Posts in Fashion Two

16 Sustainable Wallet Brands for Men and Women

Image: Able
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the fashion industry a better place!

The Best Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Wallets for 2023

Although digital wallets are gaining popularity, most of us still use physical wallets to store our credit cards, cash, ID and a few other essentials.

Wallets are a staple item we carry everywhere with us, and they’re as important as our phone and keys when we’re out and about. Many people also see wallets as a fashion accessory that can make them look stylish and distinctive.

Unfortunately, so many companies produce poor-quality wallets, in an unethical way and using unsustainable materials. Those tend to wear out quickly and barely last a year.

Investing in a high-quality wallet is a great way to ensure it will last for years, and that we will not lose our hard-earned money.

It’s also important to choose wallets that aren’t hurting the planet or the people who make them. In recent years, more and more brands have been selling high-quality and sustainably made wallets, so we have no excuse.

Here, we’ve compiled 14 sustainable wallet brands for men and women to help you find a wallet you’ll love and use for years to come!

WHAT MAKES a WALLET SUSTAINABLE?

A sustainable wallet is a wallet that you’ll be able to use for years without replacing it. It’s also made using sustainable materials, and in a way that is not detrimental to the environment.

The wallet brand needs to be transparent about how and where it’s making its products. And it should be paying its employees fair wages and ensuring safe working conditions.

WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?

Many high-quality wallets are made of leather, as it is one of the most durable materials. While leather can be very unsustainable, you can choose one that is more eco-friendly and ethical.

Opt for leather that is a by-product of the meat industry, and one that is vegetable-tanned and Gold-rated by the Leather Working Group. This organization grants its Gold certification to only the most sustainable tanneries and promotes ethical leather production.

There are also vegan leathers that are made from plant-based materials, like fruits or trees. You can find wallets made from apple peels, pineapples, mangos or cacti!

Cork is another eco-friendly material for wallets, but you cannot go wrong purchasing one made of recycled polyester or recycled nylon. Some companies even make wallets out of discarded plastic items!

OUR TOP PICKS FOR PRACTICAL, SUSTAINABLE WALLETS:

1) Able

For: Women

Materials: Leather

Price: $45-130

Able is a fashion brand that empowers and employs women to help them get out of poverty. Initially, the company offered jobs to Ethiopian women coming out of the commercial sex industry. The brand sells a variety of wallets in different neutral colors, giving them a classy, chic and timeless style. Made in Ethiopia or Mexico, they all have many pockets for storing cards and cash. You can even carry your phone in most of them.

Able’s wallets are made of leather that is a by-product of the meat industry, and the tanneries producing it are part of the Leather Working Group.

The company’s Ethiopian partners also use 100% recycled water and a closed process system to reduce their environmental impact.

Shop Able

2) Nisolo

For: Men & Women

Materials: Leather

Price: $50-100

Nisolo is a footwear brand creating shoes and accessories for women and men.

The brand sells a women’s wallet made of vegetable-tanned leather that becomes even more beautiful as it ages.

Handmade in Peru and available in three classic colors, it’s the perfect everyday wallet with pockets for cash and credit cards, and a zippered pouch.

Nisolo also makes a bifold wallet for men, available in three different shades of brown. It’s made of leather in an ethical factory in Mexico.

95% of the brand’s leather originates from Leather Working Group certified tanneries, which meet the highest standards of environmental responsibility in the industry.

Nisolo is a certified B Corporation, and entirely climate-neutral. The company is very transparent about where its CO2 emissions come from and where its factories are located.

use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC20 for 20% off your purchase

Shop Nisolo

3) Pixie Mood

For: Women

Materials: Vegan Leather (Recycled Options)

Price: $22-100

A great (PETA-approved) vegan option, but with a more accessible price point. We don’t love PU leather, but it is better than PVC, and they even use recycled for most of their wallets (which we prefer!). Plus, all of their linings are made from recycled bottles. Finally, Pixie Mood offsets its carbon and uses biodegradable packaging.

