4 green cleaners that work

J.R. Watkins Toilet Bowl Cleanser

Non-toxic, ammonia-free and made from natural cedar oil. ($10, 710 mL)

The sweet smell of lemon meringue pie is a nice change from the scent of standard toilet cleaners. A squeeze of the bottle quickly coated the bowl with the gel and after scrubbing with a toilet brush, all the water stains disappeared.

PC Green 4 in 1 Phosphate-Free Dishwasher Detergent

Because it doesn’t contain phosphates, it should help reduce algae growth in local lakes, rivers and streams. ($12, 836 g [44 pouches])

After using this detergent, my wineglasses didn’t have water spots and my pots were shiny. But I found that it was best to pre-rinse pans before putting them on the top shelf of my dishwasher.

Eco Mist Solutions Kitchen Plus

Made from non-toxic, non-allergenic, non-carcinogenic, plant-based materials. ($6, 650 mL)

My glass stovetop came clean but I had to drench tough food stains with this spray. The stainless steel oven door did streak. I liked that it was unscented, compared to the harsh smell of my usual all-purpose cleaner.

Attitude Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

Made for high-efficiency washing machines. The packaging is biodegradable, and the ingredients are non-carcinogenic and free of phosphates. ($9, 1.8 L)

With this detergent, the scent of my clothes was a bit more subtle than with other brands. As for stain removal, it worked just as well on my clothes as my regular detergent.

Related:
• The benefits of eco-friendly cleaners
• Living walls to clean your home’s air
• Creating a low-allergen garden