Cleaning Without Palm Oil | Palm Oil Free Cleaning Products

Harsh chemicals and toxic chemical additives are prevalent in household cleaning products and conventional detergents. Seeking green cleaning and natural cleaning products is a better choice for our bodies and the planet. Make sure to choose palm oil free cleaning products as well.

Organic, plant-derived, all natural…. This is what you will see on brands such as Ecos, Method, Mrs. Meyers, and Grove cleaning products. And yes, they use more natural ingredients than most cleaning brands and typically list out their ingredients. 

Still, it’s important to read labels and to look online at ingredients so you know exactly what you are buying. Even brands which seem environmentally friendly, still typically use palm oil. And many of the above brands make products with sodium lauryl sulfate, benzisothiazolinone, phenoxyethanol, methylisothiazolinone, and more.

Companies should SPELL OUT THE SOURCE of their ingredients. Oftentimes, companies use vague terms such as Plant-Derived or Plant-Based. But it’s important to ask: Which plant? 

If they don’t spell out “coconut” or another ingredient, it’s likely palm oil. Companies are quick to highlight they use coconut.

Therefore, it’s important to research to find out exactly what cleaning products you are buying. Don’t assume they are palm oil free cleaning products when you see “Vegetable Glycerin” or “Plant-Based Ingredients” on labels. 

See below for cleaning without palm oil with brands:

• Cleancult
• Puracy
• Norwex (their microfiber cloths)

Palm oil in cleaning products

Be sure to choose cleaning product companies that are transparent with their ingredients. Be very concerned when a cleaning brand or product does not list their ingredients.

In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate cleaning products like it does with foods, beverages, and drugs. This means companies don’t need to disclose ingredients.

The only thing they have to list are active disinfectants or ingredients that are potentially harmful, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

These cleaners and detergents likely contain a long list of harsh chemicals, including solvents, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), phosphates, brighteners, fragrances, preservatives, conditioning agents, foaming agents, enzyme stabilizers, emulsion stabilizers, solubilizers, stain removal agents, and more.

When a company does list their ingredients, it’s typically “better” than those that don’t. If a company doesn’t list the ingredients on the bottle, be sure to look on their website. If you can’t find any information, it’s best to purchase other cleaning products.

There are many common palm oil ingredients in cleaning sprays, liquids, foams, polishes, etc. These are ingredients that are made from palm oil. They are called palm oil derivatives.

Palm oil in cleaning sprays

Here are some common palm oil derivatives in all-purpose spray cleaners:

• Caprylyl Glucoside
• Decyl Glucoside
• Glycerin
• Lauryl Glucoside
• Laureth-6
• Myristyl Glucoside
• Palm Kernel Oil
• Polyethylene Glycol
• Polysorbate 20
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
• Surfactant blends or Surfactants
• Vitamin E

There are many names for palm oil derivatives in cleaning products. To be eco-friendly, use reusable, washable cloths, towels, and rags instead of paper towels to clean.

Palm oil in dish soap liquid

Below are examples of palm oil ingredients in dish soap. Again, beware of buying products who don’t list their ingredients. In the ones who do, these are common palm oil derivatives.

• Caprylyl/Myristyl Glucoside
• Decyl Glucoside 
• Glycerin
• Lauramine Oxide
• Lauryl Glucoside
• Polysorbate 20
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 

Palm oil free cleaning products

Below are brands which make cleaning products without palm oil. They confirmed they are palm oil free. We also list an option for reusable microfiber cloths to use with water which are ideal for cleaning bacteria without chemicals.

Please note, this list isn’t guaranteed. The only way to know for sure a product is palm oil free is if they are certified Palm Oil Free by Orangutan Alliance or the International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark Programme.

Cleancult

All Purpose Cleaner

• Orange Zest 
• Blue Sage
• Sweet Honeysuckle
• Bamboo Lily

According to their website, you can use Cleancult All Purpose Cleaner spray on all surfaces, including kitchen, bathroom, walls, glass, and wood. 

They use saponified coconut oil and saponified olive oil and no palm oil. This cleaning spray is GMO free, Cruelty-Free, Vegan, and made in USA. 

Purchase the shatter-resistant glass Refillable All Purpose Cleaner Spray Bottle and fill with Cleancult’s All Purpose Cleaner.

The refill comes in a paper-based carton which eliminates plastic waste. This means you can continue to use the spray bottle without increasing plastic consumption.