Shop Pixie Mood

4) Bellroy

For: Gender Neutral

Materials: (Vegan Leather) Mirum, LWG Leather

Price: $55-179

Based in Melbourne, Australia, these wallets are crafted from premium, durable materials that feel great in your hand and age beautifully as the years go by.

Besides the LWG Leather, they also use Mirum (a vegan leather-like material) for one of their classic wallets here.

In addition, Bellroy works with the Centre for Effective Altruism to support some not-for-profit projects, is transparent about the efforts to improve their sustainability, and works hard to be a positive place to work.

Shop Bellroy

5) O My Bag

For: Men & Women

Materials: Leather

Price: $42-96

O My Bag is a Dutch brand creating high-quality leather bags for women and men.

The brand offers a huge variety of wallets and cardholders, in many colors, shapes and styles. You can also choose from different types of leather, according to your preferences. These wallets are all made of premium quality leather that is tanned without the use of harmful chemicals. Instead, the leather is tanned naturally using vegetable tannins.

O My Bag offsets 100% of its carbon emissions from shipping. It donates part of its profits to support projects around India, promoting women empowerment and education.

The company also has a pre-loved program featuring an online marketplace where you can buy second-hand O My Bag products. You can find many wallets there at a discounted price!

Shop O My Bag

6) Ekster

For: Men

Materials: Leather, Aluminum, Recycled Car Windshields

Price: $31-250

Ekster is an innovative brand creating wallets and other accessories for men. Its wallets are made of genuine top-grain leather, and are available in a variety of textures, models and colors.

The brand’s leather is a by-product of the meat industry, and it gets better over time. It is sustainably sourced from American hides that have been processed at Gold-rated tanneries.

The leather is processed using an innovative technology that helps save huge amounts of water, reduces the need to use chemicals, and lowers wastewater production.

Ekster also sells a vegan wallet made from recycled car windshields, as well as cardholders. All the brand’s accessories can be paired with a solar-powered tracking technology to make sure you do not lose your wallet.

The company became climate-neutral in 2021, and it’s been making progress towards receiving a B Corp certification.

Shop Ekster

7) Allégorie

For: Men & Women

Materials: (Vegan Leather) Apple Peels, Mangos, Cactus Leaves, Recycled Plastic

Price: $165-198

Allégorie is a women-owned company that creates bags and wallets for women and men, using food waste. The brand sells a large variety of wallets and cardholders for all budgets. They are made with upcycled discarded fruits from grocery stores and juice factories. You can choose models made from apple peels, mangos or cactus leaves. How cool is that?!

Allégorie also utilizes other eco-friendly materials, like post-consumer recycled plastic and non-edible crops. Unlike most vegan leathers, Allégorie’s materials are 100% PVC-free. They’re made using cruelty-free, bio-based, fair trade and non-toxic chemicals that are certified by Oeko-Tex, PETA, USDA and the World Fair Trade Organization.

Shop Allegorie

8) Svala

For: Women

Materials: (Vegan Leather) Pineapple Leaf Fiber, Polyurethane, Cork, Organic Cotton, Recycled Polyester

Price: $55-250

Svala creates luxury, vegan handbags and accessories that are handcrafted in Los Angeles, using premium and innovative fabrics.

The brand sells wallets that have a detachable silver chain strap so that you can use them as a small handbag if you want to. They’re made from PVC-free vegan materials like polyurethane, pineapple leaf fiber or cork.

Svala also creates vegan cardholders for when you prefer a lighter and smaller option. The inside of each wallet is lined with organic cotton and recycled polyester made from plastic bottles.

Svala is PETA-approved and offsets its carbon footprint from shipping. It also donates 10% of its profits to charities, including Wild Aid, whose mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade.

Shop Svala

9) Poppy Barley

For: Men & Women

Materials: LWG Leather

Price: $46-188

Poppy Barley is a Canadian brand and B-Corporation founded by two sisters in Edmonton, AB. Their company is committed to rethinking every step to create sustainably made, fairly-priced products designed to be worn on repeat. From simple cardholders to passport holders, they have a design fit for every lifestyle.

