Clean Swaps for a Healthier Home
The world of non-toxic products can be extremely overwhelming to navigate. And what products are actually “clean or non-toxic” is tricky because those are subjective terms often used by brands in marketing and they aren’t actually defined.
Over the last year or so, I have been trying to make small and mindful swaps on household items for my family, just doing my best like so many of us are. The headlines out there are exhausting and as a consumer super defeating because it feels like everything we buy or eat these days is bad for us. But, I have heard time and time again from this community that you too are interested in making small tweaks, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to source the community on your favorite swaps you have made in your home!
Well, the results are in and this was THE most submissions we have ever received in a community poll. I polled for your favorite household cleaners, kitchen products, skin care, beauty and kids products that are clean or non-toxic. There were for sure many stand out brands or products that literally hundreds of you called out. If there is one take away from this poll, it’s that we are all trying to do our part by making the best decisions possible for ourselves and our families.
One way you can gut check where a product falls on the non-toxic or clean spectrum, is by looking at the EWG (the Environmental Working Group). Their mission is to empower you with research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment.
With that, let’s break it down! Read below and shop all of the community favorites.
Cleaning Products
Cleaning products was the most participated category in the poll by far! There were hundreds of responses and Branch Basics was the clear favorite. This brand has starter kits, refills and single options to purchase but most of you agreed that the Cleaning Essentials Kit in Glass: All Purpose Cleaner and Bathroom Cleaner kit was the way to go. This is a brand where you mix the concentrate with water to get the desired solutions, and that can be used on every surface (countertops, stains, bathrooms, laundry, floors, pets and more). Branch Basics stands behind that this solution will replace every cleaner you have in your home, with its effective concentrate and streak free application, you won’t need anything else!
The runner up in this category was Force of Nature. What makes them different from Branch Basics and other cleaners is that it uses electricity to convert tap water, combined with a small recyclable capsule of salt, water and vinegar and turns it into a super cleaner that is an EPA registered disinfectant, that kills up to 99.9% of germs! Aka when Norovirus or the latest illness strikes, this solution will pack a punch with its hospital grade disinfectant. Much like Branch Basics, you mix and create your own solutions, and they have starter kits, refills and single options to purchase. Their Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Disinfectant & Deodorizer Starter Kit is a great kit to start with! You can use Force of Nature on every space in your home, like cleaning your makeup brushes, wiping down baby and/or kids gear, pet accidents, dishes, mirrors, work spaces and more.
Lastly, Truly Free ranked among the top when it comes to favorite cleaners but more specifically, the best option for laundry! While they offer different cleaning and all purpose solutions they are best known for their Unscented Laundry Detergent. Just like the other brands, you mix the pouch of solution and water in a refillable bottle (does about 50 loads). Several mentioned this is their favorite detergent for babies/kids because of its gentle cleaning power. They also have a great Dishwasher Detergent Powder people love.
I would be remised if I did not mention that Attitude was also submitted and is a brand I have really grown to love in my house! I love the Laundry Detergent and have recently gotten into the All Purpose Spray and so many of you echoed that sentiment as well. This brand offers solutions for beauty, personal care, mom + baby and home.
Kitchen Products
While this category had submissions for the best brands, we got a lot of commentary around cookware, household favorites, but also reusable products etc, so we broke it into three sub categories to make it easy for you because kitchen is such a broad category.
Pots and Pans
Ultimately, stainless steel is the way to go for your kitchen cookware. While it’s an upfront investment, it’s worth it over time to make the switch to a quality set you will have for life. The All-Clad 7 Piece Set was the top submission for stainless steel (we also did a robust Pots and Pans Community Poll last year if you want to read more about this brand and others).
Both Caraway and Greenpan were submitted for a top ceramic and non-stick options, but Caraway was the clear winner. People love that they have non-toxic and non-stick coating in their cookware and bakeware. Their 12 piece set is the most popular within cookware but people also mentioned their love for the griddle. Greenpan is known for being the first company to make a PFAS-free nonstick pan, like their Anodized Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pans. They also carry stainless steel sets, the Bobby Flay line, cast iron and other options.
And lastly people recommended a cast iron pan, specifically the Lodge Cast Iron pan, which I own and love. For under $40 it makes it a no brainer to add to your cookware essentials.
Kitchen Favorites
Within our kitchen submisisons, there were a lot of comments about easy household items you can swap out! Specifically when it relates to limiting our exposure to micro plastics, especially when they come in contact with hot food.
Wooden Cutting Boards: I ditched all of our plastic cutting boards last year for wood and love them. The Toptier Wood Fiber Cutting Board is not porous, is dishwasher safe, non-slip, and has a juice groove on one side, and it comes in three different sizes.
Glass Food Storage: This is another easy swap and the Bayco Glass Storage set has been a best seller for months. It comes with 9 different size containers with leak proof lids for such a good price. Another good storage option are these Wide Mouth Mason jars, perfect for meal prep and storing things like soup or sauces.
