Parents' Best Green Cleaning Products of 2022

Nestled in a container made of recycled and compostable paper, Aspen Clean Laundry Detergent Pods are completely waste-free. Testers were fans of the Eucalyptus & Rosemary scent. Without any extra treatment, "the pods took the grass stains out of my kid's T-shirt," one parent said. 

Ecos Plastic-Free Laundry Detergent Squares give dryer-sheet vibes. You toss one or two into your load, and the dirt-removing enzymes dissolve in the water and work their magic—no liquid detergent needed. "We packed a box in our luggage and used the sheets all week in the wash at our vacation rental," a tester said. "It took ice-pop stains out of the kids' clothes." 

It's easy to teach kids how to do their own laundry with Seventh Generation Power + Easy Dose Laundry Detergent Clean Scent. "Turn the bottle over and squeeze once for small loads or twice for large," one tester explained. You can't overpour because the cap automatically stops dosing. Testers reported that it cleans clothes at least as well as their usual brand.

With ingredients that help remove milk stains, Babyganics 3X Lavender Laundry Detergent earned high marks from new parents. "It cleaned my son's bibs even though I let some of them sit at the bottom of the hamper for a week," one tester said. There's an unscented version if you prefer it.

Way cuter than other brands, Hello Bello Dryer Balls leave clothes soft and reduce wrinkles, our testers said. Since they're made of wool, they sop up more moisture than plastic versions and reduce drying time (and, ultimately, your electric bill). Store them on a high shelf so your kids don't swipe them for their toy box.

Powerful citric extracts are the secret sauce in Lemi Shine Dishwashing Detergent liquid-powder pods. "We use acrylic glassware since my kids are young and break everything, and it usually comes out of the dishwasher looking cloudy and feeling greasy," said a tester. "Lemi Shine made it perfect after one wash!"

It's not as sudsy as our testers' usual brands, but Palmolive Ultra Pure + Clear Fragrance Free cleaned saucy pots and greasy baking trays like a champ. "And without as many bubbles, it didn't take as long to rinse the dishes," one parent said.

With a hint of essential oils, Boulder Clean Lavender Fields Granite + Stainless Cleaner leaves appliances and countertops streak-free and smelling amazing. "I didn't realize how dull my granite counters had become until I squirted this on and they polished up like new," one tester reported.

An ingredient made from coconut helps give Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Soap stain-removing power. "It cleaned all the breast milk residue from our baby bottle's parts and did wonders for my pump too," a mom said.

Praised by testers for having the perfect amount of moisture, CleanWell Botanical Disinfecting Wipes contain a natural disinfectant that's derived from thyme oil. "But they smell more lemony than anything else, and I especially liked using them in the kitchen," a tester noted.

As if being able to toss them in the compost bin weren't already the dream, Real Simple Compostable Wipes have a delicate orange-basil scent. "They smell like a nice candle," one tester said. (Real Simple, like Parents, is owned by Dotdash Meredith.)

"It removed the grime from my bathroom tile and kept it looking good until I got around to cleaning again."

After you spritz Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Probiotic Multi- Surface Cleaner on your counters or tile, beneficial bacteria hang around in nooks and crannies for about a week to prevent buildup and break down dirt. (Yes, they remain even if you've wiped the surface).

Whether you need to disinfect a shopping cart handle or clean ice-cream drips from your toddler's hands, The Honest Company Sanitizing Alcohol Wipes with aloe do the job while keeping skin soft. Our testers liked the grapefruit grove scent.

Made entirely from recycled fibers, Reel Premium Recycled Paper Towels "hold up as well as my usual brand," one tester reported. "I was able to wipe down my countertops with just one piece." Bonus: Each roll is wrapped in paper instead of plastic. You can opt for a version with smaller, half-sheet pieces.

Clean visible grime and stamp out germs at the same time: Safely Universal Cleaner relies on salt- and coconut-based ingredients to cut through grease, while lemongrass, citric acid, and corn-derived alcohol team up against bacteria. Said one tester: "It took burned-on food off our gas range."

"I love the quality of Maker's Clean microfiber cloths. They've lasted through many washes."

Maker's Clean Large Space Kit, a set of ten cloths of various sizes, got perfect scores from everyone for their softness and absorbency, and the multiple colors make color-coding a breeze. For instance, green flat-weave cloths are for glass and electronics.

Purell Multi Surface Disinfectant Citrus works fast: It requires just 30 seconds to eliminate germs (including coronavirus), while many other brands need to stand for five minutes or more.

With a baking soda base, Squeak Too Legit Grit removes rings around the faucet, tub stains from colorful bath bombs, and, according to one tester, crayon from the walls. Rosemary and lemon essential oils leave a nice aroma.

Ideal for daily freshening, Method Antibacterial Toilet Cleaner deploys citric acid to kill germs in the bowl. Testers reported that the bottle is easy to grip and the spout's design helps prevent overpouring.

Brandless Refillable Glass Cleaner left windows and mirrors streak-free and smelling great. The starter kit includes a 32 fl. oz. spray bottle and a cucumber-mint packet that dissolves in cold water.

"I clean the shower once a week. This product easily takes care of the buildup that's accumulated."

Testers used Aspen Clean Bathroom Cleaner on soap scum, hard-water marks, and even dark mildew stains—all with great success. Recycled packaging and a light lavender-lime scent are welcome extras.

The mop's washable head in the Libman Tornado Spin Mop System means it will have a long lifespan. Testers noticed that the head is bigger than many other brands, so cleanup goes faster. A one-year warranty is included.

"I give the Bona cleaner a 10 out of 10 for shining up our old pine floors. It removed lots of dirt without streaking and left behind a pleasant, fresh scent. I may actually want to clean more often."

The recently reformulated Bona PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner uses hydrogen peroxide to loosen buildup and reach dirt below the surface. "Although my entryway floor looked pretty clean, this solution pulled up so much grime," a parent said.

Vinegar and essential oils give dirt-blasting power to Squeak Floor Me. You can squirt it on any kind of hard-surface floor or add it to your fave spray mop. One tester noted: "My house smelled amazing after I mopped."

"The machine is easy to program and will save me from purchasing hundreds of bottles a year for our family of five."

The Cleanyst System reminded our testers of a SodaStream—only they were whipping up spray cleaners, dish soaps, laundry detergents, and body-care products like shampoo and hand soap rather than sparkling water.

The way it works: You fill the reservoir of the appliance with tap water and load one of the nine empty mixing bottles and a plant-based concentrate pouch in the appliance. Then you select the mixing program for the product you're making and press start to blend everything together. (You can add a fragrance like tea tree extract to a bottle prior to mixing.)

"It took me about 45 minutes to make all bottles and clean up," a tester reported. Testers noted that all the products they created clean as well as or better than their usual brands. Said one tester: "I'm super-impressed with the hand soap." 

We started with more than 125 products that are free of ammonia, hydrochloric acid, petroleum, phthalates, and sodium hydroxide (except in small amounts for pH balance)—chemical ingredients that Parents advisor Philip Landrigan, M.D., a pediatrician and director of the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health at Boston College, cited as most concerning to the environment. Twenty-plus families with kids scored the supplies on their effectiveness, scent, ease of use, and sustainable packaging.