When picking up a new book to read, the cleaning and home care genre is not very high on many people's lists. However, there are some truly great cleaning books for inspiring a natural, sanitized, and safe home that could just change your life.
From detox tips to time-saving tricks, there is a wealth of knowledge hidden between the pages.
Here, we round up five of the best non-toxic books you can pick up for inspiration to help you create a non-toxic home.
5 cleaning books for inspiring a natural, non-toxic home
1. ‘Soap & Soul’ by Lisa Bronner
Going Green blogger and granddaughter of famed Dr Bronner, Lisa Bronner shares her eco-friendly and gentle solutions for cleaning and caring for body, home, and beyond.
Lisa Bronner’s ‘Soap & Soul: A practical guide to minding your home, your body, and your spirit with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps’, available at Amazon, has become my go-to cleaning bible.
From all the ways to clean with Castile soap at home to practical tips for avoiding greenwashing when choosing cleaning products, it’s 256 pages that walk you through cleaning every conceivable area of your home without any harsh chemicals, including cleaning yourself and your pets. It leaves no stone unturned.
The best part? Every non-toxic cleaning trick comes back to using just one of two products: Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, available at Walmart, or Dr. Bronner’s SalSuds, available at Target, keeping cleaning super simple.
I turn to it for any cleaning quandary that comes my way.
2. ‘Clean My Space’ by Melissa Maker
Melissa Maker is beloved by fans all over the world for her completely re-engineered approach to cleaning. As the dynamic new authority on home and living, Melissa knows that to invest any of our precious time in cleaning, we need to see big, long-lasting results.
It isn’t just us Solved writers who rely on cleaning books to inspire our cleaning – even the professionals use them to get motivated to clean and stay green.
For Scott Schrader, professional cleaner at CottageCare, Melissa Maker’s ‘Clean My Space’, also from Amazon, is his first choice for inspiration.
He shares, ‘It is friendly, it is smart, it does not use scare tactics, just simple, real solutions, using simple, non-toxic ingredients. I love the way it balances ways to be effective with ways to make cleaning easy.
‘It’s my go-to recommendation for clients who are striving for low-tox living without completely changing their routine.’
3. ‘The Naturally Clean Home’ by Karyn Siegel-Maier
An updated "green living" guide to creating effective, non-toxic cleaning formulas for the home includes easy-to-follow instructions for 150 all-natural recipes for cleaning every area of the home.
If you prefer to use DIY cleaning solutions (or want to start), Scott suggests Karyn Siegel-Maier’s ‘The Naturally Clean Home’, from Amazon.
‘This book has been around for a while,’ he says, ‘and it’s a classic for a reason. It contains recipes that actually work, such as lemon-thyme disinfecting sprays, and tea tree tile scrubs.’
They are so effective, he has co-opted some of her blends for use in his clients' homes, he adds. ‘The impetus from these books has reiterated the idea that non-toxic does not have to mean ineffective, and they have inspired some of my very best in-house formulas.’
When picking up this book, we suggest also picking up some glass spray bottles from Walmart to mix up your solutions, and a pack of sponge cloths, also from Walmart, to help reduce plastic use at home when cleaning.
4. ‘201 Everyday Uses for Salt, Lemons, Vinegar & Baking Soda’ by Benjamin Mott
This handy book focuses on living simpler, stepping away from all those expensive, chemical-laden products and instead leveraging the power of a few humble but mighty ingredients in the common pantry.
We are no strangers to cleaning with vinegar and cleaning with baking soda here at Solved, but no one knows these non-toxic cleaning tricks like author Ben Mott.
‘201 Everyday Uses for Salt, Lemons, Vinegar & Baking Soda’, from Amazon, is the ultimate guide for using pantry products to refresh your home. And it is good for more than your health.
As Amazon shopper Frederick Maurer commented in his review, ‘Mr. Mott is not only conscientious about the health of your home regarding toxic chemicals but also that of your wallet (every recipe is a fraction of what you'd pay for commercial products) and of the larger picture – our effect on the environment.
'Not only is the book useful, it is a delight to read (I read it cover to cover in just a few days), filled with interesting facts, quips, and history regarding the subject matter.’
5. ‘A Healthier Home: The Room-by-Room Guide to Make Any Space a Little Less Toxic’ by Shawna Holman
From tackling toxins and revamping your kitchen to making a greener garden and ensuring cleaner laundry, A Healthier Home will aid you in creating a sustainable, safe lifestyle that benefits both your mind and body.
One book I am looking forward to reading is Shawna Holman’s ‘A Healthier Home: The Room-by-Room Guide to Make Any Space a Little Less Toxic’, available at Amazon.
Much like Bronner’s Soap & Soul, Holeman’s guide breaks down the toxins and terms you need to know to be fully clued up on green cleaning, before walking you through every room of your home with practical detoxing cleaning tips. It even covered personal hygiene, health, and food, for a truly non-toxic lifestyle.
Dr. Vivian Chen, MD, founder of Plateful Health and Detox Right, offered her approval in the book’s blurb, testifying, ‘If you are looking for a tangible, stress-free guide to protect you and your family from everyday environmental toxins, this is it!’
Readers love it too, with Amazon shopper Ariana Bloodgood commenting, ‘Shawna has the most accessible, friendly, and low-stress approach to low-tox living that I have encountered. This book is full of easy-to-implement tips to improve your quality of life and make your home a little less toxic.
'My favorite part is that each chapter includes many options for low-cost or even free swaps. She constantly reassures the reader that it's best to move at a pace that does not add stress (financial or otherwise) to your home.
‘I'm so grateful to have this book for reference in my home, and I will absolutely be recommending it to my friends and family.’
What to shop
White vinegar is an essential tool for any home looking to reduce their reliance on harsh chemicals. It can clean, deodorize, and kill mold.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has certified Attitude products as non-toxic, meaning they contain no harsh chemicals or artificial compounds. It's ideal if you don't want to make your own products.
Baking soda is a natural abrasive that helps break down tough deposits without scratching delicate surfaces such as metal and glass. Mixed into a paste with water or use with vinegar for fizzy cleaning. It's safe for use in most areas of your home.
Pack of three
Sponge cloths are plant-based, meaning they are free from plastics and decompose in compost heaps in around 10 months, making them a eco-friendly, hygienic alternative to traditional sponges and paper towels.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) Certified, these laundry pods are certified healthier for use in your home, helping to cut out toxic laundry room items.
USDA Certified
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dishwasher Detergent Packs have an enzyme-rich formula that cuts through tough grease and food residue without fragrances, dyes, phosphates, or chlorine.
Meet the expert
Scott is a cleaning expert at CottageCare, which is a leading home cleaning company with over 41 locations nationwide. He's a big believer in using eco-friendly cleaning solutions like baking soda.
Want to start detoxing your home but don’t have time to read the expert's suggestions? We have broken down exactly why you don’t need harsh chemicals to clean to help you get started on your non-toxic cleaning.
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