The Best Home Cleaning Products to Use During Pregnancy

Ever take out the dishwasher detergent only to be bombarded with an overwhelming chemical smell? Enter: Seventh Generation’s dishwasher pods. Enzymes in the tablets are strong enough to beat grease and food stains with a cleaner ingredient list than traditional detergents. Plus, the EWG gave this product an “A” rating, which gives us peace of mind that it’s free of potentially harmful ingredients. It’s why many What to Expect community parents trust it to clean baby bottles, pacifiers and other things baby puts in her mouth, too. “I liked using seventh generation free and clear… hated it when I used something else and I could smell a scent on the babies bottles and pacis,” says one WTE mom.

Size: 20-, 45- or 72-count 

While Dr. Johnson-Arbor says bleach and ammonium are safe for cleaning during pregnancy, you might not relish their signature scent (especially if you’re already fighting off nausea). For tough bathroom jobs, try Attitude’s bathroom cleaner. It’s EWG-certified, meaning its ingredients meet the organization’s highest standards for health and safety, and many WTE moms trust it for tough household cleaning. “I love Attitude brand!” says one WTE parent. This spray cleaner uses ingredients like green tea extract to naturally (and effectively) dissolve soap scum and grime from your bathroom surfaces including, yes, your toilet.

Size: 27 fluid ounces

Made with tree oil and other ingredients derived from corn and coconut, this wood cleaner is not your traditional cover-your-nose type of cleaner. In fact, it’s the only wood cleaner highly rated by the EWG that doesn’t contain fragrance. It’s also free of things like parabens, phthalates, phosphates, and petroleum solvents (the list goes on!). Parents love that it cleans wood surfaces effectively without leaving a smelly or oily residue, although some find that the spray nozzle leaks or drips if you’re not careful. 

Size: 32 fluid ounces

Babyganics might be a baby brand, but if their products are baby-safe, you can be sure they’re solid picks for moms-to-be, too. Made without ammonia, bleach, phthalates or parabens, these wipes work on a variety of surfaces around the house. And What to Expect Community moms love them for cleaning and disinfecting at home and on the go. “Babyganics makes wipes that are free from harmful chemicals and are antibacterial...That’s what I use when we go to a food court to eat,” says one mom. “I love babyganics wipes and cleaning products,” adds another mom. However, some parents report that the wipes dry out quickly, making it harder to effectively clean. 

Size: 75 wipes

Yet another Attitude product on this list, and for good reason: It’s effective and is EWG Certified. It comes in lots of different fragrances, including an unscented version ideal for pregnant people and people with allergies or sensitivities to fragrance. WTE parents swear by it for doing baby’s laundry as well as their own. “I have been using attitude detergent and fabric softener… and LOVE it,” says one WTE mom. Another cool perk: The detergent bottles are designed to be reused. So, you can purchase detergent refills when you run out and subscribe for a discounted price. 

Size: 30, 40 or 80 loads (or 80-160 loads if you buy the refill)

There are only two hard water cleaners that had decent ratings from the EWG. Instead of hunting those down and spending your hard-earned cash, keep it simple by using baking soda (which does earn an A from the EWG) to scrub away stains caused by the mineral build-up in your water. Make it into a paste with a little bit of water or white vinegar, and slather it onto almost any surface in your home (except for hardwood and marble). For thicker areas of chalky residue, let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes and then scrub off with a paper towel or dish brush.

Not only can you find baking soda just about anywhere for just a few dollars, it’s also incredibly versatile and can be used for cleaning all around the house. WTE parents use baking soda to remove spit-up stains, deodorize ovens and kitchen surfaces and wash dishes. 

Size: 8 ounces, 1, 2 or 4 pounds

Cleaning the shower isn’t fun to begin with, and harsh-smelling products make the task even worse. This better-for-you alternative spray will do everything you need it to — clean up dirty smudges, mold buildup and bathtub buildup, all the while being powered by natural citric acid. Simply spray it on, wait 60 seconds and wipe away. Parents say it’s particularly great at dealing with stubborn soap scum. Just note that this product is not explicitly fragrance-free and has a light lemon scent, which might be irritating to some.

Size: 28 fluid ounces

Tons of What to Expect moms swear by Branch Basics for home cleaning products, and the brand’s signature Concentrate is no exception. One bottle, when diluted with water, is enough to make three refillable spray bottles that you can use to clean up messes all around the house — all without using parabens, phthalates or other harsh ingredients. (Truly, it can be used on wood decks, doors, furniture, cutting boards, dishes, stovetops, baby bottles and more.) “We use Branch Basics for everything from laundry to hand soap!” says one mom.

Other parents say it’s the best cleaner they’ve ever used, and love how well it works without leaving behind a harsh smell. “Really impressed by how well branch basics works. Even their dishwasher tabs are great, and the all purpose cleaner is fantastic,” says another mom. Starting up can be expensive, but parents say you can get a lot of use out of one bottle that make it well worth the cost if you can swing it. 

Size: 33.8 fluid ounces

Not only is this safe for moms-to-be, but this is also the ideal dish soap for washing your baby bottles when your little arrives. Made with sustainable coconut and palm kernel oil, as well as bark extract and salt, this pumpable dish soap is easy to use and free of potentially harmful ingredients. One thing worth noting: AspenClean don’t use any sudsing agents in their dish soap, so it doesn't lather up as much as other non-organic alternatives. But it’s highly concentrated, so a little bit goes a long way—even though you won’t see the bubbles. 

Size: 18 fluid ounces

Pregnancy-safe floor cleaners are hard to come by, which is why the What to Expect Community overwhelmingly recommends using a steam mop instead to clean around the house. Instead of chemical solutions, these mops use steam heat to clean and sterilize sealed hard floors. “I LOVE my steam mop, there's no smell or sticky anything left behind,” says one WTE mom. “Steam mops are the best. Cleans all the gross sticky mess and with no chemicals!” says another mom.

This highly-recommended model from Bissell can be used on hardwood, ceramic, granite, marble and linoleum floors, and offers three steam levels to help you tackle even the grimiest floors with ease. The mop pads are machine washable so you can reuse them again and again without adding to landfill waste. It also has a flip-down scrubber attachment to help you eliminate dried stains or spills. The swivel head and 23-foot power cord make it easy to reach every nook and cranny on your floors without constantly having to unplug and replug. 

Capacity: Holds 16 ounces of water

Weight: 6.2 pounds

Many WTE parents love to use vinegar around the house for cleaning, but if you hate the smell, or don’t want to mess around with diluting, opt for this vinegar-based product instead. It uses distilled white vinegar plus plant essential oils to clean glass surfaces without streaks. (You can also use it on stovetops and stainless steel.) The natural formula works surprisingly well, according to parents who swear by it. It’s marketed as hypoallergenic, but does have a scent, which might irritate some people who are sensitive to fragrance. 

Size: 16.9 fluid ounces