Kitchen Cleaning

---

This plant-based kitchen brush set has FSC-certified bamboo handles and sisal bristles made from Mexico's palmyra & sisal plants, great for scrubbing pots, pans, dishes, and more. The bristles are biodegradable and effectively clean without harming surfaces. Packaged in a paper box. No plastic. 

This all-natural bamboo scrub brush from Eartheasy is great for tough scrubbing on dishes and soft gentle scrubbing of vegetables as there are two types of bristles, one soft and one harder. It's made using all plant-based materials -- bamboo, tampico and palmyra. And there are no plastics, glues, or chemicals of any kind. 

These all-natural scouring pads are  tough but gentle on dishes and pots and pans. They are made from the outer husk of coconut shells. They are non-toxic and biodegradable and there are no plastics, glues, or chemicals of any kind. 

There are so many affordable and widely-available natural plant-based sponges on the market now, there is no need to buy synthetic sponges. Zen Living is a great choice as they have a scrubby surface on one size for touch stuck-on food and are biodegradable. They're made from wood cellulose and coconut fiber.  

This eco-friendly dish scrubber is made from natural  biodegradable coconut fibers and rubber. It's back yard compostable. Most kitchen scrubbers are made from plastic which means they shed off tiny amounts of microplastics into the environment, including waterways. They are toxic to aquatic life and to us. Choose non-plastic alternatives whenever possible. 

The Earthly Co. says a 10-pack of these cotton paper towel alternatives replaces 80 rolls of regular paper towels. These towels are biodegradable and compostable. They are versatile and attractive and can be used as paper towels, napkins, guest towels or anything else. They are non-toxic and free of chemicals. 

It's great to find paper towels packaged in paper. Reel paper towels are made from recycled paper and promise zero plastic packaging. The eco-friendly paper towels are FSC-certified and free of chlorine, dyes and fragrances and are made in the U. S.

I'm seeing more and more tree-free paper towels. These paper towels from Save Trees are made from FSC-certified bamboo. They are bleached with elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching. This method is safer and less toxic than using chlorine because it does not create dioxins. (It uses chlorine dioxide which is not the same as chlorine.) The paper towels are toxin-free, pesticides-free and have no added fragrances. Plastic-free packaging.

How I love vintage dish towels! There are so many out there. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Aunt Martha's are my go-to towels. I love the old-fashioned look. I like the blue striped ones the best and next I like the multi-colored striped option. But there are lots of great colors from which to choose. Just as you want your clothes and linens to be organic and natural, aprons and other accessories can help you keep a non-toxic home and wardrobe (in addition to protecting the environment, farmers and wildlife from pesticides). 

This apron from Eartheasy is made of certified organic cotton is cut from striped cotton fabric known as Hickory cloth. It has adjustable straps, generous pockets and is perfect for the kitchen, garden or workshop. It's one size and suitable for all adults. 

Organic cotton aprons from Amour Infini are made in India and printed with eco-friendly dyes. The large line features botanical and floral designs, vintage motifs and classic stripes and solids.

Marley's Monsters are reusable cotton flannel paper towel alternatives or “unpaper towels” as they call them. These eco-friendly wipes are made in Oregon. They also make make-up pads, nursing pads and reusable toilet unpaper. The business was started several years ago by a soon-to-be new mom on maternity leave to help reduce paper waste and create a sustainable alternative to common paper products. Marley’s Monsters says if every household replaced just one roll of paper towels with their unpaper towels, it would save about 544,000 trees each year.   

Berkey water filtration systems are consistently among the highest rated filters you can buy. Not only is it one of the most effective filters, the housing is metal, not plastic. It's a little more money up front than others but the filter elements need to be replaced less frequently so in the long run it's a good economic choice too. Berkeys have been tested by independent labs for their ability to remove over 200 common water contaminants including heavy metals, inorganic minerals, VOCs, perfluorinated chemicals and pharmaceuticals.  

These wax food wraps and bowl covers are entirely plant-based so they are vegan. No bees are harmed or exploited to make them. They are made of organic cotton, candelilla wax, coconut oil and pine tree resin. You can wrap food like sandwiches or fruit directly in them or you can use them to cover leftovers in dishes. 

These serving utensils from Public Goods are made in India of sustainably-grown acacia wood. The set includes one spoon spatula, one scraper spatula, one slotted spoon and one mixer spatula. They are free of toxic lacquers or finishes. Handwash to preserve the beauty of the wood.