Utensils: Many of us are ditching plastic utensils for materials like wood or stainless steel, where appropriate. I love my ultra thin Silicone Fish Spatula and recently bought this 12 Piece Wooden Utensils set.
Reusable Products
Finding swaps on single use items for reusable products was also mentioned, specifically Stasher Bags and reusable paper towels. Of course Geometry’s Not Paper Towels are my favorite but Papaya is another great brand that is available on Amazon.
Skincare
Beauty is something that gets especially overwhelming because there are so many products and it feels like new brands are popping up daily. By no means am a beauty guru, but there are a few brands I love and trust, but I was excited to learn more about your favorites too.
The number one submission for clean skincare was Primally Pure! This brand is all about research based, effective skincare for your face and body without compromising your health. They not only have products and kits to choose from but they also have guides on serums, deodorants, wellness and more as resources. The Deodorants were mentioned the most, along with their Body Butters, and Dry Shampoo.
Ilia Beauty was the runner up. While they may be most known for their makeup, their skincare assortment feels fresh and light. They want their skincare to enhance your natural beauty and work with it. Ilia’s best seller is their Duo of Facemilk and Moisturizer.
The third most popular brand was Dime Beauty. This is a brand you see everywhere and most of the comments reiterated how people love everything from their skincare line and how easy it is to shop by skin type. A few stand outs were their TBT Anti Aging Serum, Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Gentle Jelly Cleanser, and their Super Skin Toner.
Tula was another brand that was mentioned, but is also mine and Karlie’s favorite! We have both been using it for years and have a handful of products we can’t live without. Sometimes I think Tula gets a bad rap because it gained popularity beacuse it was pushed by so many influencers, but I truly find their products to be so lightweight and effective. Some of our must-haves are the 24/7 Moisturizer (in their classic scent, fragrance free and SPF - my new favorite), Filter Primer, Glow and Get It Eye Balm, and their Cult Classic Face Cleanser.
Lastly, I want to call out that Attitude was submitted, known for great haircare and body care (and kids too!)
Makeup
The number one brand for makeup was Merit! I own and love so many of their products and can attest to how amazing they feel, look and wear. Merit is one of those brands you don’t want to sleep on, they make it easy for you to shop with different set options but their most beloved is the Five Minute Morning set that carries their core products everyone loves. I am obsessed with their Flush Balm, I cannot reiterate enough how smooth it is and glides on so easy for an effortless look!
This should be no surprise that Ilia Beauty was the runner up! Knowing everyone was loving their skincare, the makeup is worth checking out. Many of you mentioned their Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, which comes in 30 different shades, because it’s so lightweight and combines makeup, skincare, and SPF into one bottle. Karlie has worn that this for years and swears by it. Their Multi Stick, and Limitless Lash Mascara were also crowd favorites.
Lastly, Thrive Cosmetics was submitted and almost every comment mentioned their Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara, and their Brilliant Eye Brightener as the ultimate combo!
Kids Products
Last but not least, we polled the community on their favorite kids brands and got submissions for everyday products, sunscreens, toys and kitchen essentials that we broke down for you below!
Everyday Products
For everyday skincare the number one submission was Pipette! Their Baby Shampoo + Wash, along with their Baby Balm and Mineral SPFs (available in SPF 30 and 50, in sprays, lotions and balm sticks) are best sellers. They are also sold at Target!
No surprise, Attitude was also widely loved among this poll, and their kids line is no different! Their 2-in-1 Hair and Body Foaming Baby Wash, 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash (non-foaming) and Baby Lotion were mentioned! They also carry bubble bath, wipes, detanglers, hand wash, sanitizer and more.
Tubby Todd of course was mentioned, and we both love their line so much. Using the link you can get 10% off your order, always! Some of our personal favs (along with the community submissions) are the All Over Ointment, Hair and Body Wash and the Detangler, which also comes in a bundle called “The Regulars”.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen was a popular submission within this poll. Both Badger and THINK were the top winners offering SPF for babies, kids and adults. The Badger Kids Mineral Sunscreen Cream, Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Baby Mineral Sunscreen and Thinksport Kids SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen are all favorites among the community!
Kitchen Essentials
Kids kitchen essentials is a good place to start if you want to make some small but meaningful swaps, like ditching plastic plates. I own and love the Avanchy Divided Bamboo Plate with Suction, but this Ahimsa Stainless Steel Divides Kids Plate is a great option and was also recommended by friends and followers! I also own cups from Elk and Friends - we love the Stainless Steel Cups with Silicone Sleeves & Straws for smoothies and their Stainless Steel with Silicone Handle utensils for kids are some of my favorite.
Toys
While it’s hard to entirely avoid plastic in toys, there are several brands that have been breaking away from traditional plastics and have created sustainable and safer options for our kids! Both Green Toys and Loveevery are community favorites and were both submitted overwhelmingly in this category. Lovevery, is known for their focus on creating Montessori play spaces for developing minds with materials like wood that are inviting, playful and meets each child’s needs. Green Toys is another great and budget friendly choice because they make their toys from 100% recycled milk jugs.
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