Actual Products You Can Actually Buy
Not mason jars of vinegar. Not a 12-step process involving essential oils and lye. Real products, available online or in stores, that don't contain the chemicals covered on this site. Some cost more. Some don't. All of them are a better option than what you're probably using now.
"Natural" on a label means nothing. The word has no legal definition in the US. Look for full ingredient disclosure, EWG Verified certification, or EPA Safer Choice designation — those actually mean something. — Environmental Working Group
Cleaning Products
Branch Basics
One non-toxic concentrate that replaces every cleaner in your house. Dilute it differently for different uses. Refillable bottles, no synthetic fragrance, no QACs, no hidden ingredients. More expensive upfront, cheaper long-term.
Where to buy: branchbasics.com
Force of Nature
Uses electricity to convert salt, water, and vinegar into a cleaner and EPA-registered disinfectant as effective as bleach — without the bleach. On the EPA's List N for COVID-19 disinfection. Carbon neutral, Green Seal certified.
Where to buy: forceofnatureclean.com or Target
Puracy
Family-owned, developed by chemists. Plant and mineral-based formulas. Certified cruelty-free, vegan, sulfate-free. Offers concentrates. One of the few brands that started because the founder's dog kept getting sick after cleaning the house.
Where to buy: puracy.com, Amazon, Target
Seventh Generation
Full ingredient transparency — they list everything. Third-party tested. 97% recycled packaging. Widely available at mainstream grocery stores and Target. One of the easiest swaps to make since you can grab it wherever you already shop.
Where to buy: Target, Walmart, most grocery stores
Truly Free Home
Refillable subscription model delivered to your door. Non-toxic, no synthetic fragrance. Good option if you want to set it and forget it without thinking about it every time you go to the store.
Where to buy: trulyfreehome.com
Bon Ami (Powder Cleanser)
Old school, cheap, and clean. Available at most grocery stores. Works for scouring without the toxic chemical load of Ajax or Comet. Not fancy, but it gets the job done.
Where to buy: Most grocery stores, around $2
How to Research Any Product
Before buying any cleaning or personal care product, you can check it in under 30 seconds:
- Go to ewg.org/cleaners — the Environmental Working Group's free database
- Type in the exact product name
- EWG rates it A through F based on ingredient safety and transparency
- If it's not listed, that's also information — a brand that won't disclose ingredients to EWG is worth being skeptical of
The EWG also has a Healthy Living app for your phone that lets you scan barcodes in the store.
Food: What to Look For and What to Avoid
Ingredients to Avoid on Food Labels
- Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Red 3 — artificial dyes
- BHA / BHT — petroleum-based preservatives (check cereals, chips, snack foods)
- Potassium Bromate — check bread and baked goods
- Titanium Dioxide — may be listed as "artificial coloring"
- High Fructose Corn Syrup — linked to metabolic disruption
- Propylparaben — preservative linked to hormone disruption
- Azodicarbonamide — dough conditioner, linked to respiratory issues
- Carrageenan — stabilizer linked to gut inflammation
Better Food Swaps
| Instead Of | Try |
|---|---|
| Cool Ranch Doritos (3 artificial dyes) | Doritos Simply Organic, Cape Cod Sea Salt |
| Frosted Flakes (BHT) | Any cereal without BHT/BHA — check the label |
| M&Ms (5 artificial dyes) | Unreal Candy, Trader Joe's chocolate options |
| Standard dairy milk (rBGH) | Organic Valley, Horizon, store-brand organic |
| Standard bread (potassium bromate) | Dave's Killer Bread, Ezekiel, any organic bread |
The Reality About Cost
Not everyone can afford to replace everything at once, and that's fine. Start with what your kids eat most often and what you use in the most enclosed spaces. A box of Seventh Generation dish soap costs about the same as Dawn at most stores. Branch Basics costs more upfront but less per use over time. Bon Ami powder is cheaper than most conventional scouring cleaners.
The goal isn't perfection. It's informed decisions and gradual reduction of chemical exposure — especially for kids. Every dollar you spend on a cleaner brand and away from a toxic one sends a signal the market actually listens to.
For more on redirecting your spending away from corporations that profit from making you sick, visit AngelinWTFland.com.