This French bread serving board is handmade in Haiti. The fast-growing obeechi wood is cultivated sustainably to ensure that while craftspeople make a fair living from their native land, they also protect the landscape for future generations. They're made by the nonprofit Comité Artisanal Haitien, which was founded in 1973 to help rural craftspeople sell their wares in Port–au–Prince, to provide income and to help reduce the flow of migration from the countryside to the city. 

This aluminum trivet depicts the sheesham tree, which is prevalent in India, which the trivet is made. The tree is known for its sprawling branches and is planted to bring urban areas shade. The trivet has rubber feet on its four corners. It's made by Noah's Ark International Exports, which is a fair trade handicraft marketing organization in Moradabad, India. 

This 12 oz. terra cotta mug is hand thrown by traditional craftspeople in Nepal. It's made through Sana Hastakala, which means "small handicraft" in Nepali, a nongovernmental, nonprofit export organization based in Kathmandu. Sana Hastakala works to preserve the rich artistic skill and traditions of Nepali artisans, and provides additional training and marketing assistance to artisans. Eighty percent of the artisans are women; most artisans are uneducated.

If You Care paper baggies can hold almost anything plastic baggies can and they are much better for the environment and for you. Plastic is made with toxic chemicals and, depending on the use and the type of plastic, many plastic bags can leach chemicals into food inside. They are also not biodegradable. If You Care paper baggies are made in Sweden from unbleached pulp of Scandinavian spruce trees – a natural, renewable resource. They are greaseproof and provide a natural barrier, making them ideal for nuts, potato chips, cookies, and sandwiches that use mayonnaise or oil. They are uncoated and not treated with any kind of wax. They are also chlorine-free, which means your food isn’t exposed to chlorine and nor is the environment after the bags are composted or thrown away. If you’re holding liquid or other foods not suitable for paper baggies, use glass or another natural material, if possible. Not plastic. If You Care also makes tons of other natural paper eco-friendly kitchen supplies like coffee filters, waxed paper and baking dishes. 

I am really excited to have found these vegan plant-based food wraps. Don't let the name fool you. No bees were harmed or exploited or used in any way to make these eco-friendly cruelty-free wraps. Bee's Wrap does make another line of wraps that uses beeswax -- as do many makers of wax wraps -- but these do not. They are made in the U. S. from organic cotton, plant oils and waxes and tree resin. I love the prints too. I have long used another brand of wax wraps that uses bee's wax and while they are excellent and non-toxic, since going vegan and  learning more and more about the exploitation of animals -- even for products like wax and honey that seem harmless at first glance.

Storing leftovers and other food in plastic isn't a good idea because first of all, it's plastic so it created pollutants when manufactured and will do so when it's eventually discarded. Secondly, a lot of plastics leach toxins into food. It also sheds microshreds into food, the air and into the environment. I use regular dishes mostly and cover them with vegan food wraps or wax paper. I also use glass containers with lids. Be sure to choose BPA-free lids. And even better, look for lids made of silicone, which is better for you and the environment. This one from Ikea is a good choice as the size is versatile and the lid is silicone. The storage boxes pictured here are from Joy Jolt, which has a large line of eco-friendly glass jars. I especially like these jars with bamboo tops. 

Anchor Hocking has a lot of good choices for glass food storage containers and they are all made in the U.S. These jars for cookies, nuts, dog biscuits or anything else have only glass and metal tops. 

This set of glass food storage containers with silicone lids is from Public Goods. They're made of borosilicate glass (oven safe) and tempered soda lime glass and free of  lead and cadmium. Public Goods offers so many eco-friendly products. 

These nifty stainless steel lunchboxes are great because they are not plastic. Nor are they aluminum, which  is a known neurotoxicant and may contribute to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. These non-toxic lunchboxes are from PlanetBox and contain no lead, PVC, phthalates or BPA. PlanetBox likes to say they are "going plastic-free one lunch at a time." They use food-grade stainless steel to ensure safety. It's durable and long-lasting so you only have to buy a lunchbox once, not every year.  These are great for both kids and adults and they have several sizes available.

These 3-section stainless Greenlunch Bento lunchboxes are also an excellent choice. They are made from food-grade stainless steel and are free of BPA, phthalates, PVC and lead. 

