I went on a search for 100% plant-based cleaning products, or plant and mineral-based – in other words with no synthetic ingredients that are 100% biodegradable.
Some products advertise that they are “plant-based” but that can just mean some of the ingredients are plant-based -not all.
All of these products are smaller companies, two of the brands I use myself. I could not find any 100% plant-based cleaning products on Amazon.
While the main list is for all-purpose cleaners that tackle the kitchen, floors, and bathrooms, one all-purpose product can also be used as laundry soap and dish soap. I also mention the other product lines by the same companies that make cleaning products that will cover the whole house.
1. The Wholesome Home
A basic formula that is scented with essential oils.
This all-purpose cleaner (spray or concentrate) is made with plant-based ingredients that are food-safe and safe for kids and pets. While they claim it is hypoallergenic, some of the essential oils can be allergen triggers for some people.
It is biodegradable.
Use on: Wood, metal, stone, glass, upholstery, plastic. Also safe & effective as a fabric stain remover.
Fragrance: Scented with organic lemongrass essential oil, organic eucalyptus essential oil, organic lavender essential oil, organic rosemary essential oil, and organic tea tree essential oil.
Eco-friendly: It comes in a glass bottle, or you can buy it in a concentrate that you add to a spray bottle.
Cost: $9.50/ 16 oz bottle of the non-concentrated version. The concentrate is $15 for 4 bottles which comes to $3.75 per 16 oz bottle.
INGREDIENTS:
- Potassium oleate – Potassium Oleate is obtained by the hydrolysis of various animal and vegetable fats and oils.
- Potassium cocoate – This is the salt of coconut fatty acid.
- Glycerin – Glycerin can be produced from plant oils.
- Potassium citrate – Citric acid, which potassium citrate is derived from, can be found naturally in citrus fruits, though is usually fungus-derived.
- Citric acid – Naturally found in citrus fruits, this could be plant-derived or fungus-derived.
- Essential oils (lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, tea tree) – Essential oils are extracted from plant sources.
- Purified hydrogen oxide – A fancy way of referring to water.
Other products:
Bathroom Disinfectant made of: natural spirits derived from grain (i.e. alcohol), acetic acid, organic lemon essential oil, organic eucalyptus essential oil, water.
Hand Soap made of: Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Organic Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide (synthetic ingredient, not present in final product), Organic Glycerin, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Essential Oils.
As well as Linen Spray, Floor Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, and Hand Sanitizer.
2. Meliora Organic All-Purpose Home Cleaner
This is the most affordable and most eco-friendly option on the list since they use refill tablets instead of liquids and no plastic. The ingredient list is short, pure, and unscented.
This All-Purpose Home Cleaner has a very simple plant-based ingredient list and is preservative-free. It’s also biodegradable, septic tank friendly, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Use on: All the hard surfaces in your home – floors, walls, countertops – even the greasy fingerprint smudges on the fridge.
Fragrance: Fragrance-free.
Eco-Friendly: Refillable glass spray bottle, with concentrated tablets that dissolve. Single-use-plastic-free.
Certifications: Made-Safe
Cost: $16 for the bottle and 3 refills. Once you have a bottle it’s $5.50 for three refill tablets which comes to $1.80 per 16 oz bottle.
INGREDIENTS:
- Potassium Cocoate and Sodium Cocoate – These are salts derived from coconut oil fatty acids. Coconut oil comes from the coconut palm.
- Glycerin – Glycerin used in soaps and cosmetics is typically made from plant oils like coconut and palm oil (they say this product is palm oil-free).
- Water
- Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil – This is another name for organic coconut oil, which comes directly from the coconut palm.
Other products:
Dish Soap Bar – Zero-Waste Package-Free – made from: Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Sunflowerate, Glycerin, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Water, plus lemon essential oil or unscented (plant-based). One reader commented that it leaves a residue.
Laundry Powder Detergent made from: Sodium bicarbonate, Sodium carbonate, Sodium cocoate, Cocos nucifera oil, Glycerin, Lavandula hybrida grosso oil, Citrus medica limonum peel oil, Eugenia caryophyllus bud oil, Mentha piperita leaf oil, or unscented (plant and mineral-based).
Foaming Hand Soap which comes in solid blocks, made from: Potassium cocoate, Potassium sunflowerate, Cocos nucifera oil, Helianthus annuus oil, Glycerin, Lavandula hybrida grosso oil, Cymbopogon flexuosus oil, Mentha piperita leaf oil, Melaleuca alternifolia oil, or unscented (plant-based).
As well as… Oxygen brightener, laundry stain stick, bath, and body soap.
3. MamaSuds All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate & Laundry
This brand uses short ingredient lists, the all-purpose cleaner has a very pure scented plant-based formula. The company’s products are comprehensive to cover all cleaning needs with different formulas.
