Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission on purchases through links on this page.

The 5 Best Non-Toxic Cleaning Products for Pregnancy

Why pregnant people upgrade the cleaning cabinet

Conventional cleaning products are one of the highest-exposure chemical categories in a home. You inhale the fumes for hours after use. Common cleaning-product ingredients linked to pregnancy concerns:

• Quaternary ammonium compounds ("quats") — used in many disinfecting wipes; linked to reproductive issues in animal studies.
• Synthetic fragrance — phthalate carriers.
• Ammonia, chlorine bleach — respiratory irritants you don't want to inhale daily.
• Aerosol propellants — fine particles that linger.

The fix isn't to stop cleaning — it's to switch to products with EWG 'A' grades, EPA Safer Choice designations, or Made Safe certification.

What to look for

• EWG 'A' or 'B' grade in the Healthy Cleaning Database.
• EPA Safer Choice seal.
• Made Safe certified (the strictest).
• Plant-based surfactants, fragrance-free when possible.

What to avoid

• Quats (benzalkonium chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride) — common in disinfecting wipes/sprays.
• Ammonia.
• Chlorine bleach in everyday cleaning (occasional use for disinfection is OK if ventilated).
• Synthetic fragrance — choose unscented or essential-oil scented.
• Aerosol sprays — choose pump bottles.

Our top picks

1. Branch Basics All-Purpose Concentrate — Score: 86/100

MADE SAFE certified. One concentrate replaces your entire cleaning cabinet — dilute for laundry, floors, glass, bathroom, dishes. Founded by women with chemical sensitivities. Fragrance-free, preservative-free. Best for ingredient-strict shoppers.

2. Seventh Generation All-Purpose Cleaner, Free & Clear — Score: 84/100

EWG 'A' grade. Fragrance-free, plant-based. Available at every grocery store. Best easy upgrade — the one to grab if you only change one product.

3. ECOS Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear — Score: 84/100

EWG 'A' + EPA Safer Choice. Fragrance-free, plant-based, hypoallergenic. Critical for the newborn-ready laundry phase. Best laundry detergent.

4. The Honest Co. Multi-Surface Cleaner — Score: 75/100

Plant-based, essential-oil scented (lavender + mint) — a nicer scent profile than free-and-clear cleaners without the synthetic-fragrance concern. Also available unscented. Best for those who want a nicer-smelling cleaner.

5. Method All-Purpose Cleaner — Score: 67/100 (caution)

Plant-based but contains synthetic fragrance. Lower EWG grade than Seventh Generation Free & Clear. Better than conventional, but it's a step down from our top picks. Choose the unscented variant if you go this route.

Practical pregnancy-safe cleaning protocol

• Daily counter wipe-down: Seventh Generation Free & Clear or diluted Branch Basics. Skip the disinfecting wipes.
• Bathroom: Branch Basics or a vinegar+water mix (cheap, effective).
• Floors: Branch Basics floor dilution or Method floor cleaner.
• Laundry: ECOS Free & Clear. Wash all new baby clothes before use.
• Disinfection (when actually needed — vomit, raw chicken, sick household member): hydrogen peroxide or, occasionally, diluted bleach — but always with the windows open and ideally have someone else do it.

What about disinfecting wipes?

Most disinfecting wipes use quats, which are increasingly flagged for pregnancy concerns. For routine cleaning, you don't need to disinfect — you need to clean. Use a microfiber cloth + Branch Basics or Seventh Gen Free & Clear for daily wipe-downs. Save disinfection for moments that actually require it.

How we ranked

Composite scoring rubric — see methodology.

Medical disclaimer: Not medical advice. Always ventilate while cleaning — even non-toxic products do better with airflow.