It's great that more and more shoppers are bringing reusable bags to the supermarket, but unfortunately, most of them are made of plastic. They eventually get thrown away and are then harmful to the environment and wildlife. These canvas shopping bags are made of organic cotton. Another good option is organic cotton string bags from Zero Waste Store, which can crunch up small and stow away easily in your purse or a pocket in your car. Plastic produce bags are an Earth-killer you can avoid using by bringing your own. And cotton is best. (Three cheers for Whole Foods though, providing paper bags.) These natural produce bags from the Zero Waste Store are made of organic cotton. They are Fair Trade, GOTS-certified and biodegradable. Not only better for the environment but they’ll keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer than plastic bags. 

These sturdy  shopping totes from Simple Ecology are made from organic cotton and jute. They are sustainable, biodegradable, recyclable and GOTS-certified. 

Ecobags has a dreamy line of Earth-friendly tote bags: Organic and recycled cotton, drawstring cotton mesh bags, cotton string bags and more. Their mission is to save the Earth "one bag at a time.” Another material they use is birla cellulose, a biodegradable fiber from wood pulp. Ecobags started back in the 1980s when then-new mom Sharon Rowe realized the environmental harm that single-use plastic was doing. 

These mesh cotton produce bags from Zero Waste Outlet are made from 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton. They have a wooden drawstring bead and a tare weight tag. They are biodegradable. No reason to put fruits and vegetables in plastic. 

These GOTS-certified mesh produce bags from Coyuchi are 100 percent organic undyed cotton, grown in India. They are made in India in a factory that recycles 98 precent of its wastewater. There is a large bag for things like lettuce and celery and two smaller bags for smaller produce. 

My go-to cleaning products tend to be generic non-toxic items like baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda is all the same so no reason to buy one over another -- except I recommend buying it in the familiar cardboard boxes rather than plastic bottles that will end up in the ocean or get hauled to an incinerator where it releases toxic fumes. Baking soda can be purchased in any supermarket but you can also find plenty on Amazon such as Arm and Hammer. There is also a lot of baking soda on Amazon packaged in plastic. Don't buy it.

Another good gentle eco-friendly abrasive that comes in plastic-free packaging is Meliora Home Cleaning Scrub. It's baking soda with organic plant oils like coconut and tea tree oil, peppermint oil for natural scent, glycerin, and sodium cocoate, a non-toxic surfactant commonly found in soaps. It comes in a paper and steel canister with no plastic of any kind. Meliora is a woman-owned business. They  donate 2% of revenue to environmental causes and all their products are certified non-toxic, cruelty-free and vegan.

If you need an abrasive cleaning slightly stronger than baking soda for cleaning the kitchen and bathroom I like Bon Ami powder cleanser because it comes in a cardboard and metal container. (And 65 percent of the cardboard is post-consumer recycled material.) Made in the U.S. and contains only mild minerals and biodegradable cleaning agents. There's no chlorine or phosphorus or other toxic chemicals. Bon Ami has been around since 1886! I hope they don't ditch their environmentally-friendly packaging for plastic. There are other gentle abrasive cleaners out there but most are in plastic containers. 

Earth-friendly Meliora Dish Soap is made with natural plant-based non-toxic ingredients and comes in plastic-free packaging. No plastic anywhere. It's also free of preservatives, dyes, fragrance, phthalates and parabens. It's vegan and cruelty-free. The bar (it's more like a short cylinder than a bar) can be purchased with a small square cedarwood tray that helps drain off water after you've washed the dishes so it doesn't pool up on the counter. The solid soap is concentrated so you just have to rub your sponge or dish scrubber over it to get enough soap. 

This non-toxic dish soap from Zero Waste Store is vegan, cruelty-free and made with a variety of plant oils like jojoba and coconut, essential oils and aloe vera. It's in a glass bottle with a metal cap. You can order a plastic pump top for it but I think its easier and more efficient to just pour some in a decorative glass bottle to keep by the kitchen sink and store the rest underneath the sink . These vintage style glass bottles are nice and this variety is a little smaller. 

Ayeya dishwasher tablets are vegan, plastic-free and free of harmful chemicals like parabens, phosphates, VOCs, phthalates, SLS, ammonia and chlorine bleach. They are packaged in a cardboard cylinder made of sugarcane fibers, a by-product of sugarcane production in Columbia. Ayeya mean 'life in balance.' It was founded in 2003 to support local economies, cooperatives  and craftspeople in Africa and has since expanded to Latin America and the US. Ayeya also makes laundry detergent tablets.