Shop Poppy Barley

10) BEEN London

For: Women

Materials: Recycled Leather

Price: $38-70

BEEN London creates beautiful bags, backpacks and wallets. It uses recycled materials, including tannery off-cut leather, plastic bottles, discarded clothes, pineapple leaves and apple skins.

The brand sells a wallet in three colors that offers plenty of space for bills, cards and coins. It is handcrafted from full-grain premium recycled leather that doesn’t scratch or show signs of wear easily.

BEEN London also sells a small coin purse made from recycled leather, which is perfect for minimalists! The recycled leather the brand uses is made from tannery off-cuts and trimmings that would have been discarded.

All the brand’s products are handmade by artisans in London, and the company is certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex.

For every product purchased, BEEN London plants a tree in partnership with Tree Nation.

Shop Been London

11) A_C

For: Women

Materials: (Vegan Leather) Cactus Leaf Fiber

Price: $87

A_C was founded with a mission to create sustainable and cruelty-free bags, using materials like cactus and pineapple leaf fibers.

The brand sells two wallets, one in black and one in white, that are elegant, sophisticated and functional. They have different card slots and are roomy enough for a mobile phone. They even have a detachable custom chain so that you can clip it to your bag or hip.

A_C’s wallets are made with cactus leather, which is created using the mature leaves of prickly pear cacti. I love how cool and unique this material is! The inner fabric inside these wallets is made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.

The brand’s wallets are PETA-approved, and for every A_C product sold, the company plants a mangrove in partnership with Sea Trees.

Shop A_C

12) Recycled Firefighter

For: Men

Materials: Recycled Fire Hose

Price: $25-49

Recycled FireFighter was created by a firefighter who understood how durable fire hoses are, and decided to make recycled wallets and backpacks out of them.

The brand sells four types of wallets, all handmade from recycled fire hoses that are saved from the landfill. They have a simple design for them to be carried around comfortably on a daily basis.

The great thing about fire hoses is that they are very sturdy and durable, so the brand’s wallets are made to last and stand the test of time.

The company makes its wallets in small batches in the USA. I love the brand’s approach, and how unique and cool repurposing fire hoses to create accessories is!

Between 2014 and 2016, Recycled FireFighter saved and repurposed over 15,000 feet of decommissioned fire hose!

Shop Recycled Firefighter

13) Baggu

For: Gender-neutral

Materials: Recycled Nylon, Leather

Price: $28-30

Even though Baggu used to create reusable shopping bags, it is now making all kinds of accessories, pouches, hats and home goods.

The brand sells gender-neutral wallets that are affordable, which is perfect if you’re on a budget! Baggu’s trifold wallet is available in three colors, and has a loop so that you can clip it to your keys. It is made using recycled nylon, one of the best alternatives to conventional nylon.

You can also choose a simple circular leather wallet with two card slots and a center compartment for bills and coins.

When Baggu’s products wear out, you can ship them back to the company so that they get recycled, repurposed or donated to non-profit organizations.

Shop Baggu

14) Tree Tribe

For: Gender Neutral

Materials: (Vegan Leather) Tree Leaves

Price: $25-50

Tree Tribe is an outdoor lifestyle brand that creates drinkware, clothing and accessories for women and men. The brand sells wallets and cardholders that are handmade using leaf leather, an innovative plant-based leather made from tree leaves. It is water-resistant and as durable as real leather. This plant-based leather is made using fallen Teak leaves, which means that no trees are harmed during the production process.

The brand also started selling wallets made with banana leaf leather. I love that we can see that Tree Tribe’s wallets are made from tree leaves; it is so fun and beautiful!

The company has partnered with environmental organizations to plant one tree for each purchase of a Tree Tribe product. So far, over 450,000 trees have been planted in 12 countries.