Liquid Dish Soap

• Lemongrass 14 oz
• Liquid Dish Soap Refill Lemongrass 16 oz

Cleancult’s Liquid Dish Soap contains saponified coconut oil and saponified olive oil. 

Their Liquid Dish Soap Refill won Parents Green Picks 2020 award. You buy the refill and use it to refill your pump bottle. The dish soap refill comes in a paper-based milk carton. 

This vegan dish soap is also made in the United States, is non-GMO, and Cruelty-Free.

Dishwasher Tablets 

• Lemongrass 18 tablets
• Lemon Scented Refill 18 tablets

This is natural dishwashing powder that’s also palm oil free. Cleancult Dishwasher Tablets dissolve in your dishwasher. They are 100% biodegradable. They don’t contain harmful ingredients.

The Lemongrass tablets come in a recyclable paper mailer that’s 100% plastic free. This product is vegan, non-GMO, and certified Cruelty-Free.

Liquid Laundry Detergent Refills

• Fragrance Free
• Juniper & Sandalwood
• Sweet Honeysuckle
• Sea Spray & Aloe

These 32 oz cartons wash 64 loads. Make a one-time purchase of the refillable liquid laundry bottle, and refill with Cleancult’s Laundry Detergent Refills. See palm oil free laundry detergent for information on Cleancult’s laundry products.

Cleancult products

Cleancult confirmed they make other cleaning products without palm oil as well. For self-care products, see Cleancult’s palm oil free soap. They make liquid and bar soaps.

Cleancult ships their products in zero-waste packaging with recyclable materials. Cleancult makes it easy to refill your reusable bottles and to recycle the refill cartons afterwards.

Puracy

Natural Surface Cleaner

• Green Tea & Lime
• Organic Lemongrass 

Puracy’s all-purpose cleaners come in a 25 oz spray bottle. They have a 16 oz concentrate you use as a refill. The dilution ratio is 1 oz concentrate to 7 oz water. This means it’s lower impact to ship because you add the water. 

spray cleaner without palm oil

In addition, the sprays are streak-less and won’t leave a residue. You can use them on household surfaces such as granite, stainless steel, chrome, marble, glass as well as in sinks, tubs, and non-porous surfaces.

Disinfecting Surface Cleaner

• Pure and Clear pack of two, 25 oz bottles

Puracy’s hydrogen peroxide disinfecting spray kills 99.9% of germs, viruses and bacteria. You can use it for general cleaning and for disinfecting. (Note, you shouldn’t use it on wood, marble or soapstone.) Also, this cleaner is non-toxic, biodegradable, and made in USA.

Natural Carpet Shampoo & Upholstery Shampoo

• Fresh Citrus 25 oz

This Puracy’s shampoo is palm oil free, low foaming, vegan, and biodegradable. Use it to remove stains from rugs, carpets and upholstery. You can use it by hand or in a carpet cleaning machine.

Like their other products, this cleaner is non-toxic, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, vegan, gluten-free. It’s free from SLS, dyes, bleach, brighteners, sulfates, phosphates. It’s also certified Cruelty-Free.

dish soap without palm oil

Natural Dish Soap

• Green Tea & Lime
• Organic Lemongrass
• Citrus & Sea Salt

Puracy’s dish soaps without palm oil come in a 16 oz bottle as well as a 64 oz refill.

Unlike other brands, their dish soap and dishwasher detergent packs are free from triclosan, dyes, parabens, phosphates, sulfates, SLS, SLES, MEA, DEA, TEA, animal by-products, petrochemicals, chlorine bleach, perfumes, and caustics.

Natural Dishwasher Detergent Packs

• Free & Clear 50 pack

Stain Cleaner

• Free & Clear Natural Stain Remover 4 oz
• Pet Stain and Odor Remover, Cucumber & Mint

Natural Laundry Detergent

• Free & Clear
• Fresh Linen

These 24 oz bottles are 10x concentrated so a little goes a long way. Each bottle will clean 96 full loads. You can use it in high efficiency and standard washers as well as in top load or front load machines. 

The pump dispenses what you need for each load. Other detergents have less active ingredients and more water, creating more suds and more impact on the environment. 

This detergent is free from sulfates, phthalates, dyes, chlorine, optical brighteners, petrochemicals, animal byproducts and more.

Puracy products

Puracy’s concentrated formulas reduce plastic, water, and energy waste. Unlike most cleaning products in stores, Puracy doesn’t contain SLS, SLES, phosphates, sulfates, dyes, chlorine, ammonia. They are safe for children and pets. 