If you Care dishwasher tablets are phosphate and chlorine-free. And cruelty-free as it's not tested on animals. The tabs' film wrapper is polyvinyl alcohol which is a biodegradable polymer. Ingredients are 30% mineral and plant-derived. They come in a biodegradable cardboard box. 

Vove dishwasher tablets are vegan, plant-based, biodgradable, cruelty-free and plastic-free. They are made in Europe and ingredents include baking soda, washing soda, citric acid, plant-based surfactants and a natural enzyme. There are no artificial dyes or fragrances. 

I love Dr. Bronner's organic castile all-purpose soap  It's a wonderful soap though I don't like that the liquid soap comes in plastic. To get around that, I recommend instead buying Dr. Bronner's bar soap, which is wrapped in paper. To use it for cleaning your house just lather a bar up and rub it on a sponge. No need for sprays. 

Clean People laundry sheets, packed in cardboard, are my favorites. Clothes look and feel cleaner than they do with other detergents and the handy closable box keeps the sheets dry and separated. (Other brands have gotten stuck together in the laundry room after a while.) The sheets  contain no dioxane, no SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) no SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), no optical brighteners, no parabens, no phosphates, no synthetic dyes and no chlorine. They are vegan and cruelty-free and made in the US and Canada.

Ditch the plastic bottles of detergent and get packs of laundry sheets instead such as those made by EarthBreeze. They come in a paper envelope and are easy to use. Throw half a sheet in the washer -- or a full sheet for larger loads -- and you're done. The eco-friendly sheets are vegan and cruelty-free and also free of phthalates, phosphate, bleach and dyes. EarthBreeze gives generously to environmental organizations such as We Are Neutral and One Percent for the Planet. They also donate laundry detergent to a variety of charities around the world.

Tru Earth laundry sheets are also a good choice. Made in Canada, they are vegan and cruelty-free and also free of parabens, phosphate and other toxins. The eco-strips, as Tru Earth calls them, also come in heavy paper envelopes. No plastic! Tru Earth donates 2 percent of its profits to charity (including in-kind donations of their products) and has made reducing plastic waste around the world a mission. They estimate that purchases of their laundry strips have eliminated more than 100 million plastic detergent jugs and other plastic containers from the waste stream and from potentially ending up in the ocean or elsewhere in the environment.  

Another laundry detergent winner is Meliora laundry powder which is made in Chicago and comes in a retro cardboard and steel trim canister. It's cruelty-free, vegan, free of preservatives, dyes and synthetic fragrances and it's biodegradable. It's gentle enough for sensitive skin and for babies' clothes and bedding. Meliora is a Certified B Corp., Made Safe-certified and has an A rating from the Environmental Working Group. Their ingredients are listed on the front of the canister: Baking soda, washing soda and vegetable soap. The three scented varieties use only organic essential oils for fragrance. 

I love Dr. Bronner's organic castile all-purpose soap (I also use it on my face and body and as a shampoo and to handwash clothes). It's a wonderful soap though I don't like that the liquid soap comes in plastic. To get around that, I recommend instead buying Dr. Bronner's bar soap, which is wrapped in paper. To use it for cleaning your house just lather a bar up and rub it on a sponge. No need for sprays. Tip: If you ever know you're going to get stuck on a deserted island and you can only bring one soap, bring this one. 

These great non-toxic dryer balls are made of hemp. Toxin-free, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic and 100 percent vegan. They reduce drying time by 30 percent and save energy. Hemp is an especially earth-friendly and versatile fiber. It is grown without pesticides, nourishes the soil as it grows and helps reduce water loss and soil erosion. It's really a win-win for the environment. 

These earth-friendly dryer balls are made of bamboo fiber. Toxin-free, cruelty-free. 100 percent vegan and hypoallergenic. They are handmade in the US and are available in white or activated charcoal infused.

This small mesh laundry bag from Coyuchi is made made in India of undyed organic cotton. It protects delicate clothes like lingerie in the wash and has a zipper closure so nothing falls out. It comes in several sizes.

These mesh laundry bags from Simple Ecology are made of GOTS-certified organic cotton. They protect delicate clothes like lingerie in the wash and have a drawstringr closure so nothing falls out. They come in several sizes.