Shop Tree Tribe

15) Corkor

For: Men & Women

Materials: (Vegan Leather) Cork

Price: $33-95

Corkor is a brand that makes unique vegan bags, wallets and accessories out of cork. The brand offers a beautiful selection of wallets and cardholders for women and men, in different colors. They are all handmade in Portugal by local artisans who use traditional craftsmanship techniques. Corkor’s wallets are made in small batches from 100% cork. The brand’s cork material looks, feels and behaves like leather, but it is PETA-approved.

The cork leather is certified, ensuring the conservation of cork oak forests. It is obtained by removing the outer bark of the tree, without harming it. The bark replenishes, so cork can be harvested time and time again.

Read this blog post for an in-depth explanation of why cork is such a sustainable and great material!

Shop Corkor

16) Rydal

For: Men

Materials: Leather

Price: $90-132

Rydal is a brand selling high-quality bags and wallets for men, combining British design, Spanish craftsmanship and Italian leather.

The company makes a few wallets and cardholders, available in multiple colors.

Made in Spain using traditional and artisanal skills and techniques, they’re all functional and beautifully designed.

All Rydal’s wallets are made from vegetable-tanned leather, meaning that it is naturally tanned by tree and plant extracts. They all come with the Guarantee Label of the Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium, which certifies the traceability and quality of Tuscan vegetable-tanned leather.

Rydal’s wallets also come with RFID protection to protect debit and credit cards against card skimming. I love how transparent the brand is about how and where exactly its products are made!

Shop Rydal

About the Author

Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.

MAKE SURE TO PIN THE PHOTO BELOW TO SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!

WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

Shop the Sustainable Brand Directory

Sustainable Outdoor Clothing Brands

Spending time in nature is such a special way to remind ourselves of the beauty of this planet, and our responsibility to care for it and those living on it. That being said, many of the clothes that make spending time in the great outdoors more comfortable can often be harmful to the planet, as well as the people who made them, and animals. Luckily, there are some excellent sustainable outdoor clothing brands.

What makes outdoor clothing unsustainable?

Synthetic Fibers

The clothes that are made to keep us comfortable outside are often made of both virgin synthetic material and animal-derived materials. If we start with synthetics, here’s what we know: virgin synthetic fibers used to make leggings, rain jackets, coats and thermals, as well as winter warmers like fleeces, are made from plastic.

In fact, about 60% of clothes made today are made from petroleum. Even before we talk about what this means when it comes to washing our clothes, this is a problem. These synthetic, petroleum-based materials fund the incredibly environmentally harmful mining industry. In 2015 alone, more than 330 million barrels of oil were used to make cheap nylon, polyester, acrylic and other synthetic fibers. So when we talk about the need to move away from fossil fuels for the sake of the climate, that means in the fashion industry, too.

Synthetics are an issue too, because they shed non-biodegradable, plastic microfibers into the waterways, and ultimately the ocean, when we wash them.

Animal-derived materials

When it comes to animal-derived materials like wool, leather and down used in thermals, jackets, coats and accessories, environmental issues are also largely tied up in climate impact and greenhouse gas emissions. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations says that the farming of animals is one of today’s most serious environmental problems, requiring urgent action. Animal-derived materials are the most harmful to our climate, according to the best available data.

This is not only due to the fact that farmed animals and their waste release methane into the atmosphere, but because animal agriculture is land-intensive, requiring more land to be cleared to produce less material than could be made with plant-based, recycled, bio-based or in the future, lab-grown materials. When we clear land, we release carbon, and we also stop carbon from being sequestered (soaked in and stored) by the vegetation that could have been growing there.

Mass Production

The last thing to consider around sustainability in the realm of outdoor clothing is mass production. Brands that are producing endless amounts of clothing – no matter what they are made of – aren’t sustainable, as 33% of clothing made every year is sent unsold, directly to landfill. Here, clothes break down, releasing more greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

What makes outdoor clothing unethical?

When we think about outdoor clothing that is sustainable, we also need to consider the ethics of how they are made – because we can’t sustain the unjust treatment of garment workers, or the exploitation of animals in fashion.

Some outdoor brands continue to use even the most controversial animal-derived materials, like fur, to line their coats and jackets, while materials like down and wool are far more common. These materials are all made in industries which harm and ultimately kill animals – even wool, despite common misperception.