Their products are biodegradable and safe for the environment, gray water, and septic systems. They are also vegan and gluten-free. Their products are also certified Cruelty-Free. They never test on animals. 

You can find Puracy in Target — which is great to see Target is including some palm oil free brands on their shelves — and on their website.

Norwex cloths

Norwex microfiber cloths are unique because you use them to clean with water only. You don’t use them with sprays or any cleaners. These cloths will eliminate up to 99% bacteria using just the cloth and water.

Air drying some of our reusable Norwex cloths. You just need water and these microfiber cloths to clean without chemicals.

It’s incredible to be able to use these cloths and water only. You won’t have any ingredients to worry about.

You can use Norwex cloths on counters, sinks, tubs, faucets, windows, mirrors, glass, appliances, and more. 

• EnviroCloth
• EnviroScrub
• Window Cloth: It’s amazing to wet an EnviroCloth and clean windows and mirrors. Dry it with the Window Cloth for streak-free, clean windows and mirrors. 
• EnviroWand
• Chenille Dry Mop Pad
• Stainless Steel Cloth
• Dusting Mitt Cloth
• Enviro Sponges
• Counter Cloths
• Veggie & Fruit Scrub

Simply wet the Norwex cloth and wipe tiles, counters and more to eliminate bacteria. 

After using the towel, you can hang it to dry, and use it to clean again in 24 hours. We wash all of our Norwex cloths in our washing machine on cold, all together, and let them air dry.

We have different Norwex cleaning cloths for our bathroom and for our kitchen. In addition, some we use just for our floors, although Norwex sells a mop system as well. 

When you buy the cloths, note that some you can’t use on brushed stainless steel or it will scratch it. Just read the directions in advance.

DIY cleaners without palm oil

A great way to know you are cleaning without palm oil is to make your own cleaners. You can do this easily with two products: baking soda and vinegar.

Depending on what you are cleaning, you can use either baking soda or the vinegar or combine them together. There are many housecleaning tips online which explain what you can clean and how much water to add.

Lemon juice is also a natural cleaner. Other ideas are to mix in pure essential oils such as lemon or Thieves.

Natural ingredients to clean with:

• Lemon juice
• Essential oil
• Baking soda
• Distilled vinegar

You can use a spray bottle to combine ingredients to clean surfaces, including counters, floors, sinks, bathtubs, toys, and more. 

Cleaning products

There are many palm oil derivatives hidden in products you are most likely using.  Think of all the specialty products to clean homes:

• All-purpose spray
• Glass cleaner
• Carpet cleaner
• Stain remover
• Floor cleaner
• Dishwasher detergent
• Dish soap
• Furniture polish and wax
• Oven cleaner
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Shower and bathtub cleaner
• Granite cleaner

That’s a lot of chemicals, detergents, and potential toxins. Choose safe cleaning products which list their ingredients and are truly eco-friendly with less waste, refillable and no palm oil. 

Norwex cloths are sustainable because you reuse them. You only need water to use them.

Green cleaning

Look for refillable, recyclable containers, concentrated formulas, and products that are biodegradable, certified Cruelty-Free and certified Palm Oil Free.

When seeking palm oil free cleaning products, also consider other aspects to your purchase. Think about what makes a product eco-friendly or green cleaning products. Perhaps they use non-GMO ingredients, are safe for septic systems, are low-sudsing, etc.

Candles and air fresheners

Choose palm oil free candles to freshen up a room. Many candles contain blends which include palm oil. In addition, air fresheners and room sprays contain palm oil ingredients.

Benefits of buying eco-friendly cleaning products

Before buying cleaning products, look up their ingredients. Remember, even products that seem eco-friendly typically contain palm oil derivatives. 

One way to be greener is to use less overall. Choose products from Cleancult and Puracy for cleaning products without palm oil. Choose Norwex cloths and use just water. Once you know some ingredients to watch out for, it’s much easier to choose cleaners without palm oil derivatives.

As a rule, the less ingredients something has, the better it is. This is true when you are looking for palm oil free cleaning products as well. Read labels each time.

• Items to make it easier to live palm oil free
• Palm oil free products list
• Learn about what palm oil is in: Palm oil products

Learn some of the ingredient names that are common in cleaning sprays and detergents on the market. Many companies advertise them as being environmentally-friendly. Others highlight their ingredients are “plant-derived.” Most always, the products contain palm oil.