Ethique's shampoo bars are cruelty-free, vegan and not tested not animals. Their natural ingredients are plant-based and fair trade and they are packaged in biodegradable and compostable cardboard. No plastic in sight. Among Ethique's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint is its partnership with the environmental organization, Ecologi, which plants one tree for every purchase from Ethique. 

One of my favorite natural products is Dr. Bronner's pure-castile soaps -- I like the peppermint best. I use them for cleaning the house, washing my face, shampooing my hair, washing my clothes and more. It's made with organic oils, is vegan and cruelty-free. I do not love that a lot of it comes in plastic bottles so I increasingly use the paper-wrapped bar soap for everything. Don't let its multi talents fool you into thinking it's not a pro at each. It's an excellent shampoo. 

The Earthling Co.’s natural shampoo bars are vegan and plant-based, free of sodium lauryl sulfate, silicone, parabens, artificial fragrance, preservatives and other harmful chemicals. Ingredients include coconut oil for moisture, apricot seed oil, hemp seed oil, panthenol (Vitamin B5) and glycerin. They are cruelty-free, made in the U.S. and come in cardboard boxes. No plastic! 

Eartheasy's biodegradable shampoo bars are made from plant oils like olive, castor, coconut and hemp, shea butter and a variety of essential oils for fragrance. They are non-toxic and free of petrochemicals, preservative and other synthetic chemicals. They are made in the U.S. and are packaged in paper. No plastic in sight! 

I don't know if J.R. LIggett's shampoo bars were the first but I know they were making them long before it became popular and recognized as an eco-responsible way to wash your hair. Their vegan bars are made in New Hampshire from plant oils like coconut and almond, mango butter and aloe vera. They are free of synthetic chemicals, sulfates, fragrances and detergents. Packaged, as always, in paper.  It's the best deal in town.

Shampoo bars from the Zero Waste Store are made from plant oils like coconut, hemp and jojoba, cocoa butter, lemon juice and sodium coco sulfate (different from sodium lauryl sulfate). They contain no preservatives or silicones and no synthetic coloring or fragrances. They are vegan, cruelty-free and handmade in the U.S. Packaged in a cardboard box with water-based ink. No plastic at all. 

 Eartheasy's conditioner bars are vegan, cruelty-free and plant-based.  They are made in the U.S. and have no plastic packaging of any kind. Just a paper wrapper. The dense concentrated bars use natural ingredients such as cedarwood, hemp, argan, jojoba and rose hip oils and have no water filler. 

Natural conditioner bars from Zero Waste Store are all handmade in the U.S. and are free of silicones, parabens, and palm oil. Their packaging is plastic-free, just a good old cardboard box, with water-based ink. These bars are vegan and cruelty-free. Their all-natural ingredients include plant oils like argan, rapeseed, olive, jojoba, kukui nut and hemp. Zero Waste Store also  has equally eco-friendly and natural shampoo bars. This great business is women-owned and a member of 1% for the Planet, which means it donates at least one percent of profits to environmental causes. 

Like their shampoo bars, the Earthling Co.'s conditioner bars are non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals, including those that can strip hair of its natural oils. They are also cruelty-free and come in cardboard packaging. 

David's toothpaste is great among other reasons because it comes in a metal tube. No need to put something so temporary as toothpaste in plastic. (I only wish they'd use caps made of metal or wood, not plastic.) The toothpaste includes the mineral nano-hydroxyapatite which has been shown to help strengthen and remineralize teeth. It cannot restore lost enamel but can help protect existing enamel. David’s toothpaste is fluoride-free and flavored with natural peppermint oil. The tubes are made of aluminum but there is a non-BPA liner in-between the aluminum and toothpaste so the toothpaste never touches the metal. One note, Like some other toothpastes, David's uses xylitol, which though safe for people is toxic to dogs. 

Made in California, Bite toothpaste is little mini tablets that come in a glass jar like mints. You pop one in your mouth, gently break it up and voila, you’re ready to brush. They’re a great alternative to toothpaste that comes in a plastic tube. Not only is the jar glass, the top is metal. The tablets contain no sulfates, parabens and can be ordered with or without fluoride. They do contain a mineral called nano-hydroxyapatite that has been shown to help protect teeth and enamel. Bite also has tablets with activated charcoal. I do not recommend that as it can be too abrasive on enamel. Bite contains Xylitol which is safe for people but toxic to dogs so if you have dogs use caution.