Many outdoor clothing brands also use unjust and exploitative labor. Around the world, just 2% of garment workers are paid a living wage that covers their basic needs like food, clean water, shelter and medical care. Garment workers are also often made to work in unsafe conditions, and in a workforce made up largely of women of colour, unfortunately incidences of harassment and assault are common, too. It’s important we consider not only what our outdoor clothes are made of, but who made them.

Luckily, there are plenty of excellent outdoor clothing brands that consider and respect the planet, and everyone living on it! Below are some of the clothing brands that we love most for when we need some great clothes to suit the great outdoors.

Outdoor clothing brands we love:

1) Patagonia

Patagonia is one of those brands almost everyone knows of, and for good reason. The brand, which offers a wide range of outdoor clothing and gear, has long been a trailblazer for the sustainable and ethical fashion movement.

Having written a living wage standard into their code of conduct for the sake of garment workers, and using recycled and organic materials, including many which are clearly labelled to be animal-free, Patagonia has great options. Some of their quilted jackets are filled with PrimaLoft, the most sustainable, recycled jacket filling available, while many of their Fair Trade fleeces are made of recycled materials, too.

Shop Patagonia

2) Apricoat

Apricoat loves the planet, and knows you do too, offering stylish, sustainable and functional gear for any and every adventure. All products are made from 100% recycled materials with as much as 300 plastic bottles per jacket, and can also be sent across the globe with carbon-free shipping. Apricoat products are also produced based on waste reduction and spoilage free practices (pre-orders), and meets the fair labor factory certifications. The community based brand offers more of the most innovative adventure gear yet.

Shop Apricoat

3) Outerknown

Pro surfer Kelly Slater is behind this Fair Labor Association accredited brand which makes garments that 90% of the time, are made of recycled, organic and ‘regenerative’ materials.

The brand, which has lots of animal-free and sustainable options, has fleeces, rain jackets, activewear like leggings, joggers and shorts, and a bunch of other great garments.

Plus, the company works with three partners that are certified through Fair Trade USA.

Shop Outerknown

4) Ecoalf

This brand caters to people of all genders, and children, too! The brand uses a whole range of sustainable materials like those made from recycled plastic bottles, fishing nets and tires, as well as recycled cotton, nylon and more. Talk about champion recyclers!

This brand labels which of their garments are vegan, has certifications to show their social responsibility and safe work environment for garment workers, and is all round cool. We particularly love their range of 100% recycled puffer jackets, and comfortable basics.

Shop Ecoalf

5) Embassy of Bricks & Logs

This brand offers a range of quilted jackets, raincoats, and basics.

The brand, which offers feminine and masculine styles, prides themselves on producing ‘premium ethical attire’.

Designing for longevity with recycled, organic and other more sustainable, animal-free materials. Made ethically across small factories in China and Germany, this brand is dedicated to continually becoming more transparent and fair.

Shop Embassy of Bricks & Logs

6) Save the Duck

Using recycled and innovative materials, this brand has created advanced outdoor clothing that has seen the top of Mount Everest.

A certified B-Corp, this ethical, animal-free and sustainable brand is ticking all the boxes.

The brand offers clothes for men, women and children, like rain jackets, puffer jackets, ‘athleisure’ and more.

In 2019, PETA awarded them the Company of the Year!

Shop Save the Duck

7) Finisterre

Finisterre is a pioneering, sustainable outdoor brand, built to inspire a love of the sea and anchored in exceptional product.’

This brand is B-Corp certified, and extremely transparent about their ethical manufacturing processes.

Using lots of great materials worth looking for in their collection like Tencel, organic and recycled cotton, hemp, and recycled synthetics, the brand makes base layers, basics, rain jackets, puffers, beanies and more.

Shop Finisterre

About the Author
Emma Håkansson is the founder and director of Collective Fashion Justice which seeks to create a total ethics fashion system that prioritizes the life and wellbeing of non-human & human animals, as well as the planet, before profit & production. She has written countless articles on ethics, sustainability, and fashion, and has two books due out over the next two years.

