Clean Like a Professional— with Organic Ingredients

Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap, Spectrum Organic White Vinegar with Arm and Hammer baking soda. — _{Contrary to myth, you rarely need specialized cleaners with mystery ingredients. Soap made with organic ingredients can have you cleaning like a pro. Add baking soda for tougher spots, and rinse fast with organic vinegar.}

Last edited 2022-02-07

Cleaning like a professional means getting the job done efficiently. But contrary to myth, you rarely need specialized products. Simple products with organic ingredients can work in your kitchen and bathroom— at least for your routines. And surprisingly, even for some fairly tough spots.

We’re talking hard, washable surfaces. Like your counter top, stove top, small appliances, sinks, tubs and showers.

No fussing with recipes! Nor fishing around for fresh lemons.

Gallon bottle of Dr. Bronner's in granite shower stall. — _{Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap is made with oils certified under the USDA National Organic Program. Plus is Fair Trade, and comes in a 100% post-consumer waste bottle. Here’s the gallon size in a clent’s new granite shower stall. Not a pretty bottle but it this stuff works!}

Pure castile soap

This plant-based, petrochemical-free soap can clean almost everything. Check out basic facts about castile soap.

Buy in bulk when you can find it, to reduce packaging waste. You may need to bring your own bottle. If you can’t find bulk, buy the largest size you can. In the shot above is the gallon size.

At least three brands contain organic ingredients. Here are a few I’ve checked out.

Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile-Soap. The most widely-available. Works awesomely.

Dr. Woods Liquid Castile Soaps. Works every bit as well as Dr. Bronner’s! Check out my brief testimonial here.

Vermont Liquid Castile Soaps. I’ve not yet tried this brand, though it should work like the others.

_{Distilled white vinegar is great for cleaning non-greasy surfaces. Spectrum’s organic brand is widely available in natural grocery stores. Here’s the 32-oz size.}

Organic distilled white vinegar

Some brands of vinegar are made with organic ingredients, Including Spectrum. Some non-organic brands may contain petrochemical-based ingredients.

Buy in bulk when available— again, to reduce packaging waste. You may need to bring your own bottle. If you can’t find bulk, buy the largest size you can.

Green Myth alert— Vinegar doesn’t work on grease! Not for me, at least. Its’ often better as a rinsing agent. For grease, try a plant-based dish liquid instead, like Seventh Generation.

Baking soda box with two scrub sponges on clean, shiny granite counter top in kitchen. — _{When you hit tough spots, reach for baking soda and a damp scrub pad— adding soap! Any baking soda brand should work. Buy in bulk when available.}

You’ll need baking soda too— for tough spots

OK, baking soda contains no organic ingredients. It’s made from trona, a naturally occurring inorganic mineral. This simple substance can help you clean like a professional.

As with soap and vinegar, get baking soda in bulk when you can find it. Bring your own wide-mouthed plastic jar to keep it dry. If you can’t find bulk, buy the largest size you can.

Green Myth alert— Baking soda’s not an “all-purpose” cleaner. Soaps and detergents work better for that purpose.

When you need stronger products

For serious grease, use a non-toxic dish liquid instead of the organic castile soap and vinegar on this page. I’ve often used Seventh Generation, though most brands work the same. For worst-case grease, go straight to Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds. Either works better than castile soap in hard water conditions especially.

For other challenges, here’s what to look for in products. It’s my page titled Using the Least-Toxic, Simplest Cleaners That Work.