Why Switch to Non-Toxic Kitchen Cleaners?
Trying to find non-toxic kitchen cleaners on a budget? I’ve got you covered.
It is hard to find non-toxic cleaners that do a good job, especially ones that are budget-friendly! Over this past year, I’ve been switching our household cleaners to non-toxic options. It has been a slow, steady process because I’m trying to find budget-friendly products that work! I’ve bought several products that just didn’t cut it for me. After much trial and error, I have finally found some that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
The Hidden Chemicals in Popular Dish Soaps
I was a Dawn (or generic alternative) girl for years. Did you know that Dawn dish soap contains the following ingredients?
- WATER
- SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
- SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE
- C10-16 ALKYLDIME-THYLAMINE OXIDE
- ALCOHOL DENAT.
- PPG-26
- SODIUM CHLORIDE
- SODIUM HYDROXIDE
- PEI-14 PEG-24/PPG-16 COPOLYMER
- PHENOXYETHANOL
- FRAGRANCES
- METHYLISOTHIAZO-LINONE
- COLORANTS, BLUE 1,YELLOW 5, RED 33
- C9-11 PARETH-8
- STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER
- TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE
- CHLOROXYLENOL
- PHENOXY-ISOPROPANOL
- GLYCERIN
- SODIUM CUMENE-SULFONATE
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL
- TERPINEOL
That is a long ingredient list with a lot of chemicals! Let’s dig a little deeper into two.
Fragrance – Fragrance chemicals can “intensify episodic and chronic symptoms of allergies, headaches, and cardiovascular diseases in sensitive organisms.” They can also mess up our endocrine system by acting like a hormone in the body, blocking our natural hormones, or interfering with our hormone pathways.
Methylisothiazolinone – A chemical that may cause organ toxicity. In a study done on rats exposed to high amounts, the side effects were varied, including weight gain and death. This chemical can also cause skin irritation in low doses.
A Budget-Friendly Alternative: Ginger Lily Farms Dish Soap
As an alternative, I started buying Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Plant-Based Liquid Dish Soap.
This soap contains the following ingredients:
- Water
- 5% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (plant-based)
- 2% Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (plant-based)
- Sodium Chloride
- 0.2% Decyl Glucoside (plant-based)
- 0.1% Glycerin (plant-based)
- 0.5% Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (plant-based)
- 0.1% Citric Acid (plant-based)
- Benzisothiazolinone
Overall, it has a much shorter ingredient list compared to Dawn and is fragrance-free with no methylisothiazolinone.
DIY Dawn Powerwash Dupe with Non-Toxic Ingredients
To really amp up the cleaning power, I make a Dawn Powerwash dupe using this soap. I put 4 tablespoons of dish soap and 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol in a 16 oz. glass spray bottle. Fill to the top with filtered water, and you have a sprayable soap that is tough on grease.
Ginger Lily Farms Dish Soap is only $0.16 per ounce which is very budget-friendly. It is only slightly more expensive than Dawn which is $0.13 per ounce.
Best Non-Toxic Dish Soaps That Actually Work
Here are a few other dish soaps from clean brands:
Ecos Foaming Dish Soap ($0.34 per ounce)
ATTITUDE Nature + Dishwashing Liquid Refill, Unscented ($0.28 per ounce)
Puracy Natural Dish Soap Refill Bundle ($0.44 per ounce)
Molly’s Suds Liquid Dish Soap, Unscented ($0.46 per ounce)
TrulyFree Home Natural Concentrated Dish Detergent ($0.47 per ounce)
The Problem with Conventional Hand Soaps
Most conventional hand soaps contain fragrance, methylisothiazolinone, and other chemicals such as formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a chemical used in embalming. It can aggravate contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals and mess up your hormones.
Affordable and Safe Hand Soap Alternatives
Brittanie’s Pure Organic Castile Soap ($0.26 per ounce)
ECOS Supercharged Squeaky Clean Hand Soap ($0.37 per ounce)
ATTITUDE Liquid Hand Soap, Unscented ($0.56 per ounce)
Molly’s Suds Foaming Hand Soap, Unscented ($0.97 per ounce)
TrulyFree Home Aloe Unscented Hand Soap ($1.06 per ounce)
I use Brittanie’s Pure Organic Castile Soap. To help this soap last longer, I make foaming soap with it. Simply, place 1/3 cup of Castile soap in a glass soap dispenser with foaming pump. Fill the rest of the way with filtered water and you have a nice foaming soap.
Why Dishwasher Detergent Is the Hardest Switch
Dishwashing detergent is very toxic. It can contain fragrance, methylisothiazolinone, and ethanolamine.
Ethanolamine (MEA, DEA, TEA) – This corrosive chemical can burn the eyes or skin upon contact and cause discomfort to the nose, throat, and lungs if breathed in. It can also harm the liver and kidneys.
Finding an alternative dishwasher detergent has been one of the most difficult switches for me to make in our home. We have well water with no softener, so our water is very hard.
I tried a homemade recipe with borax, washing soda, citric acid, and salt. Unfortunately, it did not work for me and left quite a residue in my dishwasher. However, if you have city water you might be able to use a homemade dishwasher detergent. I have also tried non-toxic dishwashing tabs with similar results.
Best Non-Toxic Dishwasher Detergents for Clean Dishes
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Powder ($0.25 per ounce)
Ecos Wave 2X Ultra High Efficiency Free & Clear Dishwasher Gel ($0.18 per ounce)
Molly’s Suds Dishwasher Powder, Unscented ($0.58 per ounce)
TrulyFree Home Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Powder ($1.20 per ounce)
To date the only thing I have tried is Seventh Generation Dishwasher Powder. This powder comes in at $0.25 an ounce and cleans my dishes well without any residue.
Next, I am going to try Ecos Dishwasher Gel since it is a little less expensive on Amazon. I like using dishwasher powder or gel because you can choose how much to put into the dishwasher depending on the size of your load.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Budget-Friendly Non-Toxic Kitchen Cleaners
Making the switch to non-toxic kitchen cleaners doesn’t have to drain your budget. With a little trial and error, you can find affordable products that are safe for your family, effective for everyday cleaning, and gentle on the environment. Whether you choose to DIY a few simple recipes or stock up on trusted clean brands, each small swap makes a big difference over time. Start with one product at a time, and before long, you’ll have a healthier, budget-friendly, and truly non-toxic kitchen.
This is Post Three of the Natural Cleaning Series. Check out Post One about non-toxic laundry detergent and Post Two about natural bathroom cleaners.
👉 If you found this helpful, be sure to share it with a friend who’s looking to switch to non-toxic kitchen cleaners—or save it to Pinterest so you can come back when you’re ready to make the swap!