MAKE SURE TO PIN THE PHOTO BELOW TO SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!

WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Shop the Sustainable Brand Directory

A Guide to Natural Cleaning

Over the past few years, demand for household cleaning products has drastically increased in the whole world. It is primarily due to the global pandemic and how consumers have become even more concerned about their hygiene.

Of course, it is crucial to clean our homes properly, to get rid of unwanted and harmful germs and viruses. But the main issue with it is that most of these conventional cleaning products are full of hazardous, toxic chemicals that do more harm than good.

These products and their ingredients are not required to meet any safety standards, and manufacturers can sell their products no matter how bad they are for us and the planet.

When we buy cleaning products, we want them to clean our homes efficiently, and maybe add a pleasant smell to our spaces. But it should not be our only concern.

We are breathing in and touching so many chemicals on a daily basis, pouring them down the drain, and creating huge waste by throwing their packaging away once we finish them.

But what is the actual impact of conventional cleaning products on our health and the environment? What chemicals should we avoid at all costs? And what ingredients are the best to clean our homes in a non-toxic, sustainable way?

Why you should stay away from conventional cleaning products

Not only is buying a variety of home cleaners for every room in our homes expensive, but they are also creating serious issues for our health and environment.

They are toxic to our health

Many people use thousands of substances, scents, detergents, cleaning agents, disinfecting wipes, without necessarily knowing that these are causing a lot of harm.

Most conventional home cleaners contain toxic and hazardous chemicals that threaten our health if we are exposed to them on a regular basis.

Conventional cleaning products are poisonous if ingested, but they are also one of the most important sources of indoor pollution. Therefore, they are products that should not be touched or inhaled frequently.

According to the 55 U.S. poison control centers, 10% of all poison exposures in 2019 were linked to cleaning substances.

When mixed together, some products are so dangerous that they can even cause death. For instance, combining chlorine and ammonia creates a chloramine gas that can be lethal to humans.

Even though these are more extreme cases, most cleaners may cause other major issues to our health. In the short run, being exposed to them can lead to respiratory or skin irritation, chemical burns, or watery eyes. In the long run, those products can induce more severe conditions such as chronic diseases or even cancer.

What's worse, cleaning products not only threaten adults’ health, but they are even more dangerous to children and babies (unborn babies included!). They are so not worth it!

They are an environmental hazard

Like many things that are toxic to human health, conventional cleaning products are toxic to the environment and animals.

When we pour those cleaners down our drains, thousands of chemicals are washed into water streams and oceans. While many are biodegradable, many others persist in the environment and cause serious issues, threatening wildlife and water quality, and ending up in the food chain.

In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey found that 69% of tested streams contained detergent metabolites and 66% had disinfectants. Many of those chemicals mimic the hormone estrogen, thus harming the reproduction of fish in waterways.

Others act as fertilizers, and as a result, lead to an overgrowth of algae, which contributes to the depletion of the water’s oxygen supply and, eventually, to the death of underwater fauna.

Another issue conventional cleaners cause is that a large proportion of them are made with petroleum-based chemicals. Oil is a non-renewable resource, and this industry is one of the most polluting in the world.

Volatile organic compounds that we can find in some cleaning products also add to our global air pollution problems.

Last but not least, the majority of those chemical cleaners are packaged in plastic bottles or aerosol cans that are hardly ever recycled. Disposable wipes also always end up in landfills or are tossed in the toilets, and they do not biodegrade at all.

Toxic chemicals to avoid in cleaning products

Conventional cleaning products are so bad mainly because of the hazardous chemicals they contain. While researchers are yet to study the health and environmental impacts many ingredients have, we already know the harmful effects of so many of them.

Some are worse than others, and we should be aware of them to make sure we eliminate them from our lives and homes as much as possible.

Here is a list of chemicals you should avoid when you are buying a home cleaner or any other products you might use, like toothpaste, make-up or shampoo:

Phthalates

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that alter hormonal balance and can lead to reproductive and developmental issues. They also damage the kidney, liver and lungs.