These plant-based toothbrushes are entirely biodegradable. Even the bristles. The handle is bamboo and the bristles are  made from castor beans. The name -- Sea Turtle -- reflects the business’s mission to help protect and clean up the marine environment. Sea Turtle donates two percent of profits to organizations that help remove plastic waste from the ocean. They estimate that in the last three years alone, they’ve removed over 6,000 lbs. of plastic from the ocean through direct clean-up and the prevention of new plastic being thrown away. Their packaging is 100 percent biodegradable cardboard or kraft paper.

Save Trees Toilet Paper is FSC-certified bamboo, unbleached, free of plastic, dyes, chlorine and other harsh chemicals. It’s made in the U.S. and has the Climate Friendly Pledge. Rolls in packs of 24 and 80 count come individually wrapped in paper. The 12-pack rolls are sent together in paper wrapping overall but they're not individually wrapped. The bamboo is harested from responsibly-managed forests in regions where it grows natively. They also make eco-friendly paper-wrapped bamboo paper towels.

Who Gives A Crap  is one of the best toilet papers out there from environmental and social responsibility standpoints. It's also great quality and at a competitive price. WGAC donates 50% of its profits to help provide toilets and clean water in locations around the world where they are lacking. To date they've raised $12 million for this cause. They offer TP made from recycled paper and from bamboo. All rolls come wrapped individually in colorful paper. No plastic. They also make great paper towels and tissues. 

Amazon's own eco-friendly toilet paper is 100 percent bamboo and each roll is wrapped in paper. Bamboo uses 90 percent less water to make than regular wood-based toilet paper and its carbon footprint is 70 percent smaller. It's made without elemental chlorine or dyes. It's unscented, FSC-Certified and USDA BioPreferred.

Bamboo tissues from Save Trees are made with 100 percent FSC-certified bamboo and bleached with an elemental bleach process, which is chlorine-free. As Save Trees points out, bamboo is a fast-growing grass, not a tree, and regrows from the same roots each time after it's cut, making it especially sustainable and renewable. It's hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and the boxes are recycled cardboard. 

These cotton swabs have cotton tips and bamboo stick. They contain no harmful chemicals, plastic or dyes and are biodegradable. They come in a cardboard box. Isshah also has similar cotton swabs for babies, the difference being that they have a large rim around the cotton tip.

Avocado' Green Mattress' natural wood bathmat is made in their Los Angeles factory from 100 percent solid American Beechwood, a sustainable hardwood. Greenguard Gold certified, it contains no VOCs or formaldehyde and is made with non-toxic glues and a waterproof varnish. All individually handmade.  

This handy wooden bath tray from Avocado Green Mattress is made of American beech wood and made in Avocado's Los Angeles woodshop.Finished with zero-VOC varnish. 

This free-standing towel rack from Avocado Green Mattress is made of American beech wood in Avocado's Los Angeles woodshop. Finished with a zero-VOC finish.

Like their towels, this bathmat from the Turkish Towel company is made of -GOTS-certified long fiber organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey. Non-GMO and free of pesticides. 

Coyuchi's Turkish cotton shag bath rug is made from 100 percent organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey. GOTS-certified and Made Safe-certified. It has a flat weave bottom and it's machine-washable.

Coyuchi's medium-weight cotton twill bath mat is made in India from 100 percent organic cotton grown in India. GOTS-certified and Fair Trade-certified. It's highly-absorbent and machine-washable.

This bamboo soap dish from the Ecomaniac Company lifts soap bars up so they don't sit in a pool of water. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial but if cleaning if needed, the manufacturer suggests using vinegar. 

Coyuchi's Turkish cotton waffle shower curtain is made from 100 percent organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey. GOTS-certified and Made Safe-certifed.

This eco-friendly and non-toxic hemp shower curtain from Bean products is handmade in the US. Bean is a family-run business founded in 1987. It also makes linen and cotton shower curtains. The natural breathable materials prevent exposure to the toxic chemicals in plastic shower curtains, including phthalates.

This stoneware soap dish from Public Goods is great because it has a lower layer to catch excess water adn soapy runoff, preventing the soap bar from melting. Each dish is handmade. They're lead-free and non-toxic. 