MamaSuds makes great products, I use their Fine Linen Soap (pictured) which works great for washing my cashmere sweaters.
Their All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate is a castile soap with a very pure plant-based formula (no synthetic ingredients). It’s biodegradable.
Use on: Kitchens, bathroom, general cleaning.
Fragrance: Essential oils.
Eco-friendly: The concentrate is diluted down for everyday use. The concentrate is a liquid that comes in a plastic bottle.
Certifications: Certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and Vegan by PETA.
Cost: The spray bottle is 12.50 for 16 oz, the concentrate is $42 which refills 8 bottles, that comes to $5.25 per 16 oz.
INGREDIENTS:
- Water
- Potassium olivate – This is the salt formed from olive oil fatty acids.
- Aloe vera gel juice – From the aloe vera plant
- Non-GMO citric acid – Citric acid occurs naturally in citrus fruits. Non-GMO indicates it is likely plant-derived though this is usually fungus-derived.
- Essential oils (clove bud, organic cinnamon leaf, lemon, eucalyptus radiata, rosemary) – Essential oils are extracted and distilled directly from plant materials.
Other products:
Their Fine Linen Soap is made of: water, potassium olivate (saponified olive oil), sodium borate (naturally sourced), sodium carbonate (naturally sourced).
Their regular Laundry Soap is made of: water, potassium olivate (saponified olive oil), sodium carbonate (naturally sourced), and sodium borate (naturally sourced), pure essential oil of lavender, lemon, or unscented.
Their Toilet Bomb Cleaning Tabs are made from sodium bicarbonate (not clear if naturally sourced), non-GMO citric acid, water, essential oils of tea tree, organic peppermint, and lemon (plant and mineral-based).
As well as: bar hand soap, bar dish soap, bar stain remover for laundry, body wash, liquid hand soap, automatic dishwasher powder, oxygen powder, wool dryer balls.
4. Branch Basics Concentrate
The most versatile of the all-purpose cleaners. I use this for every cleaning need from bathrooms to laundry. It’s a favorite amongst the chemically sensitive and is 100% plant and mineral-based, and fragrance-free.
Branch Basics Concentrate is their all-purpose cleaner, truly all-purpose since it can be used everywhere. It is made from 100% plant and mineral-based ingredients and is biodegradable.
Use on: Kitchen, bathroom, floors, laundry, hands, body, pets, glass, dishes, stainless steel, carpet, and more (in other words one product for everywhere).
You dilute it to different concentrations for each use.
Fragrance: Soapy, no fragrance.
Eco-friendly: The bottle of Concentrate is plastic. They sell both glass or plastic cleaning bottles.
Certifications: Certified Made Safe, EWG-Verified, Cruelty-Free Verified
Cost: Averages out to: $16.30 for 68 ounces, or $3.84 per 16 oz.
Ingredients:
- Purified Water
- Decyl Glucoside – a surfactant naturally derived from coconut and/or corn, free of impurities like ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.
- Organic Chamomile Flower Extract – organic flower extract with Allergen (IFRA) Certifications, which certifies it is non-allergenic and is not a fragrance.
- Coco-Glucoside – a surfactant naturally derived from coconut, free of impurities like ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.
- Sodium Citrate – a plant-derived, biodegradable sodium salt that acts as a water softener.
- Sodium Bicarbonate – baking soda.
- Sodium Phytate – a natural chelator used as a preservative. Extremely low concentrations like those used as a soap preservative are unlikely to cause significant environmental issues (like algae blooms) upon disposal or release into the environment. Municipal wastewater treatment plant processes can effectively remove or degrade a significant portion of the sodium phytate present in the wastewater.
Other Products:
Oxygen Boost (for laundry): Sodium Percarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate. (Mineral-based, biodegradable, not septic safe).
Dishwasher tablets: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Percarbonate, MGDA Trisodium Salt, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Silicate, Poly(itaconic acid-co-AMPS) Sodium Salt, TAED, Protease, Amalyse, Magnesium Stearate, Decyl Glucoside. (Not all natural – contains synthetic ingredients).
Dryer Balls: Wool
Corinne Segura holds certificates in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.
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Danielle
I’ve used the Meliora laundry powder and it even comes with a nice metal spoon! But I’ve been less thrilled with the dish soap (it’s a bar soap form) as it leaves a residue on things washed (in my experience). I didn’t know they made foaming hand soap but do want to try that since it’s got so few ingredients compared to our current soap.
Have you personally noticed sensitivity to products with citric acid?
Corinne Segura
thanks for sharing ill add that to the post. I dont know anyone with a sensitivity to citric acid, it’s one of those things mold sensitive people think they will react to and it’s become a bit of an urban myth. however i do think it’s possible for someone with MCS to react since there isnt any ingredient that no one reacts to