Parabens

Parabens are known to disrupt hormones and harm fertility as well as reproductive organs. They also increase the risk of cancer and cause skin irritation.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Those chemicals often lead to nose, eye and throat irritation, can cause nausea and damage the kidney, liver and central nervous system. Formaldehyde is one of the most common VOCs you may find in conventional cleaners. Bleach is also believed to produce VOCs.

Triclosan

This pesticide, also found in antibacterial soaps and hygiene products, causes liver and kidney issues, and can lead to antibiotic resistance. It also produces toxic hormonal effects and has been linked to allergies, eczema and asthma.

Chlorine

Very commonly found in cleaning products, chlorine destroys gut bacteria, worsens asthma symptoms and is linked to bladder and colon cancer.

Diethanolamine (DEA)

This chemical is a hormone disruptor that has been linked to esophageal and stomach cancer in laboratory animals.

Ammonia

Ammonia causes eye and skin irritation, aggravates asthma, and long-term exposure can harm your respiratory system.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

These two toxins can irritate the skin for up to a week, and have been linked to neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, cancer and organ toxicity.

Fragrance

Fragrance is an umbrella term for thousands of chemicals that are potentially unsafe, and companies aren’t required to list their ingredients. It is linked to hormone disruption and can trigger allergies and asthma.

These are some of the most toxic and hazardous ingredients you should avoid in conventional cleaners (and other products) to make sure you stay safe and healthy.

Unfortunately, there are many others, but if you manage to eliminate those from your home, it will be so much better for you and your loved ones!

In general, always avoid buying a product if it is marked “danger”, “corrosive” or “poison” on the label. These are tell-tale signs that those products are bad for human health and the planet.

The safest way to go is to choose products that have as few ingredients as possible, and only natural ones, like those in the following section.

The best natural ingredients to clean your whole house

For both health and environmental reasons, we need to stay away from those toxic, hazardous chemical cleaners. Thankfully, some brands are creating more eco-friendly products, but it’s often difficult to know if a product is truly healthy and sustainable.

Many brands love greenwashing, which means fooling customers into thinking that their products are natural, eco-friendly and safe when they actually aren’t all that good.

Nowadays, it is so easy for us to buy a product believing it is good for us, when in reality, it contains a large number of pretty nasty ingredients, including lots of those mentioned previously.

Of course, we can find some truly sustainable products. But I think that the best way to make sure we are buying and using 100% natural and healthy products is by purchasing simple ingredients that have been used for centuries to clean our homes.

Not only are those ingredients harmless to our health and environment, but they are also very affordable, easy to find, and they clean our homes very efficiently, if not better than conventional cleaning products.

White Distilled Vinegar

White distilled vinegar is one of the most multipurpose ingredients you can find!

Made from acetic acid, white vinegar is very good for cleaning all kinds of dirt, grease, mineral deposit and grime. It not only leaves your surfaces sparkling clean, but it also kills bacteria.

I like to create my homemade all-purpose cleaner by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar. It is so easy and extremely cheap to make!

You can use it to clean countertops (except stone ones), glass surfaces, showers or bathtubs, faucets, toilets, and many other places around your home! It is also perfect for removing unwanted smells from refrigerators or trash cans and even limescale from appliances like electric kettles.

A downside to white distilled vinegar is that its strong odor can linger for about an hour, and it’s not the most pleasant.

But by opening the windows or adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil, you can easily mask it and make it disappear quicker. It is also a very small inconvenience when we know that white vinegar is 100% non-toxic, sustainable and safe to use.

Baking Soda

Used in baking, as you can tell by its name, baking soda is also used for cleaning purposes as well as in a variety of other hygiene products.

Baking soda is fantastic for deodorizing, cleaning various surfaces around the home, and whitening your laundry. In addition, since it is non-abrasive, you can use it to thoroughly scrub your pots and pans and tackle tough grease stains on them.

