Your home is a sanctuary – a refuge, safe haven and retreat from the grind of life. It’s a place to recharge your battery and nurture yourself. Give your best to your home so it can give back in return. Practicing good home hygiene habits is an essential part of a balanced life, but the household essential items you introduce into your home may matter more than you know.
Conventional cleaning products often include harsh chemicals that may be harmful to yourself, your children, your pets and the environment. Vitacost offers a number of home products made by brands that prioritize the health of all living things, including Mother Earth. You’ll find Certified B-Corp brands such as Seventh Generation, Dr. Bronner’s and The Unscented Company, whose business practices and quality products benefit social and environmental causes. EWG-Verified products, such as those from Attitude, ensure ingredient transparency, good manufacturing practices and no ingredients of concern or contaminations.
Below you can learn more about what it truly means to cultivate a healthy home, including the importance of fragrance-free products, a list of customer favorites and even how to concoct a DIY natural cleaner.
Fragrance-Free Household Essentials
Has a house truly been cleaned if it doesn’t have that just-been-cleaned smell? Sometimes what’s best for the air quality in your home and the wellbeing of your family is a big whiff of nothing. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the hazards of chemical-based scents. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by fragrance products are associated with a variety of health issues, including headaches, nausea, forgetfulness, respiratory issues and eye, nose and throat irritation. Some of the VOCs found in conventional home products (like air fresheners and all-purpose cleaners) include some VOCs classified as toxic or hazardous by federal laws.
Skip the scents, and try some of these safer home essentials:
All-Purpose Cleaner: Attitude’s all-purpose cleaner is unscented, ECOLOGO Certified, hypoallergenic and safe for food preparation surfaces. It’s also made with plant- and mineral-based ingredients in a spray bottle made from recycled plastic.
Laundry Detergent: Rebel Green is a Certified B Corp that offers unscented, fragrance-free, organic liquid laundry detergent. All Rebel Green products are also cruelty-free and biodegradable.
Hand Soap: ECOS Hand Soap Free & Clear is Safer Choice Certified, meaning it has passed rigorous U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for performance, safety and innovation. As an added bonus, ECOS is women-owned company and their products are made in the USA.
Top-Selling Home Products
When it comes to buying the best home products, there’s no easier way to shop Vitacost than by browsing the top sellers. With nearly 900 reviews and a four-star rating, Seventh Generation’s Disinfecting Wipes are a clear winner among customers. These convenient wipes kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses with a botanical disinfectant called thymol, a component of thyme oil. They’re even safe for children’s toys and food surfaces.
Ecover Zero’s Automatic Dishwashing Tablets contain zero fragrances, dyes or chlorine. They’re made with plant-based and mineral ingredients, and they’re biodegradable and fish friendly. With 92 reviews averaging 4.8 stars, customers are happy to share their delight that the product includes safe ingredients and effectively cleans the dishes.
Bon Ami Scratch-Free Powder Cleanser is a kitchen classic made with five simple ingredients – mild minerals and biodegradable cleaning agents – that work hard. Bon Ami is cruelty-free, made in the USA and certified kosher. Sixty-eight out of 69 reviews give this product a full five stars!
DIY All-Purpose Cleaner
If you’re interested in dabbling in a little DIY, this lemon and tea tree all-purpose cleaner is a great place to start. With minimal ingredients, all of them natural, you’re sure to feel extra food about your cleaning session.
In a glass spray bottle, combine 15 drops tea tree essential oil, 15 drops lemon essential oil, 4 ounces distilled white vinegar and 8 ounces water. Close and shake to mix. Before use, swirl or shake the bottle to combine the ingredients.
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