hypoallergenic, has natural plant-based surfactants, and is free of synthetic fragrances.
One of the plant and mineral based ingredients in this natural cleaner is saponin, which is a powerful natural cleansing agent.
These natural cleaning products are ECOLOGO Certified and are biodegradable.
6. Best Versatile Floor Cleaner: Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap
Castile soap is one of the most versatile soaps. You can use it not only as a safe floor cleaner but also as a hand soap or dish soap.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap is our top choice because it’s made with over 90% organic ingredients and over 70% of ingredients are certified fair trade.
There are no synthetic preservatives, detergents, or foaming agents in this safe natural plant-based hardwood floor cleaner.
And because this wood cleaner is very concentrated, you can dilute it with a lot of water, and a bottle of this castile soap will last you a long time.
The bottle is also made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.
7. Best All Purpose Floor Cleaner: Basics Floor Cleaner Starter Kit
The Branch Basics “The Concentrate” is a powerful cleaner for pretty much everything. It works as a floor cleaner, window cleaner, bathroom floor cleaner, and more.
This cleaning essential kit comes with three empty spray bottles and a bottle of concentrate. To make the floor cleaner, just combine the floor cleaner concentrate to the line on the bottle and shake.
The formula is plant and mineral-based, fragrance-free, biodegradable, non-GMO, and made with flower extract.
And since this is one of the best unscented floor cleaners, it also makes the best non toxic floor cleaner for babies.
8. Best Innovative Floor Cleaner: Force of Nature Eco Friendly Floor Cleaner
The Force of Nature Floor Cleaner is an innovative and convenient cleaning product.
How it works is you fill the bottle on the left with tap water and add the small capsule of salt, water, and vinegar. Then, it turns into a multi-purpose cleaner that can be used for floors, windows, bathtubs, tiles, and more.
The price may seem steep but you actually save money in the long term. It comes down to around 10 cents an ounce or $1.25 a bottle.
This is a great option if you want to eliminate plastic use.
FAQs on Non-Toxic Floor Cleaners
What is the healthiest way to clean floors?
These are some tips on having a healthier floor cleaning routine.
- Sweep regularly: Before wet cleaning, sweep the floors to remove any dust, dirt, and debris. Try to sweep at least once a week.
- Use natural cleaning solutions: It’s important to use natural cleaning solutions without any toxic chemicals to potentially damage the floors. Use natural alternatives like nontoxic floor cleaners, vinegar, or baking soda.
- Steam cleaning: Steam cleaning is a great way to sanitize the floors without the use of chemicals. Hot steam kills bacteria and germs.
- Microfiber Mops: The easiest way to clean the floors with a natural floor cleaner is to use a microfiber mop. It’s effective at getting rid of dirt and reducing mold growth.
- Avoiding Leaving Puddles: Leaving excess water or wood floor cleaner on your hardwood floors can damage some floor types and lead to mold growth.
What is a good alternative to floor cleaner?
A good alternative to floor cleaners is mixing 2 parts water with 1 part vinegar. Using concentrated vinegar to clean floors can damage the finish on the surface of the floors. So it’s best to dilute it with water and use it sparingly.
Castile soap diluted with water is another good alternative to floor cleaner. It’s a vegetable-based soap that’s biodegradable and contains no toxic chemicals.
The easiest alternative to floor cleaners is using a damp microfiber cloth or mop to clean the floors. This works well if your floors are not too dirty.
Does vinegar really clean floors?
Vinegar has mild antibacterial properties so it’s useful for removing dirt and grease. However, vinegar can damage the finish of the floors easily so make sure to dilute it with water.
What is the best non toxic cleaner for vinyl flooring?
The best non-toxic cleaner for vinyl flooring is mixing warm water and a few drops of a non-toxic plant-based dish soap. Before using this solution, make sure to sweep or vacuum to remove the dirt and debris.
What is the best DIY floor cleaner?
To make a homemade floor cleaner, follow this non toxic floor cleaner recipe.
- 2 cups Water.
- 1/2 cup Vinegar.
- 1/4 cup Rubbing Alcohol.
- 3 drops of Dish Soap.
- 5-10 drops of Essential Oil (only if you want scent).
Is Ecos floor cleaner non toxic?
Ecos is considered non toxic. However, it does contain the ingredient, Potassium Sorbate, a food-grade preservative. It can potentially cause skin irritations for some people with sensitive skin. But if you don’t have allergies to it, it’s considered safe to use.
For more non toxic living guides, check out these posts!
- Best Nontoxic Dish Soaps
- Best Clean Hand Soaps
- How to Get Smell Out of Clothes Without Washing
- Earth Breeze vs Tru Earth Laundry Sheets Review