I love using it to clean my stovetop and oven, as it removes grease very efficiently. To do so, slowly add a little bit of water to ¼ cup of baking soda until you have a paste. Apply it where you want to clean, let it sit for a few hours, and after a good scrub, your stovetop or oven should be sparkling clean!

I have also removed countless stains from clothes with baking soda when nothing seemed to work! And if you want to prevent bad smells in your fridge, put a small container of baking soda in it, and it will remain odorless.

Castile Soap

Pure Castile soap is an oil-based soap created without any synthetic ingredients or animal fats, and it is available in bar or liquid form.

Coming from the Spanish region Castile, it is one of the most popular and widely used soaps. It is made using a few simple, natural and non-toxic ingredients, including vegetable oils, aloe vera gel, and essential oils.

While you can use Castile soap to wash your body and hair, it also has numerous uses to clean around the home, as it helps cut through grease and remove dirt and grime.

You can clean almost anything and everything with it without worrying about any hazardous chemicals. For instance, mixing one part water with four parts Castile soap makes an amazing dishwashing liquid!

Pure Marseille soap and Aleppo soap both work similarly to Castile soap, and they are also non-toxic alternatives you can choose if they are more commonly found or affordable in your area.

Lemon

Lemons are often a go-to ingredient for people who want to clean their homes naturally.

Lemon juice contains 5% to 8% citric acid, which is a natural bactericide and fungicide. Lemons are very acidic, and bacteria cannot grow in such an environment. This makes lemons ideal for disinfecting, sanitizing and cleaning various surfaces in your home!

It is so multipurpose that you can also use them to eliminate calcium deposits, soap scum and rust, dissolve lime and clean hard water stains and greasy surfaces.

The good news is that you can find lemons in all grocery stores, and you can use them to prepare your meals or have some lemon water before you even start cleaning with them.

Washing Soda

Washing soda is less commonly used compared to white vinegar and baking soda, but it’s another efficient, natural cleaner.

This ingredient is often used in homemade laundry detergents, in combination with castile soap, baking soda and essential oils. Its properties help make white clothes whiter and brighter and remove many types of stains on textiles, like clothes or sheets.

You can also use washing soda to eliminate tough stains on pots and pans, ovens and grills. Washing soda efficiently cleans your drains and helps you get rid of hard water residue. Like baking soda, you can use it to deodorize your trash can as well.

Salt

Salt is a kitchen staple that everyone has in their cupboards, but few know that we can clean our homes with it.

Salt can be used alone or in combination with lemon or baking soda to scrub sinks and get rid of soap scum and lime buildup in the bathroom. It’s also good for cleaning wooden cutting boards, leaving them odorless and stain-free, and for removing stains on clothing.

If you have a cast-iron pan that you cannot get cleaned, salt will do wonders without ruining the seasoning!

Essential Oils

Humans have been using essential oils for thousands of years to heal themselves and for their beauty rituals.

Besides adding a refreshing scent to your space, essential oils have antifungal and antibacterial benefits that make them ideal to use when cleaning your home in a non-toxic way.

For instance, you can add a few drops of high-quality essential oil to your all-purpose homemade cleaner made with equal parts water and white vinegar. They are also a great addition to DIY dishwashing liquids and homemade laundry soaps.

Some of the best essential oils to clean your home are tea tree oil, lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil and grapefruit oil. Lavender essential oil is also great for cleaning, and it will help you feel calm and relaxed!

Before buying essential oils, read our post, ‘How Sustainable Are Essential Oils?’ to learn more about which oils are sustainable and which are not.

Final thoughts

Conventional cleaning products and their hazardous ingredients are very dangerous for human health and the planet. So we should make sure to stay away from all of them!

Thankfully, it does not mean your home needs to be dirty and gross. Instead, by going back to the basics and cleaning with some simple, natural ingredients, your home will not only be sparkling clean, but it will also be healthier for you and the environment.

If you prefer to use already-made cleaning products, there are many brands we love and support in this post, 15 Sustainable Cleaning Brands That Will Become Your New Partners In Grime!