These eco-friendly face masks are made of two layers of tightly-woven and breathable pre-shrunk organic cotton, plus an additional layer of mesh cotton fabric on the interior side. Designed to contour the face, the masks can expand to cover the mouth and chin and have adjustable ear loops to create a snug individualized fit. It even has a built-in slot for an optional filter. They are 100% free of plastic and elastics, bleaches & other harsh chemicals.

Terra Thread's handy canvas cosmetic bag is made from 100 percent organic cotton -- healthy for you, for its manufacturers and farmers and for the environment. Purchases support the Feeding America campaign to end hunger. So far, they've helped donate over 4.3 million meals. Comes in a variety of color schemes.

Farmstead Apothecary's face cream is made from organic jojoba oil, which balances the oils in your face and clears up blemishes. Jojoba oil is anti-aging, helps reduce acne, hydrates skin, and reduces oil production where needed. Other ingredients include natural vegetable oils, non-GMO wax, pentylene glycol from corn, stearic acid and organic fragrance. Great for all skin types.

This organic and natural lip balm from Farmstead Apothecary is made from organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic shea butter, organic natural fruit flavor, organic stevia and non-GMO vitamin E oil. It's housed in biodegradable cardboard so it's plastic-free. It's also plant-based, vegan and cruelty-free.

These  cotton-covered hair elastics from Zero Waste Store have no plastic or synthetic materials in them. Just natural rubber and organic cotton. They are biodegradable and won't harm the environment when eventually thrown out. They're even compostable. Zero Waste Store also has all cotton and rubber scrunchies. They are hand-dyed with organic dyes. The rubber is harvested from FSC-certified rubber trees and they are Fair Trade certified.

This eco-friendly bamboo brush from the Zero Waste Store is just bamboo and rubber. That's it. The handle and frame is 100 percent bamboo. So are the pins. And the base is natural rubber. No plastic at all. Nothing synthetic. It’s polished with a carnauba wax for a finished look. Packed in biodegradable and compostable paper packaging.This eco-friendly bamboo brush from the Zero Waste Store is just bamboo and rubber. That's it. The handle and frame is 100 percent bamboo. So are the pins. And the base is natural rubber. No plastic at all. Nothing synthetic. It’s finished with a carnauba wax.

Avocado Green Mattress's organic ribbed cotton towels and washcloths are 100 percent GOTS-certified and even Made Safe-certified, which is a rigorous scientific screening process that only allows the use of ingredients that are not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, aquatic life or ecosystems. 

Organic bath towels from the Turkish Towel Company are 100 percent GOTS-certified organic long fiber Turkish cotton grown in the Aegean region. They are dyed with Earth-friendly dyes, are pesticide-free and non-GMO. 

Fabdreams' towels are made from 100 percent organic cotton from India. They are shipped in paper. Thick and plush, the towels are 700 gsm (grams per square meter, which refers to the weight and absorbency of fabric). Fabdreams is a family-run Toronto-based company that only makes organic products and has a commitment to environmental responsibility. 

Coyuchi plush organic towels are made from long-staple organic cotton grown and woven in India. and are non-toxic and free of chemicals, including harmful dyes and pesticides. Long a leader in organic cotton fabrics, Coyuchi boasts that it was the first to bring organic cotton to the marketplace when the business was started more than 32 years ago. They support not only organic farming practices but also regenerative farming.

These towels from Anact are a blend of hemp (55 percent) and organic cotton (45 percent). Anact was founded by an environmental activist and textile industry veteran who wanted to use hemp to create eco-friendly towels and other products. Hemp biostatic (naturally anti-microbial), fast-drying, ultra absorbent, sustainable.

This fast-drying hemp washcloth from Anact is a blend of hemp (55 percent) and organic cotton (45 percent). Anact is short for An Act or "the simple act of taking action and creating positive impact." It was founded by a young woman who helped legalize hemp in Florida and has traveled around the world working in the textile industry and advocating for the environment. 

These open knit gentle exfoliating washcloths are made from hemp and organic cotton. They are biodegradable and free of chlorine and other harmful chemicals. Made in Illinois by Bean Products. 

I love the Ayate Washcloth from Public Goods. It's a great exfoliant. It's made from the fibers of the agave plant and is biodegradable. There are no synthetic fibers, dyes or toxic chemicals. It comes in a cardboard box. The Ayate Bath Strip (photo above) is the same except it's long and narrow and has handles, so perfect for washing your back.